Where We Were
The Pastor’s Wallet turned 10 years old this past Saturday, September 5. When I started this journey, I was a stay-at-home mom with dreams of becoming a financial planner to help people with this very important, yet equally intimidating, area of life. So much has happened since then! Here’s a snapshot of the last 10 years:
2016: Pastor’s Wallet launches
2018: Both kids in school full-time
2019: Start working at the most wonderful company in the world, Guide Financial Planning
2020: Become a homeschool mom (thank you, coronavirus); Earn a Master’s in Family Financial Planning & Counseling
2021: Publish The Pastor’s Wallet Complete Guide to the Clergy Housing Allowance; Pass the Certified Financial Planner exam; Become a registered financial advisor
2022: Develop long covid
2023: Earn Certified Financial Planner designation
2024: Earn Certified Kingdom Advisor designation
2025: Move across the country
During the past 10 years, I have written almost 300 blog posts; Pastor’s Wallet has been viewed over 1.2 million times; I have spoken at numerous webinars and in-person events; and I have provided financial planning and educational consultations for many of you as individuals. I have learned that I love financial planning for pastors. You truly are my favorite clients, and I am glad that God led me to you.
Where We Are
You may have noticed in the timeline above that I developed long covid at the beginning of 2022. It has drastically changed my life, and by extension, Pastor’s Wallet. One effect of long covid is that writing is very difficult for me. For the last 4 ½ years, I have barely had the capacity to do anything with the blog.
I really appreciate those of you who have been praying for me over the years, and I owe you a health update. My condition isn’t improving, but I have limited my life sufficiently and found some helpful treatments (thank you to the reader who recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy—it has been life-changing!) so that I can live a semblance of a normal life. It has been very hard.
My motto has become Job 1:21, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised,” and I cling to Jesus’ explanation of the man born blind in John 9:3, “…this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” I pray the same for me. Interestingly, I was reading Andrew Murray’s Absolute Surrender the very month I contracted the virus that started this journey. Though I am not enjoying the journey, I know that a lot of good has come from it and God has done some important work in me.
Where We Are Going
I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to do much for Pastor’s Wallet since getting sick. I’m working on getting some help so that I can do more for you. I have ideas, including revamping the website, starting a video podcast, and offering webinars. I have always been an idea person, but I have learned intimately what Proverbs 16:9 means when it says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
I can’t make any promises regarding what the future holds for Pastor’s Wallet. I will do for you whatever the Lord enables me to do. (So if you want more, ask him to heal me!) No matter what, I consider it an honor to support you and play even the smallest part in your ministry of advancing God’s kingdom.