LEVERAGE
YOUR LEGACY
SESSION 1
Introduction
Exploring the Principles & Practices of Leverage
Watch Trailer
Watch Session
Video Testimonies
Leverage Tips
Read Stories
Home Page
SESSION VIDEOS
https://vimeo.com/982901879
Session 1 Trailer (1:27 min)
https://vimeo.com/975888477/9752cccc04
Full Session 1 (34:51 min)
SESSION SAMPLE
ENDORSEMENTS
âIt gives me great pleasure to endorse this curriculum, and I endorse it because of the two men who conceived and constructed it. I know few people who are so committed to truth and believe that God provides wisdom for every financial decision and every decision in life. Russ and Ken are two Giants of Faith and I endorse them in this curriculum with total confidence of its powerful message that will transform lives.â
Ron BluePersonal finance author and founder of Blue Trust and and Kingdom Advisors
âIâm grateful for Ken Boa and Russ Crosson writing their book, Leverage, which provides very practical ways of living and giving generously. What a blessing to also have this interactive Study Guide and video-based curriculum to encourage each of us in our own financial stewardship & generosity journey as we hear inspiring stories from people who are leveraging their time, talents, treasure, and influence to bring more of Godâs Kingdom here on Earth as it is in Heaven.â
Mark BattersonNew York Times Bestselling Author of The Circle Maker; Lead Pastor of National Community Church
“What a wonderful joy and privilege to be a part of the Leverage series. The focus of this important resource is on the faithful stewardship of the resources God places in our hands in such a way that leaves a legacy of generosity while placing the spotlight on lasting, eternal values. This is such an important, timely, and helpful gift. So grateful for the emphasis and message of the Leverage series!”
Dr. Crawford W. Loritts, Jr.Author, Speaker, Radio Host, President, Beyond our Generation
âRuss Crosson and Blue Trust have managed my assets for over 25 years, and Ken Boa has discipled my mind & my heart for decades. I can’t think of a better team to help us grasp the sheer genius of generosity for all of life and every relationship. I highly recommend the proven teaching and truth found in their breakthrough book and curriculum, Leverage.â
Chip IngramCEO and Teaching Pastor, Living on the Edge
If you are like me, Russ Crosson is a man youâd like to spend a day with⊠seeking wisdom about what heâs learned from the Scriptures about how to handle money and asking him to mentor you. Birthed out of more than four decades of experience, Russ knows how to communicate, coach, and equip us to get it right. In these challenging economic times I want the very finest counsel and advice I can get.â
Dr. Dennis RaineyHost of FamilyLife Today, and Founder of FamilyLife
Money’s kind of a hot button issue in the church, and most pastors will tell you that that’s one of the most difficult things to preach on, but I would say don’t think of it as they’re going to ask for my money, but think of it not as an obligation but opportunity, What God has for you is going to be amazing. This study is a way for God to open those doors to those opportunities.
John & Jessica GibsonBusiness Owners
Money is a sensitive topic, and many churches rarely address it, often only during fundraising campaigns. This curriculum offers a way to start meaningful conversations about money, focusing not just on spending and saving, but on how money fits into our lives and relationships. It encourages healthy discussions among couples and small groups about giving, with pastors supporting these conversations. This resource guides people toward generosity, making it an easy way to engage your congregation in giving.
Reed CrossonBlue Trust Advisor – Sports & Entertainment Division
Previous
Next
TESTIMONIES
https://vimeo.com/953208111/295cf3ea74
Crawford Loritts shares powerful lessons learned about generosity, inspired by his parents’ example of giving even during financial hardship. He reflects on his own practice of giving during college, connecting it to worship and faith. Using a theological illustration, Crawford emphasizes the significance of giving and trusting God as the ultimate provider.https://vimeo.com/978635359/fff3c57408
John and Jessica Gibson share their transformative journey from poverty to wealth, shaped by their humble beginnings and Christian faith. As their financial status grew from $10,000 to millions, they embraced tithing as a spiritual obligation, inspired by a spiritually mature spouse. Reflecting on past struggles, they credit teachings from Blue Trust with helping them navigate life’s challenges and find joy in giving.
LEVERAGE TIPS
https://vimeo.com/953799955/7ae01c6b6a
Empowering Pastors: Tools and Resources for Effective Ministry
A theological resource with practical applications is presented to aid pastors in inspiring their congregations. The assessment of successful stewardship practices underscores the significance of teaching, equipping, and celebrating congregants’ response. Pastors frequently face challenges in locating and accessing suitable resources for their congregations. Lastly, leverage is introduced as a beneficial tool for pastors in their ministry.
READ STORIES OF GENEROSITY
Peggy & Charles McCreight
How does a familyâs legacy of generosity grow stronger with each generation?
“A Legacy of Giving Through the Generations” – Peggy & Charles McCreight
Even a phone call to learn about Peggy and Charles McCreightâs story as generous givers includes some of âthe crewâ â a son, daughter, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. But they are only a small part of the more than 25 members of the four generations of McCreights, all who reflect the heart of the patriarch and matriarch, Charles and Peggy. Theyâre spread from South Carolina to Texas to Colorado and range in age from infant (the 13th great-grandchild) to 89 (Charles).Â
The short story on the McCreights is that they have given away well over half of their net worth over the years, quietly giving to causes and charities and, as important, giving their time, expertise, and energy as mentors to hundreds of people â on life, raising children, and marriage â and to their community in Sumter, South Carolina. But in the beginning, giving away money was a difficult challenge, especially for Charles.
Charles came from humble beginnings. His father had a stroke as a young adult, so Charles had to learn the gift of hard work as a teenager. By the age of 17, he was managing four Piggly Wiggly grocery stores, then served in the Army Air Corps for two years during World War II, and went on to college and became an architect. With a successful practice underway, Charles and Peggy sought financial counsel. His reaction to words of advice from his financial advisor was skeptical: âI told Peggy, âThat man is going to take all of the money we have and just give it away.â I admit I had a bad attitude at first.â
Peggy had a different reaction. An only child, Peggyâs father worked incessantly to climb the corporate ladder and was financially successful. After her father passed away, she inherited a sizeable concentration of stock in the company where her father had worked for many years. When Peggy became a Christian and began reading the Bible, she realized that God owns it all â itâs His. âI saw the âblessingâ of money in a different way â it wasnât about success, hard work, and pushing yourself,â says Peggy. âI had experienced a family life where money did not necessarily make people happy, even though itâs what many people believe and are looking for. So I was more ready and very open to giving money away.âÂ
Charles came around to Peggyâs thinking and the more they gave away, the more their net worth actually grew. âIt was,â says Peggy, âproof that you canât out give God.â Over the years, the McCreights became faithful supporters of Focus on the Family, Compassion International, Sumter Crisis Pregnancy Center, and Walk Through the Bible, as well as missionaries affiliated with their church. Charles volunteered extensively in the community, at one point being named South Carolina Volunteer of the Year, and contributed pro bono architectural work to several new buildings in Sumter County. Peggy says, âOur hearts desire to give is all by the grace of God.â But itâs their personal touch over the years that so many recount when they talk about the generous hearts of the McCreights.
Daughter-in-law Karen McCreight says that Peggy and Charles invest heavily in the people of their community. âPeggy has counseled an endless number of women, inviting them into her home and sharing wisdom on how to apply biblical principles to life and marriage,â says Karen. âPeggy and Charles also did that for many couples. They would have young couples over to talk about how to give freely from your heart. They have influenced families in this community in ways itâs hard to describe.âÂ
The McCreightsâ biggest gift to their children and grandchildren is not financial, says daughter Nancy. âCertainly theyâve been very generous to us, but theyâve truly modeled giving and how it has to come from the heart,â she says. âThey
never used money to manipulate us; they always gave with no strings attached and no expectations. As believers, we know that God calls us to give and thatâs our heartâs desire. We clearly saw that in our parents.â
Son Bobby offers an additional perspective on his parentsâ generosity. âWe were taught it could be taken away at any moment â from disaster, a business downturn, the stock market â and that we shouldnât put our value and trust in money because God truly does own it all, and we know He doesnât need our money. Our parents did stress making wise decisions and being accountable for decisions. Thatâs something weâve passed down to our own children.â Â
The McCreightsâ generous hearts can now be seen in the third generation of the family. Many of the grandchildren have been active in organizations such as Young Life, including helping to raise funds for those less fortunate to be able to participate in Young Life programs. One granddaughter and her husband, who were married their senior year in college, were active in hosting dinners at their home for the Clemson University football team, and ministering to many of the team members. They continue that today as the grandson-in-law is a graduate assistant coach for Clemsonâs football team. Another grandson helped start a non-profit program to assist war veterans in need.
One way that the family legacy continues to be passed on is at their annual summer week at the beach. In fact, âbeach weekâ is almost legendary among the family members and friends who have gone. For over 50 years, Charles and Peggy have hosted all of the extended family that can come. The week has certainly grown from just Charles and Peggy and their four children, now requiring four houses for about 40 people in four generations. It is a cherished time of fun, fellowship, and instilling family values. Charles gets choked up when he recalls moments such as the adults playing volleyball on the beach and the young people in the house having a Bible study. Son Bobby recalls friends in Sumter who joined the McCreight family at the beach remarking that it was the first time in their lives they experienced a daily devotional around the breakfast table â âMy parents were always planting seeds in young peopleâs hearts,â Bobby says.Â
One year recently, the great-grandchildren set up a lemonade stand during beach week. Working in the summer heat they raised more than $60 at their lemonade stand, with the money designated to help someone less fortunate go to a summer camp. Granddaughter Ann Elizabeth holds these memories close in her heart â for her, they are symbolic of everything her grandparents stand for. âWhen I think of the word generosity, I automatically think of my grandparents. For them, itâs not about the money; itâs about the important things like investing in your family and instilling values. Giving is just the constant condition of their hearts.âÂ
***
ADDITIONAL STORIES
https://vimeo.com/963816686/8a62c15f1a?share=copy
Yinka Akinsola
Journey of transitioning from financial services to Blue Trusts Inc., driven by her alignment with the company’s mission. He underscores the significance of financial support in fulfilling the Great Commission and the role individuals play in their communities. Yinka discusses the concept of leveraging assets for Kingdom impact and being responsible custodians of resources, sharing a personal story of giving during challenging times.
https://vimeo.com/963881027/ed1b74ec84?share=copy
Janet Vaughn
A couple, who met in high school and journeyed through college together, share their lifelong commitment to generosity. Despite different academic timelines, they’ve always agreed on financial matters and started giving early. Their joy comes from seeing ministries grow and teaching their children about giving. Their relationship, built on trust and understanding, has been influenced by their 40-year association with Blue Trust.
RESOURCES & LINKS
Purchase Leverage Curriculum
Watch Leader Training
Leverage Home
Visit Blue Trust