NARRATOR: Shannon Kenealy loves her part time waitressing job

in Louisa Virginia.

She says she does it just for fun.

The people I'm working with are like, you crazy.

You work because you're having fun?

I do this because I can't make ends meet.

NARRATOR: That used to be the case for Shannon

and her husband Frank.

For the first 12 years of marriage,

they lived paycheck to paycheck while raising children.

The Kenealys worked long hours but they mismanaged their money

and were always overspending.

You know, we bought a car, we had a car payment.

We had a credit card, we maxed it out.

And you know just-- I mean we were $15,000 in debt.

NARRATOR: The debt took a toll on the couple.

I watched her cry a lot.

That was hard.

I was sick constantly.

Like I had the flu back to back to back.

And then I was so stressed out I had hives.

And worried if we'd be able to afford food and have the lights

turned on.

NARRATOR: So they met with a Christian financial advisor.

The couple learned how to budget and the importance of tithing.

Something they never felt they could afford.

I knew that it was supposed to be 10%

but it was one of those things that I'd bargain with God

and say, OK well, this week I have the money I'll bring it

to church.

Or I better pay my light bill to make sure that, you know,

the electricity doesn't get turned off.

NARRATOR: Frank and Shannon found out

they had it backwards.

If I didn't put God first and I wasn't tithing regularly

the rest of it would fall apart.

NARRATOR: So the couple started tithing off

of the top of their income.

They stuck to their budget and within a year and a half

completely paid off their debt.

It was like the grass is greener, the sky is bluer,

life is so much better.

NARRATOR: Now they had enough to give more

and became CBN partners.

That's you know-- that's a healthy thing to be giving to.

I don't know how to help people but I

like being a part of something that

does know how to help people.

NARRATOR: Later when the Kenealys

had to come up with $3,000 for emergency

repairs on a rental property, Shannon

contacted CBN requesting prayer for a financial breakthrough.

Just a week later Frank met with his boss.

I got a good raise, a solid raise, and a good review.

And the next day I came into work

and he kind of called me aside and said, well

want to know what you think about moving up.

NARRATOR: Frank got two raises in two days and a promotion.

That's why Shannon can work a part time job she loves

and spend more time with their kids.

My husband makes enough money to pay all the bills.

I would say that we are financially successful.

NARRATOR: The Kenealys say this is

all a result of following biblical principles of money

management and giving obediently to God's kingdom.

It's free.

There's a lot of peace in not having financial stress

constantly.

I think you do better when you do what God asks you to do.

You're more successful.

You're financially better off.

And when you do the things that God wants you to do,

I think you get blessed.