Following God’s Path to Success

Mark and Sharon Taylor began their lives together in her hometown of Brooksville, Florida, where he worked in his father-in-law’s mulch business and had ambitious financial goals.

Mark says, “I grew up in a house that didn’t have a lot of money. My parents worked hard but we just didn’t seem to accumulate very much, never owned a home really when we were growing up, ever. My goal was to accumulate a certain amount of money, and then once I got that, that I would never have to work again."

While mark worked in the family’s business, Sharon practiced law. They had two children and were financially stable, but after 8 years, Mark and Sharon took a financial risk and branched out into real estate.

“We wanted to, just try something on our own,” says Sharon. “We did medical office buildings, we also did some sub-division work, where we took large tracts and we split them up into five and ten acre tracts and sell them,” adds Mark. “For the first year we didn’t sell a single lot that was not the plan, the plan was to sell them almost immediately and it just didn’t happen. It’s a little scary, so sometimes with the real estate market that goes way up or way down, uh, it can be crazy.”

They were eventually able to sell those lots. However, the rocky start into the real estate market stretched them financially. Around that time, they began attending a new church where they were challenged to follow the biblical principles of giving and tithing.

“This pastor said ‘hey, you get your Bible, you read it, and you decide if what I say is true,'" sys Mark. "And so he began to talk about tithing, and giving and those types of things.”

“Yes, He tells us we’re supposed to tithe, but that’s just the minimum, you know, and I mean there’s so many scriptures about helping the widows, the orphans, the needy, the poor, and they’re always gonna be there and the Christians are always supposed to take care of them. I mean, that’s why we’re here,” says Sharon.
 
“We began to talk about what we should do for the Lord, and I think that was a major change in how we looked at it. First time I ever thought about the idea that it was God’s money, as opposed to our money,” says, Mark.

Soon new investment opportunities arose which led to dramatic financial increases. Over the years, their land developments have had exponential financial returns, and allowed Mark and Sharon to place their focus on giving.

“I have so much, so He gave it to me for a reason. I need to be using it, I need to be doing something with it and I just feel so blessed, and I am just so thankful to God for it, because it’s from Him. It’s nothing I did,” says Sharon.

Mark and Sharon began praying for wisdom in their business decisions and for guidance on what ministries they should support.

“Specific ministries like, Bible translation, and supporting missionaries in the field, those types of things," says Sharon. "Who’s gonna give to that but Christians, you know. The Christian Broadcasting Network, who’s going to give to that, but Christians?"

They partnered with several Christians and organizations to support Christian ministries around the world.

“We just heard so many testimonies from other people who had been so generous, and were continuing just to do incredible things for the Lord, and I’m like, I want to be a part of that, you know Cuz you could just feel the joy coming out of them, and I really really wanted to feel that and be apart of that. And so that began our journey down this road of generosity,” says Sharon.

“And that’s really what we’re trying to do, especially as we work to finish life a little well, we wanna make sure that God’s kingdom is provided for, as best we can,” says Mark.

The joy that Mark and Sharon have experienced through obedience to Gods financial leading has become a huge blessing in their lives.

“Once you get used to the fact, you know I really am not in control, you know, and that God is in control and if we are lead to give somewhere we need to do it, you know. We just need to give it, and God has always been faithful,” says Sharon.