Chip and Joanna Gaines found themselves in a hard situation a few years back wondering what do you do when dreams die and you just can’t make ends meet? When the economy took a nosedive in 2008, many people suffered, especially those in the housing industry. Chip remembers feeling as if they were in a “real bonafide pickle” after recently purchasing a development property in Waco and closing Joanna’s little shop on Bosque. Recently, in an interview with Chip and Joanna Gaines at Antioch Community Church, Chip recalls sitting in the back of a service hearing Jimmy Seibert invite the congregation to come forward with whatever needs they had.

“I sat in the backrow and I felt completely overwhelmed by our circumstances,” explains Chip. “I told God in a very transparent but very honest way, I’m not goin’ up front because I’m not going to waste anybody else’s money… and I don’t think there’s enough money to solve our issues even if I do go up front.”

Several weeks later Chip and Joanna were invited to meet with some friends from their community at church at the property to pray and discuss their options. Toward the end of their time together, the couple handed Chip and Jo a check - an amount that made Chip Gaines’ knees shake.

“I almost fainted,” recalls Chip. “I knew that God had heard my plea. He let me know right then, if you need anything else, let me know. What else can I do for you? All you gotta do is ask.” After the initial shock, the couple explained they had already imagined if Chip and Jo weren’t able to pay them back. “I remember feeling overwhelming gratitude that I felt not only for them, but… community… and if we weren’t walking with these people, if we weren’t calling out to God in a real practical way, who knows if we would have missed that opportunity of a lifetime to see God in action.”

In the years after receiving this generous gift, Chip and Joanna worked hard to manage their business, create sustainable systems and get both their personal and business expenses back on track. Looking back, Chip and Joanna recommend the book REALIGN by Josh Lawson as a practical and helpful tool for managing and mastering your finances.

“If you are looking at your financial house and realizing that it needs major help or even a minor repair, then we highly encourage you to attend REALIGN and DO WHAT IT SAYS,” says Chip. You won’t regret it.”