“I get to now instill a new perspective into my son…”

Meet Ernesto,

He participated in and graduated from Financial Catalyst through our location at Watermark South Dallas in January 2024 as he purchased a home. Ernesto is a member of our church body at Watermark South Dallas and actively serving in a variety of ways as he loves our neighbors and city. Here’s his story:

“Growing up, one of the things my dad really preached to me: “Get money! Get as much money as you can!” I grew up here in southeast Dallas and started doing drugs at a very early age and living for the world. Growing up, my I was always looking for a quick flip, quick hustle, quick drugs that I can sell, anything I can do just to put myself in a better financial situation, but I was just not retaining anything. Money was my god.

At age of 25, I had an encounter with God, and he set me free from all that. I got the privilege to attend Financial Catalyst classes. I was not good with my finances; I was not good with saving.

Going through the class, I gained an understanding that every dollar, everything that I own belongs to God and he gives it to me. He lets me borrow it to steward it for His glory and for His kingdom. That's just a different perspective that I had from going in. Everything was so new to me and different. But it was just so encouraging that my Ally, Jared, was able to take me under his wing and steward me in that way. My friend who was participating with me in Financial Catalyst felt the same way. We both got so sharpened by Jared.

The people who surrounded me through Financial Catalyst helped me prioritize with the end goal in mind. I wanted to purchase a home and be a homeowner. I had to sacrifice, be strategic, and prioritize saving. When the time came to be able to purchase a house in my neighborhood, I was beyond grateful for how everything was handled. It's just a testimony to God's goodness that I was able to purchase a home all to the glory of God.

Now I have the privilege to be freer with my money and use it to build up His kingdom. Going through the curriculum and just walking beside these people, it really helped me understand it's about your heart. God cares about your heart behind why you give.

Today, by the grace of God, I get to now instill a new perspective into my son who is 13 years old, by being able to encourage him and share how we should view money. We should use money as a tool to build up the kingdom and not to build ourselves up.”