Growing up, we lived in the Olneyville section of Providence, RI.  Dad left my mom when I was around the age of 1.  I had 2 older brothers and an older sister.  We were raised on welfare with food stamps. It was just my mother who provided for us.  I remember getting a BMX bike for Christmas one year.  It was stolen just a few days after. Our milk was always watered down 50%.  We heated the house sometimes by opening the oven door. For breakfast we couldn’t afford cereal.  But we could afford puffed rice.  My clothes were always hammy downs.  Is that even how you spell that word?  We got filled up on dinner with white bread and butter more than we did on protein. Often, we ate spaghetti with butter.  For us, it worked.  Our car had no reverse, so we would push it backwards if we ever needed to go backwards.  We were so poor, we couldn’t pay attention.  One thing I can honestly say though is this.  My mother loved Christ.  I know now that he is the husband to the husbandless. And I know one thing for sure.  He loved my mother and she truly loved him.  He always provided for us. Thinking back, we were rich because we had something money couldn’t buy.  It puts a smile on my face today, because the lover of her soul back then in the 70’s, is the lover of my soul now in 2026, as I am writing this.  Growing up, I would wake up at maybe 630am.  The home was always spotless clean.  Mom was always sitting in the living room, reading her Bible and the house always had Christian music playing in the background. We may not have had money, but we were blessed.  

But… we had no money.

I hated being poor.  I knew I couldnt live life with no money.  And I knew the only person that was going to be accountable for my actions was me.  Around 18 I started going to the library and I would read as many books as I can about money.  I heard about a Billionaire from NY named Donald Trump, so his books were the first I read.  For some reason, I grasped eveything he wrote about it.  It all made sense even though it was just head knowledge and not life experienced knowledge. I decided at 18 I wanted to be an entrepreneur for the rest of my life. I decided that until the day I die, I would never stop opening companies.  There was one thing I was 100% positive about. I knew I needed money and I was going to get it no matter the cost.

Around 30 years old, I started making a lot of money.  The only thing I was determined about was making a lot of money. 2 failed marriages later, I finally had it.  But I had no life lessons how to properly get money, keep money or spend money.  As quick as it came in I spent it. Didn’t know how to budget it or save it.  I didn’t respect it.  I just wanted it. It was like a rockstar relationship that is a beautiful nightmare.  Some of you may know exactly what I am talking about.

Somewhere around the age of 40, I came to my senses.  I realized I was spending my life without the Giver of Life.  I knew my Creator, but I wanted his Creation and not him.  I loved everything he offered.  I honestly did.  I loved life.  I wanted his women, good food, good drink.  I loved his oceans, mountains, animals.  I loved the fresh air.  I loved the whole virue and moral code.  Just not the give or the code.  I loved widsom and strength but not the giver of wisdom and strength. I wanted it to enjoy it all.  I had money but I didn’t want him.  I wasn’t thankful for anything he offered. I was rich but inside I was wretched.  I was wicked.  I was poor. I thought I was wise because I accumulated wealth and my brain figured it out!  But I was the fool. I knew very clearly how to make money but I realized something horrible.  Money didn’t satisfy. It was empty. I was empty. I wasn't rich.  I was poor. In Revelations 3:18, it says, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see”. When he opened my eyes and I saw what I had become, all I felt was shame.  I could see myself. I knew one thign for sure. I needed his counsel.  I need this gold refined in the fire.  I knew I needed his riches, not mans riches. I was naked before him and I need white clothes to wear. My sins were exposed.  I needed to be made clean and then white clothes to cover me.  I needed this salve put on my eyes.  I was so blinded. 

Jesus Christ went from being a curse word on my tongue to my Lord, my Master.  I gave my life to him and had to surrender my brain to him.  I put him at the center of my Universe.  I started to worship him.  I learned of him and started to grow in him. I allowed my world to revolve around him.  And then I learned about money.  I learned that a wise man has servants.  A wise man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.  I learned that only a fool borrows money.  A wise man lends money.  I learned that the first 10% of my money belonged to God, so I started tithing to my church.  I learned that money is just something good.  It is not worth selling your soul to have it. Through a period of maybe 8-10 years, I eventually became a missionary and instead of giving to the Kingdom 10%,  I ended up giving to my mission field 90% and I learned to live off 10%.  I learned to trust God with my time, talents and money.  This was the gold, refined in the fire, I needed.  I was becoming truly rich.

Today I do good with my money.  In 2025 I opened a company selling jewelry in the malls called Celebrity Lifestyle.  In the same year I opened another Bus company., Celebrity Coaches, Inc. Then in the same year I opened a diamond distribution company, called Celebrity Diamonds. I opened them up with one purpose, to fund my mission field.  I’ve been a missionary now for 8 years and the Mission Field just requires a lot of money, and it never brings in a dollar.  American churches do!  People give a lot of money to churches. But in a 3rd world country, the average person makes $2 an hour American, and you simply get nothing.  The old formula was to go church-to-church and beg for people to support your ministry.  I know one thing.  I am not a beggar.  God gave me the mind of an entrepreneur. I will use my talents for his kingdom and financially fund it myself before I have to beg anyone. Will my latest companies succeed?  Yes, no, maybe.  I knew I needed more money so did I open 1 company?  No.  I opened 3, incase 1 or 2 don’t produce quick enough.  I now understand money.  I now make money, save money and do good with money. I don’t borrow.  I lend.  I don’t worry about company growth anymore or needing more and more money.  I simply live every day, serving God with the strength he provides.  I set my affections on things above, not on the things of this world.  I fight for the cause of the widow, the poor, the prisoner, the afflicted.  I am a servant of the Most High God.  If he gives me length of days I will do good.  If he takes me home tomorrow, then I get to thank him for his grace face to face.  All I know is He gives.  He takes.  Whether I have a lot of money or no money, I just know one thing. For me to live is Christ and blessed be his name.

What do you do with your money?