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WEALTH AS WITNESS: HOW TO BUILD MORE THAN MONEY
TURNING MONEY INTO MEANING, MISSION, AND MULTIPLICATION
BY DR. LEIGH BYERS, D.B.A., M.A.M.L. CERTIFIED PQ COACH
FOUNDER, HAVE A NEED A MINISTRY | AUTHOR OF GIVING + RECEIVING = SHARING |
CREATOR OF SEVENTH LEVEL LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
“Our money tells a story. Let’s make sure it
honors the One who gave it is in the first place.”
FROM WELFARE TO WITNESS
At one point, I was a professional model
and graduated from a top 10 small college.
Not long after, I found myself a single
mother on welfare. My first marriage was
derailed by broken promises and unmet
commitments. I asked God, “How will I
survive, let alone thrive?” Years later, God
surprised me again. I remarried a true
prince, not because of money, but because
of his deep commitment to God, me, and
my two children. We built a life rooted in
service and faith. I have served as a leader
in church ministry and later in faith-based
nonprofit organizations, including as a
board director and an adjunct professor at
a Christian university, both roles I continue
to hold today. We eventually relocated to a
home with no mortgage in another area. A
no-mortgage life is not common for many.
Through it all, I have learned that wealth is
not a fixed number. It is a story. And our
money is telling us one thing, whether we
realize it or not.
CULTURE REDEFINES WEALTH ON SHAKY GROUND
In today’s world, the definition of wealth
has been distorted. Our culture constantly
whispers (or shouts) that wealth equals
status. The car you drive, the clothes you
wear, and the number in your bank account
become not just possessions, but the
scoreboard of your life.
Social media amplifies this narrative,
suggesting that the more we have, the
more successful we are. Security is
supposedly found in a well-padded
retirement fund or an impressive portfolio.
But beneath this glossy exterior,
something far more fragile is at play.
The truth is, even with greater financial
means, many remain unsettled. According
to the American Psychological
Association (2025), 72% of Americans
report that money is a major
source of stress. It is not just those
struggling to make ends meet who feel
this weight; people across all income
brackets are quietly anxious. Emotional
well-being can increase with income, but
it tends to plateau around $100,000
(Kahneman & Killingsworth, 2023). More
money doesn’t necessarily mean more
peace. We strive for security, but even the
best financial planning can’t shield us
from job loss, illness, relationship
breakdowns, or sudden change.
Faith-based leaders are uniquely
positioned to offer a counter-narrative,
one that is not based on accumulation,
but on purpose. When we define
ourselves solely by what we own,
we miss the richness of who we are.