Are you building someone else’s dream at the cost of your own freedom? In this eye-opening episode of Prosper in the Kingdom, hosts Jon Cleaver and Wendy Lee uncover the financial and spiritual traps hidden in the traditional W-2 job model—and how to break free God’s way.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of working hard, paying bills, and wondering if there’s more to life, this conversation is for you. Jon and Wendy share their own journey out of the “cubicle farm” and into Kingdom-purpose entrepreneurship, providing practical steps and biblical insight for building real, sustainable wealth.

• Why W-2 income is the most taxed and least leveraged form of income
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• How the Cashflow Quadrant reveals the difference between job security and financial freedom
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• The hidden cost of lifestyle creep and false security in salaried positions
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• The power of duplication through systems, people, and passive income streams
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• Why network marketing and low-barrier business models can be wise, biblical vehicles for wealth
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• How to launch a side hustle without quitting your day job
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• The role of faith, stewardship, and calling in true prosperity
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• Deuteronomy 8:18 – “God gives you the power to get wealth…”
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• Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
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• Matthew 25:14–30 – The Parable of the Talents: God rewards multiplication, not comfort
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If you’re only earning through your own effort and time, you’re not building freedom—you’re selling your time two weeks at a time. God created you for more than survival. He calls you to be a wise steward, to multiply what He’s given you, and to live in freedom that allows you to bless others.

• Keep your job—for now. But treat your side hustle like your freedom plan.
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• Find mentors. Seek those who’ve succeeded in faith-driven business.
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• Leverage systems. Don’t reinvent the wheel—plug into one that works.
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• Invest the surplus. Don’t eat the seed—sow it for growth.
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• Stay anchored in faith. Wealth is a tool for stewardship, not status.
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• 3M Wealth Academy – Learn a proven system to multiply money with purpose
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• Free Financial Plan – Visit SafeMoneyRoadmap.com
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• Money Split System – Watch our free YouTube video to learn how to manage income
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• Want help choosing a side hustle? Message us for our personally vetted opportunities
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“The real fear isn’t failure—it’s responsibility. But that responsibility unlocks something far more powerful than money: freedom.”

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Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with someone ready to stop surviving and start building. Head to ProsperInTheKingdom.com for more tools, teachings, and testimonies.

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What do you do when your business breaks down—and your confidence breaks with it? In this episode of Prosper in the Kingdom, John and Wendy pull back the curtain on some of their hardest seasons as Christian entrepreneurs.

From unexpected tax bills to broken business partnerships, they share raw stories, honest lessons, and the biblical money management principles that helped them start again. If you've ever felt disqualified by financial struggles or unsure how to move forward, this episode will remind you that your calling is still intact—and that rebuilding is possible with wisdom, strategy, and support.

This is a must-listen for anyone serious about aligning their money strategy and purpose with kingdom values.

00:00 – Introduction

Starting over isn’t failure—it’s part of the journey. John and Wendy set the stage for a candid discussion around breakdowns and breakthroughs in business.

03:00 – The Reality of Christian Entrepreneurship

Why "faith + grit" is essential for any financial strategist or solopreneur walking out a calling in the marketplace.

06:40 – John’s Story: When Business Goes Sideways

How a thriving mortgage company, a trusted friend, and a missed legal detail created a $46,000 problem—and what he learned about partnership, contracts, and stewardship.

12:57 – Wendy’s Story: From Success to Stress

Wendy shares how earning five figures a month in network marketing didn't shield her from poor money values. A surprise $55k tax bill nearly took her out, until God re-centered her perspective around biblical money management.

16:40 – Turning Financial Struggles into Strategy

They unpack the shift from ownership to stewardship—and why that shift changes everything when it comes to money strategy, accountability, and peace.

19:53 – Why You Haven’t Failed Until You Quit

No one builds a legacy without scars. This conversation redefines failure and encourages listeners to see their setbacks as setup for something greater.

22:45 – How Your Breakdown Becomes Your Mission

Wendy now helps other entrepreneurs overcome financial struggles—and shows them how to multiply not just income, but impact.

27:30 – Know What You’re Good At—and What You’re Not

Whether you’re a visionary or an operations-minded financial strategist, you need the right people around you. Don’t go it alone.

28:38 – Final Thoughts + How to Get Help

You don’t have to rebuild by yourself. Learn about coaching, our entrepreneur community, and what it looks like to walk in financial values that align with your calling.

• Failure isn’t the end. It’s a lesson, a pivot, and sometimes the doorway into your deeper calling.
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• You need a money team. From bookkeepers to business coaches, don't try to carry everything alone.
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• God is after your growth. He doesn’t waste your mistakes. He redeems them.
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• Biblical stewardship is the difference-maker. Once you shift from "mine" to "His," your financial strategy gets clearer and more fruitful.
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Want support to rebuild wisely—and with kingdom strategy? Join the PITK Wealth Builder Community (launching early 2026) where we walk alongside entrepreneurs ready to align their business with purpose, peace, and profitability.

Coaching & Community Info

➡️ ProsperInTheKingdom.com

• Romans 5:3–4 – Perseverance through trials
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• Ephesians 5:16 – Redeem the time
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• Deuteronomy 8:18 –

The financial landscape is shifting faster than most people realize. In this episode of Prosper in the Kingdom, financial strategists Jon Cleaver and Wendy Lee unpack three major forces transforming the economy right now: the decline of fiat currency, the rising cost of living, and the rapid acceleration of AI in the workforce.

Through practical Christian money management guidance and grounded financial strategy, you will learn how to prepare for what is coming rather than reacting to it later. Jon and Wendy share how to steward resources wisely, reduce financial vulnerability, eliminate debt, and build strong money management strategies that reflect your faith and financial values.

This conversation offers clarity on how believers can respond to economic uncertainty with wisdom, multiple income streams, smart financial management, and proactive planning. It is a wake-up call to take responsibility for your future and begin a true money transformation aligned with Kingdom purpose.

Topics Covered

• The transition from fiat currency to digital assets
• Inflation, cost of living, and the middle-class squeeze
• How AI is reshaping careers, income, and opportunity
• Biblical stewardship versus dependence on the system
• Building resilience through diversified income
• Financial strategies that support long-term stability
• Strengthening your future through intentional financial management
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If you want your finances to be prepared for the years ahead — and aligned with God’s direction for your life — this episode will equip you to make wise, confident choices today.