Faith & Finances
A conversation between Ray & Emily Ihim, guest; and Devaughn Williamson, host.
In this podcast episode, we hear from a dynamic couple, Ray & Emily Ihim, who share their experiences navigating faith, marriage, finances, and career changes. Their journey is filled with challenges, growth, and victories that many can relate to.
Emily recalls how they met on a Christian dating app during COVID. It wasn’t all smooth sailing initially—there were technical glitches, delayed responses, and even a playful deception where she gave a fake name, "Emma," until she felt safe. Eventually, they met in person, connected over tacos, and realized they shared the same goal: a marriage rooted in faith and building a life on God’s word. They dove into their relationship with clarity, stating early on they weren’t just dating for fun, but for a lifelong partnership.
Ray & Emily Ihim on the Faith Ignite Podcast
After getting married, they faced the classic newlywed struggle of adjusting from "me" to "we." Combining their lives—time, money, and space—was an eye-opener. Emily describes the challenge of moving into her husband’s home and feeling like an outsider at first, even referring to it as "his house." Slowly, they navigated these emotional and practical adjustments, including little things like where to place furniture. For her, the shift was bigger, especially since she had lived alone and was used to having things her way.
Then came the real test—combining finances. As a financial coach at Lionhood Financial - whose focus is to assist in personal and business finances, budgeting, and bookkeeping , Ray thought he had all the answers, but even he had to learn that managing money as a team is a balancing act. They had different approaches—Emily preferred doing things on paper, while Ray leaned on technology. Over time, they developed a shared system, creating a monthly budget that both had to agree on. This budgeting process became a cornerstone of their marriage, keeping them aligned and grounded, especially when faith came into play. As he wisely says, "God won’t bless a mess," emphasizing the need for structure when asking for financial blessings.
Their careers also saw shifts led by faith. Ray spoke about how he thought his life would follow a certain plan—college, a degree, and a defined path—but things didn’t go as expected. Instead, he found himself growing in a career where humility and learning became his greatest strengths. He credits his success to staying open to learning, constantly improving, and valuing those around him.
Emily shared her inspiring journey of leaving teaching for the corporate world, even before securing a new job. She applied to over 300 jobs, facing countless rejections. Yet, every day, she thanked God, firmly believing it was her last year teaching despite the lack of confirmation. Her perseverance paid off when she finally transitioned out of education, aligning her career with her faith and starting a new chapter in finance as well as stepping out a starting Mission Strategies LLC - a consulting firm focused on helping business grow, scale and become more efficient through talent development, executive coaching, improved operational procedures.
This faith-driven journey wasn’t easy. Emily struggled with doubt and frustration, but her husband, Ray, would step in, reminding her of God’s promises, helping her to stay grounded and hopeful.This emphasizes the importance of having a strong support system, especially in marriage, where they could lean on each other through tough times. Ray mentioned how their mutual faith allowed them to continually uplift one another, even when facing personal challenges. He shared how they prayed together, stood in agreement, and kept their focus on the bigger picture—God’s plan for their lives.
Ray and Emily also discussed their transition into business, explaining that starting Lionhood Financial and Mission Strategies wasn’t just about money. They felt called to help others manage their finances and businesses through a Kingdom-driven approach. Their businesses now help others create wealth and structure for growth, aiming to make a greater impact in their communities.
Their conversation circled back to the importance of aligning their businesses with their faith. Both emphasized that having a strong “why” behind their work made the “how” easier. For them, it’s not just about financial gain, but about using their talents to help others while advancing God’s Kingdom.
Ray and Emily’s story is one of perseverance, faith, and the power of standing strong together, trusting that with God at the center, all things will align for their benefit. Overall, this conversation is filled with the ups and downs of stepping out in faith. From job rejections to business successes, it emphasizes how faith, community, and perseverance are key to pushing through hard times. Whether it's in marriage, business, or personal life, having faith and acting on it—despite uncertainties—can lead to powerful breakthroughs.
If this story has impacted, inspired or reignited your faith to believe God’s promises for your life, we would love for you to consider becoming a partner of Faith Ignite so we can share even more stories like Ray & Emily’s all around the world! With your partnership, faith can be spread across the world and transform even more lives.
Devaughn Williamson President, Faith Ignite Inc
