PHILADELPHIA — Daniel J. Celia, founder, CEO and President, of Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries (FISM, financialissues.org) and host of the nationally syndicated live daily radio and television show, Financial Issues, passed away and entered into Glory on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Dan won his battle over long-term health issues as the Lord ushered him into his eternal home.
Dan was a true patriot and served in the United States military from 1971-1977. He worked for 35 years as an entrepreneur and businessman, started eight corporations and was co-founder of two others. In 1999, Dan sold his trust company, which managed over 900 million dollars, to go into ministry. He developed and used a biblically responsible system of financial management with great success. Dan started a part-time radio ministry in 1997 and the Lord expanded and blessed the ministry to become Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries. In addition to Financial Issues Live, which airs daily on over 660 U.S. radio stations and streams globally, FISM includes FISM TV, FISM News and Outspoken.
On Friday, April 1, Financial Issues Live hosted, “A Tribute to Dan.” Shana Burt and Seth Udinski led the three-hour program and people from around the nation called in to the show to share memories, Scripture and encouragement for Dan Celia and his family—his wife, Yvonne; his daughters Jeanne (husband Kae), Ann (husband Matt) and their eight grandchildren.
During the show, many remembered one of Dan’s favorite sayings, “It’s all God’s anyway,” when he spoke about stewardship of finances—and everything in life. Sentiments from friends, FISM partners, sponsors and listeners were plentiful and tearful:
“Dan was larger than life and all about Jesus.”
“Dan’s passing is a sunset on earth and a sunrise in Heaven.”
“There was a comfort knowing Dan was here—fighting for our country, fighting for the Lord, always fighting for what was right…he was and always will be one of the greatest examples of courage, boldness, truth and strength. He inspired us all.”
One listener remembered Dan saying to him, “Make sure I see you at the ‘Pearly Gates.’”
When it came to honoring God, Dan’s faith was fervent. As he began Financial Issues, he explained why he chose Chapter Four, Verses 1 and 2 of First Corinthians as the foundational verse of the ministry:
“I believe that before we consider our financial stewardship, we must first come to the realization that God calls us, as believers, to be stewards first of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us, as stewards of the gospel, that it is required by God that we would be found as faithful stewards. I believe that all of our financial stewardship—the stewardship of what God owns and that we have a responsibility to manage— is based on the fact that in everything we do, we should be endeavoring to be good stewards of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“One of the ways in which I believe that God has entrusted us to do this is through the giving of our financial resources. After all, we cannot all be teachers and preachers, evangelists, missionaries, or pastors. But, we can all give to those ministries which are proclaiming the gospel, either directly or indirectly, and using their resources to grow the Kingdom. Our goal in this ministry is to help people make good financial decisions. After all, God does own all of it— not just what we give to Him, but He owns the rest as well.”
In typical Dan Celia-style, he described his life this way:
“My greatest blessings worth talking about have been coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as a result of Charles Stanley’s ministry, my marriage, children, grandchildren, receiving my second Master’s Degree in theology, being ordained in 2001, and my service in the military from 1971 to 1977. Beyond that, the rest is insignificant.”
Many Americans rejoice as a dear and true friend is now in the arms of Jesus and these same people deeply feel the loss of one of God’s most faithful servants.
FISM partners with ministries that Dan specifically chose because these ministries are equally yoked together in Christ, including Pre-Born, India Partners, Samaritan Ministries International, American Family Association, Timothy Plan, Christian Community Credit Union, and Liberty Counsel.
Read more about Dan Celia, FISM and “Financial Issues” here or visit the FISM web site, its Facebook page, on YouTube at Financial Issues with Dan Celia or on Twitter @financialissues; download the FISM app here and learn more about FISM.TV here.
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To interview a Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries representative, contact [email protected] or Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
