Andy and Mel Yoon Andrew Melissa Dentist Generosity Neverthirst Income Financial Finish Line Podcast
Finish Line Podcast Episode 24

Andy and Mel Yoon on Giving Away Half Their Income

You may want your income, career, and opportunities to serve a greater purpose, yet still feel the pull to measure success by what you can earn, own, or accumulate.

What changes when you decide in advance to give away more than you keep and begin treating your earning potential as a resource for God’s work rather than simply your own lifestyle?


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Meet your guide

Andy Yoon, a Florida dentist, and his wife Mel Yoon, a city planner, began their careers pursuing the financial security and lifestyle they associated with success. But after Andy’s dental practice struggled and financial stress affected their family, books like Radical and Crazy Love prompted them to reconsider what God might be asking them to do with their resources.

Together, they committed to giving 51 percent of their income and began supporting ministries that combine physical provision with gospel outreach, including Neverthirst. Over time, generosity reshaped not only their finances but also their careers, parenting, friendships, and view of material possessions. They brought their children into ministry conversations, shared giving opportunities with friends and coworkers, and began imagining how future dental practices could exist primarily to create greater Kingdom impact.

Andy and Mel describe percentage goals as guardrails rather than legalistic rules. By the end, you may see how defining enough and giving intentionally can free your career, family, and resources to serve purposes larger than personal accumulation.

What you’ll gain

  • How giving away more than half reshaped their priorities
  • Why generosity goals work best as guardrails, not rules
  • How financial stress can expose what money represents to you
  • Why earning more can become an opportunity for greater generosity
  • How to involve your children in a generous family culture
  • Why sharing your generosity story can inspire others to participate

Inspired? Take your next step

Try the Game of Life Simulator

Step into a four-minute interactive experience and see what unfolds as you decide how to manage your resources.

Start the Game
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Game of Life Simulator Mobile Screenshot

Inspired? Learn how to partner with ministries well.

A compelling ministry story can inspire you to respond. But wise partnership often begins with better questions.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Focus

What is the ministry really seeking to restore?

Learn to look beyond visible needs toward people, context, relationships, and flourishing.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Fruitfulness

How do you recognize meaningful impact?

Consider how ministries learn, evaluate their work, and pursue lasting change.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Faithfulness

What does genuine ministry partnership look like?

Explore how to foster trust, alignment, and shared mission in your giving.

In our Intervention Series on the Applied Generosity Podcast, we’ll help you become a more thoughtful, discerning, and faithful partner.

Start the Series

Quotes to Remember

  • “It’s a really scary place to be, because [God] can give you any answer. He can ask you to sell everything, move to Africa, leave your family, whatever it may be.”
  • “Andy, what have you done with what I’ve given you?”
  • “If I really am taking this seriously, I should be giving more than I take.”
  • “It doesn’t make any sense to us, but there’s gotta be a lot of room for faith.”
  • “The Great Commission applies to everyone.”
  • “When we’re going in to work with an organization, we’re meeting a spiritual need and we’re meeting a physical need.”
  • “We try to surround ourselves with people who will push us harder, push us further, and help us expand what we even think we can do.”
  • “How much is enough? At what point can you just give the rest away instead of it being a percentage?”
  • “Generosity is kind of like a snowball, and as it’s rolling down, it’s just picking up more and more snow and getting bigger and bigger.”
  • “We want to expand more and to grow more so that we can give more.”

Links from the Show

Bible References from the Show

Matt 19:16-22 | The Rich Young Ruler

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Matt. 28:19-20 | The Great Commission

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Matt. 11:28-30 | My Yoke is Easy

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Use Our
Free Guide

Have you considered the ways you are uniquely called into generosity? We’re not all called into the same adventure.

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Use Our
Free Guide

Have you considered the ways you are uniquely called into generosity? We’re not all called into the same adventure.
Generosity Profile Image
Enter your information below and we’ll send you our free PDF guide to explore the specific adventure you were called into.
Generosity Profile Image

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