What We’ll Cover

Kristen Welch is an author, speaker, and the founder of Mercy House Global, but her story is shaped less by achievement and more by surrender. Raised in a generous, Christian home, Kristen followed God’s lead into ministry, writing, and motherhood. Her love for writing led her into the early Christian mom-blogging world where she found community and influence, but it was a 2010 blogging trip to Kenya with Compassion International that unsettled her faith and reordered her calling. That encounter became the catalyst for Mercy House Global and for a lifelong journey of learning what it means to say yes to God with open hands.  

Through Mercy House, Kristen has spent the past fifteen years walking alongside vulnerable women and families through job creation, orphan prevention, and discipleship, both globally and locally. Along the way, she has learned that generosity and ministry busyness without intimacy with God can quietly hollow out the soul. Her story reflects the cost of faithful work, the danger of doing for God without being with Him, and the grace God offers through rest, repentance, and renewed friendship with Him.  

This conversation invites all of us to reflect on how God calls us to slow down, reorient our hearts, and rediscover satisfaction in His presence while living generously.  

Major Topics Include:

• Generosity in hospitality
• Obedience through small, faithful yeses
• Using influence for Kingdom purpose
• Serving without losing intimacy with God
• The danger of doing for God without being with God
• Identity rooted in sonship, not productivity
• Parenting through embodied generosity
• Slowing down to practice God’s presence

Quotes to Remember

• “Just do the next right thing.”
• “We were always looking for ways to use what we had for the gospel of hospitality.”
• “The opportunity to use the writing skill and the blog platform for God’s glory really became a sweet spot for me and it changed my life.”
• “I will spend the rest of my life answering the question, ‘what am I doing to help the vulnerable in our communities and in our world?’”
• “God used the poor to help me find Him in a new way.”
• “God doesn’t need us to do any of this, He invites us to do it.”
• “Being with God is the best use of our time.”
• “It is not a waste of time to spend time with God.”
• “When we live as generous people, our kids will too.”

Links from the Show

• Mercy House Global
• Kristen Welch’s Website
• Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch
• Raising World Changers in a Changing World by Kristen Welch
• Compassion International
• When Helping Hurts (see our interview with coauthor Brian Fikkert)
• Women Doing Well (see our interview with president Julie Wilson)
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Revelation 3:20 | Christ’s Invitation to Intimacy  

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.  

Hebrews 2:1 | Drifting from Jesus  

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.  

1 Thessalonians 5:18 | Gratitude amid Hardship  

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  

Philippians 4:11–13 | Contentment in All Circumstances  

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Kristen Welch, Founder of Mercy House Global, on Intimacy with God Amidst Fruitful Ministry appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

What We’ll Cover

Raised on a central Missouri farm, Kristin Hammett grew up in a family that loved Jesus and lived out steady generosity, even amid the financial uncertainties of farming life. Watching her parents faithfully give a tithe planted early seeds, but it was during college that she made a deeper commitment to Christ, a decision that quietly set the trajectory for everything that followed.  

After college, she entered a sales role with a Fortune 50 company, surrounded by benefits and success, yet she began to sense that God might be inviting her into something more than selling consumer goods. After a season as a stay-at-home mom, she discovered a growing desire to see how her professional skills might serve Kingdom purposes. That curiosity led her to become the first part time development director at a local pregnancy center, where God reshaped her understanding of fundraising as ministry, connecting donors to the doers and inviting people to join Him where He is already working. That journey eventually opened the door to joining The Signatry, helping donors steward all God has entrusted to them for Kingdom impact.  

As Vice President of Family Generosity Services at The Signatry, Kristin has spent her career helping families move from reactive giving to intentional stewardship rooted in faith. Drawing from deep experience on both the nonprofit and givers sides, she now guides families towards alignment, trust, and faithfulness in how they move towards intentional generosity together.  

Major Topics Include:

• Generosity as discipline, then joyful invitation
• Stewarding all assets, not just cash
• Fundraising as ministry and relationship
• Connecting donors and doers in God’s work
• Evaluating impact above overhead in giving
• Understanding cause dynamics and realistic impact outcomes
• Trust and partnership between givers and ministries
• Thinking through non-cash gifts
• Alignment over agreement in family generosity

Quotes to Remember

• “God has all the resources that He needs to fund His work. My role is to connect the resources He’s entrusted to people with the work He’s already doing.”
• “Impact needs to come before overhead.”
• “If we’re only asking people to give from cash, we’re really not asking them to steward all that God has entrusted to them.”
• “Let’s begin to change the conversation, not just about cash, but about all of their assets, and help them understand how those are an opportunity for generosity.”
• “When you realize you’re connecting the donors and the doers, that’s a pretty incredible place to be.”
• “You’re not trying to get something from someone. You’re inviting them to join God where He’s already at work.”
• “In a family, alignment is much more important than agreement.”
• “If you want everyone to give to exactly what you want to give to, that’s a top-down approach, and it rarely creates enthusiasm.”
• “If you hold it open-handed and prioritize alignment over agreement, you’ll often find much more joy and engagement.”
• “Donors are operating in a currency of trust. That trusted partnership is absolutely critical.”
• “When there’s a trusted partnership between the giver and the organization, God does something formative in both.”
• “Fundraising is ministry. Anytime you’re engaging someone around their resources, their finances, and their heart, that’s ministry.”
• “We need to dissolve the barrier between where the ministry happens and where the money comes in, and realize it’s all ministry.”
• “God doesn’t need our money. He wants our hearts. And that’s really, at the end of the day, the message of generosity.”
• “Generosity is not just for the ultra high net worth or those making a lot of money, it’s for everyone. God is not interested in the zeros. He’s interested in obedience.”
• “We’re stewarding our whole life, not just our financial resources, because He wants our heart.”

Links from the Show

• The Signatry (see our interviews with founder, Bill High, and CEO, Steve French here) 
• Mission Increase
• National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)
• The Giver and the Gift by Peter Greer & David Weekley (see our interview with author Peter Greer here)
• Family Generosity Guides  
• Nonprofit blogs: 
  • Major Donor Insight: They are People, Too
  • Engage Donors by Engaging Their Families

• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Malachi 3:10 | Testing God in Giving  

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.  

Matthew 6:21 | Treasure and the Heart  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  

Psalm 50:10 | God Owns Everything  

For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.  

Philippians 4:15–19 | Giving as Partnership

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Kristin Hammett, VP at the Signatry, on Family Alignment Over Agreement in Giving appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

What We’ll Cover

Dave Schwartz had all the signs of worldly success. He was a high-level officer with a Fortune 500 company in the insurance and financial services industry for 25 years before starting a breakaway firm with a friend which grew to a hundred employees in three different states. Life was good. But after some deep, personal valleys—including two open-heart surgeries—God got Dave’s attention in a powerful way and helped him to see that a check-the-box religion wasn’t cutting it and something needed to change. Inspired by his now-wife’s deep contentment and relationship with God, Dave also began to pursue a deeper relationship himself.  

Selling interest in the company he helped start, Dave transitioned to the nonprofit sector where he vetted partners and handled donor funds. He then was invited to lead the missions programs at their church. Little did Dave know that this was laying the foundations for a God-sized vision on the other side of the world.  

Dave and his wife became close with a Liberian family from their church, and in 2021, they had an opportunity to travel to Liberia, the eighth poorest country in the world. Experiencing the extreme poverty at an orphanage there planted a strong desire to do something to uplift the children of Liberia without just giving out hand-me-downs.  

Now, after a few years of divine connections and miraculous generosity, ground will soon be broken for the Agape Empowerment Center, a 15-acre campus designed to raise Christ-centered Liberian leaders through housing, education, and holistic care. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to build a vision from scratch, this episode is for you.  

Major Topics Include:

• Becoming envious of contentment
• How the God-sized vision came together
• Governance, structure, and transparency 
• Giving a hand up without creating a cycle of dependency
• Building a culture one grade at a time
• Involving locals in the mission
• A hopeful view of the next 5 to 10 years
• How this experience has deepened Dave’s faith
• The vision for agricultural and manufacturing enterprise zones
• Building community through collaboration
• Examining the ROI of philanthropic dollars

Quotes to Remember

• “Laying in the hospital in 2012, recovering from my second open-heart surgery, I realized it was time to make a change.”
• “What is a true relationship with our Savior versus a religious ‘check-the-box’?”
• “As I started to change from religion to a relationship with Jesus, contentment started to creep into my life and I had never really experienced that before.”
• “Liberia is the eighth poorest country in the world. Per person income on an annual basis is $530 USD.”
• “I made the very Western throw-away comment of ‘Gosh, Honey, someone’s gotta do something about this.’ Without missing a beat, my wife says, ‘What about us?’ And that’s how the Agape Empowerment Center got started.”
• “If we want them to become the best and to be Christ-centered children, well-educated, then let’s start treating them like the best and stop just giving them our hand-me-downs.”
• “In five or ten years, I see children with joy and hope in their lives.”
• “I have learned that I absolutely have no control. I think I do, but I don’t. And at the end of the day, this is God’s plan or it’s not. I just hope to be able to help implement it.”
• “I’m not going to retire, I’m going to re-fire.”

Links from the Show

• Agape Empowerment Center
• When Helping Hurts (see our interview with coauthor Brian Fikkert)
• Convoy of Hope
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Dave Schwartz, Founder of Agape Empowerment Center, on Finding Calling Over Comfort appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

What We’ll Cover

Doug Cobb, founder of The Finishing Fund, is passionately convicted that we could see the fulfillment of the Great Commission in our generation. In 1994, Doug’s life was changed when he joined Paul Eshleman and the Jesus Film Project for a trip to Nigeria where he caught the vision to see completely unengaged people groups reached with the Gospel. Utilizing his background in startups and venture capital, Doug eventually founded The Finishing Fund, a venture capital fund for the Great Commission, connecting donors to projects intended to reach the unengaged with the Gospel for the first time. In the last eight years, The Finishing Fund has helped get the Gospel to about 800 people groups who had never heard it before.  

In his most recent book, The Sprint to the Finish, Doug discusses three major finish lines that need to be crossed to fulfill the Great Commission—seeing a first Believer in every known people group, a Bible translated into every language, and a church established in every village on Earth. To date, there are only 20 unengaged people groups left in the world, and by God’s grace, The Finishing Fund and its collaborative partners have a shared goal to see the entire world reached with the Gospel by 2033.  

Doug’s conviction is simple but bold: The mission Jesus gave us can be completed in this generation, and God is already making it happen. If you want a front row seat to what God is doing around the world right now, you won’t want to miss this episode.  

Major Topics Include:

• Three finish lines to completing the Great Commission
• The current state of Gospel work in the world
• Comparing approaches—church planting and disciple making
• Stories of signs, wonders, and miracles drawing people to Jesus
• Fueling the Gospel spark in a community
• The biggest obstacles to fulfilling Great Commission
• What operational collaboration looks like
• The evangelistic power of a new Believer
• The Great Wealth Transfer and the Great Commission
• Looking forward to the return of Jesus

Quotes to Remember

• “The statistics tell us that most Christians sitting in churches can’t even tell you what the great commission is, much less can they tell you anything about what’s happening.”
• “I think we’re within a year or two by God’s grace of seeing the work begun in every people group.”
• “God is preparing people of peace in these places and it’s almost like the Spirit is there tapping His toe and waiting for us to show up to close the deal. He’s already working in the hearts and minds of people to prepare them.”
• “When God’s people are willing to go, Jesus will go with them.”
• “Why would the Spirit not do today what He did way back then to validate the testimony of Paul and the other apostles?”
• “I don’t think it’s coincidental that God has created this wealth in the last days at a time when it’s needed, and that creates an enormous responsibility for our generation.”
• “This generation has more than we need to complete the Great Commission.”

Links from the Show

• The Sprint to the Finish by Doug Cobb
• The Finishing Fund (see our interview with founder Doug Cobb)
• Jesus Film Project (see our interview with Executive Director Josh Newell)
• Finishing the Task (see our interview with FTT Global Church Planting Strategist Dan Hitzhusen)
• IllumiNations Bible Translation Alliance (see our interview with Todd Peterson or John Chesnut)
• ACHIEVE Alliance
• New Covenant Missions
• Coalition of the Willing
• Jim Wise, Financial Advisor with Ronald Blue Trust (see our past interview here)
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Luke 16:10a | Faithfulness  

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much,  

Matthew 28:19 | The Great Commission  

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  

Matthew 24:14 | Then the End Will Come  

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.  

Revelation 7:9-10 | Every Nation, Tribe, and Tongue  

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  

Acts 1:8 | Power to Witness  

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Doug Cobb, Founder of the Finishing Fund, on the Last Mile of the Great Commission appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

What We’ll Cover

Ray Chung grew up in a faithful Christian home in Malaysia, watching both sides of his family run businesses that shaped the fabric of their communities. Even as a kid, he sensed that business carried real power, but it wasn’t until his own encounter with deeper faith that he began wrestling with how work, calling, and impact could fit together. College only fanned that flame, awakening a vision for business as a living witness to the Gospel.

Years later, Ray would spend significant time with HOPE International, where a healthy, Christ-centered culture left a lasting mark on him. For more than twenty years, he has been helping leaders and teams reorient their hearts toward the way of Jesus. Now a senior consultant with Rising Sun Consultants, Ray walks alongside organizations as they build cultures formed by servant leadership and spiritual maturity.

Then in 2021, Ray faced a radically personal invitation to generosity when he sensed God asking him to give one of his kidneys. His story is full of wisdom on surrender, Christlike culture, and what it means to faithfully steward the life God has given you.

Major Topics Include:

• The theology of work
• An example of a healthy organizational culture
• Why an organization’s culture is important
• Words of wisdom about the non-profit model
• Assessing an organization’s board, leadership, and financials
• The five elements of servant-leadership
• Prioritizing intimacy with God as a busy leader
• Practical tips for spiritual rest
• Being called to give his kidney
• Stewarding your story, experience, and relationships in a way the points others to Jesus

Quotes to Remember

• “Work is a channel of grace to display the glory of God in meeting needs, ours and our neighbors, as we generate resources that can be shared in the redemptive work of the Gospel.”
• “Business can be a powerful force for God’s transformation”
• “God has been at work in these communities long before we show up.”
• “Organizational culture is really hard to fake long term.”
• “Culture requires intentionality and accountability.”
• “Do I believe that the more I work, the more I can advance the mission? Or do I really think that God is at work here?”
• “Sometimes we need to remember how to be a human being rather than a human doing. I try to give myself permission to be about more than work.”
• “I used to believe the lie that I am what I perform. But I’m learning to believe the truth that I am loved by the Creator and that alone is enough.”
• “Our life is not our own when we are surrendered to God.”

Links from the Show

• Hope International (see our interview with founder, Jeff Rutt or CEO, Peter Greer)
• Jesse Casler (see our past interview here)
• Lead with Prayer by Ryan Skoog, Peter Greer, and Cameron Doolittle (see our interview with the authors here)
• Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
• Lectio 365 App
• Caleb Breakey, founder of Renown Publishing (see our past interview here)
• Kate Gardner, co-host of the Ascendants Podcast and co-founder of Magnify (see our past interview here)
• Alan Barnhart (see our past interview here)
• Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here)
• Dana and Bill Wichterman (see our past interview here)
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Psalm 46:10 | Be Still  

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!  

Luke 3:11 | Share What You Have  

And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”  

John 13:35 | Love One Another  

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.  

Ephesians 3:20 | More than We Can Think to Ask  

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Ray Chung, Leadership Consultant, on Giving What You Can’t Get Back appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

What We’ll Cover

Heather Larson, founder of the philanthropy advisory firm LiveGive, traces her calling to early encounters with need and two decades of church ministry where God used her to build compassion and justice work and steward significant generosity. Those years formed a simple conviction: real change grows when giving is personal, prayerful, and connected to faithful people on the ground.

Today, Heather comes alongside families, foundations, and ministries to clarify passion areas, align spouses and generations, and shape practical “giving dream” plans. Drawing on years of leadership with local and global initiatives, she helps givers move from scattered gifts to strategic portfolios, set gracious expectations with partners, and engage meaningfully beyond the check. We also explore where metrics help and where they can hinder, and how a clear plan can free a family to give thoughtfully together. This conversation offers steady, practical wisdom for anyone seeking to steward God’s resources with discernment and joy.

Major Topics Include:

• Heather’s heart-wrenching stories from the mission field
• Helping families develop a giving dream plan
• Narrowing down a family’s passion areas
• Exploring a family’s values to help select organizations to give to
• The importance of spousal alignment 
• Diversity and growth in philanthropic conversations
• Navigating missed expectations with donors and organizations
• Encouraging meaningful engagement with passion points
• Considerations for impact metrics

Quotes to Remember

• “God, help my heart to always break for the needs in Your world and don’t let me get calloused.”
• “It’s the local church in a community that can really help meet long term needs and bring about transformation.”
• “Even for the most data-driven person, their deepest passions are almost always connected to story.”
• “Once you know a family’s causes and their values, then you can look for great organizations that line up with that criteria.”
• “It will never become a family legacy if it’s one person’s drive. If it’s going to be a family legacy, it’s going to be shaped by all the family members coming together and everyone having a voice.”
• “In our world, there is a need for crisis response and immediate relief services, and there is opportunity for long-term transformation.”
• “If you really want to see transformation and you want to engage well with organizations, it does take intentionality and hard work.”
• “Keep building your giving muscles!”

Links from the Show

• LiveGive
• American Red Cross
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Heather Larson, Philanthropic Advisor, on Aligning Families’ Giving to Create Meaningful Change appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

What We’ll Cover

Alan Barnhart grew up in Memphis, where his parents ran a small crane and rigging company. After college he sensed a call to missions just as his parents invited him and his brother to take over the family business. As he wrestled with the decision, God’s answer was clear; Alan’s full-time ministry was the business world.

From day one, the brothers regarded the company as God’s. To guard against the spiritual risks of wealth, Alan set a “lifestyle finish line,” capping his personal income at the level of a ministry worker. They also committed to give 50% of annual profits to God’s Kingdom. Over the next 39 years, the once-small firm grew toward a billion-dollar enterprise and now channels millions each year into gospel work. Later, Alan and his brother formalized their conviction by transferring 100% of their ownership to a charitable trust, while continuing to lead the company.

Alan’s example has inspired a generation of givers to steward their families, businesses, and resources with wisdom and courage. You won’t want to miss this story.

Major Topics Include:

• Avoiding the dangers of wealth
• Finding freedom in a financial finish line
• How God led him to give away his company while still being it’s steward
• Thinking though what to do with profit
• Developing relationship with the recipients of your generosity 
• Generosity decisions as a group
• Responsive giving vs. strategic giving
• Differences between giving from business capital and giving from personal capital
• Making difficult decisions in generosity 
• Relational aspects of being as a business and generosity leader
• Managing a capped lifestyle with children
• Thinking through company succession
• Stewarding your generosity story

Quotes to Remember

• “God, I’ll go wherever you want me to go.”
• “My full time ministry was going to be in the business world.”
• “Jesus warned about money more than He warned about anything else.”
• “Contentment doesn’t come from stuff, it comes from enjoying what you already have.”
• “Holding things with an open hand has led to freedom.”
• “God isn’t trying to extract something from us. He doesn’t want our money, He wants us.”
• “Generosity breaks the power of greed.”
• “We say no to 99% of giving opportunities so we can give a big yes to the 1% we support.”
• “We want to be as strategic in our giving of money as we are in our making of money.”
• “What does God want us to do with His money?”
• “There is work to being a steward.”
• “What we’re doing is not crazy.”
• “We didn’t see the company as ours, so our kids never saw it as theirs.”
• “Be a steward of your story as much as you are a steward of your money, because your story may change someone else’s life.”

Links from the Show

• Young Life
• Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman)
• Rich Christians in the Age of Hunger by Ronald J. Sider
• National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Matthew 19:23 | A Warning for the Rich

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 6:24 | Choose Your Master

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Matthew 6:19-20 | Treasures in Heaven

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Luke 12:13-21 | The Parable of the Rich Fool

1 Timothy 6:6-7 | Godliness with Contentment

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

Luke 21:1-4 | The Widow’s Offering

Matthew 5:16 | Your Good Works Give Glory to the Father

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 6:3-4 | A Time for Giving in Secret

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Alan Barnhart, Business Leader, on the Story that Sparked a Generation of Givers appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

What We’ll Cover

Bruce Wydick is an economist, professor, and author of Shrewd Samaritan: Faith, Economics, and the Road to Loving Our Global Neighbor. As his faith deepened throughout his college career, Bruce developed an unexpected passion for economic development and the role of the Church. The more he researched, the more he realized a great need for Christian NGOs to be able to measure the impact they’re having on the people they’ve been called to help.  

Bruce helped start the Collaborative for Econometrics and Integrated Development Studies (CEIDS), which has grown into a network of more than 100 development economists, public health experts, and other related fields from all around the world. Together, they work to support the relief and development arms of Christ’s global Church by helping Christian NGOs develop tools and built-in programs so that they and their donors can know where, how, and why they’re truly being effective.  

Bruce brings a rare blend of heartfelt, Spirit-led generosity and a data-driven focus on high impact giving to help followers of Jesus love our neighbors with wisdom by investing resources in ways that truly change lives for the Kingdom. Bruce shares stories from his research and his own journey of faith, emphasizing that generosity isn’t just about good intentions but about stewarding God’s gifts so that they bear lasting fruit.  

Major Topics Include:

• Blending faith and economic development 
• The Story of Mayan Partners in Guatemala
• The biblical picture of human flourishing
• The challenge of impact measurement for Christian NGOs
• Making informed, Spirit-led giving decisions
• Stages of a heart-progression on world problems: The Six i’s—ignorance, indifference, idealism, investigation, introspection, impact
• Developing an identity with those you’re called to serve
• Understanding poverty traps as a giver
• Measuring impact through randomized control trials and quasi-experimental designs
• How givers can use AI to research the most impactful interventions
• Examples of the most effective and ineffective interventions

Quotes to Remember

• “The Kingdom works the opposite of the way that economics says the world should work.”
• “We should not only be good Samaritans, but shrewd Samaritans, that we actively think about what we do, as well as we pray and feel led by the heart.”
• “The poor are important enough to Christ that we owe them an informed decision on how we give and not just a feeling-based decision.”
• “What is the role that God has placed me in?”
• “It’s not about one person saving the world. It’s about one person listening to God and His calling on our lives to serve where He wants us to serve.”
• “If we understand where there’s a need and then see where our gifting lines up with that need, God will bring about His biblically-based human flourishing in that intersection.”
• “Providing cash is almost always better than providing stuff.”
• “The earlier you intervene in a child’s life, the more impactful it is.”

Links from the Show

• Shrewd Samaritan by Bruce Wydick
• Collaborative for Econometrics and Integrated Development Studies (CEIDS)
• Social Impact Analytics Course at University of San Francisco
• Compassion International
• Children of the Nations
• International Care Ministries
• Mayan Partners
• Hope Walks
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Bruce Wydick, Author of the Shrewd Samaritan, on the Art of Spiritual Discernment and Meaningful Impact appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

What We’ll Cover

Madison Illges, Executive Director of Mite, was brought up in a large family that modeled a heart of generosity. Before Madison was even born, her father experienced a simple but life-changing moment of joy in giving—a spark that would one day grow into a vision for helping others celebrate generosity in community. That vision became reality in 2016 when Mite was launched with a mission to make giving better.

Mite is a giving fund that helps donors connect with trusted global projects while removing the guesswork that so often makes giving complicated. Their team researches and vets development projects around the world—spanning education, health, child development, disaster relief, and more—so that givers can confidently support causes they’re passionate about. And as those projects are completed, Mite goes the extra mile to bring the stories home, showing donors how their generosity has impacted real people and communities in more than 25 countries.

Madison stepped in as executive director at a young age and for nearly a decade she has seen God use technology, creativity, and faithful obedience to multiply impact and remind us that generosity is ultimately a celebration of what He is doing around the world.

Major Topics Include:

• The Watermelon Party Story
• How advancing technology brings donors to the field 
• The impact of the widow’s mite story on Madison’s life
• A deep dive into the vetting and reporting process
• How Mite discovers healthy organizations to partner with 
• Analyzing an organization’s theory of change
• The beauty of community in generosity
• Celebrating God in generosity

Quotes to Remember

• “Generosity loosens greed, provides an opportunity to cultivate joy, and aligns us with God’s Kingdom values.”
• “Jesus made note of what the widow gave. And it had nothing to do with how much the widow was dropping in, but it had everything to do with where her heart was in her giving.”
• “There are thousands of fantastic organizations out there that just need financial backing and a cheerleader to come alongside them and help their mission succeed. So we didn’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel.”
• “Project at Mite isn’t considered completed until it’s been filmed.”
• “People have different passion areas which may change with the season they’re in, so people can generally find a Mite project that interests them now and in the future when their interests shift.”
• “Mite is doing our best to build community within what we do, but I have also seen as I visit our donors that they are building little pockets of community on their own with what their doing, and Mite just happens to be one of the vehicles they’re using.”
• “Generosity is an opportunity to celebrate with God in the work He’s doing on Earth.”
• “We know that if you start being generous when you have little, you’re highly likely to be generous when you have much.”
• “What we are after is what Jesus was after with the widow—we’re after the heart in generosity, not the amount that they’re giving.”
• “Don’t wait to arrive. Give now and watch what God can do with your giving.”

Links from the Show

• Mite
• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• Impact Africa
• The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
• Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman)
• Simple Charity (see our interview with CEO Brian Grasso here)
• Gospel Patrons (see our interview with founder John Rinehart)
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Mark 12:41-44 | The Widow’s Offering  

Matthew 6:21 | Treasure from Your Heart  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  

John 3:16 | God, The Ultimate Giver  

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Madison Illges, Executive Director of Mite, on the Importance of Celebration in Giving appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

What We’ll Cover

Tim Barker is the founder of ROI Ministry and author of BOOM: What To Do When Life Blows Up Around You. His journey into generosity began after rising from humble beginnings to great success—only to lose everything during a season of deep trial. In the middle of that valley, God answered a “dangerous” prayer Tim had prayed years earlier: that the Lord would do whatever it took to multiply his family’s kingdom impact. Out of that refining season came ROI Ministry, an organization that has since helped direct millions of dollars to high-impact ministries around the world. In time, God restored what Tim had lost and entrusted him with a voice of influence in the global generosity movement.    

Through ROI Ministry, Tim and his team identify the Top 10 ministries producing the greatest measurable kingdom impact per dollar, helping givers steward their resources with confidence and purpose. In his book, BOOM, Tim shares his own story as a living testimony that God can bring blessings out of brokenness and truly work all things together for His glory and our good.   

Tim was one of the very first guests on The Finish Line Podcast nearly four years ago, and much has changed since then—for ROI Ministry, for Tim, and for us here at Finish Line. In this conversation, Tim digs deeper into the heart of high-impact giving and reflects on what it looks like to trust God through both abundance and loss, offering wisdom for all who long to walk faithfully in the life of generosity.  

Major Topics Include:

• Making a difference from where you are now
• The need to be honest with God in tough times
• Moving from failure to fruitfulness
• Blessing others by letting them help you
• Hearing the Spirit’s leading in the midst of trials
• Seeking God in times of silence
• Giving from your mind as well as your heart
• Embracing both Spirit-led giving and cost-effective generosity
• A call to invest more in the local church 
• What to look for in a high-impact organization 
• Thinking through measurable Kingdom impact per dollar

Quotes to Remember

• “God, what do you want me to do?”
• “My story is really about not giving up, because you don’t know what God is doing through times of refining and where He’s going to take you.”
• “It’s ok to want to give up as long as you’ve decided in advance that you’re not going to.”
• “Be honest with God.”
• “Ninety-seven percent of all Christian giving is going to nations that have already been evangelized, and less than one-third of one percent is actually making it to the billion lost, poorest people in the world who are 3,000 times more receptive to the gospel.”
• “I believe in testing God with the tithe.”
• “You will find joy, hope, and purpose in helping others in ways that make the greatest impact.”
• “If you have an opportunity to impact thousands of people rather than just a few, then impact the thousands.”
• “Eternity is going to be a long, long time, and the more people we impact here, the more we’ll meet over there. And not that we get the credit—God gets the glory. He just gives us the opportunity to be in the game.”
• “When you’ve been faithful, you know that you’re doing what God’s called you to do, and you’re doing it for the right reason, eventually you will see a harvest.”
• “As stewards of God’s wealth, are we encouraging others to do the same thing?”

Links from the Show

• See our first interview with Tim Barker here
• BOOM: What To Do When Life Blows Up Around You by Tim Barker
• EQUIP
• ROI Ministry
• National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)
• Ronald Blue and Co. (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
• Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman)
• Eternal Perspective Ministries (see our interview with founder, Randy Alcorn)
• Cru
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  

Luke 21:1-4 | The Widow’s Offering  

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,  and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  

Matthew 22:37 | Love God with All You Are  

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  

​​1 Timothy 5:8 | Care for Your Family  

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  

Malachi 3:10 | Put Me to the Test  

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.  

Matthew 25: 14-30 | The Parable of the Talents

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Tim Barker, Founder of ROI Ministry, on Embracing Trials in the Generous Life appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.