Podcast appearances and mentions of todd harper

What if generosity isn't something God wants from you, but something He wants for you? Many people approach generosity with hesitation. They hear the word giving and assume a financial ask is coming. They may wonder if generosity will lead to pressure, obligation, or guilt. But biblical generosity is not meant to be a burden. It is an invitation into joy, freedom, and deeper fellowship with God's heart. Todd Harper, co-founder of Generous Giving, has spent more than two decades helping people discover the joy and freedom of biblical generosity. Through Generous Giving's Journey of Generosity experience, he has seen countless people move from viewing giving as an obligation to seeing it as an opportunity. What Is a Journey of Generosity? A Journey of Generosity, often called a JOG, is a one- or two-day conversational experience designed to help people explore what Scripture teaches about generosity. As Todd likes to clarify, “There's no jogging at a JOG.” Instead, participants gather in a pressure-free environment to consider the biblical truth that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The experience includes teaching, stories, discussion, and reflection. Rather than focusing on fundraising, it creates space for people to think deeply and honestly about generosity. That pressure-free approach is central to the experience. Generous Giving does not ask participants for money during a Journey of Generosity. The goal is not to raise funds for an organization, but to help people encounter the beauty of biblical generosity. Removing the Pressure Around Giving For many people, conversations about generosity can feel uncomfortable because they assume there is an agenda. They expect that any teaching on giving will eventually lead to an ask. Todd understands that hesitation. In fact, he says Generous Giving has to repeat often that there really is no catch. After 25 years of hosting these experiences, the ministry has built a reputation for creating “no strings attached” conversations about generosity. That matters because when people do not feel pressured, they are more likely to engage honestly. Walls come down. People can focus on God's Word, listen to stories of real-life generosity, and reflect on what God may be inviting them into. Instead of asking, “How much do I have to give?” they begin asking, “What joy might God have for me in a more generous life?” From Obligation to Opportunity One of the most powerful shifts that often happens during a Journey of Generosity is the movement from “ought to” to “get to.” Many Christians know they should be generous. They believe giving matters. They may even give faithfully. But they can still experience generosity primarily as a duty, an obligation, or a sacrifice. Biblical generosity invites us into something deeper. God is not merely trying to take something away from us. He is forming us into people who reflect His character. He is loosening our grip on money and possessions so we can experience greater freedom, joy, and trust. As people hear stories of others living radically other-centered lives, generosity often becomes attractive. It begins to look less like a demand and more like an invitation. That change never gets old for Todd. He says one of the great joys of facilitating these experiences is watching people move from giving grudgingly to giving joyfully. God Wants Something Good for You For someone who is still hesitant, Todd's encouragement is simple: God wants something good for you. He recently facilitated a Journey of Generosity where one participant, who had walked with the Lord for 40 years, said the experience changed his perspective on generosity and made him want to lean in. That is the heart of biblical generosity. It is not about pressure. It is not about guilt. It is not about meeting someone else's agenda. It is about discovering the joy of participating in God's work with open hands. Generosity shapes our hearts because it draws us closer to the heart of God. Scripture reminds us that God Himself is generous. He gives life, grace, mercy, provision, and ultimately, His Son. When we grow in generosity, we reflect the character of the One who has given everything for us. Take the Next Step If you would like to explore biblical generosity in a deeper, pressure-free way, consider learning more about a Journey of Generosity through Generous Giving. This one- or two-day experience is designed to help believers think more deeply about generosity, faithful stewardship, and the joy of living with open hands. To learn more, visit GenerousGiving.org. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I'm helping settle my mom's estate. Most of it in Ohio is resolved, but a small pension is going through probate in another state, where she passed away. The attorney sent paperwork asking me to waive my right to an estate audit. Is that normal, and should I sign it—especially given past financial misbehavior in the estate? Also, should I hire my own attorney to help me navigate this? I was scammed while looking for remote work online by people claiming to be connected with Temu. They had me rate items, then pushed my balance negative and kept asking me to add money. Now the account supposedly shows $25,000, but they won't let me withdraw unless I pay another $30,000. What should I do? I'm single and interested in charitable gift annuities. Can I set one up so a family member or friend receives income after me, rather than a spouse? I'm considering around $10,000. How would that work, and what should I look for? My husband and I were recently introduced to something called the Starfish program. Are you familiar with it, and how can we evaluate whether it's a good idea? I'm 68; my husband is 61 and still working; and my Social Security benefit is low because I was a stay-at-home mom for much of my life. Can I collect Social Security based on my husband's record, and how would that work for both of us? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Generous Giving | Journey of Generosity (JOG) Federal Trade Commission (ReportFraud.ftc.gov) Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Generosity isn’t something God wants from you—it’s something He wants for you. Many people approach generosity with hesitation, wondering if it will lead to pressure, obligation, or another financial ask. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Todd Harper explain that generosity is an invitation into joy, freedom, and deeper fellowship with God. Then, it’s on to your questions. That’s Faith & Finance Live—where biblical wisdom meets today’s financial decisions—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio. Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio. To join our team of supporters, click here.To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.To learn more about Rob West, click here.To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joanna Hogan, founder and CEO of Inspire Generosity, helps ministry leaders and givers move beyond transactional support into meaningful, trust-filled partnerships. Her vision was shaped through seasons of striving and personal hardship in the nonprofit development space, where God deepened her dependence on Him and reshaped her understanding of generosity. What began as a performance-driven mindset was slowly transformed into a belief that when ministries and givers truly care for each other, there is much greater fruit. Through Inspire Generosity, Joanna equips nonprofits to build healthier cultures of giving that honor both the mission and the giver. She emphasizes clarity, trust, and shared vision so generosity becomes an act of discipleship rather than obligation. Her work addresses common barriers like pressure, misalignment, and fear, offering practical wisdom for leaders and givers seeking greater joy and impact. This conversation offers a grounded perspective on stewarding relationships and resources for Kingdom purposes.  Consider how a more relational approach to generosity could reshape your giving and deepen your trust in God's provision. Major Topics Include: Shifting from transactional to relational generosity Helping others experience joyful, meaningful giving Listening first to understand giver motivations Reframing fundraising as partnership, not pressure Identifying aligned partners over expanding lists Addressing myths that block generosity flow Leading with curiosity to reduce performance anxiety Investing in leaders, not just programs Creating sustainable, trust-based giving relationships QUOTES TO REMEMBER “It happens time and time again where I've stretched or made a faith gift and then something happens that just makes it totally okay.” “God will never let us down.” “This is about looking for someone who wants to participate with their money, along with your time and expertise, to create change in the world.” “Let's stop asking and instead invite giving partners.” “If someone has a meaningful giving experience, they're going to say, ‘what else can I do?'” “It's a relationship. When you've done all the pre-work, the invitation is just the next natural step.” “You don't need more people. You need the right people.” “Your job is to help someone have a great giving experience.” “When you're really curious, you can't be focused on your own performance at the same time.” “This is not about making you do more. It's about giving you permission to do less but better.” “Fundraising tactics actually block the flow of generosity.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Inspire Generosity Women Doing Well (see our interview with president Julie Wilson) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime.   But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What's that next step look like for me?” That's exactly why we've launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity. Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we've shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you've been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.

James Lenhoff, financial planner, pastor, and president of Good Sense Movement, shares how a series of pivotal moments reshaped his understanding of money and calling. After early success helping clients build wealth, the sudden passing of several clients in 2010 confronted him with the reality of accumulated regret and redirected his focus toward faithful stewardship. Influenced by experiences like a mission trip to Haiti and years of intimate conversations with clients, James began to see wealth not as personal security, but as something entrusted by God for a greater purpose.  Through his work with WealthQuest and Good Sense, James helps individuals and families define “enough” by setting financial finish lines, creating margin for generosity, peace, and obedience. He emphasizes shifting from ownership to stewardship, involving family in financial decisions, and using money as a tool for Kingdom impact. His approach addresses both practical habits and deeper heart issues, offering a path toward freedom from fear, comparison, and overconsumption. Consider what “enough” looks like in your own life and how that clarity might reshape your trust, priorities, and generosity. Major Topics Include: Defining “enough” to unlock freedom and generosity Stewardship mindset versus ownership mentality Avoiding regret of over-accumulation and delayed generosity Lifestyle cap as a framework for contentment Family involvement in financial decision-making Margin as the goal of a financial finish line Heart issues driving financial behavior and debt Generosity fueled by purpose, not obligation Saving as preparation for future obedience Integrating faith into financial planning conversations QUOTES TO REMEMBER “I realized I've been so focused on helping people accumulate money, and in the meantime, I was actually causing them to accumulate regret.” “If none of this is mine, that means I'm not entitled to it. I need to actually seek guidance from the Owner.” “When we just say enough is enough, it creates this incredible gift of margin and freedom.” “To decide what satisfaction looks like ahead of time and then just enjoy it is such a beautiful gift.” “The conversation shifts from ‘how much do I have to give' to' how much can we give.'” “I believe in every one of our hearts, there is a specific part of God's heart that breaks.” “In our country, it hurts less to pay credit card debt interest than it does to feel inadequate.” “Saving has shifted from preparing for my future security to preparing for my future obedience.” “I want to be in a position where when God says do this, I can say ‘yes.'” “Track with a ruthless level of detail, not to restrict, but to understand.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Living A Rich Life by James Lenhoff Good Sense WealthQuest FreedUp App Quicken YoungLife Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Matthew 6:21 | Treasure and the Heart For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 25:14–30 | Parable of the Talents Psalm 50:10 | God Owns Everything For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. Genesis 2:2–3 | God Rested on the Seventh Day And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime.   But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What's that next step look like for me?” That's exactly why we've launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity. Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we've shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you've been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.

Todd Harper Leads 6-Piece group into Metronome in Saint Paul, Saturday night May 16 at 7:30. Group members have played off and on with various combinations of each other literally for decades. Todd leads the group through a lot of original music. But when Todd talked to Phil Nusbaum, Todd talked about the inspiration for this group's originality, the late Carei Thomas.

Teri Bledsoe is an entrepreneur, mother, and board chair with Women Doing Well whose life has been shaped by both deep faith and profound hardship. From a young age, she sensed God's presence and developed a posture of generosity, but it was through marriage, adoption, and seasons of financial uncertainty that her trust in God was refined. A pivotal moment early in her marriage revealed God's personal care, setting a foundation for a lifelong journey of open-handed giving and dependence on Him. As God entrusted Teri and her husband Chris with significant wealth through a business exit, He simultaneously led them through painful seasons, including the loss of their son. Rather than separating joy and suffering, God used both to deepen their intimacy with Him and with each other. Through her involvement with Women Doing Well and other generosity communities, Teri now helps others discover that generosity is not about outcomes, but about responding to God's invitation and experiencing His joy in every circumstance. Listen to explore how God meets you in suffering and invites you into a deeper, joy-filled life of generosity. Major Topics Include: Generosity as response to God's invitation Faith formed through suffering and surrender Defining “enough” to unlock freedom Joy and sorrow coexisting in Kingdom life Stewardship over ownership of wealth Generosity strengthening marital unity Community as catalyst for generous living Mining for joy through intentional giving Trusting God's character over outcomes QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Generosity is a response of gratitude to who He is and what He shows us of His character and His love and His grace.” “Generosity isn't an outcome-based exercise in the Kingdom. It's an intimacy and relational exercise with the King.” “God of the universe was talking to me and saying, ‘I see you, and I'm going to move heaven and earth so you don't miss an opportunity to respond to my goodness.'” “You cannot outgive God.” “He is not a taker. He's a giver.” “Those tracks of joy and sorrow were just running straight parallel.” “The joy of giving and being on mission with the Lord was the only counterbalance to the suffering.” “There's a special grace in suffering where He shows you that He is enough.” “I won't let go until you show me your joy.” “When you give, what you specifically gain is the joy of the Lord.” “Generosity is the way He unlocks that joy.” “The greatest joy of giving has been what God has done between Chris and me.” “When I see him get burdened for a Kingdom cause, I fall in love all over again.” “Have 100% confidence in God, and He'll take care of whatever giving mistakes you might make.” “He is enough. He is whatever you need.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Women Doing Well (see our interview with president Julie Wilson) The Gathering (see our interview with CEO Josh Kwan) National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Redeemer City to City Pine Cove Christian Summer Camps Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby Theo of Golden by Allen Levi The Power of Generosity by Boyd Bailey BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Malachi 3:10 | Test Me in This “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.” Psalm 27:8 | Seek His Face “You have said, ‘Seek my face.' My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.'” John 10:10 | Life to the Full “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Acts 20:35 | More Blessed to Give “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” John 15:11 | Joy Made Full “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 3:16 | God So Loved He Gave “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” James 1:17 | Every Good Gift “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Genesis 32:26 | Wrestling with God “Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day has broken.' But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.'” TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime.   But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What's that next step look like for me?” That's exactly why we've launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity. Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we've shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you've been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.

Pete and Debbie Ochs, longtime entrepreneurs and leaders in faith-driven business, share how God reshaped their understanding of money, work, and purpose over decades of walking with Him. Pete began his career pursuing success through hard work and financial gain, while Debbie brought a steady foundation of faith and generosity from her upbringing. Through seasons of business growth, financial pressure, and personal conviction, God led them to see that everything they had was not theirs to own, but to steward. That shift transformed how they built companies, gave generously, and ultimately released control.  Pete is the founder of Capital III, an investment and operating company focused on building businesses that create economic, social, and spiritual capital, and the founder of Enterprise Stewardship, which helps leaders build high-impact businesses rooted in purpose and long-term flourishing. From creating jobs inside prisons to establishing a stewardship trust for their business, Pete and Debbie's work now reflects a commitment to building economic, social, and spiritual impact. Along the way, they learned to set a finish line, cap their lifestyle, and follow the Holy Spirit in both planned and spontaneous generosity, deepening their understanding of risk and surrender. Explore how surrendering ownership can reshape your decisions, relationships, and long-term vision for Kingdom impact. Major Topics Include: Stewardship versus ownership in God's economy Surrender as foundation of faithful stewardship Integrating faith and business without compartmentalization Creating economic, social, and spiritual capital Setting a lifestyle finish line for generosity Shifting mindset from accumulation to outward impact Listening to the Holy Spirit in everyday generosity Practicing intentional and spontaneous giving rhythms Involving family in generosity and stewardship decisions Using business as a platform for Kingdom impact QUOTES TO REMEMBER Pete Ochs “Stewardship is not waving the white flag. It's not giving up. It's coming to the understanding that the Creator of the universe wants to come alongside you and co-create with you to change the world.” “My 30s were about success, my 40s were about significance, and my 50s were about surrender.” “When we really live as stewards, it's not 2 million is mine and the rest is God's. It's zero-one hundred. It's all His.” “The question is not a net worth number. The question is a lifestyle number. How much should you be paid to manage what God has entrusted to you?” “You cannot violate God's principles and expect Him to bless it. When you live according to His principles, He will take care of you.” “Business, I believe, is the most powerful platform to change the world.” “We try to create economic capital, love people relationally, and be ready to share the hope we have with gentleness and respect.” Debbie Ochs “Our mindset changed from what we can get to what we can do for others.” “We want the Holy Spirit to lead us. When He prompts, we want to act.” “Generosity begets generosity.” “We didn't want to just write checks. We wanted to be involved, to know people, and to walk alongside them.” “Communication is key. You have to share what you're learning and how God is working in your life.” “Involve your family in giving. That's how the next generation begins to see and live it.” “We started looking at everything differently when our focus turned outward instead of inward.” “When God gives you opportunities, you have to be ready to respond in that moment.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Enterprise Stewardship Capital III YoungLife Crown Financial Ministries Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW 1 Peter 3:15 | Reason for Your Hope “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect.” Galatians 2:20 | Crucified with Christ “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Luke 10:25–37 | The Good Samaritan 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.” Matthew 6:3 | Give in Secret “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime.   But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What's that next step look like for me?” That's exactly why we've launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity. Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we've shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you've been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.

Sharla Langston has spent decades working at the intersection of faith, purpose, and generosity. After beginning her career as a petroleum engineer and serving in roles that ranged from Alaska to Capitol Hill, God gradually redirected her path through experiences that reshaped her understanding of stewardship and calling. Her journey eventually led her into ministry roles with a local church, the National Christian Foundation, and ultimately into deeper work helping others discover how generosity connects with the unique purpose God has given them. As co-founder of Women Doing Well, Sharla has helped thousands of women explore how their God-given purpose, passions, and resources fit together. Through research, community, and guided pathways, the ministry helps women overcome barriers to generosity and gain clarity about how to steward their time, talent, and treasure. In this conversation, Sharla reflects on the lessons she has learned across the generosity ecosystem, from local churches to global impact investing, and shares practical wisdom for walking faithfully through fears, decisions, and opportunities around giving. Listen to discover how identifying your God-given purpose can unlock greater confidence, freedom, and joy in generosity. Major Topics Include: Discovering purpose as the foundation for generosity Aligning purpose, passion, and giving plans Overcoming fear and scarcity in stewardship Community as a catalyst for generous living Unique generosity barriers faced by Christian women Integrating generosity within marriage and family The role of advisors in serving women well Giving and impact investing as complementary tools The limits and strengths of generosity in the local church QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Discover your purpose, ignite your passion, and then make a plan for giving and living in God's image.” “The purpose sector of getting a two-word purpose statement so brilliantly covers your whole life. You can look back on it and you can look forward with it.” “When purpose and passion align, the confidence to step into generosity grows tremendously.” “When God personally acts so strongly, the faith builds.” “Find your people. They're out there. They need you and you need them.” “Community is what women wanted and needed but often couldn't identify.” “If there's fear present, you have to ask what's really behind that.” “God gives us so much more than financial resources that we can actually be generous with.” “When believers are putting their investments to work for the Kingdom, from mutual funds to core capital, that's something everybody can do.” “The prayerful approach to giving or investing strengthens what God can do in and through us.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW When God Interrupts by M. Craig Barnes Crown Financial Ministries National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) Generous Church (see our interview with founder Patrick Johnson) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Women Doing Well (see our interview with President, Julie Wilson) How to Find a Date Worth Keeping by Dr. Henry Cloud Impact Foundation (see our interview with Founder, Aimee Minnich) Faith Driven Investor Faith Driven Entrepreneur TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime.  But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What's that next step look like for me?” That's exactly why we've launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity.  Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we've shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you've been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.

Emanuel Bistrian, Executive Director of Generosity Path, grew up in a small Romanian village under communism, one of twelve children in a faithful Christian family. After immigrating to Chicago with almost nothing, he watched his mother give generously even in scarcity. That witness shaped his ambition, not simply to succeed, but to live on purpose. Over time, as he built businesses in the United States and Romania, God reshaped his view of wealth from something to secure into something to steward with open hands. In this conversation, Emanuel shares how he and his wife chose to give from revenue rather than profit, trusting God through the global financial crisis and seasons of real risk. He describes how local generosity is transforming churches in places like Ethiopia and South Sudan, restoring dignity and fueling gospel work from within communities rather than depending on the West. Through Generosity Path, he now helps leaders around the world discover generosity as surrender, community, and mission. Listen to explore how courageous generosity can restore dignity and strengthen faith in every season. Major Topics Include: Generosity as surrender, not strategy Giving from revenue, not just profit Trusting God through financial risk Integrating faith and entrepreneurship Building generosity into business systems Community as catalyst for generous living Restoring dignity through local generosity Shifting from Western dependence to local ownership QUOTES TO REMEMBER “I realized that God wasn't poor in Romania. We as His people needed to learn generosity.” “If we didn't do something that extreme, we would never give.” “We didn't want to wait to tally up the profits to see if we were profitable enough to give.” “I would rather risk too much than too little when it comes to generosity.” “It's never a thing of how much you have. God can multiply the fish and the loaves.” “We all have everything we need to accomplish what God has called us to.” “Generosity in community is the next logical thing. Why wouldn't you want to give with others?” “Business people can be quite lonely, but community brings the joy back.” “Generosity restores dignity.” “When the Holy Spirit downloads His heart into yours, transformation takes place.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Generosity Path Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving Praxis (see our interview with Cofounder Josh Kwan) MacLellan Foundation (see our interview with Director of Generosity, John Cortines) Handful of Rice video Bishop Hannington video TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime.  But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What's that next step look like for me?” That's exactly why we've launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity.  Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we've shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you've been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.

On the Finish Line Podcast, we have always believed in the power of stories. Over hundreds of conversations, we have seen how God patiently draws people into generosity across an entire lifetime, often through unexpected paths.     Yet for many, these stories also surface an honest question: “What does this mean for me, and where is God calling me next?”     In this special episode, fellow Finish Line board members David Campaigne from Blue Trust and Matt Mancinelli from Generous Giving help us introduce our most significant development since the launch of the Finish Line Pledge: The Applied Generosity Podcast.     Each story we've shared in the last few years has been shaped by unique calling, personal surrender, and profound steps of faith. Yet over time, patterns have emerged. While no two stories are the same, many givers find themselves crossing the same terrain, wrestling with similar questions, fears, and decisions along the way.     Applied Generosity was created to help make sense of that shared landscape, exploring seven dimensions of generosity that repeatedly show up across the journeys we have heard.      It provides a map, helping bring orientation, language, and clarity to where God may already be at work in your own life and where He may be inviting a next step.      If you've been inspired by the stories you've heard on Finish Line Podcast, but long for clearer discernment about the next step in your own journey, then Applied Generosity was specifically made for you. QUOTES TO REMEMBER David: “Generosity is a journey, like life is a journey. You plant a seed, you water it, but ultimately it's God who makes things grow.” Matt: “We're being invited into being more like Jesus as we give.” David: “God doesn't need our money; what He ultimately wants is our heart.” Cody: “Some of the largest obstacles to living generously are fear and greed, and these are both addressed by answering the question, ‘how much is enough?'” Matt: “If I see an opportunity to bless somebody in a way that would boost their faith and I can come alongside them, that's when I'm fired up to give.” David: “I want to know that my giving, whether to an individual or an organization, is going to draw people to Jesus.” Kealan: “Generosity is one of the strongest means by which God enables me to trust Him.” David: “How can we leverage the currency of that which is passing away into the currency of that which will endure forever?” Kealan: “Applied generosity is simply naming the shared landscape of the the generous life and providing some definition to it so we can see the whole picture and figure out where that next right step is in our own journey.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Applied Generosity David Campaigne, Financial Advisor at Ronald Blue Trust (see our past interview here) Heather Tuininga, Founder of 10|10 Strategies (see our past interview here) Matt Mancinelli, Managing Director at Generous Giving (see our past interview here)  Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) Ronald Blue Trust (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) The Treasure Principle (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn) God and Money (see our interviews with co-authors Greg Baumer and John Cortines) Museum of the Bible Hope International (see our interview with founder, Jeff Rutt or CEO, Peter Greer) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 | God Makes Things Grow   Luke 16:10a | Faithful in Little and Much   “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much,   1 Timothy 6:17-19 | True Riches   As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,  thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.   Matthew 6:21 | Treasure of the Heart   For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   John 3:16 | God's Generosity   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.   Proverbs 16:9 | God Directs Steps   The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.   Psalm 90:12 | Number Our Days   So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.   Matthew 25:14–30 | Parable of the Talents   Matthew 22:37 | Loving God Fully   You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Michael Blue serves as Director of Discipleship and former President of the Ron Blue Institute, and his life reflects a steady journey of learning to trust God with open hands. Raised in a home shaped by biblical financial stewardship, Michael developed strong habits around money early on. Yet it was in his thirties, amid professional success and financial security, that God exposed a deeper restlessness. What appeared stable on the surface revealed an inner hollowness, leading Michael and his family into a season of prayer, surrender, and renewed reflection on what faithful obedience truly means. In his current role, Michael focuses on forming biblical and practical financial wisdom in the next generation, particularly among high school and college students. He has also helped pioneer the 9:23 Fellowship, a discipleship journey that invites believers to take up their cross daily and follow Jesus in every area of life, including how they steward money, grow in community, and trust God's provision. Michael's calling is to help believers align their finances with wholehearted discipleship, viewing stewardship as worship and generosity as freedom rooted in trust. This episode creates space to rethink money, faith, and obedience in ways that feel both convicting and hopeful.   Major Topics Include: Learning to live openhandedly Thinking through savings as a giver Relying on God for provision Engaging younger generations through the Ron Blue Institute Helping the Church recognize and overcome greed and covetousness  Four H's of biblical stewardship for college students The difference between “bread” and “seed” Flourishing together in community Learning to be a good receiver Stretching your faith through steps of generosity QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Giving ought to be joyful and saving ought to be purposeful, but if it's just rote obedience, you can lose the heart behind it.” “God delights in inviting us to participate in His story.” “Stewardship is managing our money for the glory of God.” “Our capacity to meet people in their time of need all comes down to our margin of time and money.” “Whenever we feel like God gives us more, more often than not, it's seed for sowing.” “The most generous people are the least fearful people I know. They're not wracked with anxiety about providing for them in the future.” “We were made to flourish together in community.” “We're all created to be both givers and receivers, so a healthy church is one where I can both give and receive.” “The thing that drives us to a life of continued generosity is hungering after who God is, what he's done in our lives, and how we can grow nearer to HIm.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Ron Blue Institute (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns International Justice Mission (IJM) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW 2 Corinthians 8-9 | The Macedonian Church   Matthew 6:33 | Seek First the Kingdom   But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.   Luke 9:23 | Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Christin Fejervary serves at the National Christian Foundation, where she helps understand generous Christians and the patterns shaping their stewardship. Coming from a background in research before joining NCF, Christin has helped execute numerous large studies which have helped shape the current understanding of Christian givers.   This past year, Christin helped lead NCF in some of the most comprehensive research on millennial Christians through the NextGen Stewardship Study, a comprehensive study focused on how young Christians, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, approach wealth and generosity. Christin explains the enormity of the Great Wealth Transfer, projected at $124 trillion to be passed on to these generations by 2048, and the need to understand their unique characteristics and motivations.    Her work highlights how agency, shared family values, and hands-on involvement are shaping this rising generation, as well as the unique opportunities emerging as women inherit a growing share of global wealth. She also describes the practical ways families can cultivate unity through generosity and why younger Christians are eager to bring their whole lives, not just their finances, into God's work.   Whether you are a next generation giver or are navigating how to enable the next generation yourself, you'll find this episode packed with insight.   Major Topics Include: How agency shapes stewardship and spiritual growth Differences between wealth creators, inheritors, and hybrids Generational contrasts in trust, involvement, and giving patterns The rising influence and needs of next-gen women Family unity formed through shared passions and giving Tips for preparing for the Great Wealth Transfer wisely Practicing stewardship through small, hands-on decisions Unlocking whole-life generosity beyond liquid assets Advice for organizations who are trying to engage multiple generations God's invitation to women in stewardship QUOTES TO REMEMBER “I was learning how to pursue a relationship with Jesus in the everyday. It wasn't just about going to church on Sundays. It was really about bringing Jesus into every part of my life.” “In my 20s, when I started to understand this relationship with Jesus, it was something where I could actually have conversations with Jesus and ask for help.” “God just showed up. He provided so much in those early years when we didn't feel like we had much money.” “Faith is the guiding principle in stewarding wealth for all generations.” “The attribute that was most correlated to positivity about wealth was seeing it as responsibility, that it's about God's work in the world and joining God's work in the world.” “Taking action helps your faith. It helps you grow closer to your family. It helps you grow closer to your purpose.” “Women at large and the cohort of next-gen women are more likely to be collaborative, they're more likely to do giving circles, and they're looking for a journey more than a transaction.” “Women and mothers are the biggest influences of generosity in the home.” “Women, especially women inheritors, struggle to find their voice. They don't feel like they have a voice at the table of wealth transfer and those conversations.” “Younger generations want to see the data. They want to see the impact and the numbers. They want to get personally involved because they feel they can make the difference.” “We're seeing more and more people give from the ninety percent of their wealth, not just the ten percent they hold in liquid assets.” “I think God is showing up in tangible ways and urging people to give from all of their wealth and not just their liquid assets.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) The NCF Next Gen Stewardship Study Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Impact Foundation (see our interview with Founder, Aimee Minnich) The Millennial Impact Report Lilly Family School of Philanthropy – Lake Institute on Faith & Giving The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Luke 21:1–4 | The Widow's Offering   Luke 8:1–3 | Women Supporting Jesus's Ministry 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Mike Perez, a seasoned financial advisor and author of Faith and Finances, didn't start his career thinking about generosity or Kingdom impact. He began in accounting, building a solid professional foundation, but deep down, something felt incomplete—both professionally and spiritually. A series of God-ordained encounters drew Mike into the world of financial advising and, more importantly, into a place of full surrender to Christ. From that point on, his question became: What would it look like to truly live out my faith through my finances?   Over the last 33 years, that question has shaped Mike's entire career. Today, he carries a special passion for helping those in or near retirement “finish their race strong” by aligning their financial plans with their spiritual calling. In Faith and Finances, Mike distills decades of wisdom to help believers embrace biblical principles for financial success and radical generosity. Along the way, he offers profound insights on discovering your personal calling, setting a financial finish line that frees you to give boldly, stewarding your time and resources with eternal purpose, and building a legacy that outlives you and points others to Christ.   Major Topics Include: Mike's journey through living out is faith in his finances Learning generosity and stewardship in community The importance of heart change on the stewardship journey  What does it mean to finish well? The five pillars of a faith-driven retirement Important conversations about legacy Advice for doing legacy well as a follower of Christ Estate mapping with families Tips for experiencing heart change Three steps of a Journey of Generosity experience Practical tips for setting a finish line Living out calling beyond the working years  Encouragement to keep growing and stretching in faith and generosity QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Our industry is all about people getting the money thing right, and I think that's fine and good. But I think what's more important is getting the life thing right, especially in the second half of life.” “Ephesians 2:10 says that you were designed for good works, it doesn't say that all bets are off once you're retired. You're meant to do good works until the end.” “We shouldn't be asking God, ‘How much should I give?' but rather ‘How much should I keep?'” “Does it take more faith to give while you're here or after you're gone?” “I don't think the journey ever ends because God's always working on our hearts.” “Giving breaks the power of money.” “Your best days can be ahead of you!” “Just take your next step with Jesus.” “Generosity is a muscle. The more you work it out, the stronger it becomes.” “God just wants to know that He can use you.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Faith and Finances by Michael Perez The ABC's of Financial Freedom by Barry L. Cameron  National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) Christian Franchise Advisor Network (CFAN) with Ameriprise Financial Ronald Blue and Co., CPA (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) Eternal Perspective Ministries (see our interview with founder, Randy Alcorn) Fields of Gold by Andy Stanley The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey Decade By Decade by Bobb Biehl The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Proverbs 27: 17 | Sharpened by Community    Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.   Psalm 24:1 | God Owns It All   The earth is the Lord‘s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,   Ephesians 2:10 | Created for Good Works   For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.   Matthew 6:20 | Treasure in Heaven   but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Mark and his two guests, Mike Radway and Todd Harper, go deep with a history lesson on the passing of HR 1151. This legislation paved the way for credit union growth in the past 25 years. Both Todd and Mike worked in the office of Rep. Paul Kanjorski at the time, who spearheaded the legislation. Every credit union employee who hasn't learned about this law should listen to why we have the successful industry we have today.IN THIS EPISODE:(00:00) This special episode is a historical background of the credit union industry(03:15) Todd Harper's his credit union background, noting his work on HR 1151(05:59) Mike Radway's 50-year credit union journey, influencing legislative affairs and HR 1151(09:35) Creation of the common bond credit unions, driven by financial services(11:55) Explanation of the Supreme Court ruling against the common bond credit unions, leading to HR 1151(17:53) Passing a bipartisan bill, establishing a cap on business lending, and providing consumer choice(26:21) Why it's difficult to pass legislation today(33:10) Surprise changes in the credit union industry over the past 25 or 30 years KEY TAKEAWAYS:HR 1151, the credit union membership access act, was pivotal in allowing common bond expansions, enabling credit unions to serve diverse groups and ensuring consumer choice despite Supreme Court challenges.A bipartisan effort by Paul Korski and Steve Ette, supported by Todd Harper and Mike Radway, drove the legislative affairs success of HR 1151, addressing the crisis consensus to protect credit unions.The business lending cap, a result of banking committee negotiations, spurred diversification and growth of community charter credit unions, strengthening the financial services industry.RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter - WebsiteMark Ritter - LinkedInTodd Harper - LinkedInMike Radway - LinkedInBIOGRAPHIES: Todd Harper:Few people know federal financial services laws like me. That's because I've written, explained and implemented them for 25+ years. As an agency executive, policy entrepreneur, political strategist and press pro, I've identified emerging issues, shaped public opinion, built bipartisan coalitions and advised lawmakers and presidential appointees before the U.S. Senate twice confirmed me in the Trump and Biden eras. In the words of the American Banker, I'm “the rarest of Washington creatures: A regulator who actually gets along with everyone.”Mike Radway:Former Chief-of-Staff to Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).Former Professional Staff, House Banking/Financial Services Committee.Former Chairman, Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle & Council of Federal Home Loan Banks.Former Chair, Early Care and Education ConsortiumFormer DNC Member, Biden delegate 2020, Obama 2012, Gore 2000Former Treasurer, Democratic Party of OregonKEYWORDS: Credit Unions, History Lesson, HR 1151, Todd Harper, Mike Radway, Membership Access, Financial Services, Community Charter, Business Lending, Common Bond, Legislative Affairs, NCUA Board, Bipartisan Effort, Consumer Choice, Supreme Court, Banking Committee, Crisis Consensus, Diversification, credit union growth, credit union industry, Common Bond Credit Unions, Financial Services, Credit Union Membership Access Act, Common Bond...

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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Michele Dudley is the founder of BraveWorks and Restoration Residences, where she has poured her heart into making a Kingdom impact among those who are often overlooked. After starting her career as a CPA, a life-changing mission trip to Burundi opened her eyes to the needs of the global church and set her on a new path of generosity and solidarity with those facing deep suffering. Michele is an avid learner and her deep curiosity has led her into many creative opportunities for giving. Through BraveWorks and Restoration Residences, Michele has impacted the lives of many trafficked, abused, and incarcerated women, as well as helped families in need transition out of homelessness. A self-identified connector and advocate, Michele is highly integrated in the generosity community and has a passion for helping others give well and invest with a generous heart.    Major Topics Include: Finding creative opportunities to give Stories of serving and empowering women through BraveWorks Being a generous connector Committing to community in the generosity space Approaching investing from a heart of generosity  Stewarding investment and philanthropy dollars Practical advice to get started in impact investing Navigating various levels of engagement and responsibility in generosity Encouragement for women to engage in the generosity community Trusting God in the messiness of generosity  Hearing from God in stewardship decision-making Quotes to Remember “I felt like I had basically lived my life ignoring the plight of the suffering.” “It's so important for us to become proximate to people who have different lived experiences than we do.” “Whether it's somewhere across the world or across town, we can have really transformative experiences, even in our own community, but we have to be willing to be uncomfortable and humble and put on a willingness to learn from others.”  “A lot of times, I had no intentions of starting anything. I just took the next step that the Lord showed me.” “There's something that's healing when you recognize the struggle people have been through.” “It's really inspiring to be in these spaces where people do have resources but they're taking the humble perspective of ‘I've been entrusted with this, I really want to honor God.'” “If I wasn't in this space where I was continually being challenged, I think it would be easy to just fall into the culture and the ways of the world.” “Too often, we only focus on our philanthropy and we don't think about what we're doing with our investment dollars, and oftentimes, the investment dollars are undoing the very things that we're trying to do with our philanthropy. God calls us to steward all of what He's entrusted to us in a way that honors Him.” Links from the Show BraveWorks (formerly Fashion and Compassion) Restoration Residences Cru Compassion International ALARM – African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Faith Driven Entrepreneur  Faith Driven Investor Faith Driven Foundation Course Praxis Praxis Capital Fellowship The Gathering Stewards Not Owners by Dana and Bill Wichterman (see our past interview here) Impact Foundation (see our interview with Founder, Aimee Minnich) The Table (via Impact Foundation) National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) Infinite Giving 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.

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/NCUA in Limbo: What the Board Shakeup Means for Credit UnionsEpisode Date: July 28, 2025 Host: Mark Treichel Episode SummaryThe NCUA board is in complete chaos following President Trump's firing of board members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka, their court-ordered reinstatement, and subsequent legal stay. Mark breaks down the dramatic week of legal battles, analyzes what happened during last Thursday's awkward board meeting, and predicts the 80% chance Harper and Otsuka won't return permanently.Key Topics CoveredThe Legal Drama TimelineTrump's firing of Harper and OtsukaFederal court ruling that Trump violated the Federal Credit Union ActWednesday court decision ordering immediate reinstatementWeekend stay blocking their returnLikely Supreme Court appeal aheadLast Thursday's Board Meeting AnalysisHarper and Otsuka's awkward return (Harper via video, Otsuka in person)Three "safe" briefings: AI, CLF, and the new Ombudsman officeThe "500-pound elephant in the room" that everyone avoidedWhy staff is in an impossible positionWhat's Next for the Board80% odds Harper and Otsuka don't return permanentlyKyle Huffman's term expires next monthPossibility of Trump appointing 2-3 new board members before year-endImpact of onboarding multiple new board members simultaneouslyInspector General Report BombshellCritical Infrastructure Division Director scandal exposedFalse statements on background investigationsSending sensitive NCUA documents to personal emailUnauthorized outside employment while at NCUAPossible connection to unauthorized AI usageBudget ImplicationsTwo-year budget cycle hanging in limboNo mid-year budget briefing despite historical precedentHow a Republican board majority might cut costs to credit unionsAugust board meeting hiatus continues traditionNotable Quotes"The 500 pound elephant in the room relative to the whole issue, all three sides avoided.""I would say 80% chance that they do not come back and that the places will be filled before the end of the year.""The professionalism of staff is well above average. And while they're going through all these things, it's chaotic."Upcoming ContentMark announces the OCC Risk Report series - breaking down his longer three-person discussion with Dennis, Steve, and Todd into shorter Thursday episodes throughout the summer. These will explore OCC findings and their implications for credit union examinations.

This Day in Legal History: Grant DiesOn July 23, 1885, Ulysses S. Grant—former president and Union general—died of throat cancer at age 63. While honored as a national hero, Grant spent his final years in financial ruin due to a high-profile fraud scandal. He had invested heavily in a Wall Street brokerage firm, Grant & Ward, run in part by his son and the scheming financier Ferdinand Ward. Ward operated what would now be recognized as a Ponzi scheme, using incoming investments to pay off earlier clients and falsely promising high returns. When the scheme collapsed in 1884, Grant lost virtually everything, and the public was stunned to see a former president facing poverty.Rather than accept charity, Grant chose to write his memoirs as a final act of financial restoration. He completed them just days before his death, and their publication by Mark Twain's publishing house ultimately secured his family's financial future. Meanwhile, Ferdinand Ward was arrested, tried, and convicted of grand larceny in 1885. He served six years in prison, and his case became one of the most publicized white-collar crime prosecutions of the 19th century.Legally, the case underscored the absence of federal oversight in securities and investment practices during the Gilded Age. There were no federal securities laws or regulatory agencies at the time, and prosecution of fraud fell to local authorities using traditional theft statutes. The scandal later became a reference point in discussions around the need for more structured investor protections, eventually influencing the rationale for the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Grant's financial downfall, despite his stature, revealed the vulnerability of even prominent individuals to unchecked financial fraud.A federal judge ruled that President Trump unlawfully removed two Democratic members of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) board. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali held that the firings of Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka in April violated congressional protections that limit when board members can be dismissed. The decision orders both officials reinstated. At the time of their removal, only one board member remained—Republican Chairman Kyle Hauptman—leaving a regulatory gap in oversight of the $2.3 trillion credit union sector.Harper, initially appointed by Trump in 2019 and later elevated to chairman by President Biden, was serving a term set to expire in 2027. Otsuka was confirmed in 2023 with a term ending in 2029. Both argued their dismissals were unprecedented in the NCUA's nearly 50-year history. The Trump administration defended the firings by asserting broad presidential authority to remove such officials at will, a position echoed in other disputes over the limits of executive power at independent agencies. The ruling reinforces the legal principle that certain regulatory positions are protected from politically motivated removals.US judge rules Trump illegally fired two Democratic members of credit union agency | ReutersThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit dismissed a class action lawsuit brought by eight Malian citizens against Hershey, Nestlé, and five other major cocoa companies. The plaintiffs alleged they were trafficked as children and forced to work under brutal conditions on cocoa farms in Ivory Coast. They sought to hold the companies liable under U.S. laws against human trafficking and forced labor. However, the court ruled 3-0 that the complaint failed to plausibly connect the plaintiffs' forced labor to cocoa specifically sourced by the defendants.Judge Justin Walker wrote that while the companies purchase a large share of Ivorian cocoa, the complaint did not establish that the cocoa harvested by the plaintiffs ended up in the defendants' supply chains. The court emphasized that a general connection to a region is insufficient to meet legal standards for liability under trafficking laws. The trial court had previously ruled in favor of the companies in 2022.The plaintiffs' attorney, Terry Collingsworth, criticized the ruling, arguing that global corporations are effectively shielded from accountability by the opacity of their supply chains. He said his clients are considering further legal action. This decision follows a March 2024 ruling by the same court that dismissed similar claims against tech companies over child labor in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Hershey, Nestle, other cocoa companies defeat appeal of child slavery lawsuit | ReutersThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that New Jersey cannot enforce its 2021 law banning new contracts for immigrant detention facilities. The court sided with CoreCivic, a major private prison operator, which had sued the state over the law's potential to block the renewal of its contract for a 300-bed detention center near Newark Airport. In a 2-1 decision, the panel held that New Jersey's ban unconstitutionally interferes with federal immigration enforcement, which relies heavily on private detention centers.Writing for the majority, Judge Stephanos Bibas stated that states cannot obstruct the federal government's operational choices, including its use of private contractors. The ruling emphasized that immigration enforcement is a federal domain, and state laws cannot disrupt its execution. Judge Thomas Ambro dissented, arguing the law only regulated state and local government actions, not the federal government directly.The case has national implications, as the federal government under both Republican and Democratic administrations has defended its authority to contract with private facilities for immigration detention. Critics, including New Jersey's attorney general and immigrant rights groups, argue that privatized detention presents serious health and safety risks and prioritizes profit over human rights. The ruling follows similar court decisions, including a 2022 case blocking California's comparable law while upholding a narrower Illinois statute.US court blocks New Jersey ban on immigrant detention in CoreCivic lawsuit | ReutersA federal judge in Manhattan formally dismissed a mail fraud case that had been effectively resolved over three decades ago but never officially closed. The defendant, Yousef Elyaho, was charged in 1991 with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. In 1993, he entered a deferred prosecution agreement, and his bond was released, meaning the case should have been dismissed if he complied with the agreement. However, due to an apparent administrative oversight, the case remained open on the docket for 32 years.No legal action occurred until 1999, when the case was oddly marked as reassigned to “Judge Unassigned,” and then sat idle for another 26 years. It was only in 2025 that the case came to the attention of U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who officially closed it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Balsamello acknowledged in a court filing that the government had intended to dismiss the case back in 1993.This unusual situation highlights how clerical errors can leave cases unresolved, despite defendants meeting their legal obligations. The judge's action brings formal closure to a prosecution that, in practice, ended decades ago.US ends a mail fraud case, 32 years late | ReutersAnd in a piece I wrote for Forbes this week:I draw a comparison between ancient Egypt's pyramid-building and the current surge in data center construction across the United States. In both cases, monumental building serves more as a symbol of legitimacy and power than as a practical investment in public welfare. Pharaohs once drained resources to erect ever-larger pyramids, eventually destabilizing their own society. Today, states offer enormous tax incentives to attract data centers—facilities that often generate minimal long-term employment while consuming huge amounts of electricity and water.In the piece, I focus on how these data centers, like the pyramids, have become political symbols. They are marketed as engines of innovation and economic growth but often leave the public footing the bill for infrastructure costs and strained utilities. For example, Pennsylvania passed a $75 million tax exemption for data centers, and similar policies have ballooned to over $1 billion in Texas. Meanwhile, the promised economic benefits frequently fail to materialize.I argue that this race to build tech infrastructure, without considering long-term sustainability or community impact, mirrors a historical pathology: spectacle overtaking substance. These facilities may one day be ruins of a different kind—monuments not to progress, but to political ambition and misaligned priorities.The Pharaohs Built Pyramids—We Build Data Centers This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Ron Anderson, CFP® and founder of Plan A Wealth Management, grew up in a farming family in Nebraska where seeds of financial wisdom and deep faith were planted early. After college, he launched into the world of financial advising—but it wasn't until years later, after moving through several firms, that he stepped out to start his own practice, one grounded in biblical truth and eternal purpose.   A turning point in Ron's life came at a Generous Giving Conference, where God stirred something new in him—a vision for radical generosity and bold obedience. Since then, Ron has committed his life and work to listening for God's voice and faithfully following where He leads, no matter how uncertain the path. His story is marked by courageous leaps of faith, remarkable provision, and a deep trust in God's economy.   Ron also shares his conviction that rest is a discipline, not a luxury—both for himself and those he serves. In this episode, he opens up about how cultivating rhythms of rest has helped him, his clients, and his community live more joyfully, generously, and purposefully.   Major Topics Include: Ron's early life on a Nebraska farm and faith background How he viewed money and wealth in his early career His introduction to generosity and biblical money principles Tanking leaps of faith in generosity Growing trust through obedience in giving How God speaks to Ron about generosity Learning rest through learning trust in God Creating a structure for sabbath rest in his life His sabbath plan and rest retreat for generous givers What his family sabbath plan looks like each week How sabbath rest has changed his work rhythm  What he wishes more people understood about generosity and rest Ron's passion for faith driven investing Advice for using a giving account QUOTES TO REMEMBER “If you're listening and you're following Him, He's going to take care of you, give you unimaginable opportunities, and an adventure of a lifetime in the process.” “If you say ‘yes' to God, He will take you on a journey that you will never regret going on.” “I asked everyone else how much to give, but I hadn't thought about asking God.” “God was showing me He was in control of how much money I had.” “All I had to do was listen and obey, and He takes care of the rest.” “God takes us on a journey when we relinquish control.” “Generosity costs me a lot and gives me just as much in return.” “I think we're supposed to give to what God cares about.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Psalm 127:2-3 | He Gives His Beloved Sleep   It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.   Hebrews 4:1 | The Promise of His Rest   Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.   The views and opinions presented here are for general illustrative and informational purposes only.They are not intended to be specific investment, tax or legal advice for any individual and should not be construed as such. Always consult a financial, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation. All information presented is believed to be from reliable sources, but we make no representations as to their completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance information is historical and not indicative of future results or performance. All investing carries risk including possible loss of principal. Securities offered by Registered Representatives through Private Client Services. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory products and services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives through Plan A Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor. Private Client Services and Plan A Wealth Management are unaffiliated entities.

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/ Did the Trump Firings Cause a Regulatory Crisis at the NCUA? Warren & Waters Demand AnswersEpisode OverviewMark Treichel breaks down the congressional response to President Trump's firing of NCUA Board members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka, examining letters from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Maxine Waters that question the agency's legal authority to operate with only one board member.Key Topics CoveredThe Firings and Immediate AftermathApril 16, 2025: Trump fires NCUA Board members Todd Harper and Tanya OtsukaOnly Chairman Kyle Hauptman remains on the three-member boardQuestions arise about the agency's ability to function without a quorumCongressional ResponseElizabeth Warren & Maxine Waters demand answers about NCUA's operationsLetters sent to both the NCUA Inspector General and Board Chairman HauptmanFocus on whether single-member board can legally conduct agency businessThe "Essential Functions" ControversyNCUA relies on delegation authority allowing "essential functions" during emergenciesProblem: No clear definition of what constitutes "essential"Historical context from early 2000s when similar situation occurred with Dennis DollarActions Taken Under QuestionThe IG identified 11 Board Action Memorandums (BAMs) approved by Hauptman alone:Semi-annual agenda establishmentBoard appeal hearing approvalSchedule policy career petitionDeferred resignation program approvalSSP performance standards changesNCA delegation revisionsExamination schedule policy revisionShare insurance rule simplification commentsPersonnel appointments and reassignmentsActing Inspector General appointmentBoard meeting transcript approvalBonus controversial action: Credit union conservatorshipLegal and Political ImplicationsRegulatory crisis: Agency's own regulations require two board members for actionPolitical undertones: Warren designed single-director CFPB but opposes single-member NCUAPending lawsuits: Harper and Otsuka challenging their firings in courtPotential solutions: Trump could appoint new members or court could rule on legalityExpert AnalysisMark Treichel provides insider perspective as former NCUA Deputy Executive Director who helped create the "essential functions" delegation in the early 2000s.Key Questions RaisedWhat constitutes an "essential function" of the NCUA Board?Can the agency issue regulations with only one board member?Are the actions taken since April 16th legally defensible?Will pending court cases resolve the authority questions?Timeline to WatchJuly 7th: Deadline for Hauptman's response to congressional demandsOngoing: Court cases challenging the firingsFuture: Potential new board member appointments

In the midst of what has already been a tumultuous year, the credit union movement was rattled in April by the unexpected firings of NCUA Board Chairs, Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka. There has been a lot of speculation about what this could mean for the future of credit unions and the broader financial services industry. Elizabeth Eurgubian, a current Partner at Atlas Advocacy and the former NCUA Director of External Affairs and Communications and Policy Adviser, joins us on this month's episode of The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to offer both perspective and levity. We discuss some of the NCUA initiatives embarked upon during her tenure, the continued importance of bipartisanship, and of course, this month's BIG question: What are the consequences, either intentional or unintentional, of the recent NCUA shake-up, and how can credit unions mobilize to protect the future of the movement?

In the midst of what has already been a tumultuous year, the credit union movement was rattled in April by the unexpected firings of NCUA Board Chairs, Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka. There has been a lot of speculation about what this could mean for the future of credit unions and the broader financial services industry. Elizabeth Eurgubian, a current Partner at Atlas Advocacy and the former NCUA Director of External Affairs and Communications and Policy Adviser, joins us on this month's episode of The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to offer both perspective and levity. We discuss some of the NCUA initiatives embarked upon during her tenure, the continued importance of bipartisanship, and of course, this month's BIG question: What are the consequences, either intentional or unintentional, of the recent NCUA shakeup, and how can credit unions mobilize to protect the future of the movement?

✅ Why most dads get generosity completely wrong (and how to flip the script) ✅ Fun tactics to teach young kids the joy of giving (the $20 tip story will blow your mind!) ✅ The simple 4-pillar framework that works at any income level ✅ How money lies to our families about security, control, and happiness SUMMARY Money whispers lies to our kids every single day—promising security, control, and happiness it can never deliver. In this powerful episode, Todd Harper shares how his son went from declaring "I'm going to be filthy rich and never give a dollar away" at 15 to sacrificially giving a third of his salary before his death at 26. You'll discover why most dads approach generosity as an "ought to" instead of a "get to," practical ways to make giving fun for young kids, and Todd's simple four-pillar framework that works regardless of your income level. Takeaways The switch from "ought to" to "get to" changes everything about generosity—and kids can smell obligation from a mile away Once someone tastes the joy of giving, they never go back; Todd has never met a "former generous person" Simple tactics like leaving a $20 tip on a $3 check and watching through the window create unforgettable generosity moments for kids The four pillars of stewardship: Work diligently, give generously, save responsibly, live contentedly Money lies to us about security, control, happiness, and affirmation—contentment isn't tied to financial realities Taking kids to serve special needs children or experiencing international poverty shatters entitlement and builds gratitude The 1% challenge: increase your giving by 1% each year and watch God's faithfulness compound over decades Guest: Todd Harper is a passionate advocate for biblical generosity and the heart behind Generous Giving, where he's spent 25 years helping families discover the joy of open-handed living. Married to his college sweetheart for 37 years, Todd is a father of eight kids (five biological, three through marriage) and is about to become a grandfather. After losing his eldest son Davis seven and a half years ago, Todd has gained a deeper perspective on eternal values and the importance of living with heaven in view. Through Generous Giving, he's worked with families across the wealth spectrum, helping them experience the life-changing shift from obligation-based giving to joy-filled generosity. Links: Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome Learn about the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618 Generous Giving: www.generousgiving.org Journey of Generosity experiences National Christian Foundation Nathaniel's Hope (Make Them Smile events) Quotes: "We can't BS our kids. They read through all of it. If we're generous out of obligation, it's not going to translate differently for them." "I've never met a former generous person." "The world of the generous gets larger and larger. The world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller." "Everybody wants to experience a miracle, but nobody wants to be in a position to need one." "Money, money, money—all I really want is my dad to know my friends' names."   Davis Harper's gift to his dad on his 50th birthday: 1) I love how you love mom. Your marriage is such a great example to me.  2) I love how you brag on your kids. You're always telling someone about the cool things your kids are doing.  3) I love that you love watching basketball with me and asking questions. You want to know my world.  4) I love that you took us on trips growing up, im learning the value of all those experiences as I grow up.  5) I love how international you are about family time. You are the most happy whenever you are with your family.  6) I love that you are active. It's bad to the bone that you still cycle and golf and water ski, you're a total cool dad!  7) I love your saying "pay for experiences, not stuff"  8) I love hearing how good a friend you are to people. People are always telling me how incredible of a friend you are to them.  9) I love that you're a reader. You're always telling me about something you're reading or something I should check out.  10) I love that you unconditionally love me. Your example of how to love your wife and kids is incredible. 

Karla Merrell was the first in her family to immigrate to the US from Panama to pursue the American dream. After years of success in the corporate world, Karla still struggled with the scarcity mindset that was passed down in her family's culture. But during the beginning of COVID, Karla faced a sequence of events that led her to step deeply into both faith and generosity. One memorable act of generosity set the stage for an exciting and adventurous life of faith in the years that followed.    Now, Karla is passionate about breaking generational cycles of scarcity and fostering a generous culture in her own home. She invites people to express generosity in multi-dimensional ways, and facilitates connection and spiritual growth in unexpected outreach avenues.   Major Topics Include: Karla's faith and cultural background How her generosity journey began with a single email Learning about the nature of God through her generosity awakening Comfort and hope in total dependence on Jesus A walk through the Women Doing Well process that revolutionized Karla's mindset A view of generosity and money in a Hispanic context Growing out of generational scarcity into a culture of generosity Discovering the power of constant prayer through running How starting a faith-based running group became an outreach opportunity  Generosity as more than money Practical ideas for exercising relational generosity QUOTES TO REMEMBER “I didn't have a generous bone in my body.” “We are absolutely dependent on Jesus.” “There comes a point when you have to make a decision—do I want to return to the person I used to be, or am I courageous enough to change and become the person I didn't know I needed to be?” “You have to decide if you are going to be a consequence of your background or you want to create a new generational story.” “When you give spontaneously in response to the Spirit, you never miss that money.” “When I decided to stop holding on so tightly to all the things I thought I could control and I thought belonged to me, a whole new world opened.” “The dependence on God is what makes the whole thing exciting.” “Generosity is not just money. Money is a great way to express generosity, but there is so much sacrifice in other things too.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) Fellowship of Christian Athletes The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Luke 16:13 | God Or Mammon?   No servant 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.” 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Mary Helen Klingen began her career in accounting but transitioned to financial advising after a few years in the corporate world. Currently with Blue Trust, she regularly supports clients in embracing deeper generosity. As a single woman in a male-dominated field, Mary Helen has grappled with her singleness in relation to her faith, career, and purpose. This journey has inspired her to encourage other women in similar situations to find their voice in the space God has given them.    Mary Helen is passionate about empowering single women to integrate their faith and finances. She actively participates in the stewardship and singles ministries at her church and offers practical advice that you won't want to miss!    Major Topics Include: Mary Helen's faith background and career journey Integrating faith and finances in the unique culture of Blue Trust Being the only woman in the Houston office How her struggles led into ministry Common barriers to generosity for spenders and savers Viewing singleness as an asset in generosity  Navigating the search for purpose and contentment in the single season Mary Helen's experience setting a finish line as a saver The importance of talking about money in the Church QUOTES TO REMEMBER “We are called to generosity not because God needs our money, but because He wants to do something through us.” “The way you know you care about a mission is if you pass it on to someone else.” “In the moments when I feel different, I remember that at the end of the day, these men and I have Christ in common. We're all Believers, and that's the most important thing about us.” “Jesus asked more questions than He answered. So as financial advisors, we follow that model to get to the heart level.” “I had to learn contentment in the stage and season of singleness that God had for me before I could move into a more open-handed, generous space with my own finances.” “I didn't find the answer I was looking for, that marriage was guaranteed or promised to me, but what I did find was a good God who loves me and has provided for me.” “We get the opportunity in singleness to see the beauty of following Jesus and to have Him, and in having Him, to truly have all that we need.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Blue Trust (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) God and Money (see our interviews with coauthors Greg Baumer and John Cortines) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) 7 Myths About Singleness by Sam Allberry Compass Financial Ministries (see our interview with CEO, Brian Holtz) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Hebrews 10:39 | Don't Shrink Back   But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.   1 Timothy 6:17 | Set Your Hopes on God   As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.   Psalm 37:4 | Delight in the Lord   Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.   Psalm 34:10 | Seek the Lord   The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.   Psalm 23:1 | The Lord Provides   The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.   1 Corinthians 7:6-8 | Better to be Single   Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.   Matthew 28:20b | I Am with You Always   And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.   1 John 1:7 | Fellowship in the Light   But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/The NCUA's boardroom has been rocked. Two board members fired. DOGE staff roaming the halls. Rumors of a regulatory consolidation swirl. In this must-hear episode, Mark Treichel is joined by former NCUA Board Member Geoff Bacino and former NCUA Congressional Affairs Director John McKechnie to unpack one of the most chaotic weeks in recent credit union regulatory history.From unprecedented dismissals to the looming question of NCUA's independence, we cover:

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/NCUA Predictions: What Will the Do in 2025?Treichel: [00:00:00] Hey everyone, this is Mark Treichel with another episode of With Flying Colors. Today I am flying solo and I am calling this podcast something like what I expect from NCUA in 2025. In preparing for today's show, I took some notes going back and looking at NCUA's Agenda from their board action taken in 2025 and am gleaning based on the Trump administration and the Helpman leadership.What may or what may not happen in 2025 compared to 2024. When you go back and look at 2025. They had canceled two board meetings. So that was one takeaway. They canceled the March, 2024 board meeting, which was the first time in a long time that that had happened. And they canceled the June, 2024 meeting.So this was under then [00:01:00] chairman Todd Harper, who is now a board member at large, although he came close to being named vice chair, and you can check out some of my past podcasts for discussions on why that may have blown up anyway. It things continue to blow up at the board level, but I'll get to that here shortly.All right. They canceled 2 board meetings and they held for N. C. U. S. I. F. share insurance fund briefings. I report on those quite a bit here and on linked in because that's 1 of the few windows to generic camel code ratings. You can see when camel code ratings go up and they did 4 of those. in 2024.I'm expecting they'll do four of those in 2025. They did one cyber security update briefing and they did a new charter update and briefing and tip to what I might say in the future. I think there will be more briefings because I don't think the board will be acting on much because I don't think the board [00:02:00] is currently getting along because of the kerfuffle on NSF and overdraft fees.All right. So other things they did they did a proposed succession planning rule and a final succession planning rule. They did an incentive based compensation proposal, which I think will go nowhere in 2025. That was put out there because Biden's administration required it from all. Banking agencies and under the Trump administration there will be less or zero regulation.And I don't see them wanting to put proposals in on incentives. If you'd know what I mean. In July, there was a loan rate ceiling approval to. re approve utilization of the 18 percent rate. That's what they do every time. The trade associations come out saying you should allow that to go up or you should make it based on variability.If NCOA was ever going to raise it, it would have been last year and or the year before. They [00:03:00] didn't seize that opportunity because they thought it would have been egregiously harmful to credit unions and credit union members. I disagree with that, but they will vote on that again because they have to vote on it and they will likely just do what they've done umpteen years in a row, which is reaffirmed the 18%.I expect that to happen in July again. All right. What else is going to be happening? Potentially, they did have a board appeal in August. By the way, they typically don't have open board meetings in August. That was a closed a closed item where a credit union appealed something without revealing what I know relative to that.That was a field of membership appeal. There was a fair hiring and banking proposal, which doesn't need to repeat in 2025. They simplified the insurance rules. And then when you get close to the end of the year, what happens at the end of the year and CUA approves their budget. But before they approve their budget, they do a budget briefing.A little [00:04:00] bit of history on the budget briefings. The budget briefing started when I was the deputy executive director and they were started by Dennis Dollar. And I remember saying to that executive director, Len Skiles, if you do this, Make sure you want to do it and it was for transparency. But once you start something, it's very difficult to stop it.And I'll get to that and why I'm making that point. I'll get to it now, but I'll refer to it again. So NCOA did stop it. I believe it was under the Matt's administration and the trade associations got upset because that was their opportunity. One of their opportunities to show value saying your budget's too high.Here's why we think it's too high. And through assistance from Senator Mark Warner in Virginia, they were able to get the Federal Credit Union Act proposed, requiring NCUA to do a budget briefing. They are required to do a budget briefing. I believe they will do a budget briefing. I'm not so sure they will do a budget.They're not [00:05:00] required to do a budget, and they are required to do a budget briefing. They're not required to do a budget, and that's because there is a two year budget. So I'll get to that and why I think that they may not do a budget when we walk through what I think will happen in totality in 2025. The NCOA approved their annual performance plan, which is linked to their strategic plan, already in January.That was one of the last things they did prior to Hauptmann taking over. So they don't need to do that annual plan, but they do need to do another strategic plan, and that would be due by the end of 2025 for the years 2026 through 2030. Will they do that? We will see. All right. So when you look at what is going to happen and what I predict will happen in 2024, that's a little bit about what happened.What I'm predicting in 2024 is that the theme of canceling board meetings will continue. They, as I mentioned, they canceled March and June. I'm [00:06:00] expecting that they may cancel April or May. Or June or July, I don't believe they're going to have enough briefings to keep an agenda full. I don't believe they're going to agree on enough things because of the arguments they're having about about NSF fees and overdraft fees being reported by over a billion dollar credit unions.There's two approaches here. Kyle Hauptman canceled and changed the. Way that billion dollar plus credit unions were going were reporting for three quarters on NSFs and overdrafts saying that it's overkill and it's onerous on the credit unions, et cetera, et cetera, and that they would be looking at that during part of the examinations and then after he announced that at GAC and then.Board member Harper and board member Otsuka came out with their own press releases, and I understand they did a full court press on [00:07:00] Capitol Hill on the topic and came out saying that what's wrong with transparency? There should be transparency here. Why are you stopping something that was started and that credit unions had been providing and that's bad for members?So that's the nexus I wanted to say where I mentioned with Dennis Dollar that when he started the budget briefings, I thought they would never be stopped. And it's hard to stop something when you do. What happened? Debbie Matt stopped the budget briefings, and then lo and behold, the Federal Credit Union Act was changed and INSU 8 was required.to do that. So at some point, whether it's when the next time there's a D in the White House or there's a D in running the Dems have control of Congress. And the White House, you're going to see more on the fee situation. You're going to see NCOA go back to collecting this data. Will it be in 4 years?Will it be in 8 years? Will it be sometime sooner than that? [00:08:00] My guess is not before the four year period. I can't see how it went flip floppi...

Lauren France, founder of the Lydia Network, encountered the Gospel after graduating college and was immediately captivated by its transformative power. Her passion for sharing Christ and making disciples quickly took root, leading her to serve in various capacities where she honed her skills in organization and fundraising. As she grew in leadership, she recognized how these gifts could be leveraged for the advancement of God's Kingdom.   With a deep calling to empower global church leaders, Lauren now serves as Director of Development and Marketing with Equipping Leaders International, which provides theological training to indigenous pastors across 38 nations. Along this journey, she became increasingly aware of the vital role of women in fueling Kingdom work through generosity. This realization inspired the founding of the Lydia Network—a nationwide movement equipping and empowering women to step boldly into their God-given calling as givers. Today, the Lydia Network unites women from all backgrounds, mobilizing them as catalysts for the extraordinary work God is accomplishing around the world.   Major Topics Include: Lauren's inspiring backstory Gaining the pinhole-to-panoramic view of missions Why Lauren is so passionate about women givers The Lydia Network story The desperate need for theological resources and training for global church leaders The cost of training and equipping indigenous pastors Powerful stories of how God is moving in the nations  Encouraging women to help fulfill the Great Commission through giving Crossing denominational, racial, and generational lines to further the gospel Stories of women leveraging their passions and skill sets to enable generosity What's ahead for the Lydia Network QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Long before I ever knew God, God knew me.” “We get the privilege of living this adventurous, generous life with God. God has that for His daughters and He wants them to live whole-heartedly.” “About 95% of global church leaders have no theological training.” “If you transform a leader, you transform a church. If you transform a church, you transform a community.” “God is building the next movement of generosity in the Church.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW The Lydia Network Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Equipping Leaders International When Women Give by Kim King The Generosity Gap by The Barna Group Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Polished Network Women & Work by Courtney Moore The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW 2 Timothy 2:2 | Making Disciples   And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”   2 Corinthians 9:8 | Sufficiency in All Things   And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.   Matthew 18:20 | There I Am   For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Speaker and author Brian Kluth has been deeply involved in the generosity space for decades and has thought deeply about how to effectively communicate the joy and adventure that is to be had in the generous life. For the last forty years, Brian has been teaching biblical financial principles and helping countless people discover the joy of living a generous life through international seminars, books, and other written materials.   Brian and his wife, Mary Ellen, have also begun many works as generosity mobilizers. In partnership with many other organizations, these works are helping to improve the lives of millions in Africa and around the world by providing solutions for basic needs and sharing the Gospel. Brian is overflowing with stories of generosity and risky faith that are sure to build faith and inspire.   Major Topics Include: Brian's transformative salvation story Seven simple, biblical keys to generosity Why to separate your giving money from your living money How he and he wife give according to God's blessings How living with a finish line prepared him for life with a pastor's salary The evolution of the modern generosity movement Becoming a “donkey for Christ” in Africa The magnifying impact of partnerships Tips for staying focused when you're growing tired QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Generosity is God's crazy mathematics. when you honor God, you're inviting Him into your financial life.” “God helps you in ways you can't even imagine.” “You cannot buy your way to contentment. Contentment doesn't come from getting everything you want; it comes from being thankful for everything you already have and sharing it.” “I have one goal in life: to one day hear ‘Well done good and faithful servant.'” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Global Generosity Pledge 30-Day Devotional and 40-Day Devotional (Generosity Pledge) Gospel Lights Sandi House Healthy Charity National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Crown Financial Ministries Ronald Blue and Co., CPA (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) Generosity Path Generous Church (see our interview with founder Patrick Johnson) Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) Faith Driven Investor Faith Driven Entrepreneur Christian Economic Forum Compass Financial Ministries The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Ephesians 4:28 | A Thief No More   Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.   John 7:38 | Rivers of Living Water   Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'”   1 Corinthians 16:2 | First-Fruits Giving   On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.   1 Timothy 6:6-7 | Contentment But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Alisa Hoober has been connected with Hope International since her elementary school years. During that time, her family and church began partnering with a sister church in Ukraine, which laid the groundwork for Hope's mission today. Through family trips abroad and a strong foundation of biblical values, Alisa was raised in a culture that emphasized stewardship, generosity, and contentment.   Alisa Hoober has been connected with Hope International since her elementary school years. During that time, her family and church began partnering with a sister church in Ukraine, which laid the groundwork for Hope's mission today. Through family trips abroad and a strong foundation of biblical values, Alisa was raised in a culture that emphasized stewardship, generosity, and contentment.   As an adult, Alisa spent 10 years on Hope International staff before transitioning to spend more time with her young children. Currently, Alisa serves on several boards, including that of Hope International, and is actively involved in the generosity community alongside her husband. She has valuable insights to share about finding one's calling, establishing priorities, raising generous children, and setting a financial finish line.   Major Topics Include: Learning and teaching the principles of “Earn, Save, and Give” Growing in generosity as a couple Intentionally raising children in a culture of generosity Balancing motherhood with other meaningful passions Practicing generosity through hospitality Practical tips for traveling to the nations with children How to know where God has you right now When to say yes to something new and the self-care of saying no The challenge of raising kids with a heart of contentment in a world of consumerism QUOTES TO REMEMBER “How can we be generous with our whole selves?” “Generosity can be huge and generosity can be really simple.” “When we can learn from each other and spur each other on in living generously and giving cheerfully, we all are better for that and grow from it.” “The best way to figure out how to be a good steward is to ask the Owner.” “It's a calling to love God, to love others, and to live generously.” “When we practice generosity, we see growth.” “The joy of giving is contagious.” “At the root is a heart of contentment.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Hope International (see our interview with founder, Jeff Rutt or CEO, Peter Greer) Tomorrow Clubs Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) I Like Giving The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Matthew 6:19-21 | Treasures in Heaven Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust 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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Cherise Vermeulen, Executive Director of Generous Generations, had several childhood experiences that radically impacted her faith and her understanding of generosity. At the age of six, she woke from a coma following a severe car accident, where she felt the healing touch of prayer. This life-altering event left her with visible scars, but it also prompted her to explore her identity in Christ and discover her intrinsic value. Later, as the recipient of an incredibly generous gift, Cherise came to recognize the immense impact of generosity in changing the course of someone's life.   Through these experiences and Cherise's background in children's educational television, God laid the foundations for Generous Generations, which now provides generosity programming, videos, and content for children and youth across 26 different countries. By collaborating with localized ministries and training local leaders, Generous Generations has reached millions of children with the message of generosity in a culturally contextualized way.    Major Topics Include: The amazing story of how Generous Generations was born Different strategies for teaching children to young adults about generosity Collaboration as a central strategy for sharing the program How Generous Generations is affecting families and communities The challenge of contextualizing stories and examples to share generosity concepts with different cultures Tips for families to incorporate generosity into the daily lives of their children QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Even in times of need, it's not about what you can get, it's about what you can give.” “I used to think you had to have a lot in order to give.” “Let's decide how much we want to give and let God work out the details.” “Generosity is transformational. Why do we wait until we're grownups before we learn about these beautiful values?” “Children learn quickly because they're not afraid to fail.” “Teenagers need to feel like they have a voice and a role to play in deciding how to give.” “We want children under the age of twelve to begin to understand that generosity is an adventure.” “With the great wealth transfer being underway, we have the opportunity to speak to children and youth now to instill these biblical values of generosity and stewardship into their lives so that by the time they reach adulthood, they will be able to make huge decisions about how money is spent.” “When a child discovers the joy of giving, it's not a duty to them or something that they have to do, it's something they get to do. And the joy is contagious!” “Generosity is a new way to spread the gospel because it's a universal language. It's a concept that's understood across cultures.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Generous Generations Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) Scripture Union Global Children's Forum The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Philippians 4:8 | Think on These Things   Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Leigh Ann Horton grew up in a Christian home where open conversations about money and stewardship shaped her perspective on finances and faith. Her natural talent for numbers guided her career as a CPA and entrepreneur, while also influencing her early approach to generosity. Initially meticulous in tracking her giving, Leigh Ann's journey has since evolved into one of holding resources with open hands and following the Spirit's leading in both her businesses and giving. A turning point came when Leigh Ann and her husband connected with a community of like-minded givers, leading to a transformative shift toward heartfelt, Spirit-led generosity. Today, Leigh Ann is passionate about empowering women to engage in meaningful conversations about money and giving. Her inspiring stories radiate the joy and fulfillment that come from embracing a generous life. Major Topics Include: From “tickled-tithing” to joyful generosity The transformative power of community in generosity Finding freedom from comparison and cultivating joy Growing as a couple in Spirit-led giving Equipping and inspiring women in financial conversations Understanding and measuring impact investing Quotes to Remember “When I realized that I was being legalistic in my giving, I quit trying to measure everything and tried to become more freehanded in it.” “It doesn't matter what I have because it's not mine; I'm just a steward.” “As you know what your purpose is, then you can figure out where your passions align.” “Start where you are, even if you've only given a tiny bit before. You can start anytime to be generous with your time, your treasure, or your talent. It all matters.” “If you want to start being more generous, you have to start with acts of generosity.” Links from the Show J4 Leaders Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Talanton  Faith Driven Investor Solving the World's Greatest Problems Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) 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 Malachi 3:10 | “Test Me in This…” 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. 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.

Actress Whitney Goin was raised in Orlando, Florida, immersed in a community, church, and family that modeled generosity as a way of life. Her father, a powerful influence, shaped her understanding of giving as a deeply relational commitment, leaving a profound legacy in his community through his wholehearted generosity. After his passing, Whitney felt compelled to pursue her own distinct path, discovering how to express generosity in a way that truly resonated with her. A meaningful connection with our guest co-host, Julie Wilson, led Whitney to find a welcoming community in Women Doing Well—a network of faith-driven, generous women. This supportive circle helped her reignite her sense of purpose in giving, as she uncovered God's unique design for her generosity journey. Now, Whitney uses her passion for acting and theater to inspire others, encouraging them to embrace their own distinctive calling to generosity in alignment with their purpose and passions. Major topics include: Her father's generosity legacy Learning how God designed you to give Following the voice of the Holy Spirit with joy The blessing and tension of freedom from comparison in generosity How to know and walk in your purpose Individuality and diversity within the Body of Christ Freedom in spontaneous generosity QUOTES TO REMEMBER “God does not ask us to give of ourselves until He fills us to overflowing with what He's asking us to give.” “I started realizing just how unique and special and diverse we all are, not only with how we give and where we give, but in the way we were created uniquely to give.” “I'm now on fire with joy! It's truly an overflow rather than trying to scrap for a little energy to be generous.” “So much of our walk with the Lord is having the vulnerability to really get to know ourselves and let Him show us who we are. Stop trying to be who you think you're supposed to be so you can truly be the hands and feet He's created you to be.” “I pray everyday, ‘Compel me or constrain me according to Your will.'” “I don't need to be any bigger than the influence He's put right before me.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Matthew 11:30 | Easy and Light “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 | A Cheerful Giver Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Psalm 31:7-8 | A Broad Place I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.   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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Zenet Maramara is the founder and president of Christian Stewards in the Philippines. After Zenet became a born-again Christian in her thirties, she enrolled at a seminary where she stepped into a fundraising role. Wanting to master the art of fundraising, Zenet attended Regent University and there experienced a “second conversion” into biblical stewardship, understanding the principles of managing God's money for His Kingdom purposes in a way that is transformational to the giver, not just transactional.    Zenet became passionate about advancing biblical stewardship education and has since built a multi-dimensional platform to empower the Filipino Church with generosity champions across the realms of business, ministry, and the local church. Christian Stewards has become a beacon of generosity in the Philippines and beyond, and Zenet had much wisdom to share.   Major topics include: How Christian Stewards began The difference between transactional and transformational fundraising Articulating your theology in fundraising and stewardship Intentional integration of generosity and discipleship training Empowering business owners to share the gospel by integrating business and faith Steward-leadership theology Core beliefs for a conversion as a biblical steward The blessing and challenge of collaboration QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Whose money are you fundraising? Isn't it all God's money?” “It's not just about money. It's about the heart.”  “Giving is a barometer for our spiritual condition, and money is a great way to test if we are fully surrendered to God.” “Fundraising is as spiritual as giving a sermon, a prayer, or going on a mission because you're helping people understand who they are and how to relate with the resources that God has entrusted to them.” “My vision is that every one of the 92,000 evangelical churches in the Philippines would have at least one generosity champion who will coordinate the teaching of generosity in their church.” “Business is the new ‘Roman Road' for the Gospel because we're in the marketplace more than we're in the church on Sunday.” “The steward-leader theology and practice is an upside-down leadership. Most leaders have the power, but a steward-leader shares the power, shares privilege, and shares in the purpose of the organization or company.” “If we hold lightly the material things that God has entrusted to us, then it is easier for us to listen to God when He calls us to move that resource to where it is most needed.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Christian Stewards The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) Stations of Generosity from the MacLellan Foundation (see our interview with Director of Generosity, John Cortines) Generous Church (see our interview with founder Patrick Johnson) Faith Driven Entrepreneur Rooting for Rivals (see our interview with author Peter Greer) Lausanne Movement 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Helen Schmid was very young when her family immigrated from China to the US with their eyes set on the American dream. She strove to be the best that she could be in all that she did to earn her place in life. Coming to faith as a student at New York University, Helen began to understand that her salvation was based on faith, not works.    For over a decade, Helen led high-growth marketing teams at Walmart, Amazon, and L'Oreal. But in 2020, Helen and her husband felt dissatisfied with climbing the corporate ladder and were drawn to engage in purposeful, Kingdom-building work. They set a financial finish line and began to learn what generosity looked like, not only in finances, but with their skillsets and in all facets of their life.    Today, Helen is the founder of My Strategy Mentor, a successful marketing and growth consulting firm that works heavily with ministries and businesses to equip missional, faith-driven leaders so that they can grow their organizations confidently and strategically. She also serves as a board member for Women Doing Well with our special guest co-host, Julie Wilson. Helen has much to share about meaningful work, a holistic approach to generosity, and the joy of living a life surrendered to God.   Major topics include: Discovering a counter-cultural faith in her early twenties Her journey from financial generosity to whole life generosity Finding purposeful work beyond the corporate ladder Making generosity about glorifying God, not performance How she encourages her children in generosity Navigating when generosity feels difficult The impact of serving as a board member at Women Doing Well QUOTES TO REMEMBER “If God owns my whole life, as in my possessions, my time, and my treasure, I need to understand what that means in terms of what I have to give.” “What might God have for me beyond climbing the corporate ladder?” “Understanding biblical stewardship and generosity has given me a shift in mindset and values where success no longer looks like more.” “The more we surrender, the more we see the goodness and the faithfulness of God, and that allows us to then take more risks.” “We think of generosity as partnering with God to serve His Kingdom and make an outward impact.” “I don't really view myself as a generous person. That feels like an achievement or a trophy. I just feel like I'm learning the boundaries God has for me, and I'm learning to listen and trust in Him more.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW My Strategy Mentor Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Ronald Blue and Co., CPA (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) The Money Wise Adventures For Kids by Concepta Akinyi Otieno, Gabriela Awino Otieno, and Daniella Aloo Otieno 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

An affluent family with multiple homes and a successful business, Bruce and Sue Osterink were living the American dream. But God used one trip to Russia in the early nineties to begin a cascade of events that would bring a dramatic shift in their lives. The Osterinks began to hear a calling to simplify their lives and belongings so that they could be available to love others and be generous with their money, their time, and their relationships.    Over the last thirty years, Bruce and Sue have taken some radical steps of faith and obedience that have led to some amazing stories. They are no stranger to suffering, and their journeys have impacted countless college students, young couples, and givers of many kinds. You won't want to miss all they had to share!   Major topics include: Setting a financial finish line Learning to be available to love others Living simply to give generously Important lessons from serving as house parents to college students Making big decisions in radical obedience to God The relationship between generosity and faith QUOTES TO REMEMBER Bruce: “What God needs is people who are available to love others.” Bruce: “Our generosity started with our money, but as we began to understand what God was calling us to more and more, we understood that it wasn't just our money. It was our time, it was our life. It wasn't only what we gave away, but what we did with what God allowed us to hold on to.” Bruce: “Unity isn't compromise, it's finding what God wants for us.” Bruce: “It's been interesting to be able to look back and see that had we made a plan, we would have had nothing in our plan of what was God's plan.” Sue: “Why say ‘no?' That's kind of our philosophy. We tend to say ‘yes,' very seldom say ‘no,' as long as we feel it's a good investment in the Kingdom. Bruce: “We would much rather give our money away than spend it.” Sue: “Pick your lifestyle before you make any money.” Bruce: “Pray about your lifestyle. And whatever lifestyle God calls you to, you don't change it because you get a raise. You change it when God tells you to.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW The Treasure Principle (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn) Young Life Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Acts 4:32 | Unity Among Brethren   Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

NCUA Chairman Todd Harper talks about his priorities, his health, industry concerns and more. And Michael decides to no longer be old... for about 4 minutes until he complains about social media influencers.

Dana and Bill Wichterman have a long history of generosity. From the onset of their marriage, Dana and Bill have practiced financial stewardship, always living below their means. Even in a one bedroom apartment with no vehicle to drive, they budgeted a specific amount they could use for spontaneous generosity, and trained their children in Spirit-led giving.   Their collective backgrounds in missions, politics, and poverty alleviation have given them a passion for impact investing, allowing God to use their money to see real change in the world. Recently the Wichtermans reached their net worth finish line, recognizing that they need nothing else for themselves. Yet the joy of giving drives them to continue in their careers simply to have more to fuel God's Kingdom. Dana is a senior advisor to the Impact Foundation, and she and Bill had some amazing insights to share about giving, stewardship, investing, and the importance of Christian community in the generosity space.   Major topics include: Their unique backgrounds and stories of coming to faith How they learned financial stewardship Thinking through an accumulation finish line vs. an income finish line A long term view of maximized generosity Budgeting in view of their callings together and individual What is impact investing and how they got involved  How to look for impact an returns in your portfolio Strategically praying for your investments to change the world and bless people The blessing of community among Christians stewarding finances The importance of hearing other people's stories QUOTES TO REMEMBER Bill: “The more you understand the nature of the Gospel and its implications for your life, the more you get the implications of generosity.” Dana: “Once we set a finish line, I entered into an abundance mindset.” Dana: “Now that we've reached our finish line, it makes our work that much more joyful. Now it's like why would we ever want to retire? We want to keep generating this amount so that we can give.” Bill: “It's so fun to help change the world with your money!” Dana: “You have your Holy Spirit radar up for needs that you couldn't possibly anticipate, but you know you have to cash to give to that when it comes.” Dana: “We can't meet every need around us, but there are certain needs that have our name on it. And when our name's on it and then God provides, there's such a joy with that.” Bill: “Most of the time, you possibility for world change is greater with for-profits, especially in poverty alleviation.” Dana: “I believe that God made us all in His image to be creators. We're either builders or backers, founders or funders. So if we're all doing what God calls us to, the success of it isn't so much on us. It's the faithfulness that's important.” Dana: “It's to God's glory that He's transforming us from selfish, self-absorbed individuals into more of the Family likeness which is more and more generous.” Bill: “What do we have to boast about? We're only giving what we've already been given.” Dana: “Sacrificial giving can actually become very joyful over time because it has become part of your DNA as God is transforming you, and then it doesn't feel sacrificial anymore. His burden becomes light, but only over time.” Dana: “One person's generosity doesn't have to look like another person's.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Impact Foundation Crown Financial Ministries Noble Story Co. Sunshine Nut Co. Scatter by Andrew Scott Operation Mobilization The Steward Investor Masterclass The Gathering National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Matthew 25:14-30 | Parable of the Talents    2 Corinthians 9:7 | A Cheerful Giver   Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

WHAT WE'LL COVER Jim Rasmussen was raised as a pastor's kid in a Lutheran church in Georgia, and his faith solidified in college as he involved himself in ministries that affected transformational change in many lives. After graduating with an accounting degree, Jim was led to a job with Chick-fil-A, first in accounting and later advising franchise owners on how to run their businesses more efficiently.   Today, Jim is a financial advisor and the co-founder of Pandowealth, an advising firm that provides personal finance guidance to franchise owners and other Chick-fil-A staff to empower them to more purposeful living and giving. Jim is a passionate teacher with powerful insights on financial stewardship, Kingdom-building generosity, and trusting God with big steps of faith.    Major topics include: His personal and faith background His 20-year experience working for Chick-fil-A How God led him from accounting to financial planning Trusting God with crazy steps of faith Dealing with common barriers to generosity Copying others vs. doing what you're called to do with your resources Deciding how much is enough Tools and framework to develop a written generosity plan QUOTES TO REMEMBER “I'm not somebody who can sit behind a desk all day just doing debits and credits. I got the accounting degree so I could learn how numbers work and how I could move up and have more impact and influence in the world with the things that God's given me.” “If you look around, all the people that have joy are generous.” “How do I remove the obstacles to my generosity? If I can remove those, then I can be generous and experience more joy.” “The company is about, ‘We grow wealth to empower purposeful living and giving.' What's better than that?” “What have you been given gifts for that God wants you to accomplish? If you can look at your life plan, then you can develop a financial plan that helps you to accomplish that.” “Don't just look through the lens of the financial, I want you to look through the lens of the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual as well. Sometimes, it's ok to give up a little bit of the financial stewardship to improve your personhood of emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual stability.” “Our goal is for 80% of our clients to have a written generosity plan.” “I'm now working to give, not working to live.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Ronald Blue and Co. (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki The Eternity Portfolio by Alan Gotthardt Charityvest (see our interview with CEO Stephen Kump) Money, Possessions, and Eternity (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn) The Treasure Principle (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn) National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) Switchboard The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Luke 12:16-21 | The Bigger Barns Parable   20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”   1 Peter 4:10 | Stewarding God's Gifts   As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

In this special 100th episode, the shoe is on the other foot as Kealan and Cody are interviewed by Todd Harper, co-founder of Generous Giving, and David Wills, President Emeritus of the National Christian Foundation (NCF). Together, Kealan and Cody share about their family and faith backgrounds, how they got started on their journeys of generosity, and some of the amazing things they've learned along the way.   The interviews conducted over the last 99 episodes have been life-changing for the Hobelmann brothers in many ways by providing opportunities for “spiritual templating,” implementing what they've learned from others into their own generosity strategies, and by facilitating connection between like-minded Believers.    Major topics include: What life looks like now for Cody and Kealan The inspiration for the Finish Line Pledge How setting Financial Finish Lines has changed both of their lives  The evolution of the Finish Line Podcast Making the Finish Line Pledge relational Most memorable podcast moments The many ways they have seen God work through the podcast   QUOTES TO REMEMBER Cody: It kinda felt like I was walking up a staircase that I could not see the end of. It just continued up into the clouds. But when I set a financial finish line, suddenly I could see the top of the staircase, and I realized I was most of the way up it in terms of the course of my career.   Kealan: I appreciate so much more now the true breadth and diversity of expressions of generosity.    Cody: We realized that God's up to something that we didn't even notice. We had no idea. It really humbled me and helped me to understand that even though it's a lot to ask of our guests and our wives to carve out this time once a week, once every other week, and do the editing and all that kind of stuff. It is such an honor to be able to do this and we hope to be able to do this for a very long time.   Kealan: At this point, I don't ever say for myself or for anybody else, “this is how generosity has to be expressed,” or “this way is how God intends it.” There is too much range of expression that God gives us for anybody to say “it has to be this way.”   Cody: I've learned that giving is a lot of fun and it's a relational thing. As a financial planner and as someone who was not giving or living generously, it seemed like a transactional thing. But I'm starting to understand that it's far more complex than that and far mor joy-creating for everyone involved.   Cody: I'm learning that generosity and giving are not the same thing. Giving is an expression of generosity, but when done in community as a relational thing, there's nothing better and it's become my favorite use of money.   Kealan: I just want constant stories and relationships to help me grow as a Believer and not just in generosity. We've grown in prayer and community and so many other areas that are all interrelated to generosity. LINKS FROM THE SHOW Cody Hobelmann, Shifting to Eternal Kingdom Building (see our past interview here) Kealan Hobelmann, Answering “How Much Money Do I Really Need?” (see our past interview here) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) Crazy Love by Francis Chan Compound Impact Doulos Partners (see our interview with CEO David Johnson) MacLellan Foundation (see our interview with Director of Generosity, John Cortines) ROI Ministry (see our interview with founder, Tim Barker) Jimmy Seibert, Pastor, On Sensing the Spirit through Spontaneous Generosity (see our past interview) Faith Comes by Hearing (see our interview with VP Morgan Jackson) Neverthirst (see our interview with CEO Matt Letourneau) Richard Baxter, DMD, On Leveraging His Entire Dental Practice to Bring the Gospel to Unreached People Groups (see our past interview here) Aaron and Miran Cho, Committing to Give More Than You Can Budget For (see our past interview here) Andy Dewitt on the Importance of Sharing Your Generosity Story (see our past interview here) Eternal Perspective Ministries (see our interview with founder, Randy Alcorn) The Finishing Fund (see our interview with founder Doug Cobb) IllumiNations Bible Translation Alliance (see our interview with Todd Peterson or John Chesnut) Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) Faith Driven Investor Podcast Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast Generosity Now Podcast Celebration Conference with Generous Giving The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW 1 Corinthians 12:6 | God Empowered Action   And there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  Proverbs 11:24 MSG | Generosity and Abundance   The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.   Proverbs 30: 8b | Our Daily Bread     give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Jimmy Seibert is the founder and pastor of Antioch Community Church in Waco, Texas. Jimmy didn't grow up in a Christian home, but his decision to follow Jesus in a radical way over a summer during his college years started him on a path of extreme generosity as an outflow of his relationship with God. Jimmy's passion for generosity has poured over into the church that he leads, which now has a thriving culture of generosity. His principles of living simply, working diligently, giving generously, and living for eternity have paved the way for a lifestyle of spontaneous and strategic generosity.   He has many miraculous stories of Spirit-led giving as well as practical advice for givers of all kinds. He shares how surrendering to Jesus and embracing obedience and generosity transformed his life, even in the face of financial challenges, and opened the door for living out the Great Commission.   Major Topics Include: His story of coming to faith and radically following the teachings of Jesus How God miraculously provided for him to go to the nations because of his obedience with his last dollar Learning to hear and obey the promptings of the Lord Spontaneous giving vs. strategic, long-term giving Creating and inviting people into a culture of generosity Incorporating generosity into a family culture Plus, many powerful stories of Spirit-led generosity   QUOTES TO REMEMBER “When you deal with money and possessions, you deal with everything in your heart.” “You asked me to show you that I'm real, and I have come.” “The moving of God is just the normal outworking of a surrender to Jesus.” “My commitment was that if anybody asks for anything, give it.” “Until you feel, taste, and touch the power of the gospel in peoples' lives, giving is too distant of an experience.” “When we live obedient lives of sacrifice, whether that's with our finances or going ourselves, it produces this incredible authority to see people find hope and help that they so desperately long for.” “I don't want to get identity out of what I do. I want to get identity from the Lord, and then I want to be fully obedient in whatever expression He's given me and do that with all me heart.” “I may not be as gifted as someone else, but I will do anything He says anytime, anywhere.” “Learning to hear the voice of God is learning to trust the heart and person of God. It's really about trust in the end.” “From years of meditating on who the Holy Spirit is in my life, and God the Father and the centrality of the beauty of Jesus, I've learned to take risks with confidence.” “The promptings of God are best learned through action.” “You are already right with God through the blood of Jesus alone. You can't earn anything in your standing with God by anything you do. You're good with God by the grace of God.” “We're not looking to outdo our neighbor in our giving, we're learning to build our relationship with God.” “When we open up everything of our resources to God, intimacy with Him is His end goal, not provision.” “It's not a percentage, it's a personal relationship with God.” “If you preach a surrendered message and then you live it out, it creates a catalyst for others. If you give, they'll give.” “God will constantly challenge me when I have little to see if I'm still in the game.” “Follow the money. If you give to something, get involved in what you give to.” “You'll only stay in a posture of generosity as long as it's connected to people's lives being transformed in a way that you can touch.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Luke 6:35 | Give Freely   But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Matthew 13:23 | Reaping a Harvest   As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”  Ephesians 2:10 | Created for Good Works   For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.   John 16:7, 12-13 | The Spirit of Truth Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Paul Bolte was brought up with a firm foundation in faith and generosity. A seventh-generation Christian born to a farming family in Australia, he learned the value of a good work ethic and the principles of giving as a small child. As an adult, Paul served in various leadership positions in Australia, New Zealand, and the US, and is a lifelong student of servant leadership.  Today, Paul is the Executive Vice President of TrustBridge Global. TrustBridge connects donor advised funds in countries all around the world to allow people to make tax deductible gifts to ministries in other countries, even if they don't have a 501c3 designation. TrustBridge acts as a powerful conduit for money to flow from Christians in countries with high concentrations of wealth to organizations working in other countries, impacting the Kingdom by getting financial resources to the “boots on the ground.” Major Topics Include: Paul's family and faith background which laid the groundwork for what he does now The background of TrustBridge Global How they choose partners in various countries Paul's view of how generosity is expressed uniquely in different cultures How TrustBridge has helped facilitate interconnectedness between Believers across the globe   QUOTES TO REMEMBER “I didn't realize that, ‘how can I help,' was the very first question in a concept called ‘servant leadership.' And I became a student of leadership; for my entire life, I've been a student of leadership.” “We're trying to mobilize the resources in the hands of Christians.” “Culturally, we are all very different. But we all have this one core value of our faith and what we're called to do. We're called to be generous with everything that we have and everything we are.” “There are many countries that have no tax benefits, yet they are still generous.” “When you send money directly to a charity overseas, the bang for your buck is significantly higher because they can stretch it further and it can get to more people.” “If you want the best return on your investment, you can do that by giving directly to a charity overseas.” “We look for a way to say ‘yes.'” “Generosity to me is not just about money, it's about time.” “When you're working in a Kingdom business and you know that God is behind what you're doing and you watch it grow and give all glory to Him, it's such a joy to watch it all happen.” “Whatever gifts or skills God has given you, take them and use them to serve others.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW TrustBridge Global Foundation National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) C12: Christian Business Leadership Coaching International Generosity Foundation Generosity Path Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving Global Trust Partners (see our interview with COO Trevor Lui) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Romans 5:8 | God's Love Demonstrated   But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.   Ephesians 2:8-9 | The Gift of God   For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Ron Bare is a financial advisor and the founder of Bare Wealth Advisors in Lancaster, PA. Raised on a fifth-generation dairy farm with a faith-filled family, Ron learned early in life the value of hard work, the biblical principles of stewardship, and the eternal impact of generosity. Those elements became the foundation of who he is and what he does as a financial advisor, or in his words, a “pastor of finance.”    In this episode, Ron shares personal stories and many helpful thoughts to show the power of intentional generosity as a conversation with God, and how giving of your finances, giftings, and time can change a life, a community, and even affect people across the globe.   Major topics include: How Ron's upbringing shaped who he is today The story of how Bare Wealth Advisors began How God prepared and called him to be a “pastor of finance” Implementing an intentional core value of generosity in his personal life and his business How Ron's passion for good stewardship in finances led to his family's financial and practical involvement in supporting young moms in their local community Advice for following the voice of God and your passions to know how to serve and where to give The value of tracking generosity and its impact Stewardship as a conversation with God The power of collaboration in giving QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Plan intentionally, give generously.” “We are pastors of finance.” “The biblical principle of stewardship isn't about how much we have. It's about being faithful with what's in our hands, even if it doesn't feel like a lot.” “The more that our works and our treasures are flowing together, the more our hearts will flow.” “The most important thing anyone decides with their finances is how they interact with generosity.” “Giving isn't something we have to do; it is something we are invited into with God.” “We always need to be growing in generosity.” “If we don't answer the question ‘what is enough,' it can limit the impact that we have.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Bare Wealth Advisors Ron Blue, Founder of Kingdom Advisors (see our past interview here) Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue) Crown Financial Ministries Jim Wise, Financial Advisor (see our past interview here) John Rinehart, Author of Gospel Patrons (see our past interview here) Randy Alcorn (see our past interview here) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman) National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills) Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group   BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Matthew 6:21 | Treasure of the Heart   For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.     1 Timothy 6:17-19 | Rich in Good Works   As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.     Luke 12:48b | Much Given, Much Required   Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.     2 Corinthians 9:6-8 | The Cheerful Giver   The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.    John 3:16 | For God So Loved the World   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.   2 Corinthians 8:7 | The Grace to Give   But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

Stephen Kump is the CEO and founder of Charityvest, a pioneering donor-advised fund platform merging technology and collaborative giving to make charitable giving accessible to all. Charityvest simplifies the donor-advised fund process and cuts down barriers to entry, inviting individuals from all walks of life to partake in the joy of giving with ease and impact.  Stephen shares numerous creative strategies that push the boundaries of donor-advised funds, fostering community giving and encouraging creative generosity. He addresses tangible tactics for givers, including orchestrating a personal giving strategy and embracing collective generosity.   Topics include: What inspired the launch of Charityvest? What experiences shaped Stephen's perspective on generosity? How is technology like Charityvest changing the generosity landscape? How do partnerships like Trust Bridge Global enhance Charityvest's capabilities? What creative ways are donor-advised funds (DAFs) being used to foster generosity? How does collaborative generosity compare to individual giving, and what are its advantages? In what ways is God present in the broader movement of generosity? QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Generosity begets generosity.” “When people were generous to me, it would short-circuit my framework.” “When people give away a significant portion of their net worth, it shapes them.” “We had already allocated our income to our donor-advised fund, so all of the talking about giving was about where we give.” “If we are not willing to have a free donor-advised fund, then we need to get more creative.” “Generosity is in the image of God that is stamped on each of us.” “Generosity is a gateway to a deeper reality.” “All giving is relational.” “Giving is better as a team sport.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Charityvest Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis TrustBridge Global Praxis Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Philippians 3:8 | Our Achievements Are Nothing Compared to Christ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  Acts 17:23 | The Unknown God For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to 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.

David Wills stands as a beacon of philanthropic leadership and financial wisdom, carving his niche as the Chairman Emeritus of the National Christian Foundation (NCF). A luminary in shaping generosity, David co-founded Generous Giving, an organization dedicated to fostering a culture of charitable living. Under his guidance, NCF has flourished, disbursing over $18 billion to charitable causes, reflecting an unparalleled commitment to transformative giving. He adeptly navigates the complexities of donor-advised funds, turning the concept into a strategic tool for streamlined and impactful philanthropy. David's innovative approach is evidenced through his advocating for ‘finish lines' in financial planning, ensuring wealth serves as a tool for good, not a master. Merging financial stewardship with spiritual growth, David is a pioneer in impact investing, where charitable dollars yield social and spiritual dividends. His stirring personal journey from litigator to philanthropic strategist is a testament to living a faith-driven life. David's insights are not just theories—they're lived experiences that promise to resonate with listeners, urging them to explore the joy and responsibility of giving. Tune into The Finish Line Podcast for a profound dialogue with David Wills, where financial acumen meets the heart of generosity. Topics include: What inspired the creation of the National Christian Foundation, and how has it evolved since its inception? Why is a financial finish line such a powerful tool of generosity and faith? How do finish lines contribute to a sense of liberation and freedom? What is impact investing and how does it intersect with generosity? Who should have a donor advised fund, and how is it used effectively? What motivated the start of Generous Giving, and what role does transformational heart change play in the conversation around generosity? How has the modern generosity movement evolved over the past several decades? How is the growth in generosity aligned with movement in the Great Commission and what progress has been made? How can acts of spontaneous giving enrich family and community ties and demonstrate the joy of generosity? QUOTES TO REMEMBER “There's this extraordinarily large group of people that actually have the gift of giving, the spiritual gift of giving.” “This year, we will, for the first time, have over a billion dollars worth of complex assets contributed to NCF.” “Generosity is contagious when people are transformed.” “When you grow in the how and the where, your giving will grow arithmetically. You'll feel better about it. You'll be more strategic. But when you get the why question right, your giving can grow exponentially.” “If you're well planned, you will give more and you will give more wisely. Part of the planning process are finish lines.” “If a trustee starts to get confused about their role and they don't have any parameters around how they're dealing with whatever it is that they're stewarding, the stuff will actually own them as opposed to them stewarding the stuff.” “All investing is impact investing. So what kind of impact are you having?” “If you want to meet somebody in heaven that has never had God's word in their native language, you better get on it right now because we're running out of these languages” LINKS FROM THE SHOW National Christian Foundation Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman) Ron Blue Trustbridge Global Sovereign's Capital Impact Foundation Eventide Ambassadors Impact Network Faith Driven Investor IllumiNations Bible Translation Alliance (see our interview with Todd Peterson or John Chesnut) The Finishing Fund (see our interview with founder Doug Cobb) The Treasure Principle (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn) The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES Luke 16:9 | Making Eternal Friends And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. 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.

When everyone is carrying a camera in their pocket, what raises the act of taking pictures to the level of fine art photography? Jessica Todd Harper, the award-winning portrait photographer, says that it's equal parts mindset and technique--and lots of setting the stage to seize that perfect light. Listen as Harper speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her desire to capture the complexity of life in a single image, why family relationships and home life are her chosen subjects, and the integral role beauty plays in her images, despite its diminished status in art today.