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What We’ll Cover

Today, we’re joined by Tim Barker, founder and director of ROI Ministry, an organization that seeks to find the absolute most effective organizations per dollar that are doing kingdom-based work in provision of basic needs, evangelism, and discipleship. He shares his thoughts on how we as Christians should think about giving in order to be most effective ourselves. How responsible are we as Christians to give in the most effective ways possible? How should we divide our giving among things like basic food and water, evangelism, and long term discipleship? Listen now to hear Tim’s wisdom and insight on the subject. And when you get the chance, certainly take a look at all the resources provided on the ROI Ministry website, including their Top 10 list of effective ministries.

Quotes to Remember

• “97% of Christian giving goes to nations and people that are already Christian … 2.97% goes to nations that are at least evangelized, who have at least heard the gospel. But 1/3 of 1% was actually making it to the poorest lost nations of the world.”
• “When we find a top ten ministry, not only do we have to find the impact per dollar, which can be a challenge, but also what is that impact – how can you quantify it?”
• “God places no greater value on my son than this poor impoverished boy on the street, and so what can I do to help him, as well as my son?”

Links from the Show

• ROI Ministry
• 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)

ROI Ministry’s Top Ten List

• Faith Comes by Hearing (see our interview with VP Morgan Jackson)
• Jesus Film (see our interview with Executive Director Josh Newell)
• Jesus Film Harvest Partners (see our interview with Executive Director Brian Helstrom)
• Never Thirst (see our interview with CEO Matt Letourneau)
• Doulos Partners (see our interview with CEO David Johnson)
• SERV International (see our interview with COO Adili Kea)
• Heart for Africa (see our interview with COO Janine Maxwell)
• Medical Ambassadors International (see our interview with CEO Ravi Jayakaran)
• Global Media Outreach (see our interview with CEO Jeff Gowler)
• The Mailbox Club (see our interview with CEO John Mark Eager)

Bible References from the Show

John 12:24 | Unless a Seed Dies

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

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

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Luke 10:25-37 | The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

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