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What We’ll Cover

Todd Harper, one of the 4 cofounders of Generous Giving, sat down with us to share not only his incredible personal story, but the entire foundation story of Generous Giving. From a young age, Todd was fascinated by money, eventually dreaming of becoming a millionaire by 30. But God had a very different plan for his life. After a number of years in campus ministry, Todd’s life intersected with a couple of key individuals whose lives were marked by extreme generosity. As he carefully watched how their lives differed from those around them, his curiosity eventually grew into the foundation of Generous Giving.

Generous Giving’s purpose is to create environments where people can experience and ask questions about generosity in a safe, encouraging way. Generous Giving is fully funded by the Maclellan Foundation, so they never have to ask for donations in return. Their mission is simply to invite Christians into a spirit-led commitment to generosity in order to fill them with a newfound freedom and purpose when it comes to wealth.

Few organizations have had a greater impact on reframing the concept of generosity in the American church, and we were blessed to be able to sit down with Todd to hear the whole story. You certainly won’t want to miss this one. 

Quotes to Remember

• “If we really come to understand God’s plan for our lives, then living into that plan is the most obvious, natural way to live.”
• “What I felt like God was asking me to give up was my dream to be a millionaire by 30.”
• “I’m an eternal investment advisor, I help people lay up treasure in heaven.”
• “The essence of what we started with is still the essence of what we do, which is to tell compelling stories and ask questions.”
• “It’s so easy to be convinced that what the world is selling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year is legit – that bigger, better, faster makes you happy.”
• “The Holy Spirit flips the switch for people from ‘ought to’ to ‘get to’ in their giving.”
• “Desire is so much more powerful than duty.”
• “Being around generous people is just stinkin contagious.”
• “People who are giving their lives away for the sake of others – there is a joy and authenticity in their experience of life that is attractive.”
• “I’ve never met an unhappy generous person.” 
• “This orientation towards others, this orientation towards giving, really is the thing that brings life and joy.”
• “Because of my orientation to always wanting more, the notion of what I had being enough created a sense of freedom and contentment that I never would have predicted.”
• “I don’t always need to figure out how to make more, or save more, or create more for the future.”
• “I think many of the most generous families I know have implemented some version of a finish line.”
• “The idea of establishing limits to create freedom is a very powerful idea and it’s rarely implemented in the financial space.”
• “The more dependant I am on God, the better of a place I’m in.”
• “I’m not sure God ever wants us to get to the place where we are financially independent.”

Links from the Show

• Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman)
• Generous Giving’s Journey of Generosity retreats
• Generous Giving’s Celebration of Generosity annual conference
• Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) – college campus ministry
• Money, Possessions, and Eternity (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn)
• Hugh Maclellan and the Maclellan Foundation (see our interview with Director of Generosity, John Cortines)
• Mover of Men and Mountains by R.G. LeTourneau
• Forrest Reinhardt – Cofounder of Generous Giving
• National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)
• 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

John 8:32 | The Truth Will Set You Free 

32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Matt. 6:21 | Where Your Treasure Is

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

1 Timothy 6:17-19 | That Which is Truly Life

17 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. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 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.

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.