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What We’ll Cover

Barry and Linda Rowan, a corporate executive and a CPA, were both raised in environments that emphasized faith, family, and the pursuit of financial success. By their late 20s, they had each established successful careers; however, they found themselves in a crisis as they sought meaning in their work. In their quest for purpose, they were brought to a position of total spiritual surrender. Through a series of paradigm shifts, they learned from God how to integrate their faith, generosity, and professions, ultimately creating a harmonious blend of work and spirituality.  

Barry has served as CEO and CFO of eight major companies over his career and sees business as an expression of faith when walking in step with God. Together Barry and Linda set a finish line early in their marriage which has guided their generosity since, and they are passionate about raising up the next generation of givers and Christ-following leaders to view all that they are, all that they do, and all they have to give as belonging fully to God.  

Major topics include:

• Discovering what purpose and calling looked like in their faith journeys
• Developing a biblical view of money and stewardship in their early 20s
• Viewing money as a gift to be shared, not a goal to be achieved
• Amazing stories about seeing God triumph greatly through failure
• Investing in spiritual disciplines
• Powerful insights on prayer
• What businesses and ministries can learn from each other
• How to pass leadership and generosity on to the next generation

Quotes to Remember

• “I was trying to derive meaning from the work instead of bringing meaning to the work. It’s really God’s perspective of the work that infuses our work with meaning.” – Barry
• “If we haven’t figured out how much is enough, we are by default lovers of money.” – Barry 
• “We stay in prayer until God unites our hearts in decisions.” – Linda
• “We’ve never made a major financial decision or contribution without coming to a consensus. And the process of talking through it is often as valuable as the end decision.” – Barry
• “Prayer is an anchor.” – Linda
• “If we give God the time to speak to us, then He will meet us right where we are. God is the Great I Am, and I must meet Him just as I am.” – Barry
• “We are made for the benefit of others.” – Barry
• “Nothing is wasted in God’s hands when we offer it with open palms.” – Linda
• “God is inviting us to live an integrated life under Him, and as we do, our work is not something that stands in the way of faith, but rather an expression of faith.” – Barry
• “It starts with surrender.” – Barry
• “At this stage in our lives, we have nothing to prove, we have nothing to fear, and we view our lives as an act of total generosity.” – Barry

Links from the Show

• God and Money (see our interviews with coauthors Greg Baumer and John Cortines)
• The Spiritual Art of Business by Barry Rowan
• World Vision
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Colossians 1:27 | The Hope of Glory  

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  

Ecclesiastes 5:10 | The Love of Money  

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.  

Ecclesiastes 5:19 | The Gift of Enjoying Wealth  

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.  

Luke 12:48b | An Expected Return  

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.  

Luke 14:33 | Full Surrender  

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.  

Jeremiah 29:11 | Plans for Your Good  

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  

Mark 10:18 | Only the Father Is Good  

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.  

Galatians 2:10 | Remember the Poor  

Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.  

Acts 28:31 | Teaching with Boldness  

[Paul lived] proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

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.