giving-strategies Archives - Finish Line Pledge

Alisa Hoober, on Creating a Strong Family Culture of Generosity and Mission

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:00:35 +0000

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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 Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Alisa Hoober, on Creating a Strong Family Culture of Generosity and Mission appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

Russ Crosson and Ken Boa, coauthors of Leverage, on Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 09:00:57 +0000

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Russ Crosson is the former president and CEO, and current chief mission officer of the financial advising firm Blue Trust. For over 40 years, Russ has helped individuals and families to grow in generosity and wisely steward what God has entrusted to them. Ken Boa is a well-known author and theologian, and founder of Reflections Ministries. Ken has an inspiring personal testimony and powerful biblical insights on the generous life.

Together, they are coauthors of the book Leverage which is packed with practical wisdom and frameworks for understanding our calling and invitation into the generous life. In the book, Ken lays out many spiritual and foundational principles to help people think more deeply and biblically about generosity. Along with each concept, Russ outlines practical ways to put principles into practice. You don’t want to miss out on all the wisdom they had to share.

Major Topics Include:

The story of the book’s inception
How generosity breaks the power of money
Six reasons for giving
How to shift into a generosity mindset
The concept of reverse compounding
Deciding where and how much to give
Practical ways to give anonymously
Giving from assets
Thinking through wealth transfer to the next generation

Quotes to Remember

Russ: “Stewardship is the use of God-given resources to accomplish God-given goals.”
Ken: “You can always be more generous than you think.”
Ken: “[In the parables,] the ones who were condemned were the ones who failed to take a risk because obedience requires risk-taking.”
Russ: “Do you want to hear ‘well done’ or just ‘you may come in’?”
Ken: “God never tells us to give up something without giving us something better.”

Links from the Show

Leverage: Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain by Kenneth Boa and Russ Crosson
Ronald Blue and Co., CPA (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
Blue Trust (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
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

Luke 16:1-13 | The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward

1 Timothy 6:17-19 | Be 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.

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!

The post Russ Crosson and Ken Boa, coauthors of Leverage, on Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

Rachel McDonough and Wes Lyons on How Investors are Taking Down Human Trafficking

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:00:28 +0000

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Rachel McDonough, an experienced financial advisor, was raised in a missionary family in Kenya. At a young age, Rachel had a deeply impactful encounter with poverty in Africa which led her into an unexpected calling as a financial advisor. Today, Rachel has a particular interest in impact investing and strives to help others align their hearts and finances in taking risks for Kingdom impact.

Wes Lyons, General Partner at Eagle Venture Fund, was also raised in a missionary home and felt called into financial advising. While leading a military deployment, Wes saw firsthand the evils of human trafficking and the horrific treatment of children. He now leads the Eagle Freedom Fund, a venture capital fund dedicated to investing in companies that combat human trafficking and slavery through scalable business models. This groundbreaking model is shaking up the human trafficking global network by exposing the trafficking supply chain and placing heavy market pressure on the trafficking ecosystem.

Major Topics Include:

Connecting financial planning with the work of the Kingdom
The purpose of stewardship
Blurring the lines between giving and investing with a head-and-heart approach
Break the engines of the human trafficking machine through economic pressure
Having both great impact and a great financial return
An achievable goal to end human trafficking
Viewing risk and return as a faithful steward

Quotes to Remember

Rachel: “I started to realize that worship and investing could go hand-in-hand.”
Wes: “I think sometimes when we’re living in the American Church, the evil and the darkness can feel very far away, and I just got smacked in the face with it. So that started informing how we do our impact investing.”
Rachel: “I did nothing to deserve the position I was born into.”
Rachel: “There is both an opportunity and a responsibility to be a Christ follower who is stewarding resources that we know rightfully belong to the King, and to do it in a way that aligns with His values, and His heart is for the poor.”
Rachel: “Human trafficking is too big of a problem to solve without business. Business needs to be part of the solution for it.”
Rachel: “God created us as holistic beings with a head and a heart. We get better outcomes in our giving and our investing when we take a head-and-heart approach to both.”
Wes: “Our dream is that within 10 years we would have our first day in anybody’s lifetime when we didn’t lose the fight. And that would be the day when human trafficking started to go down.”
Rachel: “I’m going to choose to willingly embrace risk for the sake of love and for the sake of sons, daughters, and image bearers set free.”
Wes: “Christians should be the ones who are ready to take risks on behalf of the vulnerable.”

Links from the Show

Bible References from the Show

Joel 3:10 | I Am A Warrior

Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”

Galatians 6:9 | Don’t Give Up

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

We Want to Hear from You!

The post Rachel McDonough and Wes Lyons on How Investors are Taking Down Human Trafficking appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

David Hazell, Serial Entrepreneur, on Building a Gospel Pipeline Through Business

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:00:11 +0000

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David Hazell was raised in a religious home, but his relationship with Jesus truly began in the Jesus Revolution in the 1970s. With a mindset of radical obedience, David felt called into an adventure with God and moved his family to Siberia to help with Bible translation. During his time on the mission field, he was awakened to the power of business to fuel the work being done.

Since then, David has launched many successful businesses, generating millions to fuel gospel work around the world, all while continuing to live in a modest mobile home with his wife. David has much to share on obeying the voice of the Spirit, wisdom in stewarding God’s money, and the importance of walking out your unique calling.

Major Topics Include:

David’s story of redemption and calling
How he went from Bible translation into the business world
A mindset of whole-life stewardship
Practice obeying the Spirit’s voice by responding to little nudges
Spirit-led investing with God’s money
Stories from the mission field of using businesses to reach people with the gospel

Quotes to Remember

“When we start to see God’s mercy and His love, we want to be with Him every day.”
“We set our lives up to give more than 50% away, even before we knew we could.”
“When you give your life to Christ, you’re giving Him all aspects of your life, and you become a steward of everything you have.”
“Nothing we own, nothing we have, nothing that belongs to us doesn’t belong to God.”

Links from the Show

Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
Wycliffe Bible Translators (see our interview with CEO John Chesnut)
My Father’s World
The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Ephesians 2:10 | His Workmanship

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We Want to Hear from You!

The post David Hazell, Serial Entrepreneur, on Building a Gospel Pipeline Through Business appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

Helen Schmid, Marketing Consultant, on Fully Integrated Generosity

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 08:00:25 +0000

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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!

The post Helen Schmid, Marketing Consultant, on Fully Integrated Generosity appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

Aimee Minnich, Cofounder of the Impact Foundation, on Using Charitable Dollars for Impact Investing

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 08:00:34 +0000

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Aimee Minnich is co-founder of the Impact Foundation, a donor-advised fund platform that enables givers to invest in world-changing companies with social, environmental, and spiritual impact. Aimee began her career in law followed by years of experience in the donor-advised fund space with the National Christian Foundation before eventually launching the Impact Foundation to enable streamlined impact investing with charitable dollars.

Aimee has been a central pillar in the impact investing space as it has rapidly grown over the last decade. She has a solid foundation in the full scope of what is available today as well as where impact investing is headed in the next 10 years. You won’t want to miss this one.

Major topics include:

A primer on impact investing
The story of the Impact Foundation
Differences between impact investing strategy and traditional investing
Risk vs impact in the context of investing
Measuring success in impact investing
The interplay between inputs, outputs, and outcomes
The future of impact investing

Quotes to Remember

“The God of the universe is glorified when you and I are functioning at our best.”
“God created us to be generous because He is generous.”
“To be truly generous, you have to know God well.”
“Business people can be used for more in the Kingdom of God than just giving money away.”
“The currency of the kingdom of God is relationships.”
“The right way to handle risk starts with ‘OK, God. What I have is yours. How would you lead us to steward this for your glory and the good of your people?’ And then go from there.”

Links from the Show

Impact Foundation
Get Started with Impact Foundation
K Life
When Helping Hurts (see our interview with coauthor Brian Fikkert)
God and Money (see our interviews with coauthors Greg Baumer and John Cortines)
The Treasure Principle (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn)
Heaven by Randy Alcorn (see our past interview here)
Bill High, Legacy Advisor and founder of The Signatry (see our past interview here)
National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)
Faith Driven Investor
Faith Driven Entrepreneur
Praxis Mutual Funds
Eventide
The Chosen
Hope International (see our interview with founder, Jeff Rutt or CEO, Peter Greer)
Best Christian Workplaces
Launch Capital Partners
Faith at Work Movement
In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen
The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

John 13:3-16 | Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Isaiah 30:21 | Step-By-Step Obedience

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

1 Corinthians 3:6 | Doing Your Part

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

We Want to Hear from You!

The post Aimee Minnich, Cofounder of the Impact Foundation, on Using Charitable Dollars for Impact Investing appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

JD Bauman, Director of Effective Altruism for Christians, on Effective Giving and Strategic Career Choice

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 08:00:26 +0000

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JD Bauman is the Director of Effective Altruism for Christians (EACH) and founder of Christians for Impact. Born to missionary parents, JD was rooted in a Christian upbringing that emphasized the importance of generosity to see real change throughout the world for the Kingdom of God.

JD provides insightful perspectives on the principles of effective giving and the practical implications for believers who seek to harness their resources for maximum impact, emphasizing data-driven decision-making and how the ITN (Importance, Tractability, Neglectedness) framework can help individuals prioritize their charitable efforts, guiding them to tackle the most pressing issues in society effectively.

Major topics include:

Understanding effective altruism
Christian perspectives on altruism
Core frameworks for effective giving
Balancing physical and spiritual needs
Practical steps for giving effectively
The role of spontaneous giving
Considering the local church, global Church, and future Church in effective giving
Thinking about global problems with the ITN framework (importance, tractability, and neglectedness)
Recommended charity evaluators
Influencing others through generosity
Helping people pursue meaningful careers through Christian for Impact

Quotes to Remember

“I didn’t love economics, but I studied economics because I thought I could earn more money with an economics degree and give more money away.”
“Effective Altruism is this idea: Use evidence and reason to find the best ways to do good, and then to take action on the basis.”
“I want to love those God loves and I think God loves everyone, and when we’re more effective, we can help more people made in God’s image.”
“Outcomes matter, good intentions aren’t enough.”
“Jesus cares about the body and the soul. And we should too.”
“I think we have really good reasons for thinking that a dollar goes a lot further globally. And if people gathering in Jesus’ name in West Bengal is just as important as them gathering in North Bethesda, then I think we should honor those faith communities equally. And I think we can, on average, promote a lot more growth in church communities globally than locally for the same dollar.”
“All problems can be categorized by Importance, tractability, and neglectedness.”
“If we want our charity to make a real impact in the real world, we need to be giving in ways that create a world that’s better than it otherwise would have been, that bring the kingdom of God into this world where otherwise it might have been broken.”
“Let’s make it a new normal in the Church to give radically and effectively.”

Links from the Show

Bible References from the Show

Matthew 6:28-30 | God Will Take Care of You

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 25:14-30 | Parable of the Talents

Matthew 13:23 | Bearing Fruit

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.

John 10:10 | Abundant Life

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

We Want to Hear from You!

The post JD Bauman, Director of Effective Altruism for Christians, on Effective Giving and Strategic Career Choice appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

Dana and Bill Wichterman, Givers and Impact Investors, on Using 100% of Their Income for the Kingdom

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:00:07 +0000

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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!

The post Dana and Bill Wichterman, Givers and Impact Investors, on Using 100% of Their Income for the Kingdom appeared first on Finish Line Pledge.

Bill High, Legacy Advisor and Founder of the Signatry, on the Purpose of Family Legacy

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:00:49 +0000

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Bill High was brought up in a low-income family in rural Missouri and came to know Jesus at a young age. His generosity journey began as a teenager, faithfully tithing on everything he earned. Bill started the first half of his career in law before leaving to launch what would later become The Signatry, a donor-advised fund platform that connects “donors with doers” tackling some of the world’s biggest problems.

Through his work with The Signatry, Bill developed a passion for seeing individual families united by a clear and driving mission and vision that reflects God’s particular calling for them. In recent years, Bill has focused much of his efforts on consulting for and guiding families stewarding wealth through some of these considerations, and he had many practical considerations to share.

Major topics include:

His personal and faith background
Bill’s professional path from practicing law to funding urban ministry
How God started planting seeds of generosity in his heart as a child
What he learned about encouraging generosity in individuals and families
Looking biblically and practically at dealing with wealth transfers and family legacies
The importance of defining your vision, mission, and values as a family
Guidance for families looking for a cause that aligns with their values

Quotes to Remember

“We wanted to write the last check to reach the last missionary group to take the gospel to the last unreached people group.”
“Generosity was just a part of the conversation.”
“Family is meant to be a multi-generational endeavor.”
“Family generosity is the easiest way to live our vision, mission, and values.”
“Sometimes I equate this finish line idea with ‘who’s the owner, you or God?”
“The number one thing that changed people’s generosity, typically, is when they understood the generosity of God along with the idea that God was the owner and they were not.”
“If you don’t teach generational values, you get generational drift. ”
“The biggest wealth transfer issue is to not transfer wealth consumption, but to transfer wealth creation.”

Links from the Show

The Signatry (see our interview with CEO, Steve French)
Bill High’s Website
Legacy Stone
The Generosity Bet by Bill High
National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)
Ronald Blue and Co., CPA (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
The Ten Second Rule by Clare De Graaf
Young Americans Bank
Contact Bill High at bhigh@legacystone.com
The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

Bible References from the Show

Proverbs 24:3-4 | Wisdom Builds a House

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Genesis 15:5 | Like the Stars in Heaven

And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Matthew 6:3 | Humility in Giving

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Psalm 78:5-7 | Generational Faith

He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;

We Want to Hear from You!

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Mark Batterson, Pastor and Author, on Flipping the Blessing

Finish Line Pledge — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 08:00:31 +0000

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Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC, and a New York Times best-selling author. Mark grew up in the Midwest in a home that fostered faith and faithfulness in giving. His generosity journey started at a young age with some significant acts of faith, and some of those decisions have rippled through the rest of his life in ministry. National Community Church is overflowing with stories of generosity and radical steps of faith that have enabled them to support a wide array of other ministries and churches.

Mark highlights the importance of celebrating generosity and pushing the envelope to increase levels of giving, both personally and as a church community. He shares personal stories of the impact of small acts of generosity, encourages flipping blessings for others, and emphasizes living with holy anticipation. Mark discusses managing blessings wisely and finding joy and purpose through generosity. Major topics include:

Mark’s personal and faith background
How a failed church plant prepared him for 28 years of pastoring in DC
The role generosity has played in his personal life and in the church
Fostering a church culture of generosity
The need for business-as-mission to fund Kingdom causes
The amazing story of Ebenezers CoffeeHouse, a business-as-mission coffee house on Capitol Hill
Learning to “Flip the Blessing”

Quotes to Remember

“We make a few major decisions and we spend the rest of our life managing those decisions.”
“In our hearts, we plan our course, but God orders our footsteps.”
“If you do little things like they’re big things, God will do big things like they’re little things.”
“I’m a big fan of long obedience in the same direction.”
“If you stay humble and stay hungry, there is nothing God can’t do in and through you.”
“If you aren’t faithful with the little things, you won’t be faithful with the big things.”
“God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He owns the hills, so we have this mindset that It’s all from God and it’s all for God.”
“Every business is owned by somebody who has a worldview or a faith matrix of some sort. So for us, we’re going to allow our faith to inform how we show hospitality, how we create a business model.”
“As long as we’re caring for the poor and giving to missions, I’m never worried about our bottom line. If you’re doing what is near and dear to the heart of God, I think God’s got your back.”
“We’re going to inch our way to greater and greater levels of generosity.”
“It’s kind of fun living life in a place where you save and you give and you give and you save and you save and you give, but you do it in a way that’s generous. And I think the Lord has a way of honoring that.”
“God doesn’t raise our income to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving.”
“Your generosity is someone else’s miracle.”
“Flip the blessing.”

Links from the Show

Bible References from the Show

Psalm 50:10 | God Owns It All

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

Jeremiah 29 | Bless the City

7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Matthew 10:16 | Pure and Wise

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

2 Corinthians 9:16 | The Cheerful Giver

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

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