Kealan, a surgeon, and Cody, a financial advisor, discuss the intersection of faith, generosity, and personal finance. They’re joined by a variety of guests, including pastors, financial advisors, radically generous givers, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and nonprofit leaders to explore one central question: How do we best steward God’s wealth? On The Finish Line Podcast, you’ll hear challenging and inspirational stories of tremendous generosity. You’ll also learn from experts in multiple fields about topics like setting a financial finish line, giving efficiently and effectively, and teaching generosity to your children. More than anything, though, you’ll see how God is constantly at work redeeming the world He created and loves. Visit the website at www.finishlinepledge.com to learn more.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Dawn Hynes Esposito—entrepreneur, business owner, and author—always aspired to become a corporate executive, and her journey seemed to be right on track as she climbed the ranks within a Fortune 500 company. Yet, despite reaching the heights of her career dreams, Dawn realized she was missing a deeper sense of fulfillment. That’s when God captured her attention.
In a profound moment of transformation, Dawn fully rededicated her life to Christ, embracing the gospel with a renewed passion and a heart for bold witness. Since that time, she has devoted her time, talents, and resources to spreading the gospel as widely as possible, witnessing God’s powerful work in the lives of others. Dawn brings valuable insights into integrating faith and profession, offering inspiration on being creatively generous with all that God has abundantly provided.
Major topics include:
- Dawn’s inspiring journey into a life of full surrender to God
- Growing in boldness with evangelism
- Generosity as a form of worship
- Following the Spirit into starting her businesses to build the Kingdom
- How she and her husband hear from the Holy Spirit to make decisions
- Dawn’s faith journey in writing her book
- Leveraging your profession to build the Kingdom of God
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “Evangelism is like building a muscle. The more you do it, the more comfortable you become speaking about faith with co-workers and friends. And then you start to get a supernatural boldness.”
- “Financial generosity is a natural outgrowth of understanding how Christ freely gave all. And there’s nothing we can give in return except our lives, our heart, our talents, and our treasure. It’s really just a form of worshiping the King.”
- “Whatever we give, God gives back to us in multiples.”
- “The Lord prompts us to do things that don’t make sense to the natural mind, and as we submit to Him and follow His leading even though we don’t know where He’s going, He just blows our mind with the outcome.”
- “Our’s is to act obediently; His is the outcome and the results.”
- “Through our minute generosity, God has demonstrated His great generosity in blessing us so that we can be a greater blessing.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- God of My Every Day by Dawn Hynes Esposito
- Campus Crusade (Cru)
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Zechariah 4:6 | By My Spirit
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Isaiah 58:10-11 | God Is Generous with Those Who Are Generous
If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
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.
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Micheline Ouedraogo, founder of Bridges to Burkina, grew up in a missionary family in West Africa with few resources. She learned from a young age what it looks like to completely depend on God for provision and guidance. While attending college in the US, she felt a call from the Holy Spirit to sponsor education for a handful of orphans in her home country, and despite her minimum-wage income, she stepped out in faith and obeyed. What began as a humble expression of generosity has bloomed into an amazing ministry.
Micheline’s inspiring dedication to live a life of submission and obedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit led her from one divine connection to another, and Bridges to Burkina was born. Now, Bridges to Burkina works with rural villages in Burkina Faso, Africa, combating poverty by training locals to use agriculture and livestock to create sustainable businesses, as well as providing education for their children.
Major topics include:
- Choosing to obey God when it doesn’t make sense
- Listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit in life and generosity
- Breaking the poverty cycle through education and business training
- Balancing a full-time career with serving in the ministry
- Micheline’s vision for growth in Bridges to Burkina
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “I’d rather take a risk and obey God than stay put and try to protect myself.”
- “I don’t want to just fix the today-problem and leave you with the tomorrow problem. What God has put on my heart is for transforming lives for today and the future.”
- “Everything we do has to be led by love. Then God will open the door for things to happen.”
- “I don’t want to do what I want to do, I want to do what you want me to do.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- Bridges to Burkina
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
The Book of Esther
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.
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Monday Nov 04, 2024
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.
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Bruce Hildenbrand, raised as a pastor’s kid in rural Michigan, learned early on to rely on God for everything. So, when he faced uncertainty about his college major, he encountered the Holy Spirit in a powerful way, guiding him into the business world with one condition: that Bruce would dedicate all of it back to God.
Since then, Bruce has become a serial entrepreneur with a 35-year passion for operating from a profound relationship with God. His journey is one of steadfast obedience, producing abundant fruit for the Kingdom. He fully dedicates his talents, resources, and business endeavors to glorify God. Bruce brings valuable insights into recognizing the voice of the Holy Spirit in business, practicing generosity, and investing in eternity.
Major topics include:
- Bruce’s supernatural encounter in the middle of a business lecture
- The necessity of a relationship with the Father as a businessperson
- God’s view of wealth vs. the pharisaical view
- Focusing on EROI (Eternal Return on Investment)
- The heart posture of a generous giver
- Keys to hearing from the Holy Spirit
- How you can start serving your community today
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “You can’t do anything if you don’t have a relationship with the Father.”
- “If you are going to exercise spiritual gifts, you need God’s protection because you will be under spiritual attack.”
- “God, don’t prosper my bank account before You prosper my soul.”
- “God wants all the credit. He wants you to say, ‘God, You get all the credit for everything I do.’”
- “Riches are not the divine approval for your life.”
- “You can fool man, but you can’t fool God.”
- “Don’t violate God’s principles and expect Him to prosper your business.”
- “A relationship with God must be consistent, persistent, and tenacious.”
- “God’s first definition of a generous giver was a poor widow.”
- “It’s not about how much we give, it’s about our heart condition.”
- “Write the check and get out of the way. Let the Holy Spirit to His work.”
- “As a businessman, if you really understood the Bible and you really understood where you’re going to end up forever, you would be plowing every dime that you have into your eternal account.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- Treasures in Heaven, Part 1 by John MacArthur (YouTube Video)
- Treasures in Heaven, Part 2 by John MacArthur (YouTube Video)
- YouVersion
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 | God Gives Wealth
Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Isaiah 48:17 | God Teaches How to Profit
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.
John 15:5 | Abide in the Vine
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Proverbs 18:11 | Strong City, High Wall
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.
Proverbs 23:4 | Don’t Toil
Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.
Proverbs 10:22 | Riches with No Sorrow
The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
Matthew 6:19-21 | Treasure in Heaven
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Mark 12:41-44 | The Widow’s Offering
Matt 6:3 | Giving in Secret
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
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.
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Monday Oct 21, 2024
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.
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Monday Oct 14, 2024
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.
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Monday Oct 07, 2024
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.
Monday Sep 23, 2024
Monday Sep 23, 2024
Christopher Beth, founder of The Bucket Ministry, spent most of his life as a business consultant and thought he would retire from that line of work. But a radical encounter with God deep in the Amazon turned his life upside down and from that experience, The Bucket Ministry was born. The Bucket Ministry widely disperses water filters and the gospel all around the world using an advanced digital mapping platform to guide their work.
The mission of The Bucket Ministry is to share God’s love through the gift of safe, clean, drinking water. While The Bucket Ministry started out in the Brazilian Amazon, it is now actively evangelizing and providing water filters all over the globe. Christopher has an incredible story as well as lots of great advice on effective ministry and data tracking. You won’t want to miss what he had to share!
Major topics include:
- The impactful story of how The Bucket Ministry began
- Startling statistics about drinking water access throughout the world
- Water filtration as a vehicle to practically share the gospel
- Transitioning from business to ministry
- Navigating the tension between profession and calling
- Leveraging technology for ministry management and accountability
- Christopher’s vision for scaling to reach more people faster in the next five years
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “I had no idea that at the age of 56, I would think more about fishing for men than fishing for fish.”
- “The water in my toilet bowl is cleaner than 785 million people have access to around the world.”
- “Our focal points are Jesus, water, and discipleship. We don’t do anything else.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- The Bucket Ministry
- Joshua Project (see our interview with Director, Dan Scribner)
- Sawyer
- Jesus Film Project (see our interview with Executive Director Josh Newell)
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Acts 4:13 | God Uses Common Men
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
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.
Monday Sep 09, 2024
Monday Sep 09, 2024
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!
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.
Monday Aug 26, 2024
Monday Aug 26, 2024
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
- Effective Altruism for Christians
- Christians for Impact
- Operation Mobilization
- Wycliffe Bible Translators (see our interview with CEO John Chesnut)
- Society of Christian Philosophers
- BlessBig.org (see our interview with founder Jay Dykstra)
- When Helping Hurts (see our interview with coauthor Brian Fikkert)
- GiveWell
- Happier Lives Institutes
- Animal Charity Evaluators
- Charity Navigator
- ROI Ministry (see our interview with founder, Tim Barker)
- All Access International (see our interview with founder, Lane Kipp)
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
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.
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