The Finish Line Podcast
 

The Finish Line Podcast

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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

April Chapman, CEO of Generous Giving, on How Surrendering to God Leads Us Into Generosity (Ep. 60)

Monday Dec 05, 2022

Monday Dec 05, 2022

April Chapman is the CEO of Generous Giving, which seeks to create a safe pressure-free atmosphere for Christians to discuss deep-rooted biblical generosity through short overnight retreats and annual conferences. Few organizations have impacted the generosity movement in the U.S. more significantly over the past 20 years, and Generous Giving continues to be a powerful force of generosity today. April and her husband Craig began their careers as software engineers with Microsoft. Early on, God blessed them with two major windfalls that really launched their journey into generosity, eventually leading them to give away half of their earnings. April shares how generosity and faith begin with surrendering our will to God to make room for Him to fill us with His own power and direction, and that has certainly played out in her life. April shares on a variety of topics including managing windfalls, donor advised funds, impact investing, and choosing where to give. Listen now to hear all she had to share!

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “Give of your LIFE: Labor, Influence, Finances, and Expertise.”
  • “In obedience, if we really start listening, God has some things to say to us.”
  • “We look for opportunities where we can give of our labor, our influence, and our expertise alongside our money.”
  • “There came a point at which we realized that surrender was key for both of us.”
  • “How do we figure out not how much do we give, but how much do we keep?”
  • “The vision of Generous Giving is to have God’s generosity put on display through His people.”
  • “God has been so generous with us – how do we share that generosity with the world?”
  • “How different would the world be if we were all as generous as we could be?”
  • “I truly believe generosity is one of the best evangelism tools we have.”
  • “People want to grow in community.”
  • “I want Him to fill be with His power, but the only way I can do that is if I empty myself first.”
  • “Impact investing became an engine to fuel our donor advised fund.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Malachi 3:10 | Put Me to the Test 

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 

1 Chronicles 4:10 | The Prayer of Jabez 

Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

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.

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Andy Geleris, Physician and Author, on Why Generosity is Necessary for Growing in Faith (Ep. 59)

Monday Nov 21, 2022

Monday Nov 21, 2022

Andy Geleris is a neurologist from California and author of Money & Salvation: An Invitation to the Good Way. Though he didn’t grow up in a Christian family, there were several strong experiences of generosity that had a lasting impact on him at a young age. After becoming a Christian at age 17, Andy was fortunate to find a strong, faithful church where the gospel was preached. It was in that church community where he heard that growing in discipleship always requires growing in generosity – a message that has shaped his trajectory since that time.

Since that time, Andy has continued to grow a deep heart for generosity, not just for the impact that it has on those around us, but for the way it radically shapes our own hearts. Andy has written and spoken extensively about the importance of a generosity-filled life and shares his thoughts on topics like giving anonymously, the mistakes organizations make when fundraising, why a generous lifestyle is just as important for the poor, and eternal rewards as they relate to generosity. Listen now to hear all he had to share!

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “I hope that this message of a financial finish line will start being preached in pulpits across this country.”
  • “Luther famously said their are three conversions everybody needs: the first is the head, the second is the heart, and the third is the wallet.”
  • “One of the most important ways I can see if I believe is how I spend my money.”
  • “What Jesus cares about is not how much money we give, but how much lifestyle.”
  • “It’s almost like I have a little nuclear reactor of joy in the pit of my stomach.”
  • “I think God cares more about my giving than about how effective that giving is.”
  • “Every time Jesus talked about money, he talked about why giving was important for the soul of the person to whom he was talking.”
  • “We are robbing poor people by not showing them how valuable spiritually it is for them to give even small amounts.”
  • “Poor people have a tremendous advantage in earning eternal rewards.”
  • “It turns out having wealth is not just working hard. It’s not just being smart. It’s not just taking advantage of god opportunities. It’s something as fundamental as having simple, good physical health.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Romans 10:9 | How to Be Saved

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Matthew 7:22-23 | I Never Knew You

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Luke 21:1-4 | The Widow’s Offering

1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Proverbs 30:8 | Poverty and Riches

Give me neither poverty nor riches

Deuteronomy 8:18 | The Source of 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.

Matthew 6:33 | Seek First the Kingdom of God

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

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.

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Colby Gilmore, Financial Advisor, on How Generosity Can Dramatically Impact Your Marriage (Ep. 58)

Monday Nov 07, 2022

Monday Nov 07, 2022

Colby Gilmore is a financial advisor for Ronald Blue Trust with a particular passion for helping clients explore generosity. Colby’s passion for generosity began during a class he took at Biola University called God and Money. His experience in that course led him and his wife to make the largest gift they had ever made up to that point, one with significant consequences not only for the recipient, but for Colby and his wife as well. 

Colby’s career in accounting and later financial advising eventually led him to Ronald Blue Trust, where he finally found the freedom to openly share his passion for generosity with the clients he works with. Colby shares on topics like how generosity can radically impact your marriage, why we’re called to challenge others towards generosity, and stories of lives he’s seen changed from his perspective as a financial advisor. Listen now to hear all he had to share.

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “Generosity will never be off the table”
  • “God doesn’t need our money, He wants our heart. But He can do incredibly impactful things with whatever we give.”
  • “You can’t fail with God on your side.”
  • “God is compounding returns for eternity.” 
  • “We think about emotional intimacy, or spiritual intimacy, but we often don’t think about financial intimacy.”
  • “Couples that incorporate generosity free themselves to have a lot more fun, financial intimacy, and success.”
  • “Every client that comes in here, God has brought here.”
  • “How do you know when you’ve won the game? How do you know when you’ve reached the finish line?”
  • “I don’t know if I want to be comfortable. How do we put ourselves in situations that make us uncomfortable?”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

 

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

1 Timothy 6:10 | The Love of Money is the Root of All Evil

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Mark 4:30 | 30, 60 and 100 fold

But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

Matt. 6:24 | You Cannot Serve God and Money

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

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.

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Patrick Johnson, Founder of Generous Church, on What it Takes to Start a Generosity Revolution (Ep. 57)

Monday Oct 24, 2022

Monday Oct 24, 2022

Patrick Johnson is the founder of Generous Church, which catalizes biblical generosity through global church and ministry networks. Patrick started his career in the finance industry for 10 years before God got his attention through Randy Alcorn’s book, the Treasure Principle. From there, he spent time on staff with Generous Giving during it’s formational early years as well as the National Christian Foundation, where he developed an extensive network of generosity-minded leaders. 

In 2011, Patrick left NCF to launch Generous Church with the goal of empowering church leaders to catalyze movements of gospel-centered generosity in their congregations. During those years, he surveyed over 40,000 Christians about their giving beliefs and practices with some absolutely fascinating conclusions.

Armed with the knowledge from his extensive experience and research, in 2019 Patrick brought Generous Church to the rest of the world. Through GC’s Generosity Design Lab, Patrick’s team empowers leaders of church and ministry networks all over the world to design generosity training that is completely customized and contexualized to best reach their own country and culture.

What’s the result? In just 3 years, Generous Church has helped networks in over 74 countries start generosity movements that have spread like wildfire.

Few people have a better bird’s eye perspective on what it takes to communicate the power of generosity. Listen now to hear Patrick’s thoughts on topics like the core motivations of the most generous people, why money is so dangerous for our faith, and why the U.S. in particular struggles so much with creating a culture of generosity.

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “What really drives me with the message of generosity is the gospel.”
  • “I am a wanderer by heart, and God never let’s me go. He always brings me back.”
  • “Money can be dangerous.”
  • “Money has a particular power to it, which is dangerous.”
  • “Money is a particularly effective idol because you can count it, you can store it, and it keeps its power when you keep it in the dark.”
  • “The narrative of scripture is not about investing, it’s not about saving, it’s not about debt – though those are in there. It’s about generous giving.”
  • “Why don’t you take scripture face up for what it is and sit with God and ask Him what He would have you do with it.”
  • “Generosity is about discipleship.”
  • “We were created in the image of a generous God to be generous.”
  • “Don’t think you can be a disciple of Jesus and leave generosity off the table.”
  • “One of the common characteristics of the most generous people I’ve met is that they all set a spending finish line.”
  • “I see in every generous person I know that they have a deep, abiding relationship with Christ that’s real and tangible.”
  • “By far, the people who are motivated by the gospel and by grace are the most generous people from a financial perspective.”
  • “You have to have margin, and you have to be intentional about margin early on.”
  • “The two biggest leverage points are what house you live in and what car you drive.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Matt 10:17-23 | The Rich Young Ruler 

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

Matt. 6:24 | You Cannot Serve God and Money

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

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.

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Mark and Sharon Taylor, Real Estate Investors, on Complex Property Gifts and Giving as a Family (Ep. 56)

Monday Oct 10, 2022

Monday Oct 10, 2022

Mark and Sharon Taylor own a successful real estate company in Florida. However, halfway through their career, God gave them a wake up call that completely changed their priorities. Since that time, Mark and Sharon have become passionate about the advancement of the gospel around the world and using the wealth and success God has given them to fuel that mission. 

Not only has God dramatically changed their focus and trajectory, but He has challenged their children too. Mark and Sharon frequently involve their kids in their business ventures and giving decisions and have learned a lot along the way.

More recently, Mark and Sharon have been walking through the process of giving away a large property that they own. They worked with the National Christian Foundation to navigate their complex gift and broke down what the process looks like from the inside. 

Mark and Sharon had plenty to say on topics like being generous with a fluctuating income, handling windfalls, thoughts on legacy and inheritance, giving as a family, and making complex gifts of property and appreciated assets. Listen now to hear all they had to share!

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “We began to measure our business against a biblical standard.”
  • “It just seemed like when we were honoring God, He was standing right there with us.” 
  • “You get so much more out of giving than you do out of getting.”
  • “Money was never the thing that drove us in what we did.”
  • “It’s important to know how to finish life well.”
  • “There’s a difference between being a Christian who is a financial advisor, and being a financial advisor who advises his clients as to what their Christian responsibilities ought to be.”
  • “We don’t have an income finsih line, we have an asset finish line.”
  • “I think 2022 is going to be the year that we give more than we earn.”
  • “I thought it would be really easy to give money away, but it’s hard!”
  • “I want to make as much money as I can possilby make, and give it all to the kingdom.” 
  • ‘I want to take money out of the world and put it into the kingdom.”
  • “Now I have a purpose for the money I try to earn.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Matt 6:3 | Giving in Secret 

3 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 Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Jeff Thomas, Founder of Arkos Global Advisors, on Moving from Success to Significance (Ep. 55)

Monday Sep 26, 2022

Monday Sep 26, 2022

Jeff Thomas is the founder of Arkos Global Avisors, author of Trading Up: Moving From Success to Significance on Wall Street, and cohost of the Generous Business Owner Podcast along with Alan Barnhart and Jeff Rutt. Jeff comes from a ministry family, but never quite felt called to vocational ministry. Rather, even at a young age, Jeff knew he was called into the business world. 

Over the years, Jeff worked his way up the ladder as a financial advisor, eventually becoming a top 1% producer on Wall Street. However successful he appeared on the outside, he found himself empty and purposeless on the inside. 

Through a series of events, God finally got Jeff’s attention. Since that time, Jeff has become an outspoken advocate of generosity, including writing his book, Trading Up, and launching the successful Generous Business Owner podcast. He also founded Arkos Global Avisors to give him and his team the freedom to infuse a biblical foundation of wealth into his client relationships. 

Jeff had plenty to share on topics like staying aligned with where God is moving, building a team that is aligned towards one vision, how to think about inheritance, and how to steward advisor-client relationships well. Listen now to hear all he had to share!

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “On the exterior, everything was fine. But I was just totally empty.”
  • “I’m just making rich people richer. I don’t know what my purpose is, but that can’t be it.”
  • “Daily study of the bible changed my life forever.”
  • “I was chasing worldly success more than I was chasing Him.”
  • “I was just operating on the wrong scorecard for awhile.”
  • “I finally realized that God owns it.”
  • “Ask God for the plan and do whatever He says – it’s so much more fun!”
  • “I used to ask how much of my money God wanted me to give. Now I ask how much of God’s money He’s going to allow me to keep. Totally different mindset.”
  • “You can’t take clients somewhere you haven’t been.”
  • “My joy meter went off the charts.”
  • “How much is enough for you. How much is enough for the next generation. And what are you going to do with the excess?”
  • “I don’t think you get credit for giving money away when you’re dead. By the way, it’s not very fun.”
  • “It aint about the money. And we make it way too much about the money.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Matt. 6:24 | You Cannot Serve Two Masters

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

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.

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Andy DeWitt, Author of Radical Giving, on the Importance of Sharing Your Generosity Story (Ep. 54)

Monday Sep 12, 2022

Monday Sep 12, 2022

Andy DeWitt is an oral surgeon and author of the book Radical Giving: How Remarkable Generosity Can Set You Free. As Andy struggled with whether to go into private practice or full time missions work, he finally found is answer in a financial finish line. 

From the beginning of his career, Andy and his wife knew how much they planned on spending on their family. And everything else, they left to God’s direction.

Through the years, Andy has learned a lot along the way. Listen to his thoughts on topics like combatting personal legalism, alligning yourself with your spouse, the importance of community, and involving your kids in the process. 

In more recent years, Andy has become passionate about helping others share their stories through writing coaching and ghostwriting. He shares the experience that changed his mentality from giving in secret to sharing his own story. Listen now to hear all he had to share!

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “How do you draw closer to Jesus through your ministry of giving?”
  • “We became deeply involved with a small number of organizations.”
  • “These other reputable people are giving and they’re giving generously, so I can give too.”
  • “It’s not blowing a trumpet on the street corner saying ‘Look how great I am’. It’s saying ‘Come on guys, lets give well together.'”
  • “When we tell stories well, it gives others an opportunity to learn from mistakes and to say ‘That’s what I’m doing with my life.'”
  • “Sharing your heart of generosity helps others to have a heart of generosity.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Matt 6:3 | Giving in Secret 

3 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 Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Curt and Chris Chaffin on the Joys and Challenges of Life with a Finish Line (Ep. 53)

Monday Aug 29, 2022

Monday Aug 29, 2022

Curt and Chris Chaffin set a financial finish line early in their marriage and have experienced many of the joys and challenges that come with it. Their story begins soon after Curts medical training during an extended missions trip abroad. After struggling significantly over whether to pursue full time missions, Curt and Chris ultimately found themselves led to remain in the states, using much of their income to fuel other’s work abroad. 

The Chaffins share a candid perspective on the freedom they’ve experienced through generosity, as well as the difficult decisions they’ve made along the way. Listen now to hear their take on topics like adjusting to a budget, staying on the same page, finding encouragement from others, sharing generosity with your kids, and the challenges of living differently than those around you.

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “Yes, there are needs here in the U.S., but overseas there are tremendous needs.”
  • “We were already used to the idea of arbitrarily limiting how much we spent.”
  • “As we were given resources, we knew immediately that these probably should not be spent on us.”
  • “God had been preparing our hearts all along.”
  • “Why are we trying to figure out how much to give away when it should be how much should I keep?”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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.

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John Rinehart, Author of Gospel Patrons, on the Patterns Among the World’s Most Generous (Ep. 52)

Monday Aug 15, 2022

Monday Aug 15, 2022

John Rinehart is the author of Gospel Patrons: People Whose Generosity Changed the World and founder of GospelPatrons.org. John started his career in the business world before returning to seminary. However, it was on a 132-day trip around the world that God introduced John to the concept of a gospel patron.

In his book, John vividly describes the lives of three individuals whose generosity changed the world:

  • Humphrey Monmouth, a successful cloth merchant in the 1500s who personally funded William Tyndale in the translation of the first English bible
  • Lady Huntingdon, a wealthy aristocrat in the 1700s who sacrificed much to partner with George Whitefield, the leading preacher of the Great Awakening and
  • John Thornton, one of the wealthiest businessmen in England in the late 1700s who funded John Newton’s hymnbook, which brought us “Amazing Grace”

Since authoring Gospel Patrons, John has become an influencial speaker and founded GospelPatrons.org, which serves as a home to empower a generation of gospel patrons. On the website, John and his team have countless interviews with current day gospel patrons, short films and stories, and other resources to encourage those seeking to step out in faith to advance the gospel through generosity.

John had plenty to say about topics like common themes among gospel patrons, the best ways to get started, and how generosity is critical to faith. Listen now to hear all he had to say!

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “Why do I work? What is money for? What’s the role of business people in the Kingdom of God?”
  • “Behind every great movement of God, there is always going to be a behind-the-scenes generous, professional person who says: I’m in!”
  • “The work of the Kingdom of God is not just for pastors or missionaries.”
  • “No matter what gift you have, you can bring it to the table and God wants to use it.”
  • “I think the historical patronage partnerships were significant because they unlock the way God works.”
  • “Tithing isn’t the finish line of Christian giving, it’s the starting line.”
  • “God is going to introduce you to people who need your support.”
  • “Every great step of faith we’re ever going to take is preceded by 100 tiny little steps of faith that lead us to be ready for those moments.”
  • “You will be ready to step into your moment because you’ve already stepped into 100 smaller moments.” 
  • “If we want to have great faith, we’ve got to use it.”
  • “You grow in giving by giving.”
  • “Gospel patrons who live lives of radical, inspiring generosity are people who first and foremost have understood and grasped the gospel.”
  • “We become like that which we worship.”
  • “One of the themes I see among great gospel patrons is that their true and pure genius is obedience. They’re gifted is all sorts of ways, but when God speaks, they move.”
  • “The generous life is the most joyful life there is.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Luke 8:1-3 | The Patron Women Accompanying Jesus

1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

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.

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Bekele Shanko, President of the Global Alliance for Church Multiplication, on Planting a Healthy Church for Every 1000 People Globally (Ep. 51)

Monday Aug 01, 2022

Monday Aug 01, 2022

Bekele Shanko leads the Global Church Movements division of Cru and is the President of GACX, the Global Alliance for Church Multiplication.

Bekele’s life started out in a small Ethiopian village without a school, clinic, or running water in a family dedicated to animism. By age 5, he was already an apprentice to a witchdoctor.

When Bekele’s family miraculously came to Christ, they became a powerful conduit for God’s saving power and grace to Ethiopia and the rest of the world. Bekele’s people group, the Kambaata tribe, was completely unreached when he was young. That same people group of 1.5 million people today consists of 97% born again believers.

As Bekele continued working to reach the unreached, he eventually came to found Cru’s global church planting division in 2011. That same division today is now working in 152 countries and has 2500 full time staff leading church planting movements.

Bekele also leads GACX, a global collaboration of church planting ministries, now with over 115 partners, with the focused goal of planting a healthy multiplying church for every 1000 people distributed worldwide.

And they want to do it by 2033.

Since it’s founding in 2011, GACX partners have planted 2.4 million churches globally. And according to Bekele, the level of collaboration and resource sharing between ministries today is unparalleled in history. There are some incredible things going on in the missions frontier and you will not want to miss this episode.

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “I’ve experienced the power of God. The Gospel has transformed me. And that’s why I’m so passionate about reaching people who are lost without Christ and sharing the good news that has the power to transform lives.”
  • “Missiologists believe that the center of Christianity has shifted from the global north (the western church) to the global south (Africa, Asia, and Latin America).”
  • “There is a sense of lukewarmness in the church, a sense of spiritual apathy. We have many Christians, but not many committed disciples.”
  • “I had this faith in God that I can ask God for anything as long as it is in His will.”
  • “I asked God what he wanted me to do for him and God just opened my eyes to trust him for what we would call impossible.”
  • “Whatever you ask God to do for His glory and for the advancement of His kingdom, He is able and faithful to do it. But sometimes we limit what God will do because we don’t believe and we aren’t asking God for great things. So I always encourage people to ask God for something bigger than themselves, for something they cannot do themselves.” 
  • “When there is clear vision, people are attracted to that vision.”
  • “We want every planted church to become a great grandmother church, giving birth to a new church which gives birth to a new church.”
  • “How can we help the 2 billion self-identified Christians to be part of God’s vision?” 
  • “We all believe that there is one church, one body, one kingdom, and one King.”
  • “How can we work together for the glory of God, so God’s glory is at the center, and fulfilling the Great Commission is our motivation? One kingdom, one body is our philosophy.”
  • “We are closer to the end times than yesterday.”
  • “Prayer is so powerful. When we pray, we are aligned with God’s heart.”
  • “Write down what you are praying and see if God answers those prayers.”
  • “God is calling you to fulfill his purpose, and there is limited time.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Revelation 7:9 | Every Tribe and Nation

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 

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