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

Alan Barnhart, Business Leader, on the Story that Sparked a Generation of Givers (Ep. 160)

Monday Oct 13, 2025

Monday Oct 13, 2025

Alan Barnhart grew up in Memphis, where his parents ran a small crane and rigging company. After college he sensed a call to missions just as his parents invited him and his brother to take over the family business. As he wrestled with the decision, God’s answer was clear; Alan’s full-time ministry was the business world.

From day one, the brothers regarded the company as God’s. To guard against the spiritual risks of wealth, Alan set a “lifestyle finish line,” capping his personal income at the level of a ministry worker. They also committed to give 50% of annual profits to God’s Kingdom. Over the next 39 years, the once-small firm grew toward a billion-dollar enterprise and now channels millions each year into gospel work. Later, Alan and his brother formalized their conviction by transferring 100% of their ownership to a charitable trust, while continuing to lead the company.

Alan’s example has inspired a generation of givers to steward their families, businesses, and resources with wisdom and courage. You won’t want to miss this story.

Major Topics Include:

  • Avoiding the dangers of wealth
  • Finding freedom in a financial finish line
  • How God led him to give away his company while still being it’s steward
  • Thinking though what to do with profit
  • Developing relationship with the recipients of your generosity 
  • Generosity decisions as a group
  • Responsive giving vs. strategic giving
  • Differences between giving from business capital and giving from personal capital
  • Making difficult decisions in generosity 
  • Relational aspects of being as a business and generosity leader
  • Managing a capped lifestyle with children
  • Thinking through company succession
  • Stewarding your generosity story

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “God, I’ll go wherever you want me to go.”
  • “My full time ministry was going to be in the business world.”
  • “Jesus warned about money more than He warned about anything else.”
  • “Contentment doesn’t come from stuff, it comes from enjoying what you already have.”
  • “Holding things with an open hand has led to freedom.”
  • “God isn’t trying to extract something from us. He doesn’t want our money, He wants us.”
  • “Generosity breaks the power of greed.”
  • “We say no to 99% of giving opportunities so we can give a big yes to the 1% we support.”
  • “We want to be as strategic in our giving of money as we are in our making of money.”
  • “What does God want us to do with His money?”
  • “There is work to being a steward.”
  • “What we’re doing is not crazy.”
  • “We didn’t see the company as ours, so our kids never saw it as theirs.”
  • “Be a steward of your story as much as you are a steward of your money, because your story may change someone else’s life.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Matthew 19:23 | A Warning for the Rich

 

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

Matthew 6:24 | Choose Your Master

 

“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.

 

Matthew 6:19-20 | Treasures in Heaven

 

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] 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.

 

Luke 12:13-21 | The Parable of the Rich Fool

 

1 Timothy 6:6-7 | Godliness with Contentment

 

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

 

Luke 21:1-4 | The Widow’s Offering

 

Matthew 5:16 | Your Good Works Give Glory to the Father

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

 

Matthew 6:3-4 | A Time for Giving in Secret


But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

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Bruce Wydick, Author of the Shrewd Samaritan, on the Art of Spiritual Discernment and Meaningful Impact (Ep. 159)

Monday Oct 06, 2025

Monday Oct 06, 2025

Bruce Wydick is an economist, professor, and author of Shrewd Samaritan: Faith, Economics, and the Road to Loving Our Global Neighbor. As his faith deepened throughout his college career, Bruce developed an unexpected passion for economic development and the role of the Church. The more he researched, the more he realized a great need for Christian NGOs to be able to measure the impact they’re having on the people they’ve been called to help.  

Bruce helped start the Collaborative for Econometrics and Integrated Development Studies (CEIDS), which has grown into a network of more than 100 development economists, public health experts, and other related fields from all around the world. Together, they work to support the relief and development arms of Christ’s global Church by helping Christian NGOs develop tools and built-in programs so that they and their donors can know where, how, and why they’re truly being effective.  

Bruce brings a rare blend of heartfelt, Spirit-led generosity and a data-driven focus on high impact giving to help followers of Jesus love our neighbors with wisdom by investing resources in ways that truly change lives for the Kingdom. Bruce shares stories from his research and his own journey of faith, emphasizing that generosity isn’t just about good intentions but about stewarding God’s gifts so that they bear lasting fruit.  

Major Topics Include:

  • Blending faith and economic development 
  • The Story of Mayan Partners in Guatemala
  • The biblical picture of human flourishing
  • The challenge of impact measurement for Christian NGOs
  • Making informed, Spirit-led giving decisions
  • Stages of a heart-progression on world problems: The Six i’s—ignorance, indifference, idealism, investigation, introspection, impact
  • Developing an identity with those you’re called to serve
  • Understanding poverty traps as a giver
  • Measuring impact through randomized control trials and quasi-experimental designs
  • How givers can use AI to research the most impactful interventions
  • Examples of the most effective and ineffective interventions

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “The Kingdom works the opposite of the way that economics says the world should work.”
  • “We should not only be good Samaritans, but shrewd Samaritans, that we actively think about what we do, as well as we pray and feel led by the heart.”
  • “The poor are important enough to Christ that we owe them an informed decision on how we give and not just a feeling-based decision.”
  • “What is the role that God has placed me in?”
  • “It’s not about one person saving the world. It’s about one person listening to God and His calling on our lives to serve where He wants us to serve.”
  • “If we understand where there’s a need and then see where our gifting lines up with that need, God will bring about His biblically-based human flourishing in that intersection.”
  • “Providing cash is almost always better than providing stuff.”
  • “The earlier you intervene in a child’s life, the more impactful it is.”

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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

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Mary Clayton Crow, on Giving Generously Expecting Nothing in Return (Ep. 158)

Monday Sep 29, 2025

Monday Sep 29, 2025

Mary Clayton Crow’s life has been marked by radical generosity from the very beginning. After coming to faith in the Jesus Movement of the 70s, Mary Clayton’s parents freely shared all they had while living in community with other Believers, regularly opening their home to missionaries, and eventually becoming missionaries themselves behind the Iron Curtain. This model of radical generosity set a strong foundation for Mary Clayton’s adult life as she lives to “give generously, expecting nothing in return.”  

Mary Clayton has a rich passion for relational, spontaneous generosity, often giving away personal items admired by others as a way to express God’s love while resisting the trap of materialism. She is also passionate about collaborative giving, and takes part in several giving communities that invest in local ministries, not only with their finances, but with their time and talents as well.  

Major Topics Include:

  • Making generosity your own
  • Being stretched and challenged in generosity
  • Wrestling the “elder brother” mentality
  • What does it really mean to expect nothing in return?
  • A Lenten generosity challenge
  • Resisting materialism with generosity 
  • Modeling generosity to your family
  • The power of community giving to local ministries 
  • Guarding against generosity burnout
  • Hearing from the Holy Spirit through other people
  • Creating a visual reminder to give generously

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “You can never outgive God. It’s going to come back to you 10-fold, 20-fold, 30-fold, 100-fold. And it may not be in dollars and cents, but it will be in joy.”
  • “I love generosity because it makes sharing the gospel so easy.”
  • “Expecting nothing in return means releasing the result and putting it in the Lord’s hand.”
  • “We need to detach ourselves from things owning us so we can be stewards of the things God has given us.”
  • “Generous tipping is one of the easiest ways to be an evangelist.”
  • “I’m excited to chase God.”
  • “I’m looking forward to God disrupting my life for new adventures.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Luke 21:3-4 | The Widow’s Offering  

And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  

John 3:16 | The Ultimate Giver  

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  

Luke 15:11-32 | The Prodigal Son  

Matthew 20:1-16 | The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

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.

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Taylor Standridge, FaithFi Production Manager, on the Central Motivations of the Generous Heart (Ep. 157)

Monday Sep 22, 2025

Monday Sep 22, 2025

Taylor Standridge, production manager at FaithFi, is passionate about creating engaging content that makes an impact for the Kingdom of God. Taylor developed a love for radio in his early years which grew into a passion to see more Christian programming on radio and podcasting platforms. Today, Taylor has an extensive background in radio and media production, as well as a seminary degree from Dallas Theological Seminary which combines to create and deliver deeply impactful content, particularly in the generosity space.  

As production manager, Taylor walks through the Faith and Finance radio program and podcast from beginning to end, as well as their one-minute program on 1900 signals across the nation, to share the message of God as our ultimate treasure. He’s a frequent content creator for the FaithFi team and has much wisdom to share on many topics surrounding faith, generosity, and personal finance.  

Major Topics Include:

  • Taylor’s discoveries about wealth in the Scriptures
  • Approaching investing through a theological lens 
  • Viewing every dollar as an opportunity to be generous
  • A biblical view of eternal reward
  • The “my value is in my money” identity crisis
  • Practical steps for aligning your finances with the Kingdom
  • Knowing God through Scripture for Kingdom-aligned financial decisions

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “When it comes to managing money God’s way, it’s not just attaching a Bible verse to a financial principle and calling it biblical. But it’s looking deeply at the story of the Bible and finding out what it has to say about money and how we relate to it.” 
  • “I approach everything that comes through our accounts as belonging to the Lord and everything is an opportunity to be generous.”
  • “We often think of eternal rewards as being merit based, but when we look at how God speaks about obedience in Scripture we realize that obedience is not our gift back to God, it’s actually God’s gift to us.”
  • “It is God’s grace that enables us to obey Him.”
  • “If our ultimate treasure is not God Himself and we’re more excited about what we’ll get from Him, I think we’re still fundamentally making the same mistake as worshiping money instead of Him.”
  • “When we get to Heaven, I think we’ll find that we didn’t sacrifice at all, we simply let go of what was not eternal.”
  • “God is our treasure. We utilize everything else as a tool to accomplish His purposes.”
  • “Money promises us everything that God does, but doesn’t deliver on any of them.”
  • “If we realize that our ultimate value is in God, we don’t see our money or assets as indicative of our value. But we recognize that we’re so valuable that God Himself died on a cross for us.”
  • “God doesn’t need us, but He chooses to involve us in His work.”
  • “I don’t think you can understand God’s heart for the world until you know God’s story.”
  • “Debt obligates you to the past and prevents you from opportunity for the future.”
  • “Peace-of-mind and security should never come from money.”
  • “Financial security is a feeling because God knows my needs more intimately than I do. And if He can feed people with manna from Heaven, I think I’ll be fine.”
  • “There’s currently 22 trillion dollars worth of assets managed by Christians in this country. Christians here have tremendous influence and opportunity to make God known.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Proverbs 13:22a | A Lasting Inheritance  

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,  

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.  

Philippians 2:13 | God’s Grace for Obedience  

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.  

Matthew 13:44 | The Parable of the Hidden Treasure  

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  

Luke 6:35 | Give Freely  

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 

Matthew 20:1-16 | Laborers in the Vineyard  

Ephesians 2:8-10 | By Grace Through Faith for Good Works  

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

2 Timothy 3:16 | God-Breathed Scripture  

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  

Ephesians 3:20-21 | More than We Could Imagine  

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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.

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Madison Illges, Executive Director of Mite, on the Importance of Celebration in Giving (Ep. 156)

Monday Sep 15, 2025

Monday Sep 15, 2025

Madison Illges, Executive Director of Mite, was brought up in a large family that modeled a heart of generosity. Before Madison was even born, her father experienced a simple but life-changing moment of joy in giving—a spark that would one day grow into a vision for helping others celebrate generosity in community. That vision became reality in 2016 when Mite was launched with a mission to make giving better.

Mite is a giving fund that helps donors connect with trusted global projects while removing the guesswork that so often makes giving complicated. Their team researches and vets development projects around the world—spanning education, health, child development, disaster relief, and more—so that givers can confidently support causes they’re passionate about. And as those projects are completed, Mite goes the extra mile to bring the stories home, showing donors how their generosity has impacted real people and communities in more than 25 countries.

Madison stepped in as executive director at a young age and for nearly a decade she has seen God use technology, creativity, and faithful obedience to multiply impact and remind us that generosity is ultimately a celebration of what He is doing around the world.

Major Topics Include:

  • The Watermelon Party Story
  • How advancing technology brings donors to the field 
  • The impact of the widow’s mite story on Madison’s life
  • A deep dive into the vetting and reporting process
  • How Mite discovers healthy organizations to partner with 
  • Analyzing an organization’s theory of change
  • The beauty of community in generosity
  • Celebrating God in generosity

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “Generosity loosens greed, provides an opportunity to cultivate joy, and aligns us with God’s Kingdom values.”
  • “Jesus made note of what the widow gave. And it had nothing to do with how much the widow was dropping in, but it had everything to do with where her heart was in her giving.”
  • “There are thousands of fantastic organizations out there that just need financial backing and a cheerleader to come alongside them and help their mission succeed. So we didn’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel.”
  • “Project at Mite isn’t considered completed until it’s been filmed.”
  • “People have different passion areas which may change with the season they’re in, so people can generally find a Mite project that interests them now and in the future when their interests shift.”
  • “Mite is doing our best to build community within what we do, but I have also seen as I visit our donors that they are building little pockets of community on their own with what their doing, and Mite just happens to be one of the vehicles they’re using.”
  • “Generosity is an opportunity to celebrate with God in the work He’s doing on Earth.”
  • “We know that if you start being generous when you have little, you’re highly likely to be generous when you have much.”
  • “What we are after is what Jesus was after with the widow—we’re after the heart in generosity, not the amount that they’re giving.”
  • “Don’t wait to arrive. Give now and watch what God can do with your giving.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Mark 12:41-44 | The Widow’s Offering  

Matthew 6:21 | Treasure from Your Heart  

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

John 3:16 | God, The Ultimate Giver  

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.

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Mike Perez, Financial Advisor and Author, on the 5 Pillars of Finishing the Race Strong (Ep. 155)

Monday Sep 08, 2025

Monday Sep 08, 2025

Mike Perez, a seasoned financial advisor and author of Faith and Finances, didn’t start his career thinking about generosity or Kingdom impact. He began in accounting, building a solid professional foundation, but deep down, something felt incomplete—both professionally and spiritually. A series of God-ordained encounters drew Mike into the world of financial advising and, more importantly, into a place of full surrender to Christ. From that point on, his question became: What would it look like to truly live out my faith through my finances?  

Over the last 33 years, that question has shaped Mike’s entire career. Today, he carries a special passion for helping those in or near retirement “finish their race strong” by aligning their financial plans with their spiritual calling. In Faith and Finances, Mike distills decades of wisdom to help believers embrace biblical principles for financial success and radical generosity. Along the way, he offers profound insights on discovering your personal calling, setting a financial finish line that frees you to give boldly, stewarding your time and resources with eternal purpose, and building a legacy that outlives you and points others to Christ.  

Major Topics Include:

  • Mike’s journey through living out is faith in his finances
  • Learning generosity and stewardship in community
  • The importance of heart change on the stewardship journey 
  • What does it mean to finish well?
  • The five pillars of a faith-driven retirement
  • Important conversations about legacy
  • Advice for doing legacy well as a follower of Christ
  • Estate mapping with families
  • Tips for experiencing heart change
  • Three steps of a Journey of Generosity experience
  • Practical tips for setting a finish line
  • Living out calling beyond the working years 
  • Encouragement to keep growing and stretching in faith and generosity

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “Our industry is all about people getting the money thing right, and I think that’s fine and good. But I think what’s more important is getting the life thing right, especially in the second half of life.”
  • “Ephesians 2:10 says that you were designed for good works, it doesn’t say that all bets are off once you’re retired. You’re meant to do good works until the end.”
  • “We shouldn’t be asking God, ‘How much should I give?’ but rather ‘How much should I keep?’”
  • “Does it take more faith to give while you’re here or after you’re gone?”
  • “I don’t think the journey ever ends because God’s always working on our hearts.”
  • “Giving breaks the power of money.”
  • “Your best days can be ahead of you!”
  • “Just take your next step with Jesus.”
  • “Generosity is a muscle. The more you work it out, the stronger it becomes.”
  • “God just wants to know that He can use you.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Proverbs 27: 17 | Sharpened by Community   

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.  

Psalm 24:1 | God Owns It All  

The earth is the Lord‘s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,  

Ephesians 2:10 | Created for Good Works  

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

Matthew 6:20 | Treasure in Heaven  

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

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.

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David Reeves, CEO of Unfolding Word, on Locally-Driven Bible Translation Through Church Collaboration (Ep. 154)

Monday Sep 01, 2025

Monday Sep 01, 2025

David Reeves once believed his role in missions was to give generously to the ministries he knew. But after a moment of full surrender as a young man, God redirected his path toward a life of hands-on impact that would ripple across missions, Bible translation, and church planting worldwide.

Starting out with an electrical engineering degree, David first served in tech support for a missionary aviation organization—work that eventually led him to leadership as general manager and later president. Today, he serves as the President and CEO of unfoldingWord, where he is pioneering a church-centered approach to Bible translation.

With more than 40 years of international leadership experience across cultures and sectors, David offers a rare perspective on how God weaves together innovation, missions, and radical generosity. Under his leadership, unfoldingWord is equipping local churches to translate Scripture into their own languages using open-source tools—shifting Bible translation from centralized projects to sustainable, grassroots movements led by the global Church.

Major Topics Include:

  • Using business as a means to access Scripture and the gospel in challenging places
  • The providential story of Unfolding Word
  • Making the local church the hero of the story
  • The seven key ideas of the Church-centric Bible translation model
  • Turbo-charging church planting movements with Bible translation
  • Why having Scripture in someone’s heart language is important
  • Unfolding Word’s impact on the Bible translation ecosystem
  • The benefits of the Creative Commons licensing model 
  • Increasing Scripture engagement 
  • Difficult lessons in trusting God

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “From Pentecost to Revelation, the entire narrative is about the church.”
  • “How do we make the local church the hero of the story?”
  • “If we ever hope to finish the Great Commission in our lifetime, we have to stand on the centrality of the Church.”
  • “The Church operates in a healthy form as a complex network.”
  • “Persecution often creates unity movements. People don’t care what your denomination or your background is. If you’re in the midst of persecution, you’re a loved and welcomed bother or sister in Christ.”
  • “The most effective way to share the gospel is in the heart language.”
  • “The heart language of a community is the language of weddings and funerals.”
  • “Bible translation’s proper place belongs to the Church as a tool for discipleship and church planting.”
  • “Our passion is to empower modern-day ‘Pauls’ and church planters to help them to complete the Great Commission.”
  • “There is no Scripture engagement problem. It’s integral to church-centric Bible translation.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Revelation 7:9 | A Great Multitude from Every 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,  

2 Timothy 2:2 | Teaching Teachers  

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

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Tim Barker, Founder of ROI Ministry, on Embracing Trials in the Generous Life (Ep. 153)

Monday Aug 25, 2025

Monday Aug 25, 2025

Tim Barker is the founder of ROI Ministry and author of BOOM: What To Do When Life Blows Up Around You. His journey into generosity began after rising from humble beginnings to great success—only to lose everything during a season of deep trial. In the middle of that valley, God answered a “dangerous” prayer Tim had prayed years earlier: that the Lord would do whatever it took to multiply his family’s kingdom impact. Out of that refining season came ROI Ministry, an organization that has since helped direct millions of dollars to high-impact ministries around the world. In time, God restored what Tim had lost and entrusted him with a voice of influence in the global generosity movement.    

Through ROI Ministry, Tim and his team identify the Top 10 ministries producing the greatest measurable kingdom impact per dollar, helping givers steward their resources with confidence and purpose. In his book, BOOM, Tim shares his own story as a living testimony that God can bring blessings out of brokenness and truly work all things together for His glory and our good.   

Tim was one of the very first guests on The Finish Line Podcast nearly four years ago, and much has changed since then—for ROI Ministry, for Tim, and for us here at Finish Line. In this conversation, Tim digs deeper into the heart of high-impact giving and reflects on what it looks like to trust God through both abundance and loss, offering wisdom for all who long to walk faithfully in the life of generosity.  

Major Topics Include:

  • Making a difference from where you are now
  • The need to be honest with God in tough times
  • Moving from failure to fruitfulness
  • Blessing others by letting them help you
  • Hearing the Spirit’s leading in the midst of trials
  • Seeking God in times of silence
  • Giving from your mind as well as your heart
  • Embracing both Spirit-led giving and cost-effective generosity
  • A call to invest more in the local church 
  • What to look for in a high-impact organization 
  • Thinking through measurable Kingdom impact per dollar

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “God, what do you want me to do?”
  • “My story is really about not giving up, because you don’t know what God is doing through times of refining and where He’s going to take you.”
  • “It’s ok to want to give up as long as you’ve decided in advance that you’re not going to.”
  • “Be honest with God.”
  • “Ninety-seven percent of all Christian giving is going to nations that have already been evangelized, and less than one-third of one percent is actually making it to the billion lost, poorest people in the world who are 3,000 times more receptive to the gospel.”
  • “I believe in testing God with the tithe.”
  • “You will find joy, hope, and purpose in helping others in ways that make the greatest impact.”
  • “If you have an opportunity to impact thousands of people rather than just a few, then impact the thousands.”
  • “Eternity is going to be a long, long time, and the more people we impact here, the more we’ll meet over there. And not that we get the credit—God gets the glory. He just gives us the opportunity to be in the game.”
  • “When you’ve been faithful, you know that you’re doing what God’s called you to do, and you’re doing it for the right reason, eventually you will see a harvest.”
  • “As stewards of God’s wealth, are we encouraging others to do the same thing?”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  

Luke 21:1-4 | The Widow’s Offering  

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

Matthew 22:37 | Love God with All You Are  

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  

​​1 Timothy 5:8 | Care for Your Family  

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  

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.  

Matthew 25: 14-30 | The Parable of the Talents

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Michele Dudley, Founder of BraveWorks, on Seeing Others Through Generosity (Ep. 152)

Monday Aug 18, 2025

Monday Aug 18, 2025

Michele Dudley is the founder of BraveWorks and Restoration Residences, where she has poured her heart into making a Kingdom impact among those who are often overlooked. After starting her career as a CPA, a life-changing mission trip to Burundi opened her eyes to the needs of the global church and set her on a new path of generosity and solidarity with those facing deep suffering.

Michele is an avid learner and her deep curiosity has led her into many creative opportunities for giving. Through BraveWorks and Restoration Residences, Michele has impacted the lives of many trafficked, abused, and incarcerated women, as well as helped families in need transition out of homelessness. A self-identified connector and advocate, Michele is highly integrated in the generosity community and has a passion for helping others give well and invest with a generous heart.   

Major Topics Include:

  • Finding creative opportunities to give
  • Stories of serving and empowering women through BraveWorks
  • Being a generous connector
  • Committing to community in the generosity space
  • Approaching investing from a heart of generosity 
  • Stewarding investment and philanthropy dollars
  • Practical advice to get started in impact investing
  • Navigating various levels of engagement and responsibility in generosity
  • Encouragement for women to engage in the generosity community
  • Trusting God in the messiness of generosity 
  • Hearing from God in stewardship decision-making

Quotes to Remember

  • “I felt like I had basically lived my life ignoring the plight of the suffering.”
  • “It’s so important for us to become proximate to people who have different lived experiences than we do.”
  • “Whether it’s somewhere across the world or across town, we can have really transformative experiences, even in our own community, but we have to be willing to be uncomfortable and humble and put on a willingness to learn from others.” 
  • “A lot of times, I had no intentions of starting anything. I just took the next step that the Lord showed me.”
  • “There’s something that’s healing when you recognize the struggle people have been through.”
  • “It’s really inspiring to be in these spaces where people do have resources but they’re taking the humble perspective of ‘I’ve been entrusted with this, I really want to honor God.’”
  • “If I wasn’t in this space where I was continually being challenged, I think it would be easy to just fall into the culture and the ways of the world.”
  • “Too often, we only focus on our philanthropy and we don’t think about what we’re doing with our investment dollars, and oftentimes, the investment dollars are undoing the very things that we’re trying to do with our philanthropy. God calls us to steward all of what He’s entrusted to us in a way that honors Him.”

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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Nathan LaGrange, Director of Oasis Rest International, on the Impact of Investing in Spiritual Leaders (Ep. 151)

Monday Aug 11, 2025

Monday Aug 11, 2025

Nathan LaGrange, Executive Director of Oasis Rest International, knows firsthand the vital importance of rest for pastors and ministry leaders. After many years in full-time ministry, a season of intense busyness began to take its toll. Nathan came to a sobering realization: before he could effectively care for others, he needed to care for himself and his family.  

God then led Nathan through a series of transitions—from fast-paced ministry to the slower, more intentional shepherding of a congregation. Along the way, Nathan discovered the transformative power of doing life with God, not just for Him.  

Out of that journey came a passion: to create a space where pastors and leaders could themselves be pastored, nurtured, and restored. Following a sabbatical year, Nathan connected with Oasis Rest International, a nonprofit dedicated to providing safe, restorative environments for pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders in need of renewal.  

With over 25 years of experience in both pastoral ministry and business leadership, Nathan brings a deep understanding of the unique pressures leaders face—and the critical importance of sustainable rhythms in a life of service. His work sits at the intersection of soul care and generosity, and his commitment to investing in leaders’ longevity offers a unique and refreshing perspective on how to partner well with those in ministry.  

Major Topics Include:

  • Building daily margins to spend time with God
  • Letting Jesus teach the practice of rest
  • Creating daily and weekly finish lines for healthy rhythms
  • Learning the difference between working for God and working with God
  • Asking: How much of yourself is enough to give in ministry?
  • Embracing the concept of slowing down to move faster
  • Exploring how rest and generosity intersect in relationships
  • Finding practical ways to care for your spiritual leaders
  • Combining “space” and “face” to minister refreshment
  • Sharing stories of transformation through rest

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

  • “If you’re not loving yourself or taking care of yourself and your immediate family, then how can you minister in any context?”
  • “Leaders are really good at giving, but they don’t know how to receive.”
  • “The presence of Jesus in that sacred space accompanied with a sacred face invited a holy moment that’s transformational.”
  • “Once you’ve had the opportunity to be in a space, to unpack with a face, it’s like all these new Kingdom dreams start to come alive.”
  • “There was a rhythm to Jesus that was so grace-filled and generous because he would often withdraw to lonely places.”
  • “When I build time with God into my life, when I’ve rested in my own soul, suddenly I can engage with my family in a much more generous way.”
  • “Working for God and working with God are totally different things.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

1 Peter 3:19-20 | God’s Patience  

in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.  

Isaiah 55:1 | An Invitation to Refreshing  

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) | Unforced Rhythms of Grace  

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  

Hebrews 13:17 | Care for Your Leaders  

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

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