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
Monday May 05, 2025
Monday May 05, 2025
Karla Merrell was the first in her family to immigrate to the US from Panama to pursue the American dream. After years of success in the corporate world, Karla still struggled with the scarcity mindset that was passed down in her family’s culture. But during the beginning of COVID, Karla faced a sequence of events that led her to step deeply into both faith and generosity. One memorable act of generosity set the stage for an exciting and adventurous life of faith in the years that followed.
Now, Karla is passionate about breaking generational cycles of scarcity and fostering a generous culture in her own home. She invites people to express generosity in multi-dimensional ways, and facilitates connection and spiritual growth in unexpected outreach avenues.
Major Topics Include:
- Karla’s faith and cultural background
- How her generosity journey began with a single email
- Learning about the nature of God through her generosity awakening
- Comfort and hope in total dependence on Jesus
- A walk through the Women Doing Well process that revolutionized Karla’s mindset
- A view of generosity and money in a Hispanic context
- Growing out of generational scarcity into a culture of generosity
- Discovering the power of constant prayer through running
- How starting a faith-based running group became an outreach opportunity
- Generosity as more than money
- Practical ideas for exercising relational generosity
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “I didn’t have a generous bone in my body.”
- “We are absolutely dependent on Jesus.”
- “There comes a point when you have to make a decision—do I want to return to the person I used to be, or am I courageous enough to change and become the person I didn’t know I needed to be?”
- “You have to decide if you are going to be a consequence of your background or you want to create a new generational story.”
- “When you give spontaneously in response to the Spirit, you never miss that money.”
- “When I decided to stop holding on so tightly to all the things I thought I could control and I thought belonged to me, a whole new world opened.”
- “The dependence on God is what makes the whole thing exciting.”
- “Generosity is not just money. Money is a great way to express generosity, but there is so much sacrifice in other things too.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here)
- Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman)
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Luke 16:13 | God Or Mammon?
No servant 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Mary Helen Klingen began her career in accounting but transitioned to financial advising after a few years in the corporate world. Currently with Blue Trust, she regularly supports clients in embracing deeper generosity. As a single woman in a male-dominated field, Mary Helen has grappled with her singleness in relation to her faith, career, and purpose. This journey has inspired her to encourage other women in similar situations to find their voice in the space God has given them.
Mary Helen is passionate about empowering single women to integrate their faith and finances. She actively participates in the stewardship and singles ministries at her church and offers practical advice that you won’t want to miss!
Major Topics Include:
- Mary Helen’s faith background and career journey
- Integrating faith and finances in the unique culture of Blue Trust
- Being the only woman in the Houston office
- How her struggles led into ministry
- Common barriers to generosity for spenders and savers
- Viewing singleness as an asset in generosity
- Navigating the search for purpose and contentment in the single season
- Mary Helen’s experience setting a finish line as a saver
- The importance of talking about money in the Church
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “We are called to generosity not because God needs our money, but because He wants to do something through us.”
- “The way you know you care about a mission is if you pass it on to someone else.”
- “In the moments when I feel different, I remember that at the end of the day, these men and I have Christ in common. We’re all Believers, and that’s the most important thing about us.”
- “Jesus asked more questions than He answered. So as financial advisors, we follow that model to get to the heart level.”
- “I had to learn contentment in the stage and season of singleness that God had for me before I could move into a more open-handed, generous space with my own finances.”
- “I didn’t find the answer I was looking for, that marriage was guaranteed or promised to me, but what I did find was a good God who loves me and has provided for me.”
- “We get the opportunity in singleness to see the beauty of following Jesus and to have Him, and in having Him, to truly have all that we need.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here)
- Blue Trust (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
- God and Money (see our interviews with coauthors Greg Baumer and John Cortines)
- Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman)
- 7 Myths About Singleness by Sam Allberry
- Compass Financial Ministries (see our interview with CEO, Brian Holtz)
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Hebrews 10:39 | Don’t Shrink Back
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
1 Timothy 6:17 | Set Your Hopes on God
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
Psalm 37:4 | Delight in the Lord
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 34:10 | Seek the Lord
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 23:1 | The Lord Provides
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
1 Corinthians 7:6-8 | Better to be Single
Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.
Matthew 28:20b | I Am with You Always
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
1 John 1:7 | Fellowship in the Light
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
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 Apr 21, 2025
Monday Apr 21, 2025
Jeff Waldron, a gift planning attorney at the National Christian Foundation, began his career in corporate law before God got his attention in a powerful way. He later found his way to NCF and discovered that his love for the Lord, his desire for pastoral ministry, and his experience in tax law beautifully intersected to help givers amplify the impact of their generosity.
Jeff acts as a guide to help givers navigate the more nuanced and complex non-cash gifts. He is overflowing with practical wisdom, powerful giving strategies, and a passion to help people become faithful stewards of what God has given them to manage. You don’t want to miss all he has to share! Major Topics Include:
- Jeff’s early career and coming to faith
- How Jeff connected to NCF
- Amplifying the effectiveness of generosity through non-cash gifts
- What makes a non-cash gift so powerful
- Examples of counseling someone through giving complex assets
- Thinking through when to give a large asset
- The nuances of giving a business
Quotes to Remember
- “Whose likeness and inscription is on you?”
- “I feel like the Lord has given me the blessing of doing work that He’s fitted me for.”
- “By giving the non-cash asset, you’re really supercharging the impact you can have.”
- “Stewardship isn’t just how much you give, it’s also how you give. And if you can give in a certain way that has a 40% extra impact, then that’s something to consider.”
- “We’re not here to replace your advisor. We’re more like a sherpa that’s walked the mountain, and we can point out the best places to walk.”
- “I really don’t care what kind if gift somebody makes. I want them to be informed so that they can be faithful with what they have.”
- “The big transactions don’t excite me as much as the transforming ones.”
Links from the Show
- National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
Bible References from the Show
Matthew 22:21b | You Belong to God
Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Romans 8:28 | Work Together for Good
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
John 12:1-8 | Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany
Ephesians 2:4-10 | By Grace through Faith
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.
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Brian Holtz, CEO of Compass, spent his early years without clear intentionality for his finances. But when the recession hit in 2008, Brian found himself in a moment of crisis that forced him to depend fully on God. That season led him to dive into Scripture in search of financial wisdom. What he found not only transformed his family’s financial life but set him on a course to help others do the same.
Now, as the leader of Compass—an international ministry focused on equipping people to handle money God’s way—Brian helps thousands of individuals and families embrace biblical financial principles. Through small group studies, resources, and one-on-one discipleship, Compass empowers givers to live in financial freedom and generosity, rooted in God’s truth.
Brian brings a wealth of practical insight for listeners at every stage of their giving journey. From inviting God to write your budget to teaching your kids about money, Brian’s message is deeply rooted in Scripture and rich with wisdom.
Major Topics Include:
- Brian’s journey to financial faithfulness
- Asking God to write your budget
- Solutions in Scripture for every aspect of life
- God’s five priorities for money
- What it really means to give your first fruits
- Growing in your reliance on God through generosity
- Financial discipleship
- Planning for retirement
- Advice for enjoying God’s abundant blessings
- Helping couples get on the same page financially
- Sharing biblical financial principles with your kids
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “If this is really something I believe, this is not something I can just do on the weekends.”
- “I wonder how God would write my budget.”
- “We forced our spending to match our values.”
- “God never asks for the leftovers.”
- “Even if generosity can’t be the top item on our list today, that should be the long term goal.”
- “How can I grow in my reliance on God and push my generosity to a point that I have to trust Him?”
- “To accomplish what God has called me to do, how much do I need to keep?”
- “What is God’s purpose in this financial decision?”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- Compass Financial Ministry
- Crown Ministries
- Ronald Blue and Co., CPA (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
- No More Excuses by Tony Evans
- Financial Discipleship for Families by Brian Holtz
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Psalm 24:1 | The Earth Is the Lord’s
The earth is the Lord‘s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
1 Chronicles 29:28a NIV | David Enjoyed Long Life and Wealth
He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor.
2 Kings 13:14-19 | Joash and Elisha
Psalm 139:23 | Search Me
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
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 Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Bethany Frymire is a Financial Advisor with Blue Trust whose passion for serving people began early in her life while working at her family’s John Deere and Kubota dealership in northwest Florida. This early experience set her on a path toward financial stewardship, with a calling that was affirmed through a series of divine open doors and moments of clarity. Now a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Kingdom Advisor, she combines technical expertise with spiritual insight to help clients steward their financial resources in alignment with biblical principles.
At Blue Trust, Bethany empowers women to grow confident in their finances, identity, purpose, and passions through a holistic approach to financial planning that serves as a tool for personal growth and empowerment. In her leadership role within Blue Trust’s women’s initiative, she fosters a welcoming space for open dialogue about the integration of faith and finances, encouraging women to share their experiences and build meaningful connections that bridge practical wealth management with a purpose-driven, values-based life.
Major Topics Include:
- Bethany’s backstory of her faith and calling
- Being a woman in leadership in a mostly male profession
- Open doors that led her from administrative assistant to financial advisor
- Integrating faith and finances as a couple
- Development of the Women’s Initiative at Blue Trust
- Serving women well as an organization
- Advice for professionals wanting to start their own women’s initiative
- Walking through biblical wisdom around finances with a client
- Engaging women in financial conversations
- Her soon-coming book about faith, identity, and finances
- The “Giving Grid” concept
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “God has gifted us all with unique skills and abilities, and if we don’t walk in the path that He has laid out for us, we’re going to miss out and others will too.”
- “God truly owns it all. He doesn’t just own the part that I’ve carved out for the tithe, but He owns every bit of our lives.”
- “If women had someone to speak life or possibility into them, what could God do?”
- “There is power in women being invited in.”
- “God doesn’t actually need our money, it’s about our hearts and how He’s working inside of us.”
- “It’s important to get away from the transactional mentality to figure out how we can impactfully build a generous heart into our children in this culture.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here)
- Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
- Blue Trust (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
- The Eternity Portfolio by Alan Gotthardt
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Proverbs 16:9 | The Lord Establishes
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
1 Corinthians 16:2 | Save As You Prosper
On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
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 Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Ruth McKeaney, the author of Hungry for Home and host of At Home with Ruth McKeaney, grew up in an environment marked by transitions. However, her strong family culture, centered around Christ, taught her that home is defined by family rather than a specific location. Carrying this lesson into her adult life, Ruth transitioned from a successful law career to flipping homes with her husband while raising five children.
Ruth is passionate about being generous with both home and family and looks for opportunities to practice hospitality for friends and loved ones. She is full of practical wisdom in hospitality, and through her book and TV show, Ruth shares how you can intentionally cultivate your home into a place of blessing and generosity for your family and all who come through your door.
Major Topics Include:
- Ruth’s family legacy of evangelism and missions
- What defines a home?
- How God shifted her from law to house-flipping
- Finding identity in Christ, not occupation
- Creating an intentional family culture
- Choosing your own family traditions
- Stories of how the Lord sustained them in difficult times
- Involving her children in hospitality
- Practical tips to grow in hospitality
- Pushing through when you don’t feel like being hospitable
- Finding purpose and identity after children leave home
- The miraculous story of Ruth’s book and TV show
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “The Lord has not wasted one thing that He grew in me.”
- “The building is not the home, the family is.”
- “Every person has a family culture, but will you be intentional in creating yours?”
- “It’s not about performance or perfection, it’s about loving people well.”
- “You don’t understand the blessing you receive in blessing others until you step into obedience.”
- “What are you 100% depending on the Lord for?”
- “Everyone’s hungry for home.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- Hungry for Home by Ruth McKeaney
- Watch At Home with Ruth McKeaney on Homeworthy
- Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here)
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Psalm 57:1 | Refuge In God
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
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 Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Drew Formsma, CMO of I Like Giving and author of Everyday Generosity, is a prominent voice for generosity among Gen Z. Drew was raised in a home where the generous heart was encouraged and modeled. By his late teens, he had already become a seasoned speaker on generosity platforms.
Drew developed a passion to use his unique perspective on generosity to empower his generation to give freely and give with a purpose. As the CMO of I Like Giving, Drew is particularly involved in the more recent introductions of Generous Family and Generous Classroom, including the Generous Kids Book Club, fostering the next generation of givers through children’s books and curriculum for Chirstian schools.
Major Topics Include:
- Drew’s story of calling as a young teen
- Seven expressions of generosity
- Being aware of daily opportunities to be generous
- Generosity as evangelism
- The innovation and creativity of Gen Z
- The story of I Like Giving
- Reaching children with the heart of generosity
- Advice for parents to cultivate a generous environment at home
- Inspiring stories of everyday generosity
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “Generosity begins in the mind. It’s choosing to think well of others, to assume the best, and focus on who we can be a blessing to.”
- “Words have the power to bring life and death, to build or to break. But I think if we can choose to uplift, encourage, and inspire others with our words, there could be something powerful at hand.”
- “You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.”
- “Generosity is the love language of Jesus.”
- “Generosity is love with boots on.”
- “Generous people trust God to provide.”
- “Live the kind of lifestyle that’s focused on others.”
- “If you can experience the love of Jesus, you will overflow with generosity.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- I Like Giving
- Generous Classroom
- Generous Family
- IllumiNations Bible Translation Alliance (see our interview with Todd Peterson or John Chesnut)
- Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
1 Corinthians 13:3 | Nothing without Love
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
John 3:16 | God’s Love
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 3:17-19 | Love Beyond Knowledge
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Matthew 6:21 | Heart and Treasure
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Courtney Markley is the co-founder of The Center for Financial Discipleship, an organization that trains pastors and financial advisors on how to engage in heartfelt conversations about money. She also hosts The Heart of Money Podcast, where she interviews a diverse range of guests on this important topic.
Courtney’s path into the realm of stewardship began with her own stewardship journey. After working as a fashion designer for several years, she sought help to heal her relationship with money at a deeper level. This transformative experience led her to become a financial counselor, and she has since developed a thriving ministry that helps others align their financial decisions with God’s values.
Major Topics Include:
- Courtney’s background and stewardship story
- Gaining a heart perspective on money
- Helping people explore the emotional and spiritual side of money
- Verses that have influences Courtney’s view of wealth
- Encouraging local pastors and church leaders in financial discipleship
- Common misconceptions about stewardship and wealth
- Navigating risk as a good steward
- Steps to living like Jesus with your finances
- Impactful stories from her podcast
- Tips for making generosity personal
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “I find that as people journey with Jesus, they eventually find themselves back to how He initially designed them.”
- “Maybe all my money problems don’t have anything to do with my income and have everything to do with me.”
- “You don’t have to have millions to be generous, you just need something in your hand to give away.”
- “It’s easy to have a gospel conversation if someone is willing to have a money conversation.”
- “Generosity is not a math equation.”
- “Lord, I’m willing to be made willing.”
- “Is more money your end goal?”
- “Learning how to live like Jesus with your money takes a lifetime of living.”
- “We have to do the heart work to prepare us for the mission work.”
- “If you didn’t make decisions based on money and only made decisions based on obedience to God, what would your life look like?”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- The Center for Financial Discipleship
- The Heart of Money Podcast
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Psalm 24:1 | The Earth Is the Lord’s
The earth is the Lord‘s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
Matthew 13:1-23 | Parable of the Sower
Mark 12:41-44 | The Widow’s Offering
John 6:1-14 | The Feeding of the 5000
Luke 3:1-14 | “What Then Shall We Do?”
Matt 6:24 | 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 Facebookand LinkedIn.
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Christina Mangino, financial planner and Las Vegas native, has had two decades of experience in financial advising, and has worked with hundreds of families in that time. After navigating a complicated multigenerational wealth dynamic in her own family, Christina developed a passion for helping families manage the relational aspects of wealth more effectively. She founded Heart of Generosity to guide families through this process, focusing on the principles of joyful and liberating generosity.
Christina also started Miracle Hope Foundation, a nonprofit with a focus on helping veterans physically heal from service-related injuries. Her combined experience as a family estate trustee, financial planner, and founder of a nonprofit has allowed Christina a comprehensive view of all the aspects of stewardship and generosity.
Major Topics Include:
- Christina’s story of faith and calling
- Story of how fundraising introduced her to the joy of generosity
- Thoughts on managing money in a family context
- Approaching generosity in lean times
- Family relational health in financial planning
- Generosity and love languages
- The story of Heart of Generosity
- Helping veterans heal through Miracle Hope Foundation
- Finding community as a single woman in the generosity space
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “When a family’s relational health is strong, the giving strategies can be so much better.”
- “If I can help families redirect just one percent to the Kingdom, that’s a massive impact.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- Heart of Generosity
- Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here)
- Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
- Bill High, Legacy Advisor and Founder of The Signatry (see our past interview here)
- Gospel Patrons (see our interview with founder John Rinehart)
- Miracle Hope Foundation
- 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 Feb 24, 2025
Monday Feb 24, 2025
Wendell Anderson was the first in his Michigan-based family to pursue a college degree. After graduating, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force before embarking on a long and successful career with General Motors. Along the way, countless seeds of faith were planted in his life, and in his early thirties, Wendell made the life-changing decision to follow Christ. From that moment on, he was all in.
Called to teach financial principles at his church, Wendell immersed himself in everything he could find on biblical stewardship. For decades, he has faithfully given and guided others in generosity—leading seminars, mentoring believers, and eventually pastoring a church. Overflowing with biblical wisdom, practical financial insights, and an inspiring passion for stewardship, Wendell equips and challenges others to embrace a life of radical generosity.
Major topics include:
- Wendell’s journey of faith and career
- How God guided him to embrace and teach generosity
- Transformative financial principles that reshaped his life
- Applying the concept of a financial finish line
- Weighing the impact of giving now versus later
- Biblical wisdom on balancing discretion and openness in generosity
- Debunking common misconceptions about giving
- Encouragement to take the next step in your generosity journey
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
- “I found out that tithing really was for my benefit to help me keep my life in order with God in first place.”
- “Whether we’re talking about giving, earning, or debt, we’re talking about handling God’s resources.”
- “Steady plodding in giving compounds over time.”
- “Our treasure leads our heart. When we continue to live a life of generosity, our heart continues to be drawn closer and closer to the Lord.”
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
- The Treasure Principle (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn)
- Money, Possessions, and Eternity (see our interview with author Randy Alcorn)
- Christian Financial Concepts (later Crown Financial Ministries)
- Your Finances in Changing Times by Larry Burkett
- How to Manage Your Money by Larry Burkett
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW
Malachi 3:8-10 | Put Me to the Test
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 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.
Deuteronomy 14:23 | Learn to Fear of the Lord
And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.
Deuteronomy 8:18 | The Power to Get 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 6:3-4 | Give to the Needy 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.
Mark 12:41-44 | The Widow’s Offering
Acts 4:36-37 | An Open Offering
Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
1 Chronicles 29:9 | Whole-Hearted Giving
Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
Matthew 5:16 | Good Works Glorify God
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.
Proverbs 21:5 | Diligence Brings Success
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
Matthew 6:21 | Your Treasure Leads Your Heart
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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