The Finish Line Podcast

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201

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Nov 2026

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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.

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November 2, 2026Episode 2001 hr 23 min

Cody and Kealan 200 Episodes Later: What We Believe About Finish Lines (Ep. 200)

What does it really mean to have enough? It doesn’t tend to be something we realize when we get there. MEET YOUR GUIDE: In this 200th episode of The Finish Line Podcast, brothers and co-hosts Cody and Kealan Hobelmann return to the idea that launched much of their own generosity journey: financial finish lines. Drawing on six years of conversations with generous Christians, ministry leaders, business owners, financial professionals, and impact investors, they reflect on how their understanding of biblical stewardship has expanded from simply setting limits to pursuing a life of surrender and obedience. Cody and Kealan unpack what a spending or lifestyle finish line actually means, why defining “enough” can guard contentment, and how it can shift the question from “How much should I give?” to “How much should I keep?” They also explore uncertainty, marriage, changing seasons, investing, rest, and the temptation to turn a helpful framework into a rigid formula. By the end, you may see a financial finish line less as the destination and more as a starting point for deeper discernment, freedom, generosity, and dependence on God. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN: How defining “enough” can reshape your approach to generosity Why a finish line is a starting point, not the destination How financial margin can make room for Spirit-led opportunities What to do when uncertainty makes a finish line difficult How to navigate finish lines with your spouse without legalism Why dependence on God matters more than financial control HIGHLIGHTS: “On a more heart level, I think the best way to think about it is a definition for enough. Nobody ever stumbles into enough. It has to be chosen.” “A finish line is a very powerful catalyst to launching a whole new dimension of generosity.” “Having a finish line keeps that concept front and center. This is how much I really need for my family to continue to live, and everything else, I really am thinking through in terms of how God is leading the use of these resources.” “When you have margin, as God provides resources beyond your finish line, that margin just awakens you to opportunities that the Spirit might be leading in front of you.” “A finish line helps you preserve that intentionality when life gets crazy in the future, or your income doubles, or there’s an inheritance you weren’t expecting.” “I realized that I had engineered God out of ever having to depend on Him. God was telling us, ‘I want you to always be dependent on Me because that’s what’s actually going to draw you towards Me.’” “God has done it all. He doesn’t need me to accomplish anything that He’s going to do. He doesn’t need our resources to accomplish anything that He’s going to do, but He invites us, for our sake, to be a part of His story.” “We are identified as sowers, not as eaters. We are not born in order to consume as much as we can, to accumulate as much as we can. The seed is meant for sowing. The harvest is righteousness.” “A finish line is almost the end of the race, the striving, the trying to get as much as you can before you run out of time. It’s the beginning of a journey of fully seeking God in everything that you do.” “It really always comes back to surrender and obedience.” “The biggest perspective shift that I’ve experienced is moving from the question, ‘How much should I give?’ to ‘How much should I keep?’” “There is a much deeper surrender of, ‘Hey God, You said that everything is Yours. I believe You. I’m going to orient the way that I think about my finances to reflect that reality.’” “It’s really more about developing a mindset that God is enough and that He is good. God’s not going to run out of money. He’s not going to stop being good.” “The thing with money is you can always make more, but it usually costs time and attention. Those are things you’re not getting back.” “That’s not my money just because I need it. Just because I’m going to use it, it’s not my bread just because I’m going to eat it.” PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND ORGS: Michael Blue, Director of Discipleship at the Ron Blue Institute, Finish Line Podcast Episode 172 Alan Barnhart, Business Leader, Finish Line Podcast Episode 160 James Lenhoff, President of Good Sense Movement, Finish Line Podcast Episode 188 Dana and Bill Wichterman, Givers and Impact Investors, Finish Line Podcast Episode 104 Pete and Debbie Ochs, Business Owners, Finish Line Podcast Episode 184 Curt and Chris Chaffin, Finish Line Podcast Tim Mohns, Financial Advisor, Finish Line Podcast Episode 39 Practicing the Way Finish Line Readiness Assessment and Finish Line Builder BIBLE REFERENCES: 2 Corinthians 9:10 | Seed and Bread “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” Matthew 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.” Exodus 20:8–10 | Remember the Sabbath “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.” Matthew 6:34 | Do Not Worry “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Romans 8:28 | God Works 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.” KEEP EXPLORING Discover more conversations, ideas, and resources to help you think intentionally about generosity, stewardship, and living with an eternal perspective. Visit Finish Line Pledge →

October 19, 2026Episode 1991 hr 0 min

Courtney Markley, Cofounder of Financial Discipleship Center, on the Idle Wealth in Donor Advised Funds (Ep. 199)

You may want to give generously while also wanting to be thoughtful, strategic, and responsible with the resources God has entrusted to you. But when money has already been set aside for generosity, how do you know whether waiting is wise stewardship or delayed obedience? MEET YOUR GUIDE: Courtney Markley, founder of the Center for Financial Discipleship and host of The Heart of Money podcast, has spent about a decade helping people explore the connection between spiritual health and financial behavior. In her new investigative podcast, Idle Treasure, she examines the billions of charitable dollars held in donor advised funds and the heart-level questions that can keep those resources from reaching their intended destination. Courtney explores why fear, control, status, uncertainty, and even the desire to give wisely can slow generosity. Drawing from conversations with donors, ministry leaders, financial advisors, and generosity experts, she shares principles that emerged across very different approaches to stewardship: staying deeply connected to Christ, cultivating an eternal perspective, giving with intentionality and urgency, and asking whether your use of money is making you more like Jesus. She also considers practical tools including financial finish lines, philanthropic advisors, and sunsetting donor advised funds. By the end, you may see more clearly where thoughtful stewardship ends, where surrender begins, and how knowing God shapes the way you release what He has entrusted to you. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN: How rest can deepen your dependence on God and generosity Why fear and control can quietly delay generous action How to recognize when wise stewardship becomes delayed obedience Why donor advised funds can create emotional attachment after giving How to set practical finish lines that encourage greater surrender Why knowing God is foundational to managing His resources faithfully HIGHLIGHTS: “There’s a deep, deep connection between rest and generosity.” “Am I doing things with God or am I doing them for God?” “I can know in my head that this money is technically not mine anymore. But in my heart of hearts, I still see it every day. I still get to control it. It feels like mine.” “I don’t think most of us are excited to give control away or surrender.” “The folks that I met who inspired me, who I’m like, ‘Yes, you get it,’ they have a deep, deep awareness of God’s presence in their life.” “Is your use of money drawing you closer to Jesus? Are you becoming more Christ-like?” “God has got me. He is my enough.” “We can’t control what others decide to do or not do with their money, but we do get to control how we show up.” “We won’t be good stewards if we don’t know our God.” PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND ORGS: Courtney Markley, Cofounder of the Center for Financial Discipleship (see our past interview here ) Idle Treasure Podcast The Heart of Money Podcast Randy Alcorn, Author and Founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (see our past interview here ) BIBLE REFERENCES: Mark 10:17-25 | The Rich Young Ruler Deuteronomy 8:11–14 | Do Not Forget God KEEP EXPLORING Discover more conversations, ideas, and resources to help you think intentionally about generosity, stewardship, and living with an eternal perspective. Visit Finish Line Pledge →

October 5, 2026Episode 19850 min

Courtney Weaver, Founder of Accounting Beyond Borders, on Using Your Profession to Advance the Kingdom (Ep. 198)

You may have professional skills that serve you well at work, yet wonder whether those same abilities could play a meaningful role in God’s Kingdom. What might change if you stopped looking for a different gift to offer and began asking how God could use the one He has already given you? MEET YOUR GUIDE: Courtney Weaver, CPA and founder of Accounting Beyond Borders, helps Christian mission organizations around the world strengthen their accounting, financial stewardship, and administrative systems so ministry leaders can focus more fully on their calling. What began with a mission trip to Panama and a simple request for accounting help eventually grew into a nonprofit serving 25 organizations across roughly 18 countries. Courtney shares how God gradually brought together her faith, accounting expertise, and love of relational service. She explores what it means to surrender control, trust God’s provision, and use professional gifts without assuming Kingdom service must look more traditionally “ministry-minded.” She also explains how clear budgets, financial transparency, and healthy accountability can strengthen ministries, build donor confidence, and unlock generosity. By the end, you may see your own work and abilities differently, with greater freedom to recognize that faithful stewardship can begin by offering God exactly what He has already placed in your hands. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN: How to recognize the Kingdom value in your professional skills Why faithful stewardship requires both transparency and strong financial systems How surrender can free you from striving to control outcomes Why relationships and presence matter alongside excellent professional service How financial clarity can strengthen ministries and unlock greater generosity How to give with greater confidence, intentionality, and relational care HIGHLIGHTS: “I thought I was going to work here, try to impact people here, earn money to be able to pour into the ministry work. And I didn’t realize it was one and the same, that God was calling me to use my gifts right there in the mission field alongside these ministries.” “We want to come alongside Christian mission organizations, empower the ministry leaders, and free them up to do what they’ve been called to do while we do their accounting and what we’ve been called to do.” “He’s given me plenty of opportunities to learn that all of this is His. It is not mine. I am not in control, and I don’t want to be. It is much better in His hands than it is in mine.” “When I am thinking, ‘We can only accomplish this if I strive and work hard enough,’ I’m putting a box to what He can even do because it’s within my own might, my own strength.” “I’m so passionate about helping our ministries have great transparency because I think that unlocks generosity for others.” “Right where you are, wherever you’re planted, is where God wants you to serve with exactly the gifts He’s given you.” “I think we overcomplicate it and forget that His design is perfect. He created each of us perfectly, and we don’t have to drum up something flashier to be used by Him. He will use us exactly as He created us.” “You are giving people an opportunity to use what God has given them and to have purpose and be a part of something bigger than themselves. And you’re not going to convince anyone. God is.” PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND ORGS: Accounting Beyond Borders Rio Missions Panama Heart’s Cry Children’s Ministry Adonai International Ministries Messiah University KEEP EXPLORING Discover more conversations, ideas, and resources to help you think intentionally about generosity, stewardship, and living with an eternal perspective. Visit Finish Line Pledge →

September 21, 2026Episode 1971 hr 21 min

Brett Johnson, Founder of the Institute for Innovation, Integration & Impact, on Erasing the Spiritual-Secular Divide in Work (Ep. 197)

You may already see your work, business, investments, and generosity as resources God has entrusted to you, but have you considered whether the work itself could be part of your calling? What might it look like to move beyond simply giving from what you earn and begin stewarding your skills, influence, capital, and everyday work as part of God’s mission in the world? MEET YOUR GUIDE: Brett Johnson, founder of the Institute for Innovation, Integration, and Impact, has spent decades helping business leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations integrate faith, work, capital, and calling. Drawing from his experience in business, church leadership, missions, Silicon Valley, and international development, Brett challenges the assumption that ministry happens primarily through churches and nonprofits while ordinary marketplace work plays a supporting role. Brett explores what changes when Christians begin with the assumption that they are called to work right where God has placed them. He shares how business skills can strengthen missions, how companies can be repurposed around biblical principles, and why generosity can include intellectual, relational, spiritual, and financial capital. He also describes a broader vision for Kingdom business and impact investing that addresses systemic challenges in cities and nations through sustainable businesses, nonprofits, and collaborative investment. By the end, you may see your current work less as something competing with your calling and more as something God can use within it. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN: Integrating faith, work, calling, and mission Rejecting the sacred-secular divide in everyday work Recognizing your current work as God-given calling Designing disciple-making into core business processes Giving everyday skills and careers a Kingdom purpose Stewarding capital beyond traditional charitable giving HIGHLIGHTS: “Don’t try to balance things. I think when Jesus says in John 5:19, ‘I only do what I see the Father doing,’ we have to develop a core competence to try to understand what God is saying, to hear what God’s voice is in our particular situation.” “Just assume that you’re called to work. If you’re a medical doctor, if you’re a school teacher, if you’re an engineer, why don’t you just start with the assumption that you’re called to be an engineer or you’re called to be a school teacher?” “Assume that the place where you are working now is where you’re called to be, and figure out how you can extend the Kingdom of God, make God known, and demonstrate His goodness and His characteristics right where you are.” “You have to get on, actively work where you are with what God has entrusted to you, and assume that that’s a good starting place, not waiting for instructions. We’re not in the reserves. We’re in active duty, all of us.” “The goal wasn’t to get God into the business, but to get their business into God’s business.” “We don’t want to just make businesses more profitable, more godly, more righteous, more generous. We actually want to make sure that they are involved in completing the job that Jesus gave us to do.” “This is the way the Kingdom of God operates. It’s not Boise or Bangladesh. It’s both/and.” “God is an expansionist. And if God’s in your business, He wants to expand it. So you’ve got to figure out how.” “We should be people who are looking, praying for the peace of the city that we’re in, looking out for the good of the city.” “Some of them need financial capital, but some need intellectual capital, access to markets. Some of them need spiritual capital. They just need encouragement to be part of a network of people who are going to help them.” “My default is not, ‘People aren’t getting proper nutrition, so we’ll do a soup kitchen.’ No, let’s figure out a feeding business that actually does that.” “You have to measure in the long term.” “The premise is that God is good. Everybody has capital. Work is good. Everybody should work.” PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND ORGS: Brett Johnson’s Website Brett’s Books and Resources Global Giants Foundation Christian Business Men’s Connection YWAM BIBLE REFERENCES: Luke 2:52 | Jesus Grew in Every Dimension “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” John 5:19 | Doing What the Father Does “So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.’” Luke 10:8 | Eat What Is Offered “Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.” Matthew 28:19–20 | Make Disciples of Nations “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Acts 1:8 | Witness to the Ends “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Mark 16:15 | Gospel to the Whole World “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 | Ministry of Reconciliation “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” Ezra 7:6–10 | Ezra Returns to Jerusalem Nehemiah 2:11–18 | Rebuilding Jerusalem Together KEEP EXPLORING Discover more conversations, ideas, and resources to help you think intentionally about generosity, stewardship, and living with an eternal perspective. Visit Finish Line Pledge →

September 7, 2026Episode 1961 hr 12 min

Pete Smith, Pastor, on Loving Your Forgotten Neighbors (Ep. 196)

A desire to help people in poverty can collide with an equally good desire to give wisely, protect your family, and avoid causing more harm. How can you respond with real mercy and generosity without ignoring wisdom, dignity, or the risk of getting it wrong? MEET YOUR GUIDE: Dr. Pete Smith is a pastor and author of *Remember the Poor: Cultivating a Heart of Generosity*. Shaped by decades of pastoral ministry, church planting in Southern Maryland, work with homeless shelters and incarcerated people, and a Doctor of Ministry from Reformed Theological Seminary, Pete has spent years wrestling with how Christians and churches can care for people in poverty with both mercy and wisdom. Pete argues that poverty is often deeper than a lack of money. Broken relationships, isolation, lost social capital, trauma, and limited opportunity can leave people needing time, community, dignity, and trustworthy relationships as much as financial help. Drawing from hard-earned mistakes and acts of hospitality, he encourages Christians to listen before assuming they know what someone needs, to act prudently without letting fear become paralysis, and to lean toward mercy when the right response is unclear. By the end, you may see generosity less as solving someone else’s problem and more as faithfully remembering your neighbor through relationship, hospitality, opportunity, and thoughtful action. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN: How to help people in poverty without letting fear paralyze you Why poverty often requires relationship, not just financial assistance How listening preserves dignity and reveals what someone actually needs Why mercy and prudence can work together in generous decisions How increased wealth can quietly distance you from people in need Practical ways to intentionally remember the poor in everyday life HIGHLIGHTS: “I would much rather err on the side of mercy and helping, even if it’s ham-handed and doesn’t maybe work out the way we would like.” “When in doubt, give.” “Default to mercy. Don’t withhold good from the person to whom it is due when it’s with you and you can do it.” “Remembering in Scripture is always connected to activity. It’s never simply just recalling.” “The number one thing I would argue is that poverty is really poverty of relationship. It’s spiritual poverty.” “What people need are time with others, connections, community.” “The person needs your time. They need relationship, and they need you to listen.” “If you listen long enough, you’ll actually start to hear, ‘I start to now see how I might help.'” “Treat them with dignity and respect, no different from how we would like to be treated.” “The Scripture says, ‘Love the stranger.'” “If you’re not going to live among the poor, you do have to intentionally remember them.” “Money in a savings account doesn’t do anybody any good. It might give you some peace of mind, but that’s not why this money is there. This money is to meet need.” “If you ask God to give you eyes to see, you’ll begin to see.” PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND ORGS: Remember the Poor: Cultivating a Heart of Generosity by Peter Smith Navigators A Candle in the Window Hospitality Network BIBLE REFERENCES: Luke 9:23 | Take Up Your Cross “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” Psalm 41 | Blessed Is He Who Considers the Poor Psalm 112 | The Generous Righteous Proverbs 11:24 | Generosity Grows “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” Proverbs 14:21 | Blessed Are the Generous “Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.” Proverbs 14:31 | Honoring the Creator “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” Psalm 72 | The Righteous King Defends the Poor Amos 5:24 | Justice Like Waters “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Micah 6:8 | Justice, Mercy, Humility “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Luke 10:25-37 | The Good Samaritan Matthew 25:31-46 | The Sheep and the Goats Luke 14:12-14 | Invite Those Who Cannot Repay “He said also to the man who had invited him, ‘When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.’” Proverbs 19:17 | Lending to the Lord “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Galatians 2:10 | Remember the Poor “Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” Ephesians 4:28 | Work in Order to Give “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” KEEP EXPLORING Discover more conversations, ideas, and resources to help you think intentionally about generosity, stewardship, and living with an eternal perspective. Visit Finish Line Pledge →

August 24, 2026Episode 19558 min

Kurt Cornfield, Professor of Financial Planning, on Pioneering the Next Gen of Christian Financial Advisors (Ep. 195)

You may have spent years building a career, growing your resources, and becoming more effective, while still wondering how those successes might serve a larger Kingdom purpose. What changes when you begin to see not only your money, but also your career, experience, time, and influence as resources God has entrusted to you? MEET YOUR GUIDE: Kurt Cornfield spent more than three decades as a financial advisor before God redirected his calling from serving clients to equipping the next generation. As a professor of financial planning at Liberty University and Director of Student and Emerging Advisors for Kingdom Advisors, Kurt has helped build one of the leading programs preparing Christian financial advisors to combine technical excellence with biblical wisdom. His own journey, from discovering Kingdom Advisors later in his career to leaving a successful practice for the classroom, reveals how understanding God’s ownership and defining “enough” can reshape both a career and a life. In this conversation, Kurt shares how Christian financial advisors can help families pursue faithful stewardship, why generosity grows from contentment, and how investing in future advisors creates lasting Kingdom impact. He also offers practical insights on faith-based investing, mentoring young professionals, and using both time and resources with open hands. Through stories of God’s provision and decades of experience, Kurt provides a compelling vision for financial advice as a ministry rooted in service, wisdom, and joyful generosity. Listen to discover how equipping faithful advisors today can multiply God’s Kingdom impact for generations to come. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN: Viewing financial advising as Kingdom ministry Living from God’s ownership of everything Defining enough to unlock generosity Equipping the next generation of Christian advisors Integrating biblical wisdom with financial planning Practicing joyful generosity through everyday stewardship Using faith-based investing to reflect biblical values Multiplying Kingdom impact through mentoring Preparing advisors to serve with excellence and humility HIGHLIGHTS: “I don’t want to just crank out kids that want to go into this industry because they want to make a lot of money. I want them to go into the business for the Kingdom purpose.” “God owns it all.” “Once we’ve provided for our families, it’s the abundance from that point on. We can be generous with it.” “It all belongs to God in the first place. It just allows us to be so much more generous and free, free to be generous.” “Our major budget item is giving.” “We need more Christians giving financial advice to Christians, but also to non-Christians because biblical wisdom works in all circumstances.” “The more that we can talk to young people about it, they get excited about it.” “We can get them started the right way. The Kingdom impact of that, the multiplication effect, is crazy.” “I don’t want the legacy to be about Kurt Cornfield. I want the legacy to be about the Kingdom.” “The ripple effect on the Kingdom is something we’ll never know this side of Heaven for sure.” PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND ORGS: Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue ) Ronald Blue Trust , now Blue Trust (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue ) Harvest App KEEP EXPLORING Discover more conversations, ideas, and resources to help you think intentionally about generosity, stewardship, and living with an eternal perspective. Visit Finish Line Pledge →

August 10, 2026Episode 1941 hr 9 min

Clare DeGraaf, Businessman, on Decisions that can Change Your Life (Ep. 194)

You may believe everything you have belongs to God, yet still wonder what that actually means for the way you spend, give, and make decisions about your wealth. When financial success gives you more options than you need, how do you discern what is enough and live as a faithful steward rather than simply taking your cues from those around you? MEET YOUR GUIDE: Clare DeGraaf is a business leader, author, Bible teacher, and mentor whose pursuit of financial security led him to build and sell a successful manufacturing company. After experiencing a crisis of faith, he and his wife, Susan, began asking a deeper question about what it truly meant to follow Jesus with everything. That journey reshaped their view of money, success, and stewardship, leading them to set a financial finish line, launch a strategic family foundation, and pursue a life centered on God’s Kingdom. In this conversation, Clare shares the lessons that transformed his approach to wealth, ambition, and obedience. He explains how generous living is less about financial formulas and more about surrendering ownership to God, cultivating eternal perspective, and faithfully investing resources in people and ministries that advance the gospel. His wisdom offers practical encouragement for anyone wrestling with how much is enough, the tension between success and contentment, or the desire to steward God’s blessings with greater purpose. Listen to discover how asking one honest question about “enough” can reshape your view of money, calling, and faithful stewardship. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN: Defining what “enough” really means Surrendering ownership of wealth to God Aligning business success with Kingdom purpose Practicing intentional lifestyle limits Cultivating contentment over financial security Investing generously for eternal impact Discerning wise and effective giving opportunities Growing through faithful stewardship and obedience Mentoring others toward biblical generosity HIGHLIGHTS: “How much of what we own belongs to us, and how much belongs to God?” “If everything you own belongs to you, then you can spend it the way you want. But if you actually claim it belongs to God, then you have to ask Him, ‘How much will You pay me to be Your steward?’” “I wrote the book because, for me, it was a way to begin breaking the cycle of disobedience dozens of times a week in little things that kept me from really maturing in my faith.” “Jesus would not accept the fact that nobody’s perfect. You can be better than you are. Start by training yourself to be obedient in little things.” “People say to me all the time, ‘How do you know for certain that God’s actually telling you to do that thing?’ And I say, ‘Well, I don’t. Certainty is the enemy of obedience.’” “We can explain the gospel and live the gospel, but it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convince people it’s true.” PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND ORGS: The 10-Second Rule: Following Jesus Made Simple by Clare DeGraaf Ronald Blue and Co. , CPA (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue ) Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman ) The Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender KEEP EXPLORING Discover more conversations, ideas, and resources to help you think intentionally about generosity, stewardship, and living with an eternal perspective. Visit Finish Line Pledge →

July 27, 2026Episode 1931 hr 4 min

Mark Wambolt, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Eventide, on Investing that Leads to Flourishing (Ep. 193)

As Christians, we may think carefully about how much we give while giving far less thought to how the rest of our money is invested. What would it look like for our faith to shape not only what we give away, but everything we’ve been entrusted to steward? MEET YOUR GUIDE: Mark Wambolt serves as Head of Strategic Partnerships at Eventide, but his journey into faith driven investing began long before his career in finance. Growing up outside Boston, Mark learned the value of hard work alongside his father, a carpenter, while also developing an early fascination with business and investing. As he advanced quickly through the financial industry, achieving levels of success many aspire to, he began wrestling with a deeper question: if following Jesus shapes every part of life, should it also shape the way we invest and steward capital? In this conversation, Mark shares how God used key relationships and pivotal experiences to reshape his understanding of investing as an act of stewardship. He explains how Eventide seeks to help investors move beyond simply avoiding harmful industries toward actively supporting businesses that create genuine human flourishing. Through stories of innovation, entrepreneurship, and long-term Kingdom impact, Mark offers a compelling vision for how capital can be deployed to serve people, strengthen communities, and reflect God’s heart for creation. He also challenges common assumptions about success, profit, and control, inviting a more integrated approach to faith and finance. Listen to explore how your investments may become a powerful tool for shaping future generations with intentionality and hope. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN: Integrating faith and investing decisions Viewing capital as Kingdom stewardship Redefining success beyond financial gain Avoiding ill-gotten gain in portfolios Investing for human flourishing Embracing businesses that serve people Engaging companies through shareholder influence Balancing giving, impact investing, and returns Supporting community renewal through entrepreneurship Thinking generationally about wealth and influence HIGHLIGHTS: “I thought, you know, there’s this business investing world, that’s my job. And then there’s my faith, that’s the other side. I kind of had this feeling that never the two shall meet. At that moment, they just collided in the best possible way.” “Yes, we care about what we avoid. But almost more importantly, the avoidance is a step on the journey toward what do we want to own?” “The opportunity that we have as investors is to not just steward capital, but to direct it intentionally.” “There’s a reason that what a business creates is called goods and services, because they should be good and they should serve.” “God is a creator. And then he makes man in his image. I believe that reflection is that we too should be creators who make good things.” “When mammon has become the god, it’s no longer about goods and services. It’s about what can I do operationally to generate the highest return?” “We love business. We just want to make sure it’s aimed at goods that are truly good and services that truly serve.” “You can just go through example after example for all of history, even up to the present day, that investors have for hundreds of years shaped the culture that we live in.” “I think that people are waking up to the idea of stewardship.” “Making intentional investment decisions is becoming core to how I serve my clients well.” “What are the investments I can make today that maybe won’t pay any dividend for me, but for the next generation and the generation after that, I will be so glad to have made the sacrifice in my life?” “I think there’s an incredible opportunity for Christians to pause, think multi-generationally.” PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND ORGS: Eventide Investments Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue ) Why Business Matters to God by Jeff Van Duzer Parker Clay BIBLE REFERENCES: Genesis 1:1 | God the Creator “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:27 | Made in God’s Image “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This communication is provided for informational purposes only and expresses views of Eventide Asset Management, LLC (“Eventide”), an investment adviser, and Mark Wambot, Head of Strategic Partnerships. This does not constitute investment advice nor is it a recommendation or offer to purchase or sell or a solicitation to deal in any security or financial product. Eventide does not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. Eventide’s values-based approach to investing may not produce desired results and could result in underperformance compared with other investments. There is no guarantee that any investment will achieve its objectives, generate positive returns, or avoid losses.

July 13, 2026Episode 1921 hr 1 min

Rachel McDonough, Financial Advisor, on Stewarding Wealth with Head and Heart (Ep. 192)

Rachel McDonough grew up in Kenya as the daughter of missionaries, where she saw both deep poverty and the faith of parents who trusted God enough to follow His call across the world. Those early experiences planted a lasting conviction that every resource we hold belongs to God and can be used to bring life, freedom, and hope to others. After nearly two decades in wealth management, Rachel began asking a deeper question: what story is our capital telling? In this conversation, Rachel shares how God led her to build Wealth Squared, a firm that helps families align their investments, giving, and financial plans with biblical values. She explains how impact investing can direct capital toward businesses that promote human flourishing, and discusses themes from her new book, The River and the Garden, which uses story to explore stewardship, family unity, and Kingdom impact. This episode offers a hopeful vision for using wealth as a tool to cultivate lasting fruit for God’s Kingdom, and invites you to consider where He may be calling your resources to grow. Major Topics Include: Hearing and following God’s call Stewarding wealth as entrusted capital Investing as a moral and spiritual act Aligning portfolios with biblical values Distinguishing provision from impact assets Discovering your unique Kingdom DNA Using impact investing for human flourishing Building family unity around stewardship Integrating head, heart, and Spirit Finishing faithfully with resources God provides QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Capital tells a story.” “Even though I’m a small human with finite resources and a limited lifespan and limited dollars in the bank account, God can take something small, and if it’s surrendered to Him, He can do something way bigger than any of us could ever ask or imagine.” “There is both an opportunity and a responsibility of being a Christ follower who is holding on to the resources that God owns and has entrusted.” “Some businesses create goods and services that help human flourishing, and others create bads and disservices.” “Fruitfulness comes from obeying what God shows you to do, not from having the right strategy.” “There are some biblical principles that are universally true, but there are also unique pieces of Kingdom DNA wired into the heart of each person.” “Once I know how much is enough for provision, I get freedom to ask what the purpose of the remaining assets should be.” “The faithful finisher asks, ‘Lord, what else? I’m not dead yet.’” “We need to let our heads and hearts work together more in harmony and be led by the Spirit.” “Real unity is hard work, but it is deep and worthy work.” “I want to be Jonathan’s armor bearer for my clients. What’s in your heart to do? Let’s go take that hill.” “Faith-driven investing and impact investing right now is the revival that God has released on the earth.” “Find a financial advisor who wants to help you hear and follow God’s voice.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Rachel McDonough and Wes Lyons on How Investors Are Taking Down Human Trafficking (see our past interview here ) The River and the Garden by Rachel McDonough Wealth Squared Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue ) Eagle Freedom Fund (see out interview with cofounder Wes Lyons ) Talanton Caleb Breakey, Founder of Renown Publishing (see our past interview here ) BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW John 15:5 | Abiding Bears Fruit “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” 2 Corinthians 9:10 | Seed for Sowing “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” Matthew 4:19 | Fishers of Men “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” Proverbs 20:5 | Deep Waters of the Heart “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” John 6:1-15 | Five Loaves and Two Fish 2 Corinthians 10:5 | Taking Thoughts Captive “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime. But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What’s that next step look like for me?” That’s exactly why we’ve launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity. Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we’ve shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you’ve been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com .

June 29, 2026Episode 1911 hr 6 min

John Mark Eager, Executive Director of The Mailbox Club, on the Acceleration of Global Child Discipleship (Ep. 191)

John Mark Eager serves as Executive Director of The Mailbox Club, a ministry founded by his father to help children grow in their understanding of the gospel through long-term discipleship. Although John Mark trusted Christ as a child, a season of spiritual renewal during his school years deepened his walk with the Lord and gave him a lasting burden for missions. Over the past several decades, God has used that calling to expand The Mailbox Club far beyond its original model, opening doors to partner with churches and local Believers around the world. In this conversation, John Mark shares how God has grown the ministry from reaching millions of children to discipling more than 17 million annually across 110 countries, while keeping the focus on evangelism, discipleship, and stewardship. He discusses the importance of empowering indigenous leaders, investing in young people who are discipling the next generation, and refusing to limit what God can do through ordinary Believers. Along the way, he offers practical wisdom on leadership, generosity, and trusting God to provide for opportunities that seem far beyond human capacity. Listen to discover how God is using children, youth, and local churches to advance the gospel in some of the world’s most strategic and least reached places. Major Topics Include: Embracing a child-focused Great Commission Pairing evangelism with long-term discipleship Empowering indigenous leaders for Kingdom growth Releasing authority and trusting capable teams Refusing to limit what God can do Balancing data-driven stewardship with Spirit-led dependence Developing youth leaders through active ministry Building scalable systems without losing mission focus Prioritizing unreached children and frontier regions Involving families and children in ministry exposure QUOTES TO REMEMBER “The most unreached people group is children.” “We celebrate what God’s done in the past, but we’re forward thinking and we push ourselves and each other.” “Children make great missionaries. Children are the most responsive to the gospel.” “We really can’t have a conversation about world evangelization without talking about children.” “I think we can track numbers and pursue excellence in stewardship and be led by the Holy Spirit. I don’t think those are competing ideas.” “The Mailbox Club is just a vehicle for the gospel.” “I think we’re supposed to reach kids. I think we’re supposed to reach kids anywhere and everywhere for Christ.” “I’m ultimately serving Christ. And that’s the highest honor we can have, to be a bondservant of Jesus Christ.” “God delights in impossibilities.” “I do believe in simple faith that God isn’t bringing these opportunities just to frustrate us.” “My job is just to advocate on behalf of kids.” “We’re stewards of everything we have to reach the world for Christ.” “If He can use me, He can use anybody.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW John Mark Eager, Executive Director of The Mailbox Club (see our past interview here ) Child Evangelism Fellowship Operation Christmas Child , the shoebox ministry of The Samaritan’s Purse ROI Ministry (see our interview with founder, Tim Barker ) MacLellan Foundation (see our interview with Director of Generosity, John Cortines ) BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Psalm 71:15-16 | God’s Boundless Salvation “My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.” Matthew 28: 16-20 | The Great Commission Matthew 9:36-38 | The Laborers Are Few “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” Matthew 19:14 | Jesus Loves the Little Children “But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” John 14:12-14 | Greater Works “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me[ a ]anything in my name, I will do it. Acts 2:41 | Three Thousand Added “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” 1 Corinthians 9:22 | All Things to All People “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 15:31 | I Die Every Day “I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!” TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime. But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What’s that next step look like for me?” That’s exactly why we’ve launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity. Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we’ve shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you’ve been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com .