The Tithe Foundation Model, Kingdom Business Momentum, and Real Accountability with Matt Wooster

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We don't need to do anything work for a relationship with the Lord, but He does have things He wants us to do.
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You gotta get the boat out of the dock a little bit in order to feel the wind and the waves and see what direction you're supposed to take something.
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You get an idea where you're going, but then a lot of times the momentum will carry you somewhere place different.
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It's made it clear how hardened my heart was before, and still, you know, it needs a lot more softening.
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So I'm not I'm not I'm not fixed.
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I have real work to do for him.
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I feel like I'm barely doing anything, to be honest.
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When it's actually in his will and we're just saying yes, it's almost like it's not really hard work.
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Welcome to First and Focus, the podcast where faith meets leadership.
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I'm Mark Greaves, and in each episode I sit down with business and industry leaders who put God first in their work and stay focused on building his kingdom through their calling.
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All right, welcome to the First and Focus show where we uh highlight leaders from various industries who are putting God first uh in their life and staying focused on building the kingdom through their work and their calling.
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And today I'm here with my buddy for the second time, Mr.
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Matt Wooster.
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Welcome, brother.
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Thanks, Mark.
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Happy to be back, excited for it.
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Yeah, you were episode six.
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So it's been a little while now.
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What are we on now?
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What is this?
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This one will be probably number 33.
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Nice.
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Okay.
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So yeah, we're getting there.
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Cool.
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See you at episode 57 or so.
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Yeah, well, every 20 episodes or so, we'll we'll get you back in.
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All right.
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Uh so I'm excited for today.
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So, what we're doing today, just for for the listeners, is Matt and I, we've now been traveling this Tithe Foundation journey together for um a couple of years.
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And there's been a lot of twists and turns and some really, really cool things that have happened along the way.
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So we're gonna share some of that and highlight some of the learning that's taken place since starting this foundation.
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Um, we're also gonna talk about some of the stories that have been impactful, not just for the recipients of grants and for the ways that it's moving, but also with our business partners, even personally in our hearts, just some of the things that it's it's transformed and changed inside of us.
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Um just lean in.
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Hopefully, our goal today is to encourage listeners to find ways, unique ways that God can maybe use them in their own their own sphere, their own walk.
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And uh looking forward to it.
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Or join us.
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Yeah, cool.
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All right, let me give you a little bit of an intro.
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I already did your intro.
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This is fun, these are fun for me.
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So uh all right, Wooster, you are the managing director for insurance solutions at HPS Investment Partners, which was recently acquired by BlackRock.
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Uh you've been in finance now for what, 23 years, I believe.
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Started at Ernst and Young, is that right?
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That sounds yeah, 2003, I guess.
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Yeah, that's 23.
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Uh you were a tennis star at Ohio State.
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You graduated Summa cum lade from Fisher College of Business.
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Um, you're obviously very involved in the city of Worthington where where you live.
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Um you got a lot of different projects and things that you've you've done there to help revitalize that downtown area.
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Uh you're uh husband to Angie, uh devoted father, follower of Jesus, um, my buddy.
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Yeah.
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So that's it.
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The only thing I would amend is I wasn't a tennis star, I was just a member of the team.
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Uh well, you're a star in my eyes.
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You can beat me.
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Appreciate that.
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All right, so let's dive into the foundation.
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Okay.
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Um, let's just dive in head first.
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What I wanted to do quick is before we really start talking about the nuts and bolts, just give a brief history and timeline for the listeners of what this is about.
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Yeah.
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All right.
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So 2023 was our first grants made.
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At that point, there was one company actively participating, uh, which was Tide Lending, yeah.
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Um, which we didn't know the Tide Foundation was going to springboard out of those initial grants.
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Um, but God has really cool plans.
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And if just with our willingness to say yes and do that with our business, he really kind of led others you know down a path to finding us and joining us.
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Yeah.
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November 3rd, 2023.
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This is an interesting time uh date.
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Do you know what this is?
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Is that when we met at Panera?
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Yeah.
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Oh my god.
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That is when you and I met for the first time ever.
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I'm glad you have that date, by the way.
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I love that day.
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We're coming up on three years.
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Yeah.
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Our three-year anniversary.
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So early 2024 is when we started hosting those first initial workshops because business leaders had become interested in incorporating faith into their mission.
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How do I share it with employees and customers?
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All that type of stuff.
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Yep.
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So we did some initial workshops.
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July 2024 was our first grant night ever.
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Okay.
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And we had, I think, seven partners, and we all got together in a small, you know, little room and we cast vision.
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Westerville.
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Right?
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Yeah.
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Cool.
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Yeah.
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Cast vision for what it could become.
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Fast forward to March 2025.
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We were up to over 20 business partners.
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And a business partner is they've signed a tithe pledge, they dedicated their business to the Lord and at least 10% of profits to the kingdom.
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Yep.
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Uh we had 20 partners at that time.
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That was the first real like I what I felt was like momentum for the foundation, where there was people in the room.
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It was there was starting to be like a little bit more of a buzz.
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People started to understand like what this was and what we're doing here.
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Uh, and then fast forward to upcoming next month, October 2026, will be our eighth grant night.
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Um, we'll officially cross over the$800,000 mark um of grants being given out to 22 different nonprofits uh here in central Ohio, and we have nearly 50 partners on board at this point.
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So it's it has ramped up on a journey, yeah.
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Pretty quickly.
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So my first question to you rewind your mind back to November 3rd, 2023.
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Like, would you have ever anticipated this at this point?
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No, I this uh it's incredible how God works because I don't want to go too much into my personal story because I talked about a little bit at that time, but I I remember walking into that meeting.
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Um, our mutual good friend and mentor Sam Kuhn set us up.
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Yep.
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And I was a little bit lost into in what I was supposed to be doing for the Lord, if I'm gonna be completely honest.
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Yeah.
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Um I had some good ideas, I'd done a lot of journaling, I'd done a lot of praying, I've talked to a lot of other people about it, but I didn't have clarity at all.
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And I don't know what it is that you said, but I I I don't think I'm exaggerating when I when I when I say that within 90 seconds, I feel like I wanted to be involved in what you were doing as you explained very briefly what the tithe foundation was seeking to do.
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Um and so you know, that that meeting we had on what is it, November 3rd?
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November 3rd, yeah.
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November 3rd, uh really changed the trajectory trajectory of my life because like I I don't believe that I wasn't saved and or anything like that.
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I didn't question my salvation, but I knew that but like I not having uh clarity on what my Ephesians 2 10 purpose, like he designed me specifically, but I wasn't actually doing anything for the Lord.
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We don't need to do anything work for a relationship with the Lord, but he does have things he wants us to do.
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And when we are doing those things and executing according to our gifts, then like that becomes a really uh purpose-filled, joy-filled walk with Jesus.
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And so that kicked off in that meeting.
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So I remember saying to you, because you asked me, like, hey, what are what are some of the things you need?
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Like, if if you're gonna actually do this.
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Yeah.
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And I remember I explained what I needed, and you were like, dude, that's actually what I do.
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I was like, really?
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And I mean, then I was like, Do you want to do it for us?
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And I think you were like, Yeah, I would I would love to look at that.
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Yeah.
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I I remember walking to my car after an hour and a half or whatever we spent together, and I was like, actually really nervous that I wasn't gonna hear from you again, or that like this was just a one good meeting and and like I wouldn't get a call back or something.
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Like, not that you were interviewing me at all, but that's I was I was just so excited about it.
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Um, but of course, you know, we talked maybe the next day or something like that, and everything's moved incredibly in a really cool direction, and frankly, we're gonna get into a lot of it in a direction that I didn't expect, and the twists and turns and along the way have been amazing.
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And the things that if you would have asked me um, you know, on November 4th, like what I was hoping to get out of the tithe foundation, yeah, like personally, and what I think it would become, it it doesn't look anything like what it has become.
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It's been but it's better.
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It's kind of crazy because as we go through some of this, the the way that God calls you to take steps in your life, and you hear the story over and over again, this is not new.
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But step one is sometimes it's unclear, and sometimes it just seems so small, but it's what kicks off some sort of an avalanche of just action that takes place after that that you could not have anticipated the speed, the velocity, how much you know, mass it was gonna pick up.
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That's kind of what happened to us.
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Totally, totally.
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Yep.
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Um yeah, and I think it you know, kudos to you.
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I I I'd not to quickly turn the tables on you, but like you started the tithe foundation, and like we're gonna, you know, your initial thoughts on what it would be.
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We had the workshops, which I think were good and they served a real great purpose at the time.
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Yeah, like would you envision that it it is it it is what it has become, which I know we're gonna get into more details, what it what it has become, but like Yeah, I think that it's a it's a lesson in well a lot of things, and any entrepreneur will tell you like a lot of times when you start a business or a foundation or whatever it is, you start anything.
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Your initial idea of why you're starting it a lot of times takes new shape just a little while down the road.
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Yeah.
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You know, you got to get the boat out of the dock a little bit in order to feel the wind and the waves and see what direction you're supposed to take something.
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Yep.
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So initially, when you make that first push off from the dock, you get an idea where you're going, but then a lot of times the momentum will carry you somewhere different.
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So we we kicked it off with those workshops because it seemed like there was a hunger to incorporate faith with work.
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That that seems to be a theme that you're seeing around our city and around the country right now is marketplace leaders, faith and work integration.
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People want to be kind of like an authentic, full version of themselves.
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That's real.
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Yeah.
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Um, so that was happening a bit.
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And people attended those, and I think they got some, you know, a lot of things out of it.
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I actually do know of a couple of businesses who have changed their mission statements because of it.
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Great.
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Oh, they've changed like their operating principles, value.
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It was kind of cool.
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Like they worked.
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Yeah.
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Um, but we weren't unique in that way.
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There was a lot of citywide faith and work movements going on.
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And I'm one for I I hate reinventing the wheel just for the sake of having it be my wheel.
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I don't need to do that.
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And um, so what we started finding was the generosity component and like the specificity around how we were going to give.
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That was like really piquing people's interest.
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And they were more curious about that than they were like when's the next teaching workshop we're gonna put on.
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Totally, yeah.
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Well, I shouldn't say totally, but yeah, there's something about that the way we do it, just the tangibility of it.
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Yeah, it's like I know what I'm signing up for, I know what I've got to do and what's expected of me.
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Yeah, I know what the guys at Tithe Foundation are going to deliver, and together we partner to go serve those in need in our community and share the love of Jesus with people who need it most.
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And it's like this is a real tangible, actionable thing that I can be a part of.
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Yep.
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And I was like, okay, I think that's the direction we need to go.
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That that's clearly what you were feeling too, I think.
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Yeah, I think so.
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I it it all when I walked into that Panera, like what I felt was like I had surrendered myself.
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That's kind of Romans 12:1 talks a lot about that like surrender of my business, my income, whatever that might be, just like you had.
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But then what do what do we kind of do with it?
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Um and you know, a lot of marketplace people I think have incomes that where they can be generous and they but and they want to be generous, but like it really takes that first step of surrendering.
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And I think like having, and again, we're gonna get into it a lot, I hope, and I think in detail today, like, but the conduit as to how to give is something that I think marketplace people, business people really question.
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Like, who should I be giving to?
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What you know, what should I be giving to?
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How much should I be giving?
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Those types of questions are things that we try to help our business partners work on.
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100%.
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Yeah.
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Well, we're gonna well, let's just start going through these piece by piece because I think uh you'll unpack a lot of like why people are getting excited about certain things.
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So one thing that we've decided on together, um currently we've had no overhead expenses covered by the donations to Tide Foundation.
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Yep.
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100% of the overhead has been covered by business partners, yep.
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Um, whether that's food, whether that's space, whether that's materials, whatever that is.
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And we've kept 100% of partner donations flowing to the charities themselves.
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Yep.
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Um and flowing quickly, by the way.
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Yeah.
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We they're not just sitting around in an account, but yeah, immediately after Grant Night, they flow out.
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What why do you think that's so important that we do it that way?
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Yeah, I I think first of all, you know, you and I at this point, and hopefully it expands like both in our city and and around the country, but you you and I, you know, we we're not doing this for an income.
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We're doing it because of the love of Jesus.
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Yep.
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And if it's for the love of Jesus, like what he, you know, it's it's clearly biblical that we're called to generosity.
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And so why not maximize kingdom impact by making sure that every single dollar that comes in goes back out?
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Yeah.
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We don't need money for, and I don't want to get paid.
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I never want uh and I and God willing, I never will get paid by the tithe foundation.
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It's just it's that's not what it's about.
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It's about advancing God's kingdom through generosity and through giving.
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Yeah.
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Um, and so if you're going to maximize that truly and optimize that, it's just like it's simple math.
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Like the then the expenses should be zero.
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And that's what they are, that's what they are.
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And you and I, uh you you already said it, but I'm gonna emphasize it.
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Like we've talked about this in detail.
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That will always be the case.
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Yep.
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And uh, you know, we're gonna have to have a sit-down conversation.
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Sit down with me if I ever try to say, hey, I want to get paid for this because that's not the goal.
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Yeah, and I don't think it ever should be the goal.
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Um, and and I think that that is different than what a lot of even well-intentioned, spiritually focused organizations, I think that's different for the most part.
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I'm not saying it's unique, I'm sure there are other ones like it.
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Yeah, but most have overhead and expenses, and that's just not the case with us.
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And and I think that's important.
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Yeah, I think that it's resonated with the partners, knowing that um not that it's bad to have overhead as a nonprofit, yeah, but that's not what we set out to to do.
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We we've set up a fund a foundation fund specifically because we want to go fuel the work that's happening around our city, not reinvent the new nonprofit.
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Yep.
00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:14.600
So if that's the case, this doesn't need a cut and then go to the nonprofits who are doing the work, who have full-time staff who need to be out there doing the work.
00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:20.760
There doesn't need to be like this layered, you know, subtraction from the effort and the fuel that we're trying to provide.
00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:21.160
Right.
00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:22.520
So, like this is for Jesus.
00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:24.520
Yeah, this is something that we are doing for him.
00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:30.200
Um, and this is not for profit and it's not for our gain, which I do think that's that that's extremely unique.
00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:38.440
All right, so let's talk a little bit about if you are a partner in our foundation and you're making donations, we vote on those distributions.
00:15:38.520 --> 00:15:38.920
Yeah.
00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:43.560
And early on, you and I had had questions of well, should it be a weighted average?
00:15:43.640 --> 00:15:43.800
Yeah.
00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:50.600
You know, should it be a percentage based based on hey, the pool of money that's being handed out tonight, how much of it did your business contribute?
00:15:50.680 --> 00:15:52.520
And that's the weighted average that your vote counts.
00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.000
Yep.
00:15:53.800 --> 00:16:01.080
There could be an argument for that if we were just thinking earthly, but uh we decided no, all the votes count the same.
00:16:01.400 --> 00:16:09.879
And the Bible, you know, scripture that we kind of stood against on that was the widow and the two mites, where Jesus says she gave more than the rest, like she gave what she what she had to give.
00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:21.960
And uh I do know that certain business leaders writing a large check, while it's generous and it still takes a heart for Jesus to do that, it doesn't hurt as much as certain there's small businesses that are a part of our foundation.
00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:22.520
Totally.
00:16:22.760 --> 00:16:26.280
Where I know that you know a couple hundred dollars a month is is a struggle.
00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:26.760
Yeah.
00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:32.040
Um, so it's not about the dollars, it's about the heart behind why you're contributing and what you want to be a part of.
00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:35.960
So every vote counts the same, whether you're the smallest or the largest contributor.
00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:38.760
And oh, by the way, nobody in the room really knows who those people are.
00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.000
Yep.
00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.120
We don't advertise it.
00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:40.600
Yep.
00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:45.640
Um What is it about that that you feel like that's that's the right way to go?
00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:58.840
It's uh so uh clear to me when I'm in the Word, when I'm talking with the Lord, that He doesn't care what our income is, he doesn't He doesn't identify us that way.
00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:01.320
Everybody is equal.
00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:08.599
In fact, and there's a lot of biblical verses that like those that think so highly of themselves are actually lesser in his mind.
00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:21.559
And so I think we need to be operating in a mode of humility and not thinking that because my gift or anyone's individual gift is larger than someone else, that that makes them more important.
00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:33.799
Yeah, but by very nature, if we gave them a weighted vote based on the amount that any individual gives, that makes them seem more important, and that's not what we're about, because that's not what Jesus is about.
00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:36.759
And so I think that's incredibly important.
00:17:37.000 --> 00:18:09.000
Um, and I'm glad we got to that place because and I hesitate to even admit this, like there was a little bit of a debate around how this should work, because I think part of the debate, at least in my head, was I don't want anyone that is hypergenerous and maybe in a and and has the ability to give in a meaningful way to be turned off by our approach to this, even though I think when we explain it, it's very clear, and we because we can point to to biblical reasons, but it was a little bit of a debate.
00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:12.519
But man, I uh this is so clear to me that we've landed in the right place.
00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:13.480
I'm glad that we have.
00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:19.159
I think it's been a heart check for um for everybody that that maybe is like, hey, how do I think about this?
00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:21.879
Because this isn't how it would normally operate in the world.
00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:22.359
Yeah.
00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:26.599
You know, this this is how it operates at Tith Foundation, but it wouldn't be this way other otherwise.
00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:38.599
The other thing in related to this, I just want to tack on, like you know, we're called to give anonymously too, and you know, we're not putting our name on a building or anything like that, right?
00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:55.399
This in and you know, your name isn't on anything, my name's not anything, like uh it's all given through the tithe foundation, which under we have 50 business partners underlying the tithe foundation that are currently giving, but no one is seeing any individual names.
00:18:55.559 --> 00:19:06.759
And so when any of our not-for-profit partners get a gift from the tithe foundation, it's not from Mark and Matt, it's from all 50 of us that nobody even knows.
00:19:06.919 --> 00:19:10.119
And I I think we're called to give that way as well.
00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:13.319
And so that's something I want to I hope that we can continue to honor.
00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:21.559
Yeah, we get uh we get the special privilege of getting to know a lot of the directors because let me see, is this actually my next question?
00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:23.240
It's in here somewhere.
00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.759
By the way, I haven't seen these questions.
00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.399
No, you haven't.
00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.679
I've I'm just peppering you through.
00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:29.639
But you you do a lot of the diligence, you take a lot of the heavy heavy lifting.
00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:46.599
So um that's one of the other reasons why I think a lot of our partners enjoy you know being a piece of this puzzle is because there's a lot of work that needs to be done to uncover real opportunities that are actionable to go fuel as opposed to just small donations happening all over the place.
00:19:46.679 --> 00:19:47.559
And those are good.
00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:51.159
Any donation is is great to go to to build God's kingdom.
00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:51.480
Yep.
00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:57.000
But the way that you vet it, I think, is important because it does take a lot of time out of it for for the partner.
00:19:57.240 --> 00:20:05.639
Instead of having to go, you know, dust these things off and figure it out for themselves, they've got someone who they come to know and trust who's doing that on a regular and recurring basis.
00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:10.839
So we get to know the nonprofit leaders, but that's also happened with a lot of our partners have gotten to know them.
00:20:10.919 --> 00:20:11.799
So this is a two-parter.
00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.039
Yeah.
00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:17.319
First part, can you take us through just why is that diligence so important and why people come to love that?
00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:24.119
I I hit it on a little bit earlier, and certainly I think on the last time you and I talked in the podcast.
00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:31.159
Like, I I believe that everybody, and I don't want to I don't want to exclude non-marketplace people or whatever that category might be.
00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:41.319
Yeah, but I certainly believe that um marketplace people, which I'm just sort of defining, maybe we should try to define marketplace people.
00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:51.960
Um I wanted you to define it too, but like I view that as people that just have sort of influence over others in the workplace and in in wherever they work.
00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:52.439
Yep.
00:20:52.839 --> 00:21:00.119
Um and so you don't need to own a business, you don't need to um, you know, be the president or the CEO of a business.
00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:07.799
It's just someone that has people that look up to them and influence them and hopefully in a positive, God-filled sort of way.
00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:10.039
That's the way I sort of define marketplace people.
00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.519
Yeah.
00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.879
Um in our context, yeah.
00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.759
Yeah, in our context.
00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.720
I don't know if you want to.
00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:16.200
Well, like who would be a partner at Tithe Foundation?
00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:17.639
Yeah, I because I do think that's clear.
00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:20.679
You don't need to be a business owner um to become a partner.
00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.079
Yeah.
00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:29.000
So I I think that there are groups out there where it's there's more exclusive uh exclusivity to it where you got to be an owner, you gotta be a certain level leader to get in.
00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:36.839
Because if there's if it's like a round table type of a thing and you're trying to help each other and lean on each other, you kind of got to have similar experiences and and depth of what you're talking about.
00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:38.439
That's not what The Foundation is.
00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.720
Everybody's welcome at our table.
00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.119
Yep.
00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:48.839
So if you are not an owner of your business, but you're a leader and you want to sign that tithe pledge and make a can uh contribution as an individual partner, you are welcome.
00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:53.879
This is the body of Christ banding together to go meet the needs of people in our in our state.
00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.439
Totally.
00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:54.759
Yep.
00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.319
Okay.
00:21:56.119 --> 00:22:15.079
So I think marketplace people, um, now that we've talked about that a little bit, like fundamentally um if they've taken the step to surrender their business and they've taken the step towards giving to support kingdom causes, they want to know what are those causes, who are these people.
00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:19.559
Um questions like, will I ever hear from them again?
00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.879
There's a degree of skepticism, maybe by some.
00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:25.799
I know that I tend to operate with a degree of skepticism in some ways.
00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:30.200
Like who are a healthy skepticism.
00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:33.559
Yeah, like let's assume that everything's good, but let's check but verify, right?
00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:39.879
And and uh and and so that's the the role that I attempt to play.
00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:50.519
I'm obviously far from perfect, but I um it's it's it's the responsibility to vet these organizations is not lost on me.
00:22:50.679 --> 00:22:54.839
We have 50 business partners and I take that responsibility incredibly serious.
00:22:55.000 --> 00:23:05.399
I took it serious when we had 10 business partners, to be clear, but there's a big responsibility for us to understand and know who is getting this money.
00:23:05.639 --> 00:23:12.439
Are these people God's servants to the best of my ability to assess through diligence?
00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:15.639
And I can talk about what that process looks like if you want.
00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:32.919
Um, but I think it's very important, frankly, that we are intentional and thoughtful around who is getting uh the money, frankly, from the Tide Foundation because there's a lot of people behind it and we want to make sure that it's going to the right places.
00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:38.599
That's a that's a in my opinion, that's an incredibly important um responsibility that that I'm taking on.
00:23:38.919 --> 00:23:39.240
100%.
00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:44.919
I think the uh when we first started off, I don't think we quite knew how these grant night rhythms were gonna flow.
00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.639
Yeah.
00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:51.639
But A, you do cover the diligence process pretty well so people understand like this is what's going into it.
00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.039
Yeah.
00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:59.480
I think then they can see where it comes out through the videos where we have the directors of nonprofits all submit a video, yeah, mostly so we can stay on track.
00:23:59.639 --> 00:23:59.720
Yeah.
00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:11.000
Because if you get a if you get a pastor or a nonprofit director uh up in front of a room to talk about their organization, it's hard to keep it in uh like a seven to eight minute format because they got a lot to say, you know.
00:24:11.399 --> 00:24:19.480
So uh we we do the videos, and I think through the portrayal of the of the opportunity in the video, people understand like this is a specific need, it's been vetted.
00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:25.799
Yep, um, there's a lot of clarity around like if we vote to distribute the money to this organization, what it's gonna go to.
00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:27.000
So I think that's been really good.
00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:28.919
But the other piece is like the impact update.
00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:42.039
So we do bring in a nonprofit leader that has been granted to to understand this is what you gave us the money for, this is what we're currently doing with it, and then share some stories about like the reality behind what's the what's the money doing?
00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:44.919
What are the what did the fuel provide to the people that we serve?
00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:48.359
Uh that's been like a like a fan favorite, in my opinion.
00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:53.960
One of the core tenets of the Tithe Foundation is to tell stories that glorify God.
00:24:54.279 --> 00:25:06.679
And when we, you know, hypothetically, six months prior in a grand night, we we vote on one of these not-for-profits and they win, or even if they didn't win, it doesn't necessarily matter.
00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:15.399
But like they hear through the video what the not profit is hoping to accomplish through the funds generously given through the Tithe Foundation.
00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:21.879
And then when we get it's almost like watching a reality TV show and you get like the live update, like, okay, what do you add on that?
00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:23.079
Like, I always look forward to that.
00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:23.559
That's cool.
00:25:23.639 --> 00:25:29.159
I not that I watch reality TV anymore, but like, you know, big reality TV guy.
00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:31.319
Just the name back of the day.
00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:40.039
But like um, you know, you get you get to actually see the people that were in the video six months ago talking about what they were hoping to accomplish.
00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:45.480
And then when they come in and talk about what God's doing with that money, like they're excited.
00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:47.000
Yeah, we're excited.
00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:49.639
Like the whole room just lights up with excitement.
00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:58.200
So again, that's not something that we were initially doing in these grant nights, but we tacked it on, and it's been an amazing tack on.
00:25:58.359 --> 00:26:05.159
Uh and and frankly, I you know, it's part that I, you know, I I know what what the organizations are and all that.
00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:08.519
Like, yeah, I look forward to the the vote, but they're they're like all my kids.
00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:09.639
I like them all, I love them all.
00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:11.399
It actually is one of the more exciting things.
00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.919
It's the most exciting thing is what happens.
00:26:13.159 --> 00:26:14.119
Well, because we know it's coming.
00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.359
Yeah.
00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:19.960
And so you get to hear about it preemptively, but then being able to be in the room and watch all the partners get to digest that information too.
00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:23.319
Like, okay, yeah, like what we're doing is really moving the needle.
00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:23.720
Yeah.
00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:37.559
I think that's what becomes a little bit more contagious about it and why it's been so much more fun for you and I is because like the light bulbs going off of like, hey, any one individual partner in that room could not make happen what's happening alone.
00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.039
Yeah.
00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:39.720
Even if they had the money to do it alone.
00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.039
Yep.
00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:41.720
So I think that that's a key distinction.
00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.119
Yes.
00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:51.159
Even if they had all the money that we've donated all themselves and they just donated it all by themselves, what's happening in that room would not be happening in that room by the body of Christ coming together.
00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:51.559
Yep.
00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:59.000
We've seen story after story of business partners who have then like something about a specific ministry breaks their heart.
00:26:59.159 --> 00:27:03.319
So not only are they contributing to that grant, then they go get involved with that ministry directly.
00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:06.200
They're bringing their team down and volunteering at it.
00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:09.639
Sometimes they're raising money independently for it if there's like something specific that's happening.
00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:10.119
Totally.
00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:14.200
So people are like actually getting in touch with the things that are happening on the street.
00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:14.519
Yeah.
00:27:14.679 --> 00:27:16.359
Because they heard about it at Grant Night.
00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:21.960
I'm so glad you said that because, like, yeah, we're what we're talking a lot about is serving with our wallets effectively, right?
00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:27.879
We're giving money to the kingdom causes, but we're called to serve beyond our wallets.
00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:34.439
We're called to serve with our hands and our hearts and like actually doing work for these not-for-profits is totally happening.
00:27:34.679 --> 00:27:43.480
And these organizations that maybe weren't even known by our business partners are becoming known and they fall in love with them, and then they're working and they're bringing their families out to work at stuff.
00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:49.079
There's there's things that again, I wasn't expecting to happen at all, which are so cool to see.
00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.919
Yeah, I mean, it's absolutely unbelievable.
00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.159
Yeah.
00:27:51.399 --> 00:27:58.759
All right, so we covered the voting, we covered your vetting process, at least to a degree, which I love the field, the field trips.
00:27:58.839 --> 00:28:12.839
I mean, just to highlight that, the vetting process culminates with if it's a new nonprofit where we're meeting the directors for the first time, where we haven't granted them already and we're familiar with their work, is just going on site and getting like a glimpse of the day in the life.
00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:13.799
Yeah.
00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:16.119
Talk about how that's been powerful.
00:28:16.439 --> 00:28:18.279
So I want to talk about how that's been powerful.
00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:20.359
I want to, I want to rewind for a second, though.
00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:23.639
Like to be clear, and this probably wouldn't surprise anyone.
00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:30.359
I think you know the number of organizations coming to the Tithe Foundation seeking dollars is increasing.
00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:32.119
The word has gotten out.
00:28:32.439 --> 00:28:34.919
And when you when you give money away, it gets out quick.
00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:35.879
It gets out quick.
00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.279
Yeah.
00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:49.799
And so I'd like to say that makes my job a little bit harder, but I think we've been intentional and thoughtful around what organization, what's the profile of the organization that we're going to support.
00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:56.039
Um, and very quickly, like there are a lot of wonderful secular focused organizations.
00:28:56.519 --> 00:29:01.399
Many of us, I do, we do support them uh outside the tithe foundation.
00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:10.119
But inside the tithe foundation, we are exclusively focused on Christian not-for-profits, focused on doing God's kingdom work.
00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:13.960
That and you need to be, and the organization needs to be upfront about it.
00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:24.519
There are a lot of organizations that are doing work that I would call biblical, but they're not like pointing to necessarily the reason for why they're doing that work.
00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:25.000
Yeah.
00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:28.759
You know, one again, like Tithe Foundation is about God first.
00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:36.039
And so that means that you know, we want to support organizations that are like-minded in that God first focus.
00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:36.599
Yeah.
00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:39.960
Um, so that's one of the lenses that we look at.
00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:45.799
Um, the another one is the size of the organization, I think matters a lot.
00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:50.119
And yeah, like I I God doesn't care about the size of the gifts.
00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.720
I don't think that even matters.
00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:54.599
Like, I think that's definitely a world, certainly an America thing.
00:29:54.679 --> 00:29:57.000
Like, boy, more money, more important, like whatever.
00:29:57.079 --> 00:30:00.359
I I that that is not how an America thing.
00:30:00.439 --> 00:30:00.519
Yeah.
00:30:00.679 --> 00:30:00.919
Yeah.
00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:03.720
Jesus looks at the situation.
00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:13.720
But to be clear, you know, we are on Grant Night these days, like we're, you know, we're giving out, you know, a hundred-ish thousand dollars on any of these nights.
00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:19.399
You know, there are organizations where they're doing, they're they they they meet that first lens.
00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:24.519
They're spiritually focused, they're God first and all that, but their annual operating budget's$10 million.
00:30:25.159 --> 00:30:32.839
Well, a hundred thousand dollar or fifty thousand dollar gift is not going to be impactful in the way that I think we we would like to see.
00:30:32.919 --> 00:30:38.519
So that's I could always talk about that a little bit more, but I think that's an important lens too.
00:30:38.679 --> 00:30:41.319
Um, because something you said I just want to double click on.
00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:55.159
Like, if$50,000 were to come in across a you know one year period of time across like 50 different like small gifts, yeah, that's great for the not-for-profit, but they can't necessarily rely on it.
00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:55.480
Yeah.
00:30:55.639 --> 00:31:14.839
Like a part of what the way to run a business or a not-for-profit is to like budget and understand like what your ins and your outs are going to be, like having the being able to plan for a large gift for the organizations that we're working with, these are large gifts, is super helpful for the executive directors.
00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:16.759
And so I think that's kind of an important point.
00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:22.679
Oh, and it's needle moving enough where it's like if I get this money, yeah, this next thing can happen.
00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:23.079
Exactly.
00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:32.119
Whether it's the next phase of what they're moving into or whether it's a sp very specific opportunity that God's laid on their heart that they and a lot of these don't need repeated funding.
00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:34.039
Like you're mentioned, some of them do.
00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:36.519
Some of them are like, hey, if we can get this off the ground, yeah.
00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:39.879
And what comes to mind is like the last uh grant that we gave to Youth for Christ.
00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.279
Yeah.
00:31:40.439 --> 00:31:43.240
Um or West Side Christian adding a new classroom.
00:31:43.399 --> 00:31:44.119
Like yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:47.559
It's like once we get these off the ground, then they're self-sustaining.
00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.039
Yeah.
00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:52.359
But like the project needs like a it needs a big upfront fund in order to like make it happen.
00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:52.839
Yep.
00:31:52.919 --> 00:31:55.079
Um, but then once it's in motion, it stays in motion.
00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:57.000
Like those are those are pretty cool opportunities.
00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:57.639
Yeah.
00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:58.359
Totally.
00:31:58.439 --> 00:32:03.000
So so I I want to answer your question on the field night, on the field trip to get to that point.
00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:05.799
I think like so it goes through this sort of vetting process.
00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:23.480
I spend time with the executive director on a Zoom, look at financials, do a lot of the diligence, frankly, that you probably expect, but really trying to, I'm most focused trying to get on the heart of the what the organization is doing and really understanding what would they do with the funds and would we be able to, you know, be accountable.
00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:24.200
Will they be accountable?
00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:26.679
Will we hear from when we talk about all those types of things?
00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:36.599
Um, and then in the event that they do make it through that process, which it's not everybody, it's it's a relatively limited amount, then you know, I get the immense pleasure.
00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:40.519
You and I should talk about, you know, all the time that we're spending together on a weekly basis now.
00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:44.519
But I'm like, hey, Mark, like this organization sounds awesome.
00:32:44.679 --> 00:32:45.720
Like I've talked with them.
00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.919
Here's all the stuff I've done.
00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:49.639
Like, let's go see them on their turf.
00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:53.879
Importantly, when we do these field trips, we do them ahead of Grant Nine.
00:32:54.039 --> 00:33:00.679
We're like, and I say to them, like, show us what you do in the place where we can best evidence that.
00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:02.519
And if it's two places, that's fine.
00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:08.279
We will go to two places, but like we go, you and I, to these organizations.
00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:09.960
Wherever it is, wherever it is.
00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:16.679
There's been a couple of them that I've been like, this is a yeah, I feel like I'm in a kind of a sticky situation here.
00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:17.799
Well, but we went.
00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:18.439
It's amazing.
00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:22.679
You gotta go put yourself in the shoes and and understand where the money's going.
00:33:23.159 --> 00:33:23.480
Yeah.
00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:36.439
So uh yeah, I somehow I wish that the business partner could almost like be on field trips with us because they're so cool to actually see the work being done on that turf.
00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:39.319
And that really brings it to light for me, I think for you.
00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:47.399
Well, and to be clear, we've done I don't know how many, but uh there is a field trip in my mind that I'm remembering.
00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:55.000
I'm not gonna name it um on the show, but we've gone and we've got on site and we met with somebody specifically and we decided not to uh invest in it.
00:33:55.159 --> 00:33:55.399
Yes.
00:33:55.559 --> 00:34:07.000
And it's not because it what they were doing was bad, but like we do lean on the Holy Spirit and each other's discernment and prayer to be like, all right, God, is this something that you are calling our partners and tithe foundation to be a part of?
00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:19.480
And if it doesn't feel right and that diligence process doesn't hold up, then we're like, okay, like we need to bring like a specific level of discernment um to where you want this money to flow to maximize what it can do for your kingdom.
00:34:19.720 --> 00:34:20.119
Totally.
00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:21.400
And uh glad you said that.
00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:25.960
I do love that we have a pretty good way about it, and then the vote is kind of that last step.
00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.200
Yeah.
00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:36.200
So once it gets like past all the diligence and it's up for vote at grant night, we allow the Holy Spirit to move around that room and the voting process dictates how much money goes out to these organizations.
00:34:36.600 --> 00:34:44.039
So it's it's pretty thorough step-by-step process um that I feel pretty confident when that money goes out, it's going to the right place.
00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:50.200
I think that we're we're not we're not perfect, but I think we've we've iterated, I think it was just important too.
00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:57.480
Like when you started the tithe foundation, like you wouldn't see it the way you you didn't think it would be the way it is because we try stuff and then we see how that works.
00:34:57.559 --> 00:35:01.480
Some of it stuck, some of it we change and we change it up, and we're gonna continue to do that.
00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:11.480
We're gonna just continue to lean on God's promptings for where we take the tithe foundation and the vetting process, but that's where we're at now, and I it it's clearly resonating, I think.
00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:25.240
So before we get into some of the the personal side that you and I have experienced, um is there any is there like an example or two that you can think of of like a specific impact that we've made that has particularly touched your heart?
00:35:27.160 --> 00:35:29.880
Oh man, it's it's so hard for me to pick one.
00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:38.600
So I've always been um like you, we have kids, right?
00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:41.559
And so we've got four categories we support.
00:35:41.640 --> 00:35:42.840
Maybe you could walk through those.
00:35:43.240 --> 00:35:45.000
But one of them is youth and family.
00:35:45.160 --> 00:35:48.360
Like um, you know, family is super important to me.
00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:55.559
My wife and I have two kids, so any of the organizations that are tough and touching youth completely resonates to me.
00:35:56.120 --> 00:36:07.720
Um so I I guess I would focus on if you're talking explicitly about a field trip, I would talk about West Side Christian to me was really eye-opening.
00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:19.080
Um and for those that don't know, um Pastor Ben is a pastor and they decided to move into uh what's that neighborhood?
00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:21.880
They're over on the hilltop somewhere.
00:36:22.120 --> 00:36:22.360
Yeah.
00:36:22.600 --> 00:36:25.240
Um I don't know the exact neighborhood that it's called, yeah.
00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:28.120
Yeah, he and he and his wife are raising their daughter.
00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:39.320
I should uh hesitate to tell his whole story, but she they they are in that neighborhood, they're living in that neighborhood, he's a pastor of the church there, and they are all in for the neighborhood, which is incredible.
00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:49.160
And similarly, his daughter was a student in the public school system there, and it's a very difficult area for the public schools in Columbus.
00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:49.559
Yeah.
00:36:49.720 --> 00:36:51.480
And it's like bottom two percent in the state.
00:36:51.800 --> 00:36:53.720
Bottom two percent, I think is exactly right.
00:36:53.880 --> 00:37:03.960
And so they really tried for several years to make it work, but it was clear that it just wasn't working, and there needed to be a better answer, not for their daughter, for the community.
00:37:04.120 --> 00:37:04.360
Yeah.
00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:27.000
And so Pastor Ben started a new school um three, four years ago um that was initially K through four, and they fell in love with those kids, and they were growing in their relationship with their Lord, their families were growing in the relationship with the Lord, the academic test results were uh uh 180 contrast versus the you know Columbus Public School.
00:37:27.080 --> 00:37:30.440
And I know those teachers are doing the best they very, the very best they can.
00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:36.280
So that's nothing against CPS, but like Westside Christians really doing great work, yeah.
00:37:36.600 --> 00:37:50.920
And they didn't have space, physical space to continue to love these kids and grow with them as their first class was fourth graders, and they were gonna have to go back into a different school situation in the fifth grade.
00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:58.440
And so we they showed us the building where they would be moving into, and it was a church, but it needed retrofit into a school.
00:37:58.519 --> 00:38:12.360
So just like seeing those things and bringing it all to life and hearing the passion of Pastor Ben, and by the way, other field trips we've actually been there during the school day and seeing the joy and happiness of the teachers running around Tree of Life comes to mind.
00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:18.600
Like it it's the something about the youth and family really hits me particularly.
00:38:18.680 --> 00:38:29.240
But well, the the interesting thing about Westside is Pastor Ben's story is another story of someone who resume-wise, not equipped to be the chairman of a school.
00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:30.519
Yeah, like he that's not what he was.
00:38:30.680 --> 00:38:32.360
He was an engineer, if I if I believe that's a good idea.
00:38:32.600 --> 00:38:33.559
Not what he went to school for.
00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:35.640
And never started a school for being a pastor.
00:38:35.720 --> 00:38:35.880
Yeah.
00:38:36.120 --> 00:38:38.120
Kind of difficult to start a school, a lot of hoops to jump through.
00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:49.640
So it's another example of how God will use people that have a willing heart that say yes to whatever faithful step is in front of them, yes, versus someone who's just fully equipped and has all like the knowledge of how to do it.
00:38:49.800 --> 00:38:51.480
Um it's kind of crazy.
00:38:51.640 --> 00:38:54.280
I mean, yeah, youth and family is one of those categories.
00:38:54.360 --> 00:38:58.600
So the the four categories are local church, Christian education, youth and family, and homelessness.
00:38:58.920 --> 00:39:06.840
Youth and family always hits home for a lot of people because you can solve a lot of issues before they actually become issues if you can get to a person young enough.
00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:07.160
Yes.
00:39:07.400 --> 00:39:11.160
Versus having to go rewind the clock and backtrack through a lot of history.
00:39:11.320 --> 00:39:11.640
Yep.
00:39:11.880 --> 00:39:16.920
So yeah, the more that we can serve the youth of our city, the more problems we prevent down the road.
00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:20.280
So it's not just serving them today, it's also kind of preventative measures.
00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:21.160
Yeah.
00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:40.280
But to agree completely, but that said, like we we don't just serve the youth and family, like homelessness and um, you know, we there's some work that some of some of our foundation, some of the not-for-profits we're doing are in the area of sex trafficking, which is heartbreaking.
00:39:40.519 --> 00:39:43.960
Those are either you know, under 18 or over 18.
00:39:44.120 --> 00:39:47.880
Homelessness, obviously, there's mental disease impact there and stuff like that.
00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:53.160
And like we we're loving those people too in a big way, I think, through the tithe foundation.
00:39:53.400 --> 00:40:07.480
Yeah, one of the ones that comes to mind for me, yeah, uh, is Gracehaven, where we've we've funded some things for the Gracehaven where it's it's not if you're looking at bang for the buck in terms of just how many individual lives do the grants touch, yeah, you're not getting that Grace Haven.
00:40:07.800 --> 00:40:17.000
It's very, very hyper-focused and individualized because these are young ladies, a lot of them are under even the age of 14, um, who have gone through some of the most horrific stuff.
00:40:17.080 --> 00:40:17.400
Yes.
00:40:17.559 --> 00:40:22.760
And there's a lot of compliance and regulation which layers in a lot of cost to be able to serve them correctly.
00:40:22.840 --> 00:40:23.240
Yep.
00:40:23.400 --> 00:40:25.160
Um, but it is so worth it.
00:40:25.240 --> 00:40:25.480
Yeah.
00:40:25.640 --> 00:40:33.240
So it if just even just one or two of these lives that have been trampled on can be redeemed, it's it's worth it.
00:40:33.559 --> 00:40:38.519
And there's so many transfer transforming and redemption stories coming coming out of there.
00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:55.880
But on the other hand, like, you know, in terms of number of lives impacted, like I think of FCA, like how many kids are going through the FCA programs here in central Ohio, like it's incredible the amount of things that are happening, and that's another one that we support.
00:40:55.960 --> 00:41:04.600
And so it's not just we're not just exclusively looking for like you know, bang for your buck with one individual or a small group of people, but it's both.
00:41:04.760 --> 00:41:07.320
It's also like how many it would like, yeah.
00:41:07.400 --> 00:41:13.960
While there's not, if you were to like do the math and say how much each dollar is is going to each impacted life, like it's on both sides.
00:41:14.039 --> 00:41:20.120
Like there's a lot going into one individual, but there's also a lot of money going into a lot of people all at once.
00:41:20.519 --> 00:41:28.440
So it's we're we're trying to be thoughtful about diversifying, if I can use that word, what the foundation is supporting.
00:41:28.680 --> 00:41:33.400
Again, all taking all promptings from the Lord as we go as we go through the work.
00:41:33.720 --> 00:41:36.600
It's been pretty cool to watch um how stuff has flowed.
00:41:36.760 --> 00:41:38.360
All right, so let's let's flip it for a second.
00:41:38.600 --> 00:41:38.920
Okay.
00:41:39.240 --> 00:41:41.640
What's changed inside your heart since we started this?
00:41:42.760 --> 00:41:44.039
I oh man.
00:41:44.200 --> 00:41:52.760
Uh I for for me, I mean I'm gonna be selfish for a minute because you've asked about what's changed in.
00:41:53.160 --> 00:41:53.320
Yeah.
00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:54.360
Well, I want to know.
00:41:54.600 --> 00:41:55.720
What's changed in my heart?
00:41:55.800 --> 00:42:02.200
Like it has um the softening of my heart has been unbelievable.
00:42:02.360 --> 00:42:03.320
I cry more.
00:42:04.360 --> 00:42:05.240
I like it.
00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:08.039
But your kids love a raging on your thing.
00:42:08.360 --> 00:42:09.960
Yeah, I mean, you've actually maybe even seen me.
00:42:10.120 --> 00:42:26.120
Like some of these organizations, I'm talking about them and like the field trips that were gone, and then like it's just it's it's it for me, it's um made it clear how hardened my heart was before, and still, you know, it needs a lot more softening.
00:42:26.200 --> 00:42:29.960
So I'm not a I'm not yeah, I'm not fixed by any stretch.
00:42:30.039 --> 00:42:42.680
Yeah, but like it's it's really given me such a more meaningful walk with Jesus because I have real work to do for him.
00:42:42.840 --> 00:42:50.120
I'm using the nerdy finance due diligence skills I have for the kingdom.
00:42:50.280 --> 00:42:55.400
And that's what when I walked out of the Panera, I'm like, well, that that's what's that's what I would like to have happen.
00:42:55.480 --> 00:43:02.840
I'd be able to like to use my due diligence skills to advance whatever Tithe Foundation's going to do with these not-for-profits.
00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:04.760
It's been so much more than that, though.
00:43:04.840 --> 00:43:22.680
Like actually going on these field trips, talking to these executive directors and people that work at these not-for-profits who are super duper smart and could do, they could make a million dollars a year if they wanted to, but they choose not to intentionally.
00:43:23.160 --> 00:43:26.280
Like it's impossible not to be impacted by that.
00:43:26.440 --> 00:43:30.680
And I have been super meaningfully personally impacted by it.
00:43:30.840 --> 00:43:35.400
Um, you know, and we're all called to carry our cross on a daily basis.
00:43:35.640 --> 00:43:39.559
Those people are doing it more than I am, if I'm being completely honest.
00:43:39.640 --> 00:43:45.400
Like, I'm challenging myself to love and should demonstrate the love that I have through my work as much as they are.
00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:46.840
And it's amazing.
00:43:46.920 --> 00:43:51.720
And it's really um, it's a work in process, but uh I I guess that's my best stab.
00:43:52.280 --> 00:43:54.360
Yeah, I think one of the other byproducts.
00:43:54.519 --> 00:43:58.120
Well, yeah, for me, it's man, what's changed inside of my heart?
00:43:59.240 --> 00:44:07.240
I think the longer we go doing this, the more it's become clear to me that like I I can't do anything without Jesus.
00:44:07.559 --> 00:44:10.200
That's just yeah, it's been becoming more and more and more true.
00:44:11.160 --> 00:44:15.080
And the longer we go and we watch him show up and transform things.
00:44:15.400 --> 00:44:15.559
Yeah.
00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:22.120
I realized like, wow, the power of the Holy Spirit I have underestimated most of my life.
00:44:22.200 --> 00:44:22.440
Yeah.
00:44:22.600 --> 00:44:41.559
So that's that's transformed my heart quite a bit because watching what God's capable of doing and then allowing you and I to like partner with him and kind of just be like the messenger boys for what he's doing at Tithes Foundation and drawing more people into himself and watching those businesses also transform and take shape.
00:44:41.720 --> 00:44:44.440
Um I feel like I'm barely doing anything, to be honest.
00:44:44.600 --> 00:44:44.760
Yeah.
00:44:45.080 --> 00:44:53.800
Like it's like, wow, this isn't even when it's actually in his will and we're just saying yes, it's almost like it's not really hard work.
00:44:54.120 --> 00:44:55.480
He's lining all of it up.
00:44:55.559 --> 00:45:01.559
All I'm doing is I mean honestly, we book room space, uh, we put out event brights.
00:45:01.640 --> 00:45:01.960
Yeah.
00:45:02.200 --> 00:45:10.360
We go on field trips, yeah, because he, you know, he asks us to, um, and we give the money away, but like it's not like it's uh an effort.
00:45:10.440 --> 00:45:13.000
I'm not having to like grind in order to make that happen.
00:45:13.160 --> 00:45:17.320
It's because it's fun, it's fun and it's because he's the one that's in charge.
00:45:17.480 --> 00:45:17.720
Yes.
00:45:17.880 --> 00:45:29.800
So it what's changed inside my heart is just trying to recognize that in all aspects of my life because I've been on the other end of it where everything felt like a grind, like where you're trying to like you're just your army crawling for every inch of whatever it is that you're trying to do.
00:45:29.960 --> 00:45:33.640
Yeah, that's not how it's felt at all with Tithe Foundation.
00:45:33.720 --> 00:45:39.320
Yeah, so with Tithe Foundation, it's just been like a greased skid sliding right on down, making progress.
00:45:39.480 --> 00:45:42.200
And I feel like you and I are just along for the ride almost.
00:45:42.440 --> 00:45:45.320
Yeah, I I I agree with every word you just said.
00:45:45.400 --> 00:45:46.680
So thank thanks for saying it.
00:45:46.760 --> 00:45:49.000
You articulated it better than than I would have.
00:45:49.240 --> 00:46:06.039
I I would say that another offshoot and a really cool one uh offshoot of the tithe foundation has been with the business partners themselves, like one-on-one with these business partners, like increasingly so.
00:46:06.120 --> 00:46:07.559
And I love these conversations.
00:46:07.720 --> 00:46:12.920
People are like, how did you like even decide to do with that?
00:46:13.080 --> 00:46:15.640
Like like work with the tithe foundation.
00:46:15.720 --> 00:46:16.280
Tell me about that.
00:46:16.360 --> 00:46:23.640
Like, tell me about this process of figuring out your holy ambition, your Ephesians 2.10 purpose, because I want that in my life.
00:46:23.800 --> 00:46:34.840
And so um those conversations are awesome too, because I think like it doesn't matter if you're a fancy business person or a not-for-profit, you know, employee.
00:46:35.080 --> 00:46:39.800
Like, God wants us to be working for him and figuring that out.
00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:45.880
And so I think that marketplace people, if I'm being honest, have probably more arrogance than the average person.
00:46:45.960 --> 00:46:57.960
And so I think like letting your guard down and understanding like how did God design you and what do they have in store for me, those conversations are happening on an increasing basis, at least for me, and I know for you too, I think.
00:46:58.200 --> 00:47:01.080
And that's another really cool thing, too.
00:47:01.240 --> 00:47:08.680
Where I mean, I'm only 46, but like I again, I say this with humility, but like I've always given evangelism.
00:47:08.760 --> 00:47:09.800
Like, I'm like, that's really cool.
00:47:09.880 --> 00:47:20.680
I've got a my story's in the last one, but like it's almost becoming like a discipleship thing, too, that I'm really enjoying working with these business partners.
00:47:20.840 --> 00:47:25.000
They build into me, and I'd like to think that God willing, I build into them a little bit.
00:47:25.080 --> 00:47:27.320
That that's been a really neat thing, yeah.
00:47:27.559 --> 00:47:27.880
Too.
00:47:28.200 --> 00:47:35.320
No, I feel like the uh just the open door, the opportunities that is your the doors that God opens to be able to speak into each other's lives.
00:47:35.400 --> 00:47:37.240
Yeah, which is that's a good segue.
00:47:37.400 --> 00:47:39.160
Let's talk a little bit about you and me.
00:47:39.480 --> 00:47:40.519
So happily.
00:47:41.800 --> 00:47:56.120
One of the things that I could not have anticipated when we started this or when we met you know almost three years ago now, was how much I needed another brother in Christ to really tighten me up and be able to like have a real accountability partner.
00:47:56.440 --> 00:47:57.960
And I've shared uh Dr.
00:47:58.120 --> 00:48:00.120
Heller's accountability questions now with a lot of people.
00:48:00.440 --> 00:48:01.320
Um you and I do it.
00:48:01.720 --> 00:48:02.680
Great questions, by the way, Dr.
00:48:02.840 --> 00:48:03.080
Heller.
00:48:03.400 --> 00:48:05.640
And we do it on a on a weekly basis now.
00:48:06.039 --> 00:48:17.720
But how cool it's been, and I would encourage anybody that doesn't have this going on that listens to what you and I are about to talk about, maybe try to find somebody because um another brother in Christ who's really going for it.
00:48:17.800 --> 00:48:24.440
I think that's that's the key, is I trust you that you're trying to live out this walk that you're doing with Jesus, and I think you trust me back.
00:48:24.600 --> 00:48:24.840
Yes.
00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:26.360
So we're both actually going for it.
00:48:26.440 --> 00:48:26.680
Yes.
00:48:26.840 --> 00:48:27.640
That's gotta be key.
00:48:27.880 --> 00:48:32.120
Because you can't you can't have an accountability partner and it's all on one side.
00:48:32.360 --> 00:48:33.000
Totally agree.
00:48:33.160 --> 00:48:34.039
It's just not gonna work.
00:48:34.120 --> 00:48:34.600
Nope.
00:48:34.760 --> 00:48:38.600
Um, and then the other piece of it is like we love each other enough to be able to tell each other the truth.
00:48:38.680 --> 00:48:38.840
Yep.
00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:41.240
And I think that that's truth and love, yeah.
00:48:41.320 --> 00:48:41.960
That's biblical.
00:48:42.039 --> 00:48:42.440
Yeah.
00:48:42.519 --> 00:48:48.120
Um, versus like, you know, just laying the hammer down on you, you know, all the time, but there's no love behind it.
00:48:48.200 --> 00:48:56.600
Like, yeah, we want what's best for each other, and what's best for each other that you and I both agreed on is you and I both getting closer to Jesus every single day.
00:48:56.840 --> 00:48:57.160
Yes.
00:48:57.400 --> 00:48:59.400
Um, so we become accountability partners.
00:48:59.480 --> 00:48:59.720
Yeah.
00:48:59.960 --> 00:49:03.559
And we it's it's been just a couple months, but I don't even know how I would go backwards now.
00:49:03.960 --> 00:49:06.200
Um and I've seen the fruit of it in my life.
00:49:06.360 --> 00:49:17.400
I've seen myself improving in all these different areas, yeah, becoming more aware of what I'm doing on a daily basis and how that either draws me closer to God or it's drawing me farther away from God.
00:49:17.480 --> 00:49:17.720
Yep.
00:49:17.880 --> 00:49:21.400
And we're starting to error more on the getting closer to God activity.
00:49:21.640 --> 00:49:21.960
Yeah.
00:49:22.120 --> 00:49:25.000
Um, so A, first, thanks for being my accountability buddy.
00:49:25.240 --> 00:49:25.800
Right back at you.
00:49:26.039 --> 00:49:27.559
What have you gotten out of it?
00:49:28.120 --> 00:49:36.200
Well, I would agree with your initial sentiment that I wouldn't have expected it to go in this direction, but thank God it has.
00:49:36.360 --> 00:49:38.440
Like I love you completely.
00:49:38.840 --> 00:49:54.760
I I think that um it's so important to have someone in your life that you can be fully honest, fully vulnerable with that you know has your back.
00:49:55.000 --> 00:49:58.280
And especially men, I'm talking a little bit more to men right now.
00:49:58.360 --> 00:50:03.400
Like, I'm not sure that most men, even Christian men, have that where they can be truly vulnerable to somebody.
00:50:03.480 --> 00:50:08.440
I I I I've got a lot of guys in my life, but like with you, I there's a no judgment zone.
00:50:08.600 --> 00:50:13.000
Like you, you know what my values are and I know what yours are, and we're on the same team.
00:50:13.080 --> 00:50:14.360
Like we're on Team Jesus.
00:50:14.440 --> 00:50:16.840
And like I just think it's super important.
00:50:17.000 --> 00:50:19.000
I I am a verbal processor.
00:50:19.160 --> 00:50:32.680
And so just for example, just like the I have these kind of thoughts or things that I'm thinking about inside my head, and and I'll spiral too quickly in a pretty negative, sad, depressed direction.
00:50:32.760 --> 00:50:39.160
But just like merely speaking it out loud to you, like you always have a wise word to say to me.
00:50:39.320 --> 00:50:42.280
In addition, like when I hear it come out of my mouth, I'm like, that's dumb.
00:50:42.360 --> 00:50:43.400
That doesn't make sense.
00:50:43.559 --> 00:50:44.840
Like you're saying it out loud to me.
00:50:45.000 --> 00:50:46.920
I'm like, what am I talking about here?
00:50:47.240 --> 00:50:53.240
Um and you know, the other thing I'll say is like we we all have temptations in our lives.
00:50:53.400 --> 00:50:57.640
And like, you know, question 11 on Duke's list is did you lie to me?
00:50:57.880 --> 00:50:58.039
Right.
00:50:58.200 --> 00:50:59.160
I think it's question 11.
00:50:59.320 --> 00:51:02.680
So you go through the first 10, and then the last question is, did you just lie to me?
00:51:02.760 --> 00:51:05.480
So if you lied, you got to lie twice to get out of it.
00:51:06.120 --> 00:51:06.680
Yeah, exactly.
00:51:07.960 --> 00:51:18.120
And so um, you know, I I I I I I literally think of my upcoming meeting with you whenever I'm faced in with temptation in any way.
00:51:18.200 --> 00:51:22.519
And and like I and that is truly the one of it's called accountability.
00:51:22.680 --> 00:51:25.240
But like it feels like so much more than accountability.
00:51:25.480 --> 00:51:30.519
It's like a love relationship that I have with you, like in a uh Philadelphia kind of way, right?
00:51:30.840 --> 00:51:47.640
And so um again, similar to like what the Tide Foundation has done, like this, like yeah, it's still recent, but I pray it continues for truly the rest of our lives, or at least as long as God has us do earth, and then we'll be doing it in heaven too, uh, in some different format that I won't understand.
00:51:47.720 --> 00:51:57.960
But the fun thing about accountability is so the way I always taught it in leadership classes is the definition is the willingness to accept responsibility for your actions, public and private.
00:51:58.200 --> 00:52:02.840
So the key word is willingness, like the willingness to accept responsibility.
00:52:03.160 --> 00:52:10.920
And if if you're not in a relationship like that with your accountability partner, like I willingly accept responsibility that I'm trying to get better at these things.
00:52:11.080 --> 00:52:16.360
And I'm telling you right now, you have the permission to tighten the screws on me if I'm getting off track.
00:52:16.440 --> 00:52:16.760
Yeah.
00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:22.760
And then I'm also willing to accept the responsibility of tightening you up if I notice you going off track.
00:52:23.080 --> 00:52:23.240
Yeah.
00:52:23.480 --> 00:52:33.800
Um, versus it being something that's forced, where it's like, nope, this is a relationship where like I'm your boss or I'm some some sort of superior to you, and I'm making these actions happen.
00:52:33.960 --> 00:52:35.800
And if not, it's carrots and sticks.
00:52:35.880 --> 00:52:40.280
It's just motivation where it's like, hey, if you do it, there's a reward, if you don't do it, there's a punishment.
00:52:40.360 --> 00:52:40.519
Yeah.
00:52:40.760 --> 00:52:42.440
That's not what our accountability is like.
00:52:42.519 --> 00:52:42.680
Right.
00:52:42.840 --> 00:52:51.960
Our accountability is like we have a genuine hunger and thirst to improve ourselves in a specific direction, and we're giving each other permission to hold each other accountable for that.
00:52:52.120 --> 00:52:52.920
It's very, very different.
00:52:53.160 --> 00:52:53.800
Yeah.
00:52:54.120 --> 00:52:55.400
Um, well said.
00:52:55.640 --> 00:52:56.039
Yeah.
00:52:56.280 --> 00:52:58.120
So what else?
00:52:58.360 --> 00:53:02.440
I I don't have anything else on uh on that topic, but I'm just encouraging everybody.
00:53:02.760 --> 00:53:09.480
I I hear that if you if you don't have these questions, hit me up if you know me, or or um just send us a comment in the show notes.
00:53:09.880 --> 00:53:11.080
Put it on your the socials.
00:53:11.320 --> 00:53:12.280
I'll pop them over to you.
00:53:12.440 --> 00:53:12.840
Yeah, yeah.
00:53:12.920 --> 00:53:14.360
I've done that all all kinds of times.
00:53:14.600 --> 00:53:16.680
All right, so let's talk about the future of Tithe Foundation.
00:53:16.920 --> 00:53:17.240
Okay.
00:53:17.800 --> 00:53:22.200
Um You and I have talked about how yes, we're looking for more partners.
00:53:22.360 --> 00:53:24.440
There is there is no limit to our partners.
00:53:24.519 --> 00:53:31.480
I've often given this example to to small business owners when they sit across the table and they say, like, you know, I'm not a big business.
00:53:31.559 --> 00:53:32.920
Um, we're thin margins.
00:53:33.080 --> 00:53:36.519
I maybe got like five grand that I can donate on an annual basis to charities.
00:53:36.840 --> 00:53:38.600
Five grand doesn't solve any one problem.
00:53:38.760 --> 00:53:39.720
I've said, well, guess what?
00:53:39.880 --> 00:53:41.960
200 businesses for five grand is a million bucks.
00:53:42.039 --> 00:53:42.200
Yep.
00:53:42.360 --> 00:53:44.200
And you can solve a lot of problems with a million bucks.
00:53:44.280 --> 00:53:44.600
Yep.
00:53:44.760 --> 00:53:49.320
So that's kind of the track we're heading on, where we've got partners who make big contributions.
00:53:49.480 --> 00:53:55.160
We also have smaller partners that that make small contributions, but it all adds up and it's all fueling the need.
00:53:55.400 --> 00:54:01.400
So, A, in central Ohio, there is no limit to how many business partners that we're looking to bring on.
00:54:01.640 --> 00:54:09.000
If you sign that pledge and you dedicate your business to the Lord and at least 10% of your profits to the kingdom, um, you can come get in the boat and row with us.
00:54:09.240 --> 00:54:09.800
Yes.
00:54:10.280 --> 00:54:19.559
Beyond that, I don't know if you want to talk about like the vision for if we had new cities, leaders who wanted to maybe like, hey, I've got 15, 20 business guys who might want to spring this up.
00:54:19.720 --> 00:54:20.039
Yeah.
00:54:20.200 --> 00:54:21.960
Um, what resources could we provide?
00:54:22.120 --> 00:54:24.200
What kind of mentorship would you be willing to provide?
00:54:24.360 --> 00:54:25.400
Um, what does that look like?
00:54:25.800 --> 00:54:28.120
So I'll say I would say a couple things about this.
00:54:28.360 --> 00:54:38.519
So first off, uh with all humility, I think something about our format of this grant night, which by the way will continue to change, resonates.
00:54:38.600 --> 00:54:42.840
We walked, we walk through some of the potential reasons why.
00:54:43.400 --> 00:54:50.920
Um secondly, I am personally, I'm not talking about you, but personally, I'm not a starter of new things.
00:54:51.160 --> 00:55:01.160
And so, like if this format makes sense here in central Ohio, I don't see any reason why this couldn't make sense in Tacoma, Washington.
00:55:01.240 --> 00:55:01.400
Yeah.
00:55:02.760 --> 00:55:05.000
But we can't be in Tacoma, Washington.
00:55:05.240 --> 00:55:10.200
God has us here with our families, and we want to be here in central Ohio.
00:55:10.600 --> 00:55:22.680
And so, you know, if there are and and thirdly, I'll say that, you know, fast forward to November 2nd, is that the day before we met up Panera, November 2nd?
00:55:22.840 --> 00:55:22.920
Yeah.
00:55:23.000 --> 00:55:29.880
Yeah, the day before, you know, I was a believer that was hungry for the Lord.
00:55:29.960 --> 00:55:36.760
I made a surrender decision, but I hadn't really yet decided what I wanted to do with that.
00:55:37.000 --> 00:55:46.440
If you're somebody that has like in anywhere else that has maybe similar, I'm not the world's best financial analyst, that's for that's for sure.
00:55:46.680 --> 00:55:57.880
Like, but if you have similar skills, which aren't unique in any way, and you want to serve the Lord, maybe you can do something like this in another town or area.
00:55:57.960 --> 00:55:58.120
Yeah.
00:55:58.519 --> 00:56:12.519
And if you're somebody like Mark, who has a completely, thank, thanks be to God, different set of giftings than I do, and I think that's the part of the magic that makes it work, then you know, start this.
00:56:12.600 --> 00:56:19.080
Like, and we will, we're happy to, you know, spend time with you, share our learnings, get into more of this detail.
00:56:19.240 --> 00:56:20.440
We're happy to come out and see you.
00:56:20.519 --> 00:56:41.320
But we're what we can't do is what the specific needs are in your local communities, what all that we don't have the networks that you have of business partners, Mark and I, you know, both have I think pretty good networks here in Central Ohio that we can talk to about the things that we're doing with the Tithe Foundation, but we don't have that in, I'll just use Tacoma again, whatever.
00:56:41.400 --> 00:56:43.480
Yeah, and but other people do.
00:56:43.640 --> 00:56:53.720
And so male, female, doesn't matter, like anybody that has any of these types of things and this resonates, like I I I think it would be a cool thing to start.
00:56:53.800 --> 00:57:02.680
And there's no reason why the Tithe Foundation can't have chapters everywhere, and that has nothing to do with growing this for our own egos.
00:57:02.840 --> 00:57:10.840
Like, we're not making any money, like it's not about it's not about look at us, like it's it's truly, truly uh and we pray this all the time.
00:57:11.000 --> 00:57:14.200
It's about God and glorifying Him and wherever He is.
00:57:14.280 --> 00:57:24.760
And so this format seems to be working, and if it could work for others that are like-minded in other areas, like you've said that often is like we've we've got the playbook, we're willing to turn it over.
00:57:25.000 --> 00:57:34.039
A lot of the mechanisms and whatever it would be, whether it's from the branding website, um, setting up specific fund buckets for you know different cities for things to pool into.
00:57:34.120 --> 00:57:39.640
We have resources that we can provide and the structure and the bones are all there, but what you just hit on is right.
00:57:39.800 --> 00:57:43.880
We don't have the networks, so I don't know the business leaders that want to be involved in other cities.
00:57:44.039 --> 00:57:44.360
Yep.
00:57:44.519 --> 00:58:03.000
So whoever this person is would be now well networked, yep, and either want to do the diligence or have a partner who wants to start in a similar way that we do in our relationship, where um as grant requests come in for those markets, we can forward those to the diligence lead and they can start the vetting process and you can mentor them through what that looks like.
00:58:03.240 --> 00:58:13.720
And then on the other end of it, um whether it's business partners, space, hosting events, mceing it, like you just there's a different set of skills that comes with putting it all together and making the night go.
00:58:13.800 --> 00:58:14.120
Yeah.
00:58:14.280 --> 00:58:22.440
And um, so if you're somebody that's like, yeah, I think I have that and I've got these partners, or I really want to do something like this in my city, um, all you got to do is inquire.
00:58:22.519 --> 00:58:24.200
It's info at tithe.foundation.
00:58:24.360 --> 00:58:28.680
You can uh you know, write through the website, you can uh email one of us or connect with Matt and I on LinkedIn.
00:58:28.760 --> 00:58:35.000
I mean, it's it's easy to get in touch with us, but um that's that's one piece of vision that's to double click on that.
00:58:35.080 --> 00:58:37.880
Like you you said something, it doesn't need to be two people, by the way.
00:58:37.960 --> 00:58:44.120
Like there's no reason one person can't do this, start the you started this without me, right?
00:58:44.280 --> 00:58:50.680
And and so there's no reason why there needs to be two people, and there's no reason why it can't be more than two people either, by the way.
00:58:50.840 --> 00:58:52.519
Yeah, yeah, there's not really a limit.
00:58:52.600 --> 00:58:53.160
Yeah, yeah.
00:58:53.240 --> 00:58:56.600
The the main framework would be um the tithe pledge.
00:58:56.680 --> 00:58:57.640
Yeah, it's kind of a must.
00:58:57.800 --> 00:58:58.039
Yep.
00:58:58.120 --> 00:58:59.960
Um, everybody's got to be on the same page with that.
00:59:00.120 --> 00:59:00.360
Yep.
00:59:00.519 --> 00:59:11.880
Uh the the leader has to agree to like kind of like our biblical principles, understand our causes and our categories, um, so to operate under the tithe foundation brand, you have to like understand what it is and be like, yeah, that's what I want to do.
00:59:11.960 --> 00:59:12.280
Yep.
00:59:12.440 --> 00:59:15.800
Um, what we're not looking to do is try to start a bunch of different kinds of debt.
00:59:16.360 --> 00:59:17.000
Not looking to get paid.
00:59:17.160 --> 00:59:17.320
Correct.
00:59:17.559 --> 00:59:17.720
Sorry.
00:59:17.800 --> 00:59:17.960
Yep.
00:59:18.039 --> 00:59:18.760
Go ahead and catch up.
00:59:19.080 --> 00:59:19.559
Debt on the money.
00:59:19.640 --> 00:59:19.880
Yeah.
00:59:20.120 --> 00:59:25.480
So it's um if you if you like the framework and the format, we're willing to help you put it in place in your city.
00:59:25.720 --> 00:59:31.880
Um if you're like, hey, I like a one piece of it, but I want to do it all my own way, then it's like then you're just reinventing a new wheel.
00:59:31.960 --> 00:59:32.600
Just go do your thing.
00:59:32.680 --> 00:59:32.840
Yeah.
00:59:33.960 --> 00:59:34.200
Yeah.
00:59:34.440 --> 00:59:36.600
We are definitely looking to expand.
00:59:36.760 --> 00:59:46.760
In Columbus specifically, um, one of the things you and I have talked about is we've gotten away with so far using a pretty cool space at Polaris attached to one of the co-hatch buildings.
00:59:46.840 --> 00:59:47.000
Yeah.
00:59:47.240 --> 00:59:50.120
And it's we're kind of like bumping up against the capacity.
00:59:50.200 --> 00:59:53.880
Um we're gonna bump up against it again in October for our next grant night.
00:59:54.120 --> 00:59:58.680
One of the things we're looking for, if there's a listener, uh, is basically in kind partners.
00:59:58.920 --> 01:00:06.440
So, like if you are somebody that owns an event space that loves what we're doing, um, and you want to open it up three, four nights a year for us, um, these are all during the week.
01:00:06.519 --> 01:00:08.840
This wouldn't be taking the place of weddings or anything like that.
01:00:08.920 --> 01:00:09.160
Yep.
01:00:09.240 --> 01:00:18.120
Um, but for a weeknight event and say, hey, my contribution, I would love to open up my venue and be able to provide that space as we grow.
01:00:18.200 --> 01:00:19.720
Um, that would be fantastic.
01:00:19.880 --> 01:00:27.880
We are definitely looking for partners to come alongside of things that would cost money and be overhead so that we don't have that.
01:00:28.120 --> 01:00:31.559
Obviously, we've already talked about keeping 100% of the donations going to the charities.
01:00:31.640 --> 01:00:31.880
Yep.
01:00:32.039 --> 01:00:35.720
So some of these overhead type donations are pretty important down the road.
01:00:35.880 --> 01:00:36.280
Yeah.
01:00:36.920 --> 01:00:38.440
So couldn't agree with you more.
01:00:39.160 --> 01:00:40.200
Well, final thoughts.
01:00:40.440 --> 01:00:55.400
What uh if you had a listener right here that was a business leader who was like on the fence about either integrating their faith or using their company in a capacity like we're doing with our partners at Tithe Foundation, what would you say to that person?
01:00:56.200 --> 01:01:05.320
Look, I would say I hadn't thought about this, but like I it's something I've been thinking about generally, but not in advance of this question.
01:01:05.480 --> 01:01:15.480
I would say that a business leader that's a Christian that is understands the biblical principles of tithing, but maybe they're not actively necessarily doing it.
01:01:15.640 --> 01:01:18.200
I would just kind of ask them what they're waiting for.
01:01:18.360 --> 01:01:28.519
Like something that's motivating for me, and I think maybe I talked about in the last one, because I've talked about it so many times, I don't remember exactly where, but like it's it's to me, it's the the beamacy.
01:01:28.680 --> 01:01:36.360
We're all going to be meeting Jesus someday who's going to be making the decision about where what happens with us in eternity.
01:01:36.440 --> 01:01:39.480
And like the decision needs to be a real heart-based decision.
01:01:39.559 --> 01:01:57.880
And if you are not actively like, you know, executing on your relationship with the Lord through evidence of the fruit of the Spirit and works and things like that, like we don't get into a relationship with God through works, but we need to be able to demonstrate that here's the evidence that I love you, but it needs to be real heart-based evidence.
01:01:58.200 --> 01:02:01.880
Even if you don't truly like feel it in your heart, you gotta start.
01:02:02.039 --> 01:02:09.880
You gotta like just start trying to love others, start being generous and just seeing where and pray and talk to the Lord about it and just see where it goes.
01:02:10.039 --> 01:02:12.600
Like, get don't just act.
01:02:12.920 --> 01:02:19.000
You need to take action instead of just hoping that there's gonna be some miraculous event because it might not happen.
01:02:19.080 --> 01:02:21.960
The miraculous event might just be you just taking a step of faith.
01:02:22.120 --> 01:02:31.320
Yeah, taking a step of faith might be you know, simple as becoming a tithe business partner, but actually like doing trying to figure out what does God have for you and acting upon that.
01:02:31.559 --> 01:02:32.600
Yeah, I think it's interesting.
01:02:32.680 --> 01:02:36.600
Uh time's running out, all of our all of our clocks are running out.
01:02:36.680 --> 01:02:36.920
Yeah.
01:02:37.160 --> 01:02:40.200
And your question there is like, what are you waiting for?
01:02:40.360 --> 01:02:40.840
Yeah.
01:02:41.160 --> 01:02:43.240
Um, that's a good, good question.
01:02:43.559 --> 01:02:47.400
So I don't I I can't think of a reasonable answer.
01:02:47.640 --> 01:02:48.840
Like, what are you waiting for?
01:02:49.080 --> 01:02:58.840
If yes, while we're not saved by works, works are how God partners with us to go reach more people with his love and his light and his gospel.
01:02:59.000 --> 01:02:59.320
Yeah.
01:02:59.640 --> 01:03:18.039
So if you've been saved and you understand like in your heart, like wow, Jesus has transformed your life, oh that needs to overflow out of you because someone else is waiting for something that you have to offer, whether that's a specific word that you've got, a talent that you've got, um, a dollar that you've got to donate.
01:03:18.200 --> 01:03:22.680
There's something that you have to offer that Jesus wants to partner with you to go reach that next person.
01:03:22.920 --> 01:03:23.240
Amen.
01:03:23.720 --> 01:03:26.360
So I would just, what are you waiting for?
01:03:26.519 --> 01:03:29.320
There's you're not gonna get to the end of your life and ever regret it.
01:03:29.480 --> 01:03:34.600
You're not gonna look back and think, man, I really regret that I fully lived my faith.
01:03:34.680 --> 01:03:35.000
Yeah.
01:03:35.240 --> 01:03:43.000
And I put my money where my mouth was, and I let my time and my effort and my energy reflect the faith that I profess in Christ.
01:03:43.240 --> 01:03:46.519
You're not gonna be like, I really wish I would just would've like done my own thing more.
01:03:46.840 --> 01:03:47.559
You're not gonna do it.
01:03:47.960 --> 01:03:48.200
Nope.
01:03:48.440 --> 01:03:49.160
No way, no way.
01:03:49.800 --> 01:03:51.720
Yeah, time is of the essence, man.
01:03:52.039 --> 01:03:54.920
So I get that feeling more and more as uh as the days go on.
01:03:55.160 --> 01:03:57.080
Yeah, we're not guaranteed in our next breath, right?
01:03:57.160 --> 01:03:59.640
I mean, we need to live you've already faced that head on.
01:03:59.800 --> 01:04:03.160
So yeah, we need to live in the moment and for Jesus.
01:04:03.240 --> 01:04:03.800
So yeah.
01:04:04.120 --> 01:04:04.440
Cool.
01:04:04.600 --> 01:04:08.600
Well, thanks for uh thanks for coming on and this is talking all things tithe today.
01:04:10.440 --> 01:04:10.840
Heck yeah, man.
01:04:11.080 --> 01:04:11.720
I've had a great time.
01:04:11.960 --> 01:04:12.120
Yeah.
01:04:12.280 --> 01:04:13.320
Well, we're over and out.
01:04:13.400 --> 01:04:20.280
If you want uh access to other messages, videos, resources, you can get them at markgreaves.com to know more about tithe foundation specifically.
01:04:20.360 --> 01:04:27.880
It's www.tithe.foundation is the website, and you can get all the resources and information and uh contact us there.