The Generosity NOW Podcast

From Tradition to Transformation: Greg Ast’s Journey of Faith, Family, and Generosity

In this episode of the Generosity Now podcast, we sit down with Greg Ast, who shares his inspiring journey of moving from religious tradition to a deep, personal relationship with Christ. Raised in a strong Catholic household, Greg always knew God, but it wasn’t until later in life that he truly understood what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus.
Join us as Greg talks about his family’s faith journey, the role of generosity in their lives, and how they’re embracing whole-life stewardship. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to deepen their faith and live a life of purpose.
About Greg
 
reg Ast is an Executive Vice President at Encore Electric. Before taking on his current role as Executive Vice President, Ast served as the Chief Financial Officer, where he managed the company’s financial, accounting, and risk management functions.
Prior to joining Encore Electric, Ast spent more than 20 years as a consultant to business owners, boards of directors, and executive leadership teams, addressing their most difficult business challenges and guiding strategic decision-making, operational and financial planning and leadership team development. During this period, Ast was a trusted advisor to hundreds of both public and private sector organizations in manufacturing, distribution, banking, services, healthcare and telecommunications. He has also consulted with family ownership groups, national and state boards, public-private partnership groups, and non-profit organizations. Ast also spent four years in finance at General Electric Capital Corporation and Accenture.
Ast received his BS in Finance from Georgetown University and his MBA from Wichita State University. He also earned his CCIFP (Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional) certificate and has completed several leadership development programs.
He and his wife enjoy hiking, camping, skiing and travelling.
 
Key Takeaways: Transitioning from religious tradition to a personal relationship with Christ The importance of generosity and whole-life stewardship How faith shapes family and purpose in life

The Power of Stewardship and Generosity: With Tim McTavish

Tim McTavish shares his background growing up in a Christian home and his journey of falling in love with Jesus. He discusses his experience as a business owner and how integrating biblical principles transformed his company's culture and success. Tim emphasizes the importance of stewardship and generosity in all aspects of life, including finances and investing. He also highlights the hope he sees in the next generation of Christian leaders and the impact they can make in the world. Tim recommends the book 'No Longer I' by Jacob Hotchkiss as a resource for understanding the power of the gospel.
About Tim
 
Tim A. McTavish joined the CCU Board of Trustees in 2009 during the tenure of then-President Bill Armstrong and at the outset of the initial phases of the Lakewood campus redevelopment effort. He was elected chair of the Board of Trustees in June 2020 and stepped into the role of interim president in August 2022 when former President Donald W. Sweeting transitioned to the role of chancellor.
McTavish founded InsureMe in 1993, an entrepreneurial venture that connected insurance agents with high-intent prospects shopping for insurance. McTavish credits the success of that platform to dedicating the business to Christ while implementing basic biblical principles in the workplace. During his time leading the company, InsureMe was ranked in the "Top 25 Great Places to Work in America" and was also named the most philanthropic small business in Colorado.
Since selling InsureMe in 2008, McTavish has been an active investor and advisor to several businesses in Colorado and abroad. He has also taught entrepreneurship and finance courses in the School of Business and Leadership in CCU's College of Undergraduate Studies, where he was named affiliate faculty member of the year in 2018, 2021, and 2024.
A "faithful steward wanna-be," McTavish's mission is to model a life of generosity and good and faithful stewardship of the relationships and resources God has entrusted to him in a way that inspires people to live well within their means, give generously to life-changing causes, and to fall in love with Jesus and experience abundant life in Him. He is passionate about Christian higher education because it solidifies students in their faith and prepares them for effective ministry in their careers and personal lives. He experienced this when he earned his MBA in CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies in 2013, grateful for CCU's integration of faith throughout the curriculum.
He and his wife, Pam, have three grown children who have graduated from CCU: David '18, Katie '20, and Laura '23. All three flourished in their faith and love for Jesus at CCU because of the competent, Spirit-filled faculty and staff who intentionally strive to transform students to impact the world with grace and truth. Tim and Pam consider it an honor and a privilege to serve and support CCU.
Resources Mentioned
No Longer I' by Jacob Hotchkiss 
 

Collaborating to Fight Human Trafficking; Wes Lyons and Vip Vipperman

Vip Vipperman and Wes Lyons discuss their personal faith journeys and their work in the fight against human trafficking. They share their experiences with the Lion's Den, a faith-driven angel network that invests in companies making a positive impact. They highlight the importance of collaboration between for-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations in addressing human trafficking. They also discuss the need for transparency in supply chains and the importance of providing job opportunities for survivors of trafficking.
 
Overall, their work aims to bring light into darkness and create a better future for those affected by trafficking.
 
Wes Lyons
Wes serves the entrepreneurs who are restoring the world. He is a General Partner at Eagle Venture Fund, where he leads Eagle's investment themes of combating human trafficking and economic opportunities for the poor. Wes has previously been a general partner in two private equity funds focused on real estate and venture capital.  Wes has been the primary operations and compliance partner for every fund he been partner in. He's been the lead partner for more than a dozen investments before Eagle and more than a dozen at Eagle.Wes has four sons and loves running with them. Wes's passion to combat trafficking was born as a naval aviator fighting ISIS in the Philippines. Wes witnessed children used in combat and experienced compassion for the Filipino youth who were becoming ISIS fighters. Wes went on to lead the US detachment to the Philippines, assisting the Filipino military in re-taking a city from ISIS
Vip Vipperman
Vip Vipperman is Vice President at Eagle Venture Funds, a family of funds dedicated to helping audacious entrepreneurs battle for causes & places that are desperate for change (with a current focus on tech to combat human trafficking and slavery) . He is cofounder of The Lion’s Den DFW pitch competition & was one of the early team members at Faith Driven Entrepreneur &  Investor co-creating projects like Marketplace, Demo Days, and Unmuted. He previously worked for one of the nation’s largest faith based multifamily developers and spent his early career doing missions works alongside underground church planters in China. He has been married for 20 years to Carrie and they have 3 kids and a yellow lab.  His spends a lot of time at volleyball games, on Boy Scouts camping trips or at gymnastics meets.
Takeaways
Collaboration between for-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations is crucial in addressing human trafficking.
Transparency in supply chains is essential to ensure ethical sourcing and reduce labor trafficking.
Investing in job training and placement for survivors of trafficking can help prevent recidivism.
The Lion's Den provides a platform for entrepreneurs and investors to make a positive impact.
Impact investing allows individuals to grow their capital on mission and make a difference in social issues.
Sound Bites
"We actually see viable paths to shutting down tens of thousands of brothels in the next few years."
"There's so many businesses that are effectively getting used to traffic people that would like... Most people that work in those businesses would like to stop it."
"We're stepping in as learners. We constantly are reminded that we're trying to learn how to be most helpful and most effective."
https://www.thelionsdendfw.org/
https://www.eagleventurefund.com/

Finding Joy and Unity in Partnership; With Josh & Kaitlin Saenz and Nick and Rachel Wolverton

The conversation revolves around the topic of giving together as couples and families. The guests, Josh and Caitlin Saenz, and Rachel and Nick Wolverton, share their experiences and motivations for partnering in a project to support Bible translation for the Niha people in Tanzania.
 
They discuss the importance of having scripture in the heart language of communities and the impact it can have on their lives. The guests also highlight the joy and unity they have found in partnering together and involving their families in the project. The conversation explores the benefits and challenges of partnering together in giving and generosity. The participants discuss the importance of openness and vulnerability in discussing taboo topics like money. They highlight the joy and connection that comes from giving together and the accountability it provides.
 
They also discuss the impact on their children and the normalization of generosity. The conversation concludes with advice for those interested in partnering together in giving and the potential for future projects.
 
Takeaways
Giving together as couples and families can bring joy, unity, and a sense of purpose.
Having scripture in the heart language of communities is essential for transformation and understanding.
Partnering with others in a project can provide support, accountability, and shared experiences.
Involving children in giving and mission work can help instill values of generosity and compassion. Openness and vulnerability are key in discussing taboo topics like money
Giving together multiplies joy, connection, and impact
Partnering together allows for larger projects and a broader range of giving
Accountability and encouragement are important aspects of giving together
Engaging children in giving together can normalize generosity and create a multi-generational vision
Finding a partner with shared values and open communication is crucial
Consider attending a Journey of Generosity retreat to learn more about giving and stewardship
Sound Bites
"To have other people who are inviting you into being all in, like is so exciting."
"Scripture is step one in so many other great commission works."
"Getting to partner with each other and try to bring that into reality in our everyday lives."
"We're hungry for openness. We're hungry for like the light of Christian community to shine into those places."
"Money has to be without question, one of the biggest of those [taboo topics]."
"An unexpected benefit is the accountability around even staying connected at a heart level to our project."
 

Finding Purpose in Work and Faith: With Barry and Linda Rowan

Barry and Linda Rowan share their personal journeys of faith, exploring the intersection of work and spirituality. They discuss the importance of finding meaning in work, the power of surrender, and the role of generosity and stewardship in their lives. Barry introduces his book, 'The Spiritual Art of Business,' which aims to help individuals discover a life-giving perspective on work through guided meditations and reflections. The couple emphasizes the significance of living fully for God and the transformative power of surrendering one's life to Him
About our Guests
Barry Rowan
Barry Rowan is a Harvard Business School graduate who spent his entire career serving in C-Suite roles. He has been instrumental in building and transforming eight businesses, primarily in the technology and communication space, with one selling for $10 billion. His leadership experience spans both private and public companies, including Gogo (the inflight connectivity company), Vonage, Nextel Partners, and Fluke Corporation.
Based on his belief in giving back, Barry serves on both for-profit and non-profit boards, mentors young leaders, and leads international study trips. His non-profit boards have included InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Seattle Pacific University, Gordon College, the Gonzaga University Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, and advisory boards for Harvard Business School. He also served as president of Bellevue Christian School.
Deeply immersed in Scripture and the classic spiritual writers, Barry is deeply committed to contemplation and prayer which led him to complete a month-long silent retreat immediately following his retirement from a full-time executive career. His friends have dubbed him a “corporate mystic.”
Barry is married to Linda, his wife of over forty-two years, and they have two adult sons. Together they are now engaged in multiple lines of service including walking with the poor and investing in the next generation of leaders. Their commitment to the poor has taken them to Central America over twenty times. They are members of the National Leadership Council of World Vision and support local organizations breaking the poverty cycle through sustainable programs.
Linda Rowan
Linda earned her CPA and worked first in public accounting and then in corporate accounting, spending ten years in financial management roles with Hewlett-Packard before retiring to become a “tennis shoe mom”.  As a “community entrepreneur”, she has started and led prayer groups, co-chaired capital campaigns, started the Parent Advisory Council at Seattle Pacific University, and invests her time in event planning for many non-profit organizations.  Linda has served on nonprofit Boards for the past 40 years and is currently investing her time on the Legatus Denver Board, is a member of the Christianity Today President’s Council, World Vision National Leadership Council and Strong Women Strong World Advisory Council.  
Linda and Barry combined their heart for the poor and investing in the next generation of Christ-following leaders as they led six trips to Central America with their family and Harvard graduate students.  Based on their desire to continue investing in the intergenerational friendships formed on these trips, they designed a three-year experience called “An adventure with God” based on living a surrendered life:  As God transforms us, he transforms the world through us.  Linda is passionate about breaking the poverty cycle through sustainable programs with a current focus on bringing clean water and education to the “least of these” in remote areas of Central America.
In her spare time Linda enjoys skiing, golfing, biking, and traveling (she has visited all 50 states with their sons and visited 26 countries).  Barry and Linda welcomed two beautiful daughters-in-law into the family and have three wonderful grandchildren.
Resources mentioned
The Spiritual Art of Business: https://www.ivpress.com/the-spiritual-art-of-business
Chapters
00:00Finding Meaning in Work
05:24Personal Journeys of Faith
10:55Navigating Work and Faith
17:57The Power of Surrender
22:31Generosity and Stewardship
32:46The Encore Calling and New Beginnings
34:33The Spiritual Art of Business

Values and Investments. Aligning them for greater Kingdom impact: With Jeff Shafer

On this episode, Eric and Laurie interview Jeff Shafer, CEO and co-founder of Common Good Capital. They discuss impact investing and how aligning investments with values can make a positive impact on people's lives. Jeff shares his personal journey and how a back surgery and subsequent crisis led him to shift his focus to impact investing. He explains the work of Common Good Capital in sourcing, due diligence, and educating wealth advisors to help investors align their investments with their values. Jeff also provides examples of impact investments in affordable housing, environmental stewardship, lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, and supporting formerly incarcerated individuals.
About Jeff
After graduating from Wheaton College (IL) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Jeff married Shelly, his wife of over 20 years. Jeff has always been passionate about the financial industry and has worked with Morgan Stanley and TriLinc (a leading impact investing fund sponsor), while spending the majority of his time, 18 ½ years, with CNL, a leading alternative investment asset manager. Jeff served in multiple senior leadership roles, and as President, led his team in raising nearly $9 billion in capital. During his time at CNL, Jeff earned a Master of Business Administration from Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College (FL) and also holds the Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Consultant designations, as well as FINRA Series 7, 24, 63 and 79 licenses. Today, Jeff is co-founder and CEO of CommonGood Capital where he sets the strategic direction and leads the team day to day on this exciting journey.
Jeff has served on numerous boards including the United Way and Board of Advisors for Crummer Graduate School of Business, Rollins College. Today he serves on the Doug Holliday Ministries Board, NCF Advisory Board, Chair of Elevation Scholar Foundation, Alumni Board of Wheaton College and The Geneva School Board of Directors.
Jeff and Shelly settled in Winter Park, FL in 2004 where they love doing life together, whether around the dinner table, or keeping up with their two children, Ellie and Nick, who are both college-bound shortly. You will often find Jeff reading non-fiction books, cycling, cheering on his beloved Oregon Ducks or tinkering around on their acreage out in the country with the family dog, Calvin, a black and tan coon hound. He also is deeply passionate about men and women who are incarcerated, and one day wants to create an impact fund that benefits both these ex-offenders and investors.
Takeaways
Impact investing involves aligning investments with values to make a positive impact on people's lives.
Investing with a focus on impact can bring joy and freedom, in addition to financial returns.
Common Good Capital sources, conducts due diligence, and educates wealth advisors to help investors align their investments with their values.
Examples of impact investments include affordable housing, environmental stewardship, lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, and supporting formerly incarcerated individuals. Impact investing focuses on both financial returns and positive social and environmental impact.
Due diligence is crucial when evaluating impact investments, including assessing the manager or sponsor, understanding the investment thesis, and considering the impact and faith integration.
Individuals can use their charitable capital for impact investing, and financial advisors can help facilitate these investments.
Generosity should be thought of more broadly, and investing in causes can have a lasting impact.
Investing requires faith and a willingness to take risks, trusting that the outcomes are in God's hands.
Connect with Jeff
Website: https://commongoodcap.com/
A New Lens Podcast: https://commongoodcap.com/podcast/

Living a High Impact Life: With Pete Ochs

In this final episode of our summer series, we wanted to feature a phenomenal conversation Eric and Laurie had with Entrepreneur, Speaker, and author Pete Ochs. They discuss four simple but powerful principles that bear on creating Economic, Social and Spiritual Capital. When brought together they result in a High Impact LIFE
 
About Pete
Pete Ochs is founder and chairman of Capital III, an impact investment company with investments in the US and Central America.  Enterprise Stewardship is an initiative of Capital III that equips marketplace leaders with resources to transform their personal LIFE and business enterprises. During his four decades in business he has invested and operated companies in the energy, manufacturing, banking, and education sectors, often times focusing on places devoid of human flourishing such as prisons and poverty-stricken countries. Pete’s passion in life is to educate, equip, and empower business leaders around the world to live for something greater than themselves by using their business platform to impact the world for Christ.  
 
Pete lives by four simple principles: Honor God; Serve People; Pursue Excellence; and Steward Capital. These four simple but powerful principles when brought to bear on creating Economic, Social and Spiritual Capital result in a High Impact LIFE.   
Before launching his impact investment company Capital III, Pete spent 8 years in the commercial banking industry. Pete and his wife Debbie have been instrumental in founding and growing several nonprofit enterprises. They live in Valley Center, Kansas.  They have 2 children and 8 grandchildren.
Pete’s first book, “A High Impact LIFE,” and other leadership resources are available at www.EnterpriseStewardship.com.
 
Connect with Pete
https://www.peteochs.com/;
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-ochs/

Redemptive Investing; Swimming against the current with Greg Lernihan

Continuing in our summer series, We highlight a a phenomenal conversation with entrepreneur and faith based investor, Greg Lernihan about redemptive investing. 
 
About Greg
Greg is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others and has refocused his life with this purpose. As a faith based investor, Greg dedicates his time and talents to mentoring and investing in for-profit businesses that address the worlds greatest social challenges. Greg is dedicated to helping others who are passionately changing the world. He seeks to partner with Christ centered leaders that produce spiritual, social and financial returns by serving the less fortunate in Chicago and internationally.
For more information about Greg and the resources mentioned in this episode head over to Generositynow.org