As ministry leaders, the lines of generosity are blurred because giving is a part of our job descriptions. So what does it look like to be generous when you already give so much on a weekly basis?

On today’s episode of the Think Orange podcast, our podcast guests, Jeff Shinabarger and Gerald Fadayomi, challenge us to rethink what generosity means for us both professionally and personally and how you don’t have to wait for the perfect opportunity to start giving right now.

Welcome to Episode 33 of the Think Orange Podcast.

Topic Timeline:

Dave introduces today’s podcast guests, Jeff Shinabarger, executive director of Plywood People, and who has been featured on CNN, Huffington Post, and Relevant Magazine, and Gerald Fadayomi, high school pastor at Browns Bridge Church in Cumming, Georgia (1:15)

Jeff talks about how students, like their leaders, struggle with identity (4:51)

How comparison shapes our perspectives (5:22)

Jeff shares a story about when he and his now-wife registered for wedding gifts at Target (6:19)

Out of our excess, we can address issues of need and suffering (12:00)

Jeff talks about what an ‘Enough Experiment’ is and why it’s important (12:21)

Jeff shares a story about when he challenged his wife to see how long they could go without grocery shopping (13:12)

We have a responsibility to our community to give (17:44)

Why most of us never make a decision on what we’re going to give (18:22)

Generosity is not dependent on how much money you have (18:36)

Jeff talks about why waiting until you have more before you give is a wrong way of thinking (19:03)

Jeff talks about the qualities of generous people (19:25)

Jeff shares a story about his employee, Kay, and her generosity (20:52)

Dave introduces Gerald and his role at Browns Bridge Church (23:14)

Gerald and Dave talk about why it’s important for student ministers and volunteers to go the extra mile (24:04)

Whatever you do on Sundays is in your job description whether it is or not (25:19)

Gerald shares three people who have been generous to him (25:44)

How can student pastors show students extra attention? (28:52)

What impact going the extra mile has on students (31:13)

The more you invest in people, the more they show up for you (32:07)

Gerald talks about why planning generosity, rather than letting it happen spontaneously, is a good thing (32:35)

Gerald gives practical tools for ministry leaders to be generous to parents (33:48)

Gerald talks about what generosity looks like on a day-to-day basis (37:13)

Dave gives closing remarks (41:56)