The Finish Line Podcast Chris Gardner, Financial Advisor, on Mobilizing $1 Billion for the Kingdom (Ep. 150)
Chris Gardner’s journey began in Mexico and Peru, where he was raised on the mission field as the son of a missionary. Those early years shaped his faith and calling—he began preaching at a young age and, by 18, was already pastoring and planting churches. His experiences in ministry gave him a deep understanding of stewardship, generosity, and the role money plays in Kingdom work.
Years later, Chris transitioned from leading a large ministry in Peru to a career in wealth management in the U.S., carrying with him a bold goal: to help deploy a billion dollars for Kingdom purposes in his lifetime. Today, he works with clients to view their wealth not as something to own, but something to steward.
Major Topics Include:
- Chris’s spiritual background and history on the mission field
- His broadened perspective on the world from life on the mission field
- How he became a pastor at 18
- Viewing generosity from both sides
- How fundraising with his family on the mission field still impacts his life today
- His story of transitioning back to the US and getting into financial advising
- The importance of a finish line for financial advisors
- Encouraging clients to set a finish line
- A steward, not an owner
- A walk through his yearly finish line thought process
- Generosity lessons from a Peruvian Christmas
- The story of his book and what is covers
- Security comes from God, not money
- Influencing the Church to generous giving
- A call to surrender your assets to God daily
- “Generosity is not measured by how much we give away, but how tightly we hold on to what we keep.”
- “The idea of enough is a fallacy, and it will never be reached.”
- “My goal in life is to deploy one billion dollars for Kingdom impact.”
- “You don’t need to wait to be wealthy to live generously. You need to decide that generosity is your wealth.”
- “We’re always going to need more unless we have a finish line.”
- “Generosity is not found in an amount, it’s found in a mindset.”
- “Invest what you can for the impact of someone else.”
- “Impact is the true dividend of wealth. And generosity is how you compound it.”
- “Don’t wait to give your money away from a pine box.”
- “How much am I willing to charge the Owner to steward His wealth?”
- “God doesn’t need your money, He desires your heart. And generosity is the clearest map to where your heart really is.”
- “Surrender is not a one-time decision, it’s a daily choice.”
- Arkos Global Advisors (see our interview with founder, Jeff Thomas)
- Life Ranch
- Check What You Are Chasing by Chris Gardner
- ROI Ministry (see our interview with founder, Tim Barker)
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
2 Timothy 2:2 | Teaching Teachers
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
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