Bruce Wydick, Author of the Shrewd Samaritan, on the Art of Spiritual Discernment and Meaningful Impact (Ep. 159)

Oct 6, 2025

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Bruce Wydick is an economist, professor, and author of Shrewd Samaritan: Faith, Economics, and the Road to Loving Our Global Neighbor. As his faith deepened throughout his college career, Bruce developed an unexpected passion for economic development and the role of the Church. The more he researched, the more he realized a great need for Christian NGOs to be able to measure the impact they’re having on the people they’ve been called to help.

Bruce helped start the Collaborative for Econometrics and Integrated Development Studies (CEIDS), which has grown into a network of more than 100 development economists, public health experts, and other related fields from all around the world. Together, they work to support the relief and development arms of Christ’s global Church by helping Christian NGOs develop tools and built-in programs so that they and their donors can know where, how, and why they’re truly being effective.

Bruce brings a rare blend of heartfelt, Spirit-led generosity and a data-driven focus on high impact giving to help followers of Jesus love our neighbors with wisdom by investing resources in ways that truly change lives for the Kingdom. Bruce shares stories from his research and his own journey of faith, emphasizing that generosity isn’t just about good intentions but about stewarding God’s gifts so that they bear lasting fruit.

Major Topics Include:

Blending faith and economic development
The Story of Mayan Partners in Guatemala
The biblical picture of human flourishing
The challenge of impact measurement for Christian NGOs
Making informed, Spirit-led giving decisions
Stages of a heart-progression on world problems: The Six i’s—ignorance, indifference, idealism, investigation, introspection, impact
Developing an identity with those you’re called to serve
Understanding poverty traps as a giver
Measuring impact through randomized control trials and quasi-experimental designs
How givers can use AI to research the most impactful interventions
Examples of the most effective and ineffective interventions

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

“The Kingdom works the opposite of the way that economics says the world should work.”
“We should not only be good Samaritans, but shrewd Samaritans, that we actively think about what we do, as well as we pray and feel led by the heart.”
“The poor are important enough to Christ that we owe them an informed decision on how we give and not just a feeling-based decision.”
“What is the role that God has placed me in?”
“It’s not about one person saving the world. It’s about one person listening to God and His calling on our lives to serve where He wants us to serve.”
“If we understand where there’s a need and then see where our gifting lines up with that need, God will bring about His biblically-based human flourishing in that intersection.”
“Providing cash is almost always better than providing stuff.”
“The earlier you intervene in a child’s life, the more impactful it is.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.