Faith & Finance

Billy Graham once said, “A checkbook is a theological document. It tells you who and what you worship.” It’s a striking statement—but an important one. Most of us make financial decisions every day without thinking much about them. We buy groceries, renew subscriptions, grab coffee, replace something that broke, or make an impulse purchase that feels harmless in the moment. These choices can seem ordinary and disconnected from our spiritual lives. But Scripture invites us to look deeper. Our spending habits often reveal more about our hearts than we realize. They can uncover what we value, what we pursue, and where we place our trust.

For many retirees, their home is their largest asset. Yet in countless financial plans, that asset is treated as if it barely exists. Retirement conversations often focus on Social Security, pensions, IRAs, and investment accounts while overlooking the value built up in a home over decades. On today’s episode of Faith and Finance, Harlan Accola of Movement Mortgage joins to discuss why home equity may deserve a more thoughtful place in retirement planning—and how a reverse mortgage, when used wisely, can become one tool among many.

Many investors think about what they own, but not always about how that ownership can be used for good. Yet investing is not only about returns—it can also be about responsibility. For those who want their financial decisions to reflect their values, one important tool is something called corporate engagement. Today, we were joined by Chris Meyer, Stewardship Investing, Research, and Advocacy Manager at Praxis Investment Management, who shared how this process works and why it matters for everyday investors.

“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.” — Deuteronomy 8:17–18 How much money is enough? It’s a question that quietly shapes many of our financial decisions, yet few people ever stop to answer it. On today’s episode of Faith and Finance, we were joined by Cody Hobelmann, a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP), Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA), and co-founder of Finish Line Pledge, to explore a practical and deeply biblical framework for answering that question.

What if the most important factor in choosing a financial advisor isn’t performance alone, but alignment? Many people assume the primary role of a financial advisor is to maximize returns. While wise investing certainly matters, new research suggests something deeper may be at work. When financial advice aligns with your values, it doesn’t just affect your portfolio—it can reshape how you think about money altogether. That was the focus of today’s conversation with Sharon Epps, president of Kingdom Advisors, who shared insights from a new study conducted in partnership with Pinkston Research.

What if investing wasn’t just about returns—but about redemption? For many people, investing can feel impersonal. It’s often framed as something tied to markets, retirement accounts, and long-term financial goals rather than spiritual growth. But Scripture invites us to see it differently. God calls His people to use what they have in ways that serve others, reflect His character, and advance His purposes in the world. When viewed through a biblical lens, investing can become an act of worship and a tool for human flourishing.

What if your everyday banking could help fuel ministry—without changing how you manage your money? That’s the question at the heart of a growing movement to rethink financial stewardship. For many of us, banking feels purely transactional. But what if it could become a tool for Kingdom impact? On today’s episode of Faith & Finance, Aaron Caid joined us to share how a unique approach to banking is helping support churches, families, and ministries around the world.

Many believers wrestle with a quiet but important question: If I truly follow Christ, shouldn’t life go better for me? It’s a tension that often surfaces when life doesn’t unfold as expected—when financial strain, illness, or hardship interrupts our plans. At the heart of that struggle is a deeper issue: how we understand God’s promises and what we believe the Christian life is meant to produce. In today’s conversation with John Cortines, Director of Partnership and Growth at the McClellan Foundation, we explored how the “prosperity gospel” shapes this conversation—and how Scripture offers a better, more faithful perspective.

Jonathan Edwards once said, “True legacy consists not of what we leave behind, but of what we instill in others.” That insight cuts against the grain of how many of us think about inheritance. We often focus on leaving behind money, assets, or property. But Scripture calls us to think bigger. What we pass on isn’t just wealth—it’s wisdom, character, and a legacy of faithfulness. So the real question isn’t simply, "What will I leave behind?" It’s, “Who am I preparing to receive it?”

“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and the power to enjoy them…this is the gift of God.” — Ecclesiastes 5:19 What if true joy doesn’t come from gaining more—but from gratefully receiving what God has already provided? That’s the invitation we find in Ecclesiastes, and it’s the focus of a powerful conversation with John Cortines, Director of Partnerships and Growth at the McClellan Foundation and author of FaithFi’s study on the book of Ecclesiastes called, Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money. His insight centers on what he calls the cycle of grateful living—a biblical framework that reshapes how we view money, work, and contentment.

Faith-based investing has been around for decades, yet many investors still wrestle with an important question: Does aligning your investments with your values mean sacrificing performance or diversification? As more people seek to steward their resources in ways that reflect their convictions, it’s worth taking a closer look at what faith-based investing really is—and what it isn’t. On today’s show, Brian Mumbert, President of Timothy Plan—a pioneer in faith-based mutual funds—joined us to help clear up some of the most common misconceptions and offered a clearer picture of how values-driven investing really works.

Reverse mortgages often trigger strong reactions—especially among believers who want to honor God with their finances. But are those reactions grounded in biblical wisdom…or outdated information? When it comes to debt and home equity, emotions can run high. Yet Scripture calls us to something deeper than instinct—it calls us to understanding. As Proverbs 19:20 reminds us, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” To help bring clarity to this often misunderstood topic, Harlan Accola—who leads the reverse mortgage team at Movement Mortgage—joins the show today to separate fact from fiction.