Jesse and Krista Casler on Catalytic Giving Out of Net Worth (Ep. 140)

Jesse and Krista Casler have a deep understanding of the currency exchange between earthly dollars and treasure in Heaven. Jesse is the Chief Operating Officer of Hope International, having served Hope over the last 20 years. Together, Jesse and Krista have allowed generosity to touch nearly every part of their lives. Their stories touch on many aspects of the generous life, from financial accountability to foster care and generosity of the home to donor advised funds and charitable bunching. But above all, their lives are marked by a deep joy in everything that they do.  

Major Topics Include:

• Their unique foundations for faith and generosity
• How they met and began their careers
• The mission, programs, and story of Hope International 
• Stories of God using Hope to change lives
• Misconceptions about addressing poverty
• Four domains of generosity impact—personal, spiritual, social, and material
• Approaching financial discussions together as a joyful challenge
• Tips for starting a financial accountability group
• Generosity through foster care
• Thoughts for people in ministry who want to be givers
• Participating in the “year of Jubilee” principles in a modern context
• When to give from the perspective of a nonprofit
• How to scheme with God

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

• Jesse: “Sometimes when we think about poverty, we think about material things like not having enough money. But for some people, poverty is also aloneness.”
• Jesse: “How can I save as much money as possible and put it to good use to create even more so that I can be generous with the world?”
• Krista: “Being raised in a pastor’s household, we were very conscious of how our money was spent, but at the same time, living in generous ways.”
• Krista: “If a group of individuals living in great poverty, all of whom are blind or visually impaired, can talk about their capacity for saving and giving, how can I not also have some capacity for saving and giving?”
• Jesse: “There’s a role for regular giving that keeps an organization moving, but it can be really impactful when a larger gift can be given to start something new or catalyze something in a much bigger direction.”
• Jesse: “No matter what your salary is, you can create distance between income and expense. And decisions you make about your expenses become your engine for saving, investing, and giving.”
• Jesse: “When we turn 50, what if we gave away 10% of our net worth, just our income in that year?”
• Krista: “There’s joy and fun when you’re being creative in giving. Even in a season when you don’t have much money, you can ask God to help you use what you’ve got.”
• Krista: “There’s joy in looking at a giving opportunity as a creative challenge to scheme with God.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Hope International (see our interview with founder, Jeff Rutt or CEO, Peter Greer)
• Alisa Hoober, on Creating a Strong Family Culture of Generosity and Mission (see our past interview here)
• National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)
• Two Men with Money by Tim Keller
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

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.