Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! Today, Dan speaks with Global Executive Director of Compass – Finances God's Way, Tina Darden, about her passion for the Compass program and how she strives to share it with others. After a corporate career that spanned 36 years with FedEx and The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in Baltimore, MD, Tina underwent a profound spiritual experience at a Compass conference that led her to joining the Compass team in 2022. Since then, she has been a strong advocate for the Compass program at home and abroad. Join Dan and Tina as they look back on her amazing career and life, and all the work that she gets to do with Compass.

Episode Highlights:

[0:26] Tina shares her path to Compass.

[4:59] The life-changing message that Tina received at a Compass conference.

[9:08] Tina looks back on her long and winding career.

[13:07] What Tina does as Global Executive Director of Compass.

[14:37] The opportunities that Compass has provided for Tina's church.

Episode Resources:

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer

Compass – Finances God's Way: compass1.org

Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! Today, Dan presents an enlightening discussion between Executive Director of Compass Gary Montgomery and Rev. Nathl Moore of First African Baptist Church about the positive impacts that the Compass – Finances God's Way program has had on Nathl's congregation. Together, they cover how Compass has enlivened First African Baptist financially and spiritually; and how Gary, his team, and the Compass program itself helped the church successfully navigate the hardships of Covid.

Episode Highlights:

[0:26] Why Nathl wanted to incorporate Financial Discipleship into his church.

[2:29] What Nathl and his fellow church leaders experienced during their first Compass study.

[5:29] How Nathl's church was impacted by Covid, and how Compass helped them get through it.

[7:28] How Gary's influence has impacted Nathl's church's outreach operations.

[9:05] The spiritual growth that Nathl's church has experienced after incorporating Compass.

Episode Resources:

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer

Compass – Finances God's Way: compass1.org

Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! Today, Dan presents the second of a two-part series containing a lecture by the President and CEO of Compass - Finances God's Way, Brandon Sieben. In this second part, Brandon covers the foundational goals of the Compass program, the impact that each and every individual can have in their community, the wide variety of new venues in which Compass can be found, and more.

Episode Highlights:

[0:26] Brandon recaps the goals of Compass.

[1:38] Compass's recent impact statistics.

[4:21] New venues that Compass is a part of.

[8:44] Five new initiatives that the Compass team is working on.

[11:73] Compass's expansion efforts across the globe.

Episode Resources:

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer

Compass – Finances God's Way: compass1.org

Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! Today, Dan presents the first of a two-part series containing a lecture by the President and CEO of Compass - Finances God's Way, Brandon Sieben. In this first part, Brandon discusses the three major updates that he and his team have made to the Compass program in order to make it more streamlined and effective. He also covers how you can get involved and help spread the Compass message of modeling finances God's way.

Episode Highlights:

[0:26] Why Kentucky is a catalyst for all the work that Compass is doing around the world.

[2:27] How Brandon found his way to working for Compass.

[3:43] The vision, mission, and values of Compass.

[5:59] The importance of favoring discipleship over stewardship.

[9:23] How the Five Pillars of Financial Discipleship clarifies the Compass message.

Episode Resources:

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer

Compass – Finances God's Way: compass1.org

Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! In a unique episode of The River Foundation Podcast, Executive Director of Compass – Finances God's Way, Gary Montgomery, joins the show to discuss all the new and exciting features that the Compass program has to offer, as well as how they will be implemented into the program at large. He details the Building Your Finances God's Way study, the intention behind the changes, and how the instructors can best help participants of the program.

Episode Highlights:

[0:26] Gary outlines the Building Your Finances God's Way study.

[4:04] Why the overall goal of the program is to make students into financial disciples.

[7:08] The unique aspects of the new study.

[8:43] Gary answers questions about the program and its updates.

[11:16] Gary discusses the time commitment required for students and instructors of the program.

[12:28] Changes that are being made for other studies, including Put Your House In Order and Money and Marriage.

Episode Resources:

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer

Compass – Finances God's Way: compass1.org

Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! Today, Pastor Moses Lee Radford joins the show to discuss his work as a pastor for the last thirty-four years, with the last twenty-five years serving First Baptist Church in Nicholasville, Ky. Pastor Radford has been very involved in Baptist Association works for the past thirty-five years, and served in many capacities, including formerly serving as moderator of the Kentucky Missionary Baptist Association and also authoring A Jump Start for Preachers & Teachers. For the last three years, Pastor Radford has assumed a large role in Compass by serving as a keynote speaker and the program's official Ambassador at a global conference. Join him and Dan for a discussion about family, community, and answering a calling to serve.

Episode Highlights:

[0:26] Pastor Radford's upbringing as one of 18 children, and his large family of pastors.

[3:26] The influence of his pastor father.

[4:24] The energy and intention that he brings to his church and community, especially the youth.

[7:54] How he found his way to Compass.

[11:15] How he uses the blessings that he receives to help the people around him.

[12:07] Why and how he spreads the message of Compass.

Episode Resources:

Rev Radford's devotional: Jump Start Your Day with the Lord #3

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer

Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! Today, Brian Holtz joins the show to discuss how his work as COO of Compass Finances God's Way Global has been shaped by the winding paths of his faith and professional career. After growing up in a religious family, then rejecting his faith, and finally coming back to his belief in God after a series of trials and tribulations, Brian brings his deep experiences with religion, science, and finances to his work at Compass every day. In this second of a two-part conversation, Brian details the new Compass programs and features that he and his team are rolling out.

Episode Highlights:

[0:26] What Brian's job with Compass entails.

[2:01] An overview of updates to Compass's programs

[5:07] Details on Brian's upcoming book about family and finances

[10:02] Brian's words of encouragement to his First Southern and Compass peers.

[12:39] Brian's parting thought on connecting with people who have different beliefs.

Episode Resources:

Evolutionist to Evangelist [video]

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer

Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! Today, Brian Holtz joins the show to discuss how his work as COO of Compass Finances God's Way Global has been shaped by the winding paths of his faith and professional career. After growing up in a religious family, then rejecting his faith, and finally coming back to his belief in God after a series of trials and tribulations, Brian brings his deep experiences with religion, science, and finances to his work at Compass every day. In this first of a two-part conversation, Brian reflects on his journey to Compass, and how his expectations of the program were subverted on the very first day.

Episode Highlights:

[0:26] Brian's crisis of faith during his young life.

[3:59] How his family's harrowing experience during the 2009 recession shaped Brian's outlook on finances.

[6:22] How Brian was guided to working at Compass.

[10:50] Brian's views on the relationships between God and money.

[12:47] Brian's scientific studies on God.

Episode Resources:

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer

Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! Today, Director of Training within the Department of People and Culture at First Southern discusses her people-focused approach to training. After Kara was distressed to find that the company that she previously worked for started focusing on profits before people, she decided to look for more fulfilling work. Her prayers were answered shortly after that when she was offered a job at First Southern, where her role is all about helping the people she works with. Join Kara and Dan as they highlight what she does to train, inspire, and provide service to her fellow First Southern family members.

Episode Highlights

[0:26] Kara's upbringing in Kentucky, and how she met her husband

[2:20] How Kara found her way to the First Southern family

[8:30] What Kara gets to do in her training role

[11:45] What it's like for Kara to be a Healthy Marriage Champion as a part of Grace Marriage

[15:05] Kara's words of encouragement and gratitude to her peers

Episode Resources

Check out Grace Marriage: https://www.gracemarriage.com/

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer

Hello and welcome to The River Foundation Podcast! Today, Vice President of Hospitality at the Inn at Wilderness Road and Administrator of Ethiopian Impact Julie Cox joins Dan to discuss her work and calling to help people the best way she knows how: by helping them feel cared for. As a working mother with a passion for hospitality, Julie jumped at the opportunity to join her friends on a mission trip to Ethiopia in 2020. What she saw and experienced not only opened her eyes and enriched her heart, it inspired her to take on a larger role in Ethiopian Impact and return the next year. Join us as Julie shares her experiences and how they have brought deeper purpose to her work serving folks visiting Stanford.

Episode Highlights:

[0:26] How Julie found her way to Ethiopian Impact and River Foundation

[3:38] Julie's experience with Ethiopian Impact

[5:35] Finding inspiration working with the project leaders in Ethiopia

[8:19] How River Foundation welcomes team members who are visiting the Inn at Wilderness Road in Stanford

[10:20] Opportunities to help fund local ministries to care for themselves

[11:38] Julie's word of encouragement to her peers

[12:51] Honoring the Inn at Wilderness Road hospitality staff

Episode Resources:

Learn more about Ethiopian Impact

Book your stay at The Inn at Wilderness Road

Book of the Quarter: The Noticer