Paul Bolte, Executive VP of Trustbridge Global, on Connecting the Worldwide Church Through Generosity (Ep. 98)

The Finish Line Podcast

Paul Bolte was brought up with a firm foundation in faith and generosity. A seventh-generation Christian born to a farming family in Australia, he learned the value of a good work ethic and the principles of giving as a small child. As an adult, Paul served in various leadership positions in Australia, New Zealand, and the US, and is a lifelong student of servant leadership.

Today, Paul is the Executive Vice President of TrustBridge Global. TrustBridge connects donor advised funds in countries all around the world to allow people to make tax deductible gifts to ministries in other countries, even if they don’t have a 501c3 designation. TrustBridge acts as a powerful conduit for money to flow from Christians in countries with high concentrations of wealth to organizations working in other countries, impacting the Kingdom by getting financial resources to the “boots on the ground.”

Major Topics Include:

• Paul’s family and faith background which laid the groundwork for what he does now
• The background of TrustBridge Global
• How they choose partners in various countries
• Paul’s view of how generosity is expressed uniquely in different cultures
• How TrustBridge has helped facilitate interconnectedness between Believers across the globe

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

“I didn’t realize that, ‘how can I help,’ was the very first question in a concept called ‘servant leadership.’ And I became a student of leadership; for my entire life, I’ve been a student of leadership.”

“We’re trying to mobilize the resources in the hands of Christians.”

“Culturally, we are all very different. But we all have this one core value of our faith and what we’re called to do. We’re called to be generous with everything that we have and everything we are.”

“There are many countries that have no tax benefits, yet they are still generous.”

“When you send money directly to a charity overseas, the bang for your buck is significantly higher because they can stretch it further and it can get to more people.”

“If you want the best return on your investment, you can do that by giving directly to a charity overseas.”

“We look for a way to say ‘yes.’”

“Generosity to me is not just about money, it’s about time.”

“When you’re working in a Kingdom business and you know that God is behind what you’re doing and you watch it grow and give all glory to Him, it’s such a joy to watch it all happen.”

“Whatever gifts or skills God has given you, take them and use them to serve others.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• TrustBridge Global Foundation
• National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)
• C12: Christian Business Leadership Coaching
• International Generosity Foundation
• Generosity Path
• Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman)
• Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving
• Global Trust Partners (see our interview with COO Trevor Lui)
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Romans 5:8 | God’s Love Demonstrated

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:8-9 | The Gift of God

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

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