The Finish Line Podcast Ray Chung, Leadership Consultant, on Giving What You Can’t Get Back (Ep. 167)
Ray Chung grew up in a faithful Christian home in Malaysia, watching both sides of his family run businesses that shaped the fabric of their communities. Even as a kid, he sensed that business carried real power, but it wasn’t until his own encounter with deeper faith that he began wrestling with how work, calling, and impact could fit together. College only fanned that flame, awakening a vision for business as a living witness to the Gospel.
Years later, Ray would spend significant time with HOPE International, where a healthy, Christ-centered culture left a lasting mark on him. For more than twenty years, he has been helping leaders and teams reorient their hearts toward the way of Jesus. Now a senior consultant with Rising Sun Consultants, Ray walks alongside organizations as they build cultures formed by servant leadership and spiritual maturity.
Then in 2021, Ray faced a radically personal invitation to generosity when he sensed God asking him to give one of his kidneys. His story is full of wisdom on surrender, Christlike culture, and what it means to faithfully steward the life God has given you.
Major Topics Include:
- The theology of work
- An example of a healthy organizational culture
- Why an organization’s culture is important
- Words of wisdom about the non-profit model
- Assessing an organization’s board, leadership, and financials
- The five elements of servant-leadership
- Prioritizing intimacy with God as a busy leader
- Practical tips for spiritual rest
- Being called to give his kidney
- Stewarding your story, experience, and relationships in a way the points others to Jesus
- “Work is a channel of grace to display the glory of God in meeting needs, ours and our neighbors, as we generate resources that can be shared in the redemptive work of the Gospel.”
- “Business can be a powerful force for God’s transformation”
- “God has been at work in these communities long before we show up.”
- “Organizational culture is really hard to fake long term.”
- “Culture requires intentionality and accountability.”
- “Do I believe that the more I work, the more I can advance the mission? Or do I really think that God is at work here?”
- “Sometimes we need to remember how to be a human being rather than a human doing. I try to give myself permission to be about more than work.”
- “I used to believe the lie that I am what I perform. But I’m learning to believe the truth that I am loved by the Creator and that alone is enough.”
- “Our life is not our own when we are surrendered to God.”
- Hope International (see our interview with founder, Jeff Rutt or CEO, Peter Greer)
- Jesse Casler (see our past interview here)
- Lead with Prayer by Ryan Skoog, Peter Greer, and Cameron Doolittle (see our interview with the authors here)
- Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
- Lectio 365 App
- Caleb Breakey, founder of Renown Publishing (see our past interview here)
- Kate Gardner, co-host of the Ascendants Podcast and co-founder of Magnify (see our past interview here)
- Alan Barnhart (see our past interview here)
- Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here)
- Dana and Bill Wichterman (see our past interview here)
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
Psalm 46:10 | Be Still
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Luke 3:11 | Share What You Have
And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
John 13:35 | Love One Another
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Ephesians 3:20 | More than We Can Think to Ask
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
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.