TRANSCRIPT

NATHAN JONES

Friends, we have transitioned to the second season of this podcast with episode 11 coming at you today. This episode takes us back to the US with the opportunity to spend time with none other than Dan Busby, former President of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, known as ECFA. As you may know, the ECFA played a significant role in the launch of Global Trust Partners, so we are grateful to God for how he has used Dan to help catalyze the incredible work being done all over the world with regard to financial accountability, standards, and transparency. 

My name is Nathan Jones and I will be serving as your host on this 11th episode of the Inspiring Stewards podcast.

Dan, thank you so much for your time today. I've been looking forward to this ever since we've been able to line this time up and just hearing how God is working in and through you. So let's just kick it off. Give us a little bit of your life story where you're from, family of origin, just a peek into your life growing up.

DAN BUSBY

Sure. Well, I was raised in a small town in eastern Kansas, population 30. And my parents were devout followers of Jesus Christ and hardworking people. My father was a preacher, church administrator, and evangelist across the United States, and my mother was an elementary school teacher, and so I simply walked across the street to school. She taught me my first two years of grade school, and I grew up in the church. 

I took an interest in writing at an early age and following my father's interest in baseball, I played baseball up to the college level and then umpired baseball for several decades, including at the college level. After I graduated high school at age 16, I commuted 30 miles to Emporia State Teachers College, now Emporia State University each day, and earned my bachelor's and MBA degrees, followed by passing the CPA exam. My wife Claudette and I were married in 1964, and we have two children and four grandchildren.

NATHAN

That's wonderful. The baseball story, I love that. It reminds me of our ten year old son now is really into baseball. So not knowing where that trajectory is going to take him, it's fun to hear that connection in your story. Well, share with us, Dan, how did you come to a personal faith in Christ?

DAN

Well, I guess I would say my parents prayed me into the kingdom. My father was administrator over 35 churches in our home state of Kansas, and there was an annual 10-day camp meeting held in a tabernacle in Hutchinson, Kansas that we always attended. At age 14, I walked the aisle and asked God to forgive my sins one Saturday night.

NATHAN

Wow. You know, it’s always interesting to me hearing the stories of how people come to know the Lord, even in a home where their father was a pastor or their mother is in ministry, and there's that default connection. But it's always encouraging to hear how that became personal for you. What was it for you that drove you down the aisle that day?

DAN

Well, I think my dad probably sent one of his pastor friends back to talk to me and encouraged me to come. It had been in one of those powerful sermons that night. Probably included something about hell, I suspect. But he sent one of his friends back to encourage me to come, and that sent me down the aisle.

NATHAN

That's wonderful. And just a reminder of the critical role of praying parents for their children is wonderful. Well, share with us how then did that decision begin to impact your life after that point? You're 14 at that point, right?

DAN

Well, he changed the rest of my life that night. It impacted me not only as a teenager, but has impacted every aspect of my life, my later career, my choice of a wife, and so much more. Just overall, it gave me a reason to live and the promise of eternal life, which is really important to me, especially at age 81.

NATHAN

Wow. Praise the Lord. Well, let's dive into your career – you mentioned that the impact that your faith had on your career. Share with us an overview of your career, the roles you've had, organizations you've been with, and, of course, ECFA, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, for those that are new to that term.

DAN

Sure. Well, after graduating college at age 20, I worked for a CPA firm for a couple years out of college, then taught at the college level. And it doesn't seem possible, but I was acting president of a small Christian college for a year at age 22, while the president left to get his PhD degree. After that, I transitioned to administrative position at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, one of the nation's largest medical centers, and finished my time there ten years later as controller. 

At that point, I started a CPA practice in Kansas City, focused on serving Christians and their organizations. It was one of the wildest things I ever did because I'd been out of the CPA field for ten years. But in eleven years, the firm grew to over 800 clients. We had 18 staff members, and then I sold my interest in the firm and we moved in the Indianapolis area, where I was the General Treasurer for the Wesleyan Church. And while at the church, I began doing volunteer work for ECFA and joined the staff in 1998 as Vice President, was named President in 2009, and served in that role until 2020.

And we saw ECFA grow at an unprecedented pace, nearly doubling in size during that time period. And from age 50 to 80, I authored and co-authored 14 different book titles with 70 editions. And four of those nonprofit governance books were co-authored with my good friend John Pearson.

NATHAN

Dan, as you reflect over your career, and a lot of it through that financial perspective, what would you say were some of the most important values driving you in those different roles?

DAN

Well, I had a desire to serve others. I think that's what I did during the CPA practice, at the church, and at ECFA. I wanted to serve them and help them whether it was in their business, but primarily Christian nonprofits and Christian individuals, help them simply do a better job of what they were about.

NATHAN

That's a tremendous posture. Well, this is the Inspiring Stewards podcast. How has the concept of stewardship informed your life, either personally or professionally or both?

DAN

Well, my parents set the example for me. They carefully stewarded the limited resources we had as I grew up. We did not have much, but we lived frugally. But my parents were generous people, generous to the church and generous to others. And that's really where I learned about the practice of generosity. I've tried to follow their example and generous giving without regard to whether I received a tax deduction for the gift or not. And I've tried to be generous in the sharing of my time and talents. That has been important to me.

NATHAN

That's wonderful. Well, ECFA was one of the inspirations for the launch of Global Trust Partners, which is the organization behind this podcast. How are you seeing God's kingdom advancing around the world through the work of GTP?

DAN

Well, Nathan, it seems to me like we're living in the end times. If this isn't getting close, I don't know what it would take. And God has seemingly unleashed His power throughout His people to share Christ as never before. And I see GTP as a key example of God at work around the world. The stories that Dr. Gary Hoag tells of what's happening in the countries that he visits is astounding. 

It was just twelve years ago that I met with the leader of one of the largest churches in South Korea, which piqued my interest in worldwide accountability. ECFA had only done work within the boundaries of the United States. And then shortly thereafter – Gary Hoag had been my friend for a number of years – ECFA asked Dr. Hoag to be our liaison for our international efforts. And that led to the convening of the first-ever International Accountability Summit in Dallas in 2015. And the impact of that summit then led us to convene a second International Accountability Summit in Melbourne, Australia in 2017. And then of course, GTP was launched in 2019. 

And as I look back over my career, I consider the small part that I played in planting the seeds for the current international accountability movement led by GTP as one of the most important contributions of my career.

NATHAN

Wow. Praise the Lord for that. It’s been thrilling to have a backseat and watching a lot of those moves over the years and to just see God’s fingerprints in your life and through your calling. So thank you for sharing, Dan. As we’re kinda wrapping here, any final thoughts you would leave with those listening in today?

DAN

Well, just one important thought, Nathan. My wife and I look for ways to multiply our giving to the kingdom. And it’s our view that God is using GTP and Dr. Gary Hoag and gifts to GTP seem to go further than most ministries. And that is why we regularly support GTP and I hope that those listening to this podcast will do the same.

NATHAN

That’s wonderful. Dan, thank you so much, and thank you for your time. It’s been a blessing to be with you.

DAN

Good to be with you, Nathan. God bless you.