This is HIS Story

Where does the mission money go?

When you write a check for “clean water” or “orphans in Africa,” what actually happens on the other side of the wire? In this episode, Todd Turner sits down with longtime Africa practitioner Jason Miller to talk honestly about the dark side of global generosity: dependency, staged photo ops, buzzword-driven proposals, broken “sustainability” projects, and a charity mindset that quietly damages the very communities we say we care about. Jason has been working in East Africa since the mid-90s, from backpacking and hauling fax machines into Tanzania to walking slums, village wells, schools, farms, and “sustainable” projects across the continent. Together, Todd and Jason unpack how Western money interacts with local culture, government corruption, and survival ethics on the ground. They tell real stories of empty chicken houses, stolen wells, abandoned greenhouses, and ministries that exploded with donor money and then collapsed under the weight of it. Most importantly, they explain why U.S. oversight tools like Guidestar, ECFA, and clean audits are necessary but not enough. Once money leaves the country, the paper trail gets fuzzy and the real story is told in dusty fields, rural schools, and village churches, not on a glossy PDF. In this conversation, you’ll hear: * Why “don’t feed the bears” is a painfully accurate picture of some mission models * How well-intentioned donors can destroy local businesses and jobs without realizing it * Why buzzwords like “sustainability,” “water is life,” and “women’s empowerment” raise money but often hide shallow work * How cultural views of truth, honor, and family boards can completely change what “accountability” looks like * Why schools, wells, fish farms, and orphanages often fail once the team flies home * The limits of 501(c)(3) audits, Guidestar stars, and ECFA seals when funds are wired overseas * What real donor due diligence looks like when you actually “watch the money in action” * How Open Trust Global helps close the gap between donor stories and donor reality If you’re a pastor, foundation leader, missions pastor, family office, or everyday giver who supports overseas work, this episode will help you ask better questions, fund better projects, and avoid doing unintentional harm with generous gifts. Open Trust Global exists to put eyes and boots where the dollars go so that every gift has a fighting chance to become the good it was intended to be.

William Booth: The Untold Story Behind The Salvation Army

William Booth didn’t set out to build a global movement. He walked into the slums of London with a Bible, a stubborn faith, and a burden for people the church had learned to ignore. Out of that simple conviction came The Salvation Army, one of the most influential Christian missions of the last 150 years. In this episode of HIS Story, Todd Turner sits down with Booth for a first-person conversation that brings his world to life. You’ll hear what shaped him, why he refused to look away from suffering, and how holiness, courage, and compassion fueled a ministry that changed cities across the world. This episode explores:  • Booth’s early ministry and calling  • The spiritual and social crisis in 19th-century London  • How The Salvation Army began and why it grew  • Booth’s passion for the poor, the addicted, and the forgotten  • What today’s church can learn from his bold, practical faith If you enjoy Christian biography, church history, classic revival movements, or stories of ordinary believers doing extraordinary things, this conversation will pull you in. It’s a fresh look at William Booth, The Salvation Army, and the kind of faith that still speaks today.

George Müller: Faith, Orphans, and the Miracles of God’s Provision

What happens when someone decides to live entirely by faith?  In this episode of This Is HIS Story, Todd Turner shares a compelling conversation with George Müller — the man who cared for more than 10,000 orphans without ever asking for a penny. Through prayer alone, he watched God provide food, shelter, and hope for thousands. Listen as Müller recounts his rebellious youth, his powerful conversion, and the unwavering trust that shaped every decision of his life. His story still challenges today’s believers to depend on God in practical, courageous ways. Whether you serve in ministry or simply want to grow your faith, this episode will stir your heart and remind you that God still answers prayer. 👉 Hear more timeless stories of faith at https://hisstorypodcast.buzzsprout.com [https://hisstorypodcast.buzzsprout.com]

Charles Spurgeon: The Prince of Preachers and the Power of Grace

What if you could sit down with Charles Spurgeon himself — the Prince of Preachers?  In this episode of This Is HIS Story, Todd Turner guides you through an imagined interview that captures Spurgeon’s wit, humility, and deep trust in God. Hear how a teenage preacher became one of history’s most influential pastors. Learn about his personal battles with doubt and depression, his bold stand for truth, and the faith that carried him through suffering. This conversation reminds us why his words still ignite hearts more than a century later. Whether you’re a pastor, teacher, or believer seeking fresh encouragement, this episode will point you back to the same grace that transformed Spurgeon’s life — the grace of Christ alone. 👉 Listen to more episodes and stories of faith at https://hisstorypodcast.buzzsprout.com [https://hisstorypodcast.buzzsprout.com]

Sara Messer of Taproot Charities Interview

> Sara is Founder and CEO of Taproot Charities, a non-profit ministry which provides school fees, supplies, and uniforms to support girls in secondary and college level education in rural Uganda, Africa.  After serving in Arua, Uganda on two medical mission trips, and seeing first-hand how the young women in Arua are culturally marginalized and overlooked, Sara felt a special calling to help provide a secondary education to the young women of Arua.  And thus, Taproot Charities was born.  When Sara is not advocating for teen girls in Uganda, she is working as an occupational therapist in hand rehabilitation in San Luis Obispo, CA.  She has been married 24 years to her husband, Travis. She is the mother to her 18 year-old son, Riley, who is currently studying engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obisp and to her 15 year old daughter, Berkeley, who is a freshman at Templeton High School.  Sara resides along the central coast of California in the small town of Templeton, which is about half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco along beautiful highway 101! Interviewer: Todd Turner ToddTurner.com I'm Todd Turner, Creative Digital Guide. I come along side Christian Non-Profits and churches and help them tell and fund their God-Sized missions using their digital channels. Listen in to learn how we tell our stories with integrity and ask people to join our kingdom stories.  As a former Executive Vice President for an International organization,  I have traveled the world learning and teaching digital strategies in various countries and languages. I have gathered the essentials of Digital Strategies and spend my day helping organizations cut out the fads and trends and learn the simple blocking and tackling of their online fundraising strategies. FaceBook Group for Executive Pastors and Executive Directors: https://creativedigitalguide.com/facebook/ Want to be Interviewed on this podcast? https://creativedigitalguide.com/podcast/