God's Faithfulness in Times of Trial; With John And Ash Marsh

In this episode of the Generosity Now podcast, Eric Most and Laurie Bossert sit down with John and Ash Marsh to unpack their compelling story of redemption, reconciliation, and the transformative power of generosity.

The Marsh family’s journey showcases the depth of God’s faithfulness and serves as a moving testimony to the power of love, community, and intentionality.

Together, they discuss the importance of hospitality, stewardship, and building a legacy through community engagement, emphasizing that true generosity goes beyond financial giving to encompass love, support, and intentionality in relationships.

Their story serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the impact of living a life dedicated to serving others. About our guests

John Marsh is the Co-Founder of Marsh Collective, host of the Redemptification Podcast and investor helping steward over $1.5b in redemptive real estate in 12 small towns (with populations of 800-180k) around America.

Over the last 25 years, John and Ashely have guided over 60 startup businesses in various industries, such as Hospitality, Construction, Real Estate Investing, Advertising, and multiple Restaurants. John and his wife have renovated 280+ buildings within ten blocks of downtown Opelika to help save their city. Today, John's current focus is helping others make generational differences in communities and companies. By helping patrons bridge the gap between redeeming vision, financial sustainability, and execution to pioneering a new asset class of real estate which we have coined "Irreplaceable Real Estate." John and Ashely are grateful to have two sons and grandchildren who also live in Opelika.

Myers Briggs (MBTI): ENFP

Enneagram: 3

5 VOICES: Connector Creative

Lover of: Statistics, Measuring all things, Overcomplicated Smoothies

Ash Marsh is a proud native of Opelika, AL. As Co-Founder and CEO of Marsh Collective, she actively runs a collection of companies that she, along with Co-Founder and husband, John, have built. Ash focuses on Marsh Collectives' operations and strategy and fosters strategic relationships that share with her passion for hospitality design to stimulate the company's growth. She incorporates beauty, creativity, and hospitality into the world through creating Irreplaceable Real Estate. She is a seasoned entrepreneur with more than 25 years of real estate development, hospitality, and investment experience.

Ash has been featured on Faith Driven Investor, Faith Driven Entrepreneur, Strong Women, The Policy Circle, and Redemptification podcasts.

Ash’s definition of hospitality is best summed up through her vision and leadership style, “I thought of you before you got here.”

Myers Briggs (MBTI): ISTJ

Enneagram: 8

5 VOICES: Guardian Nurturer

Lover of: Fast cars, & pull up bars

Takeaways

• John's journey from addiction to faith is a testament to God's transformative power.

• Ash's story highlights the importance of surrender and acceptance of God's love.

• Reconciliation in marriage can lead to healing and restoration of broken relationships.

• Generosity is not just about money; it's about giving time, love, and attention.

• Building a legacy involves intentional community engagement and hospitality.

• True love in marriage requires ongoing effort and understanding of each other's needs.

• Hope is essential for overcoming challenges and finding purpose in life.

• God's faithfulness is evident in the Marsh family's journey and their impact on others.

• Generosity should be a lifestyle, reflecting God's love and grace.

• The importance of mentorship and community support in personal and relational growth.

Connect wtih John and Ash

https://www.marshcollective.com/

In this episode of the Generosity Now podcast, we sit down with Greg Ast, who shares his inspiring journey of moving from religious tradition to a deep, personal relationship with Christ. Raised in a strong Catholic household, Greg always knew God, but it wasn’t until later in life that he truly understood what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus.

Join us as Greg talks about his family’s faith journey, the role of generosity in their lives, and how they’re embracing whole-life stewardship. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to deepen their faith and live a life of purpose.

About Greg

reg Ast is an Executive Vice President at Encore Electric. Before taking on his current role as Executive Vice President, Ast served as the Chief Financial Officer, where he managed the company’s financial, accounting, and risk management functions.

Prior to joining Encore Electric, Ast spent more than 20 years as a consultant to business owners, boards of directors, and executive leadership teams, addressing their most difficult business challenges and guiding strategic decision-making, operational and financial planning and leadership team development. During this period, Ast was a trusted advisor to hundreds of both public and private sector organizations in manufacturing, distribution, banking, services, healthcare and telecommunications. He has also consulted with family ownership groups, national and state boards, public-private partnership groups, and non-profit organizations. Ast also spent four years in finance at General Electric Capital Corporation and Accenture.

Ast received his BS in Finance from Georgetown University and his MBA from Wichita State University. He also earned his CCIFP (Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional) certificate and has completed several leadership development programs.

He and his wife enjoy hiking, camping, skiing and travelling.

Key Takeaways: Transitioning from religious tradition to a personal relationship with Christ The importance of generosity and whole-life stewardship How faith shapes family and purpose in life

Tim McTavish shares his background growing up in a Christian home and his journey of falling in love with Jesus. He discusses his experience as a business owner and how integrating biblical principles transformed his company's culture and success. Tim emphasizes the importance of stewardship and generosity in all aspects of life, including finances and investing. He also highlights the hope he sees in the next generation of Christian leaders and the impact they can make in the world. Tim recommends the book 'No Longer I' by Jacob Hotchkiss as a resource for understanding the power of the gospel.

About Tim

Tim A. McTavish joined the CCU Board of Trustees in 2009 during the tenure of then-President Bill Armstrong and at the outset of the initial phases of the Lakewood campus redevelopment effort. He was elected chair of the Board of Trustees in June 2020 and stepped into the role of interim president in August 2022 when former President Donald W. Sweeting transitioned to the role of chancellor.

McTavish founded InsureMe in 1993, an entrepreneurial venture that connected insurance agents with high-intent prospects shopping for insurance. McTavish credits the success of that platform to dedicating the business to Christ while implementing basic biblical principles in the workplace. During his time leading the company, InsureMe was ranked in the "Top 25 Great Places to Work in America" and was also named the most philanthropic small business in Colorado.

Since selling InsureMe in 2008, McTavish has been an active investor and advisor to several businesses in Colorado and abroad. He has also taught entrepreneurship and finance courses in the School of Business and Leadership in CCU's College of Undergraduate Studies, where he was named affiliate faculty member of the year in 2018, 2021, and 2024.

A "faithful steward wanna-be," McTavish's mission is to model a life of generosity and good and faithful stewardship of the relationships and resources God has entrusted to him in a way that inspires people to live well within their means, give generously to life-changing causes, and to fall in love with Jesus and experience abundant life in Him. He is passionate about Christian higher education because it solidifies students in their faith and prepares them for effective ministry in their careers and personal lives. He experienced this when he earned his MBA in CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies in 2013, grateful for CCU's integration of faith throughout the curriculum.

He and his wife, Pam, have three grown children who have graduated from CCU: David '18, Katie '20, and Laura '23. All three flourished in their faith and love for Jesus at CCU because of the competent, Spirit-filled faculty and staff who intentionally strive to transform students to impact the world with grace and truth. Tim and Pam consider it an honor and a privilege to serve and support CCU.

Resources Mentioned

No Longer I' by Jacob Hotchkiss