Tim Kraynak & Finish Line Ministries – NANOE’s Newest Member

When we welcome new members into NANOE, we are often reminded of the extraordinary journeys that bring leaders to our network. Today, we highlight Tim Kraynak, a man whose life has been defined by service, stewardship, and Christ-centered leadership. Tim’s story is one of faith, education, and now, a bold commitment to advancing the Gospel through fundraising and development. His path has uniquely positioned him not only to make an eternal impact across continents but also to resonate deeply with NANOE’s guiding principles.

Tim Kraynak’s Legacy of Ministry

For nearly 25 years, Tim devoted himself to Worthington Christian School (WC), the place where his personal and professional calling began. Returning to his alma mater in 2000, Tim invested his energy and gifts as a teacher, coach, counselor, and ultimately as Upper School Principal. His career there was more than a series of roles—it was a ministry that touched the lives of thousands of students.

Tim’s colleagues and students alike recall a leader who balanced academic excellence with genuine spiritual mentorship. He was never content with education as mere instruction; he believed in shaping character. Whether teaching in the classroom, leading athletics as director, or guiding a senior through life’s challenges as a counselor, Tim emphasized godly stewardship, humility, and authentic relationships.

His mark at WC is lasting, not only in the alumni who still speak of his influence but also in the institutional culture of faith-driven leadership he helped build. The phrase most often associated with him—“Warrior for Christ”—reflects the enduring impression of a man who led with courage and compassion.

Finish Line Ministries International

After a quarter-century at WC, Tim sensed a new calling—one that required prayer, reflection, and faith. In 2025, he accepted the role of Director of Development at Finish Line Ministries International, an organization committed to Gospel outreach across Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

Finish Line’s mission is bold and clear: to train pastors, equip churches, care for orphans, and reach those in remote villages who have never heard the Good News. Tim’s leadership now extends far beyond the halls of an American school into the heart of Southeast Africa, where the stakes are eternal.

As Director of Development, Tim now champions the vital work of resource generation. His role is not just about raising funds but about inviting partners into the story of transformation happening across Africa. He understands that every dollar given represents not only provision for orphans, church leaders, and evangelism teams but also the faith and generosity of donors who choose to invest in the Kingdom.

Discovering NANOE and Re-Imagining Philanthropy

As Tim stepped into the development world, he encountered NANOE’s philosophy—a fresh perspective that redefines how nonprofits approach mission, money, and management. Like so many of our members, he found in NANOE a home for bold ideas and courageous leadership.

Central to this discovery was his reading of Re-Imagining Philanthropy, NANOE’s landmark work that challenges conventional fundraising and calls leaders to put donors at the center of the mission. For Tim, who has spent a career mentoring young people and stewarding resources with integrity, the book was more than a manual—it was confirmation that his approach to development could be both God-honoring and effective.

He now champions the conviction that money is not a distraction from mission but the very oxygen that allows ministry to thrive. With this in mind, he has embraced NANOE’s insistence that leaders must not shy away from financial conversations but rather lead them boldly, inviting major donors to participate meaningfully in Kingdom work.

Fundraising as Ministry

Tim sees fundraising not as a transactional task but as a continuation of his pastoral heart. His years as a counselor and principal equipped him to listen, guide, and care for people’s stories. Today, he uses those same skills to engage donors—seeing them not as checkbooks but as partners in discipleship.

He often reflects that just as he once helped students discover their God-given potential, he now helps donors discover their God-given role in advancing the Gospel. In this sense, his ministry has not changed—only the context. Whether in Worthington, Ohio, or rural Malawi, Tim remains a shepherd at heart.

A Leader for the NANOE Community

At NANOE, we celebrate members like Tim because they embody the qualities that set our network apart: courage, innovation, and a willingness to challenge outdated traditions for the sake of greater impact. Tim’s embrace of NANOE’s principles is not theoretical—it is practical. He is actively applying them as he builds support for Finish Line Ministries.

His story reminds us that NANOE is not simply about ideas; it is about leaders putting ideas into action—raising more money, serving more people, and extending the reach of the Kingdom. Tim stands as proof that when faithful leaders marry mission with innovative fundraising, remarkable things happen.

Looking Ahead

As he continues this journey, Tim is clear-eyed about both the challenges and opportunities ahead. The needs in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe are immense: pastors without training, orphans without care, and villages without hope. Yet Tim believes these challenges are exactly the reason God called him into this work—and why NANOE’s community of bold, entrepreneurial leaders matters so much.

He has stepped into a global arena, bringing with him the faithfulness of a seasoned educator, the conviction of a spiritual leader, and now the strategic mindset of a fundraiser inspired by NANOE. For Tim, the finish line is not a place but a calling: to run with endurance the race set before him, equipping the saints, serving the poor, and advancing the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

In Closing

NANOE is proud to welcome Tim Kraynak into our community. His journey from classroom to mission field, from principal’s office to international development, is a testimony to God’s leading and the power of fresh thinking in philanthropy. By embracing the principles of Re-Imagining Philanthropy, Tim is not only ensuring the strength of Finish Line Ministries International but also modeling what it means to be a NANOE champion.

In Tim, we see not just a fundraiser, but a man faithfully living his calling: a true Warrior for Christ.

Tim Kraynak & Finish Line Ministries – NANOE’s Newest Member was first posted at NANOE

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