Good Deeds

By Jonathan Schultz
April 23, 2021

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” —1 Timothy 6:17-19, NIV

In 1985, Tim Wolsborn was, in his own words, “the furthest out kid. I was a preppy jock who got good grades, but I was oh so self-centered.” It was at that time that Young Life leader Ben Herr made the effort to “earn the right to be heard” with Tim and many others. Tim witnessed and experienced Jesus through Ben and trusted him enough to visit Young Life club and attend camp. It was at camp that, according to Tim, “I fully gave my life to Jesus — my heart and life were changed, but the actions took a while.”

That was Tim’s senior year of high school, and he would go on to attend Portland State University and then transfer to the University of Oregon, where he would serve as a volunteer Young Life leader for three years.

Following college graduation in 1992, Tim joined the Young Life staff, working at Breakaway Lodge in Gearhart, Oregon, and serving in a church partnership on the north coast of Oregon. A few years later, in 1995, Tim transitioned off of Young Life staff, was married, living in Spokane, Washington, and was working in radio advertising. Then, in 1997, Tim entered the mortgage world, which eventually saw him starting his own business, a move that would lay the foundation for some significant “good deeds.”

Having never lost touch with Young Life, in 2006 Tim was asked by then regional director Aaron McMurray if he would move to Pullman, Washington, and serve as area director. For the next four years, Tim led and grew a thriving ministry, until transition was again apparent in 2010. At that time, Tim and his wife loved where they lived and had five children to consider. In Tim’s words, “I still had my mortgage license and knew that world, so we reopened the brokerage, focused on staying small as a business and I continued to serve as a volunteer leader with Young Life.” What Tim didn’t know at that time was the refinance “boom” of 2012 was just around the corner allowing Tim and his wife to expand their “good deeds” in a way that they had never imagined. “For the first time,” said Tim, “We were able to give above and beyond. I’ve never been that motivated by just making money; motivation came from giving.” As a result of this turn of events, prayer and hearts focused on giving extravagantly, and in 2015 this seed of an idea became a business and Good Deeds Mortgage​ was born.

According to Tim, in launching Good Deeds Mortgage he was “afraid of success, not failure.” “My current business was really comfortable and easy. This would be hard. Our goal was to develop a business and lead a team that smells like Jesus, to try and create a unique experience for our customers and increase God’s work in the world through many different organizations and individuals.” To this end, part of Tim’s formula was to go to where adults are, in the context of home loans, and treat them as Jesus would. The other part was to give a substantial part of all revenue to charity!

Today, after over six years living out these principles, Good Deeds Mortgage gives $2,000 per loan closed to charity, allowing the borrower to designate where $500 of this amount goes, with the rest being designated by Good Deeds. Since 2015, $1.6 million has been donated to over 200 causes. Due to their love for and connections in Young Life, they’ve been able to donate $587,000 of that to Young Life areas and regions. In fact, Good Deeds Mortgage has become some areas’ largest donor.

Reflecting on the last several years, Tim admits that “Good Deeds Mortgage has cost me, but it’s been about obedience to the Lord. It’s been hard, but so, so good. ​ Like most ‘God things’ it’s been a crazy ride. We’re growing and always looking for great talent with mortgage experience.” Today, the Good Deeds Mortgage team is five-strong and the latest addition to the team is none other than Tim’s Young Life leader, Ben Herr.

In The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare once wrote, “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.” Tim, thanks for trusting and obeying, for continuing to be light in a dark and weary world; many are “glorifying our Father in heaven” as a result.