It’s a great expression in our culture. “Moving heaven and earth.” An indicator of going the extra mile on behalf of something or someone.
For one businessman, it was more than a slogan. Maybe that’s why one source ranks him among the greatest of Christian businessmen of all time for his contribution to the advancement of the Gospel.
His name was Robert Gilmore (RG) LeTourneau.
A sixth-grade dropout, RG went on to become the leading earth-moving machinery manufacturer of his day. More than 300 patents in his name. Plants on four continents. Changing the world forever through major contributions to heavy equipment innovation and road construction technology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._G._LeTourneau
Working in an iron foundry at age 14. Later, as an auto mechanic. Then, the Navy during World War I. Returning to half-ownership of a car dealer. His partner drank the company into debt.
RG left. Jobless and beyond broke, with $5,000 in debt. The equivalent of $125,000 in today’s dollars. Ouch.
A wealthy rancher hired him to level some land. Most satisfying job he’d ever had. So much so, he turned it into a business.
Under-bidding competitors to win jobs. Scrambling to invent machines to speed up work historically done by hand-held shovels and mule-powered plows.
Even as RG was innovating machinery, he was feeling the tug to do more for God. He went to his pastor for advice in 1919, thinking he had to become a full-time pastor or missionary.
His pastor’s answer shocked him. Then, galvanized him. “God needs businessmen, too.”
http://centerforfaithandwork.com/article/why-rg-letourneau-gave-90-percent
Can I get an amen? 🙂
RG envisioned his busines as a partnership with God. His path forward, however, wasn’t uphill. In 1927, at age 40, RG found himself $100,000 in debt when a big construction job went bad.
$1.5 million in today’s dollars. Bigger Ouch. http://www.in2013dollars.com/1927-dollars-in-2018?amount=100000
What happened next was a miracle.
The surety company backing RG on the losing job was determined he pay back every penny. On the next job, they demanded RG work on Sundays or they would foreclose.
RG gave the problem to his Business Partner to solve. The surety owner boarded a train to shut RG down. Within 24 hours, he had a change of heart.
The job continued to completion… without working on Sundays. Though still deep in debt, RG remained determined to stay current on his financial pledge to God.
The pledge was paid in full. The business stayed afloat. Then… BREAKTHROUGH.
RB focused completely on manufacturing his machinery inventions. When the rest of the country was reeling from the Great Depression, RG’s net profits soared. Year 1932 – $52,000+. Year 1934 – $340,000+.
In 1935, RG’s wife suggested (and he agreed) they transition to a 90/10 split with the Lord (with 10% going to RG).
“It’s not how much of my money I give to God, but how much of God’s money I keep for myself.”
His net profits in 1938? Over $1,400,000. By 1959, after giving $10 million in donations to religious and educational works, the LeTourneau Foundation was still worth $40 million.
Not bad for a sixth-grade dropout. Amen?
What say you?
Please post your comments below.
Diana Furr, a.k.a. Abba’s Girl
This blog may have raised questions for you. If you’d like to connect, engage, or get further help from me, you can… EMAIL me at [email protected]; CALL me at 863-446-1660; or request a complimentary initial CONSULT with me at https://calendly.com/diana-furr.