Giving A Multimillion Dollar Business To Charity

 

If you're looking for an absolute paradigm shifting experience about Biblical generosity, look no further than the story of Alan and Katherine Barnhardt. 

Watch the Video: 

Alan and Katherine Barnhart from Generous Giving on Vimeo.

As a young couple Alan and Katherine were called into God's story - there's no doubt about that - but the role they would play was certainly a surprise.

The Barnhardts originally thought God was calling them to the mission field but right as they were making plans to leave the United States, the family crane business sort of fell into their lap. For eager and energetic Christ-followers ready to make an impact, this was a difficult decision. One that, Katherine especially, thought was outside of God's plan for their lives.

It wasn't but a couple years later that the business became very successful and grown considerably. They had grown the business from . Alan and his brother, who was also a devout Christian, came to the realization that the business belonged to God and so they were going to give it back to God.

Picture of Barnhardt crane

The Barnhardts did something that only a Generosity Giant would do. They gave the business to charity with the help of the National Christian Foundation. They capped their lifestyle and take a salary - just enough to live off of - but the rest goes to ministries and causes that God has put on their hearts.

If you want to really understand what sacrificial giving looks like - look at the Barnhardts. They live off of $100,000 each year. Their business gives $20 million to charity each year.

Alan and Katherine Barnhardt

There are a lot of things that stick out to me about this story - and once you watch the story there will be so many things that stick out to you too. But one the thing that Alan said that sticks in my mind more than anything, was his deep understanding of scripture and what wealth might do to him.

"[I had a] fear that business success could be very detrimental to my life." Alan said. "Dozens of verses that brought me to that conclusion. I saw it in other people's lives. It's a choice tool of our enemy. This whole idea of greed is something our enemy uses to twist us around and that includes believers and I didn't want it to be my reality."

So many of us pretend that God isn't talking to us when he talks about greed and wealth.

Alan and Katherine Barnhardt wrestled with this concept from an early age. They looked to God's word for the answer - and look what they've been able to steward for His Glory.