R.G. LeTourneau:

Mover of Mountains and Men

Some people recognize the name of R. G. LeTourneau because his earth-moving machines were used extensively in World War II and also helped to create much of our country's interstate highway system. Others have heard about his practice of "reverse tithing," giving away 90 percent of his income. But many people don't know about his commitment to serve Christ in the workplace. This legendary business leader saw his work, not just as a way to fund ministry, but as ministry itself.

As a young man serious about his faith, LeTourneau considered leaving business and going to the mission field -- a logical path to spiritual significance for one whose religious tradition viewed missionaries as God's heroes. But God used a traveling evangelist to change his thinking. The evangelist explained that God needs businessmen just as much as He needs preachers. Once LeTourneau understood that being in business doesn't mean sitting on the spiritual sidelines, he used his ingenuity to become a leading inventor and industrialist in heavy earth-moving machines and off-shore drilling, with 299 patents to his credit.

Everywhere a LeTourneau machine was used to create a road, a path was also paved for thegospel to be spread--in the South Pacific, South America, Africa, Australia, as well as North America. He flew thousands of miles each week to speak from podiums across America and around the world, spreading the gospel.

In the 1950s, LeTourneau's commitment to Christ and inventive genius led him to become a pioneer in "business as mission" in Liberia and Peru through development projects with the diverse goals of colonization, land development, agricultural development, and evangelism.

In 1946 he founded what is now LeTourneau University in order to train engineers for his company and teach them how to follow Christ in the world of technology. Today LeTourneau University is not only the premiere engineering/technical and aeronautical school in Christian education, but also also offers academic majors in business, education, the liberal arts and natural sciences, while maintaining R.G. LeTourneau's commitment to teach students to integrate faith into their work as they pursue ingenuity and excellence in their fields.

Read more about R.G. LeTourneau at the LeTourneau Museum and Archives