(The
comments below are excerpted from Mr. LeTourneau's obituary.)
Robert
G. LeTourneau was born on November 30, 1888, to godly parents. From infancy he
heard the Gospel. For a time, he rejected the message, but through the faithful
prayers of his parents he was, at the age of sixteen, won to Christ. At 30 he
dedicated his life to be God's businessman. He recognized the danger of that dedication
being dimmed by his love for his machines, but by the grace of God that commitment
extended over a period of fifty years.
He
designed and built machines beyond the imagination of ordinary men. He introduced
into the earthmoving and material handling industry the rubber tire, which today
is almost universally accepted. He invented and developed the Electric Wheel.
He pioneered the welding of various metals. His huge mobile offshore drilling
platforms are supporting the machines that drill for the rich petroleum reserves
under the seas around the world.
He demonstrated his concern for the Gospel witness by establishing regular chapel
services and by employing three full-time Chaplains in his manufacturing plants.
The monthly publication NOW begun by him reached 600,000 persons during his lifetime
and circled the world with its message. He s traveled the world as a witnessing
Christian businessman.
Many books about
his life have published, including his best-selling autobiography, Mover of Men
and Mountains (Zondervan), which is still in print, thirty years after his death.
This book has been translated from English into several foreign languages. Who
can tell how many have come to faith in Christ through his missionary ministry
in Liberia, West Africa and Peru, South America? The outreach for God through
aid to individuals and organizations by the LeTourneau Foundation has been worldwide.
LeTourneau
University which he, together with his wife, founded may well prove to be one
of his greatest accomplishments as his influence is multiplied and spread throughout
the world by dedicated Christian young people who have studied at the college.
His
life's verse was Matthew 6:33: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."
