Built for More

For Ben Barlow, the job site has always been more than a place to build. From soccer fields and society row at LeTourneau to a refinery in the Arabian desert and a ministry reaching workers far from home, Ben has learned to see his work as what LeTourneau calls “a holy calling with eternal impact.”

This fall, Ben was promoted to Vice President of Preconstruction Services at R.H. White Construction in Auburn, Massachusetts. He joined the company in 2018 and has held positions of increasing responsibility since. In his new role, he oversees the company’s Business Development, Estimating, and Preconstruction teams.

Ben’s LeTourneau story began on the soccer field and in Kappa Zeta Chi. He played defense for the Yellow Jacket men’s soccer team, wrestled, and served KZX as treasurer in 2001–02 and secretary in 2003–04.

One of his favorite memories is from Thanksgiving Day 2003. “I found myself in a lab, learning how to polish weldments with Prof. Robert Warke, when he said working with me felt much more like being in a graduate program,” Ben said.

He started his freshman year as a “C” average student. “My experience with putting in the work and seeing a direct positive result at LeTourneau set the foundation that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to for the rest of my career,” he said. He was reminded how far he’d come when he recently found his “Outstanding Engineering Student of the Year” plaque.

LeTourneau also runs in the family. Ben’s dad, Bruce Barlow, graduated from LeTourneau in 1976 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. [Bruce’s story from his phone call: his time at LETU, his career, and what it meant to see Ben follow him to campus.]

Throughout his career, Ben has managed multi-million-dollar projects in the U.S. and overseas. One of those took him to the United Arab Emirates for four years, where he worked with Bechtel on the Al Taweelah Alumina Refinery in Abu Dhabi, the first alumina refinery in the UAE.

The project had about 12,000 workers, many of them thousands of miles from their families. “It taught me that there are millions of people all over the world in the engineering and construction industry that God loves just as much as me,” Ben said. “In many cases, the only reason they are living in poverty is because of the color of their passport. They have more joy than many Americans because of Jesus despite having so little.”

That’s what led Ben to Nomads. “Nomads exists to serve the 20 million impoverished immigrant labor groups that work across the Middle East, who come from some of the most oppressed, persecuted places on the planet,” he said. “Once these men and women receive the gospel message, they are equipped to bring hope back to their communities within the 10/40 Window.”

For the last 10 years, Ben has served as Chairman of the Board, supporting and promoting the work God is doing through the ministry. “This is a special ministry God is expanding, and we invite anyone interested to participate to help sustain it for another 10 years!”

Lara Rose, Director of Alumni Engagement, says Ben’s ministry reflects the purpose LeTourneau envisioned. “The legacy of pouring into others and allowing God’s blessings to impact the 10/40 Window is a great encouragement to me personally,” she said. “His ministry demonstrates that in action.”

Ben serves alongside his dad. “My dad has been our biggest supporter. Nomads would not exist without his generosity,” Ben said. “His unwavering faith has set the bar on what it means to be a Christ follower.”

Today Ben and his family live in Massachusetts, where they love getting outdoors.

His advice to current students: “Never give up on the promises God puts on your heart. Nomads took nine years to come to fruition, and it was only when I let go and trusted the Holy Spirit. Follow your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life.”