Curves International
Gary Heavin

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Curves International

By age 32, he found himself serving a six-month jail sentence for failure to pay child support. But in his jail cell, Heavin read the Bible and recommitted his life to Jesus Christ.

As he sat behind bars, Heavin finally understood that God couldn't use him until he lost everything: his marriage, custody of his two children, his livelihood, even his freedom.

"Like a wet dishrag, God wrung out everything I was proud of so that I would be totally dependent on him," says Heavin, now 48. "I told God, 'I've lived life my way and it's a mess. Now I'm giving it to you.'"

"To whom much is given much is expected," says Heavin, who now calls Bible reading, prayer, and fellowship with church believers essential elements of his daily life. "God showed me how to handle poverty, and he's shown me how to handle wealth."

Servanthood may not be today's normal model for business success, but that hasn't stopped the Heavins. In 2003, the couple gave away $10 million—10 percent of their company's gross revenues and 80 percent of Gary's net income—to charities. Heavin matches the first $1,000 that each franchise raises for community causes such as walkathons to benefit pro-life pregnancy-care centers. Such controversial stances have led to criticism, but Heavin is unfazed. "There's nothing healthy about abortion," he says. "I'm not afraid to tell the truth."

Today's Christian, January/February 2004
Rolling with the Curves The world's fastest-growing fitness chain is helping ordinary women get healthy-body and soul.
By John W. Kennedy
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2004/001/3.30.html