KINGDOM
SECRETS
Curves International:
An Exercise in Success!
By Sandy Engel
The 700 Club
"Today we have over 5,000 franchises, and together they and I are
meeting the needs of over 2 million women," says Gary.
Gary Heavin is flying high on the success of Curves International.
For every two McDonald's in America, there's a Curves fitness center.
A new Curves opens about every four hours. Gary and his wife, Diane,
who is the co-founder of Curves, live well below their means. And
there's a reason for that.
"Our goal," explains Gary, "is to give away 80 percent of our income,
and that income just continues to multiply."
But giving wasn't always a priority for Gary. Gary's single mother
died when he was just 13 years old, leaving him with two young brothers.
"I had the problem of a father and a stepmother who didn't really
want us. I left home at a very young age. Being self-sufficient and
being focused on survival, by the age of 26, I had six health clubs
and a million-dollar financial statement. I had done it my way. I
was a self-made man."
But by the age of 30, "Gary's way" had led to bankruptcy, a failed
marriage, and no job. He lost it all.
"The airplane, the nice homes, the nice cars -- I lost the home with
my children, was destitute and without anything to comfort me or for
me to find pride in. I literally lost everything I owned, but I finally
got on my knees and said, 'God, I lived the first half of my life
by my will and it's a mess. I'm going to turn the rest of my life
over to You.'"
Gary began by reading the Bible and watching The 700 Club.
"One of the great resources that I drew upon in those early years
was Pat's book The Secret Kingdom and the Law of Reciprocity."
As Gary began to apply God's principle of giving, he gradually began
to rebuild his life. Gary also met and married Diane.
 "The
moment Gary and I started to give from our hearts, our life really
changed in just so many ways," says Diane.
Gary adds, "It's important people understand this: If God can trust
you with His resources, if they flow through you and meet the needs
of others, then He'll give you more resources. I put God to the test
on this a number of years ago, and I tell you, you can't out-give
God."
"I can tell you from experience as well," says Diane, "once you learn
what a giving heart is, you're blessed so abundantly. It doesn't matter
the amount- it's that you're giving it through a giving heart and
then it gets so extremely easy after that."
In 1992 Gary and Diane opened the first Curves Fitness Center in
Texas. Today Curves International is the largest fitness center franchise
in the world because this time Gary built the business God's way from
the start.
Gary credit's Pat's book The Secret Kingdom for his success.
"Even today I talk about those biblical principles that I place as
the foundation for my business and attribute those principles as the
key to that success. God really wanted us to use His resources in
a really great way, and He has directed us to CBN because you're the
experts. You know how to reach lives. What I love about CBN is, first
of all, I can trust them. As an astute businessman, I've done my diligence.
I find that The 700 Club takes the resources of this ministry that
they've been charged with and they do the things that Christ would
have them do. And it's not just feeding the poor and going overseas
with the Gospel. The 700 Club is about God's business of telling the
truth across this land. And that's important to me."
 Gary
and Diane are humbled by the record-breaking success of Curves International,
but they have no doubts about why God has so richly blessed them.
"Giving is about obedience," says Gary, "and if we have relationship
with our Savior and we're able to communicate through the Holy Spirit
to know where God would have us give, it frees Him to send us."
Being obedient to God's truth made an incredible difference for
Gary and Diane. They made themselves available for God's love to flow
through them to others, and they are reaping a blessing themselves
as well. Join them in partnering with CBN. You will make a difference
in lives around the world, through medical missions, food and clothing
programs, humanitarian outreaches and so much -- all in the name of
Jesus. Please
join today.
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