Creating Your Own Business
“It was devastating. It was constantly on our minds.”
Gary and Sheila Garner of Harvey, Arkansas, love their five dogs and, as dog breeders, they loved to find the best home for their puppies.
So what was so devastating in their lives?
Years ago, when they owned a breeding kennel, a financial downturn made life unbearable.
“The bills were mounting up,” says Gary. “We owed on our place and maxed out our credit cards trying to stay afloat during that time. We borrowed a lot of money. When we thought we were losing [our] place, we were devastated. This was my great grandparent’s place.”
But even during their difficult times, Gary and Sheila kept tithing to their church and giving to The 700 Club.
To help pay the bills, Gary decided to go back to teaching, where he was given some extra responsibilities.
“Every school in Arkansas had to have a technology director,” says Gary. “They appointed me and trained me in computers and networking.”
Gary took what he was learning about computers at school and applied it to a new business idea — a dog registry business.
What’s that?
“The ones who raise the dogs register the adult dogs with us, or whoever,” explains Gary. “There are several registries. They register the dog as a pure breed, whatever they are. And then, as they produce litters, they register the litters, and we issue a registration application—a puppy paper we call it.”
Their pet registry business got so busy they quit breeding dogs, and Gary was able to stop teaching.
“In 2000, several of these state clubs, pet producers clubs, decided to boycott the dominant registry service at that time and we just exploded,” says Gary. “We went from one employee [and one part-time employee] to 12, in six weeks. By the end of the summer, we had 18. And it’s just continued to grow since then.”
Today, they own one of the most respected dog registry services in the country—America's Pet Registry, Inc. And their income has increased more than 500 percent!
“I came to believe that there really is a law of reciprocity. You may not always realize it at that time, but you will be rewarded for what you do. Everything comes back to you—one way or the other.”
When times were tough for Gary and Sheila, they remained faithful in their commitment to the Lord and they 
witnessed the law of reciprocity at work.
God wants to bless you too. One way you can give to God’s work is through CBN. Not only will you reach thousands each day with a message of truth and hope through The 700 Club, you will also help feed and clothe children around the world, bring medical aid to those suffering, and so much more—all in the name of Jesus. Please join with us today.
