Purpose and passion with Larry Law

An interview with Larry Law, Founder and CEO of Living Water Resorts, Collingwood Ontario.

As a Christian business leader, if you were asked to share your life’s purpose and passion, could you do so easily, in a sentence or two? That is a challenge Larry Law, founder of Living Waters Resort in Collingwood, Ontario, passed with flying colours.  

“It’s two-fold”, he told me, “I want to be well-used by God, glorifying Him as salt and light in the community.  Secondly, I hope that I can be a good witness to other businesspeople, helping them to support their workers with kindness, love and compassion. That’s my real passion!”

Larry tells his story…

After getting my Bachelor of Architecture I worked in California for a couple of years, then seven years in Hong Kong as a developer and builder. I learned a lot and matured a lot, before moving to Canada in 1984. I worked for two years or so, to get local experience, and then I got my own business established. Since then, I’ve been on my own.

I was quite successful; but then my wife got cancer in 2000, and she passed away in 2001. I lost myself. Before, making money was my main goal. With her gone, I felt lost. During my wife’s last days, we were invited to go to church. I turned to Christ within a year of my wife’s passing. 

Since then, I’ve been searching for the meaning of life. I took a two-week short term missionary trip to China with my church team, but that felt like it was not enough. Life is not only two weeks. I wasn’t ready to retire. 

Then I learned about Business as Mission, plus Marketplace Mission, designed to teach men how to be better men; I was excited! This felt like a roadmap. I talked with God, and said ‘God, I’m here for you. What do you want me to do?’ That was the start of my faith journey, that led me to a better understanding of what God wants from me. 

Some lessons learned…

• God leads us and always protects us. He invites us to partner with Him in a close whole-hearted, and strong relationship.

• In a cutthroat world, we can be salt and light where we are, by being good to people around us.

• Pursuing God will transform us, and fill our love tank, so we can overflow with His love.

• Once we know God, we can also build better relationships with staff, clients, and community. 

• Integrating faith with living and integrating being with doing, means striving for excellence. 

• Serve God now – in business, in the marketplace, in life! Don’t wait for retirement to serve!

• By applying biblical principles, we can excel both in doing good deeds, and in running a successful business. They are not mutually exclusive.

Did you know that God has a plan for your life? I think everyone should have a calling. There are two things that have become my governing principles for how I make decisions: first, what is the right thing to do? Secondly, have I the courage to do the right thing? 

I can think of two challenges that illustrate this: First, there was talk of a casino coming to Collingwood Ontario, where I operate my business, Living Waters Resort. Along with others from my church and community, we prayed together and signed a petition opposing this. When it came to a vote, it was defeated by one vote. This Councillor later told us that he felt compelled to change his support from ‘yes’ to a ‘no’ vote, thus stopping this project from going forward.

Secondly, the Mayor and a social agency shared with me the lack of even motel rental space for the homeless in Collingwood, where I live. Tears came to my eyes, and I knew it was from the Holy Spirit, so I immediately offered hotel space, to assist with this problem. That did not mean I did not fight a battle, however! 

During Covid maintaining health was a huge concern for everyone. Safety of staff, what hotel guests might think, and potential mental stability issues worried me, becoming fears I had to submit to God in prayer, yet I knew it was the right thing to do, so I persevered. By God’s grace, we excelled! 

We were even able to offer jobs to a few homeless, as trust relationships grew. Giving someone a fish to eat, after all, is not as valuable a lesson in independence as being able to teach someone how to fish! 

‘In conclusion’, says Larry Law, ‘How to be a good steward is my main job every day. Even through Covid, we tried to do things in a godly way, and taking care of my staff is what I see as my primary responsibility.’

When asked to share his favourite Bible verse, Larry responded by quoting Micah 6: 8b (NIV) ‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’

“Connecting your Sunday Faith to your Monday Work”

The Canadian Christian Business Federation exists to support business leaders in the study and application of Biblical leadership principles with peers in order to transform lives, strengthen businesses, and positively influence and impact our world. www.ccbf.org