It’s All About Trust
by Karen StillerRon and Cristy Varela, owners of Ron E. Varela Company Inc. an excavating and grading company.
Video of their story
"Originally we were doing two or three million dollars a year, and it grew up to five and seven or ten million dollars." "We ended up growing that company into eventually a 30 million dollar a year company, had up to 150 employees."
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Two kids meet at 14. They fall in love. The girl gets pregnant, and at sixteen they marry because they want to keep their baby.
But that is chapter one of the story of Ron and Cristy Varela of Varela Companies, the umbrella corporation for a multi-million dollar business.
When Ron and Cristy first married, Ron moved from job to job. Beginning with valet parking outside of Disneyland in their home state of California, Ron moved to a pizza place, which gave way to a yogurt company, then orange juice, and the list 
goes on. What they all had in common was Ron’s determination to provide for his new family—and that each one paid a little more than the last one.
“Cristy was nervous about all the different jobs I had,” remembers Ron, “but they always seemed to be better than the last one.”
Ron’s fortunes began to change when he convinced a trucking company to take him on, even though he couldn’t drive a truck.
“He would show that he could do the work,” says Cristy,
“He was able to learn almost anything he ever tried to do. And he did it well.”
Driving a truck led to buying one of his own, a short-lived ownership because the company went bankrupt.
A setback in some people’s eyes, but for Ron it was an opportunity to get an eagle’s eye view of the construction business that had caught his attention.
“I learned all the different phases of the business. I thought I would give it a try. I’ve always had big vision. I just figured I could do it.”
Ron started his own excavation and grading company. Cristy helped out from a home office.
“We’ve always worked well together, and I was able to work and take care of the kids,” says Cristy.
“We ended up growing that company into a thirty million dollar a year company,” says Ron. “We had up to 150 employees and a lot of equipment. It got to where we thought we were invincible. I was staying out late and drinking with our friends and having too much fun.”
Drinking became trouble for Ron, and his family. “I hated his drinking,” says Cristy. His children (now two of them) noticed how Ron would change when he drank, becoming more tough and stubborn.
Nothing could have prepared Ron and his family for what was to come.
First, his business hit a major roadblock when a landslide destroyed part of a highway one of Ron’s companies was tied up with. Business ground to a halt, and Ron ended up in a lengthy court battle that he settled eventually, but in the process lost much of his net worth.
“It seemed like everything around him was falling apart,” remembers his daughter Jennifer.
The worse was yet to come.
Ron refused to give up his car keys after drinking too much at a party. He fell asleep at the wheel and woke up in jail. It was a real wake-up call for Ron.
”It was a pretty tough moment, but a good moment for us, because I think that was the turning point,” says son Jason.
The family started to attend church together.
“We started to realize that we had to have faith and trust,” says Ron.
The self-made millionaire says:
“We just realized that we can’t to it all ourselves. When you start to have faith, you realize that it’s not all about you. You start treating people the way you would like to be treated.”
A breast cancer scare for Cristy solidified their new-found faith.
“For some reason, I had a peace about everything that I can’t explain, and I know that comes from God.”
Jason and Jennifer noticed the difference in their parents, especially what they describe as a “softening” in their father.
“You learn your priorities,” says Ron. “You put the Lord first.”
Business became reprioritized as the Varela's sought to live out their faith in every part of their lives.
“I think before it was how many toys you could have. It changed our priorities about material things. We have now had the opportunity to give back,” says Ron.
Jennifer says she sees
“a new success in his life. We see people that are in need, and we want to help.”
Ron and Cristy Varela say that their secret to success is pretty simple; it is the time-tested combination of
“hard work and perseverance.” And it is “mostly because God has given us the courage to go forward,” says Cristy. “We trust each other. And we trust Him.”
Have you ever tried doing business according to the Bible? Why not ask Jesus for help? If you do not know Jesus, we encourage you to pray the following:
Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be.
Is it the desire of your heart to make this prayer yours?
If yes, pray now and according to his promise, Jesus Christ will come into your life.
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about this article or about the Christian faith.
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Gene Birdwell
Don Voth