It’s All About Trust
Profile of: Ron and Cristy Varela, owners of Ron E. Varela Company Inc., an excavating and grading company.
“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.”
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.
9 Responses to “It’s All About Trust”
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Dear Ron & Christy,
Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I have tremendously inspired having read your testimony. Your are really doing admirable service by helping the needy community in USA. I trust, being strong in faith, you both have love and concern for the oppressed, downtrodden and helpless Christian community living in poor countries like ours (i.e. Islamic Republic of Pakistan) where Christian population is nearly 2% only mostly living in abject poverty.
Our Ministry “Good News in Action tries to help our direly needy community in their Spiritual & Social uplift. Besides a few other services, we are running 7 schools in villages & slums where Poor Christian children are studying in not good environment. We are also helping orphan children in getting education/technical training.
They really need your prayer support & blessings, if possible.
We can provide you the detailed information of our service, if asked for.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
May God continue to bless you both, your family & business more abundantly!
With best wishes & regards,
Your Brother in Christ,
Rev. SADEEQ MALL
President, Good News in Action
DEAR RON AND CRISTY,I WAS THERE WHY DONT YOU TELL ALL,YOU OWE ME 4200.00 AND NOW I,M HOMELESS FOR 5 YRS.I COULD USE THAT MONEY.I SEE NOTHING OF THE REAL LIFE IN THIS PAST
RON,I REALLY NEED THIS MONEY
WHY DONT YOU USE YOUR REAL NAME, ROLAND EUGENE VARELA,WHY DID YOU NOT GO TO DON,S FUNERAL
Hi Bob,
I can see you’re upset and I’m sorry about that. This article wasn’t written by Ron and Cristy, it was written about an interview with them, so commenting here isn’t the best way to contact them. If you’re looking for someone to talk to or some help, I recommend you get in touch with one of our free online mentors at http://www.truthmedia.com/talk
God bless you!
Hi Kristi hi Ron hope you get this message used to be married to Frank Craig and I saw you last at the Vineyard back in the 80s and I think it was a blessing that we did running together and I hope that these days are better for you but knowing they are because you know Jesus God bless you both!
Dear Father God.
Lord I lift up Ron And Cristy to You as they continue to move forward under Your leadership. In Jesus Name Amen
Hey Rev Mall,Shelly, Linda, T.Glen,
No prayers for the people’s they used, cheated out there hard earned money, men lost their livelihood (trucks) he owed driver thousands of dollars each, dozens of them. from driver to the load counters.he could have shut down . But no he consciously chose to work his employees knowing their paychecks would bounce.
The formans showed up that final day took the heat from the crew.
ron verella…COWARD
he never even showed his face, probably best
PS everyone has problems financial and personal they new exactly what they were doing.
Hi Willa, I am sorry that you feel like the Varela’s took advantage of you and others. I tried to find information about the circumstances you describe but couldn’t find any details. This site doesn’t have any connection with the Varela’s nor the one who wrote the original article.
How have you tried to find hope after the financial impact of the Varela’s decisions?