Alan Barnhart: Radical Generosity and Rethinking Ownership
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Today on The Servant Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Alan Barnhart—an industrial CEO whose life and business model turn conventional success upside down. Alan leads Barnhart Crane & Rigging, a company with over 60 branches and over twenty-five hundred employees. What makes his story remarkable isn’t just the scale of the business—it’s the conviction behind how they run it. From the very beginning, Alan and his brother committed their company and its profits to God. They capped their lifestyles and have reinvested hundreds of millions of dollars into Kingdom work around the world—all while building one of the most respected names in heavy industry.

In this episode, Alan shares how biblical stewardship has guided every major decision—and how stewarding their ownership has unlocked great purpose and legacy. He also unpacks how joy fuels their giving, and how stewardship and servant leadership shape everything from family rhythms to executive strategy. Whether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or just someone wrestling with how faith intersects with work and wealth, this episode will challenge your thinking and inspire you to lead differently.

Timestamps:00:00 Alan Barnhart's Intro01:03 Welcome Alan Barnhart01:09 Alan Explains Barnhart Crane and Rigging01:56 The Size of Barnhart Crane and Rigging02:23 The Journey of Barnhart Crane and Rigging03:36 Bold Decisions About Money06:07 Profit: Half to Grow and Half to Ministry07:22 Deciding Where The Money Goes09:03 The Joy of Giving10:43 Second Thoughts?12:08 Reactions to Alan's Lifestyle16:10 Building The Servant Leadership Mentality Into The Team17:31 The Magnitude of Money Given20:13 Alan's Thoughts About His Legacy22:13 Communicating Stewardship to Others24:01 Involving Family In Generous Giving26:54 10-Rapid-Fire Questions28:55 Closing

Additional information for Alan Barnhart: https://generousgiving.org/alan-and-katherine-barnhart/

https://www.barnhartcrane.com/

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