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In tribute to Paul Martin Kuck
A Steel and Velvet Model for Business Leaders

The last extensive post explored who is our brother. I understand that most people are not theoretical, but practical. They want to know how this type of commitment looks in daily life. How does commitment to ministry in the City look and can it be accomplished. My friend and brother, the late Paul M. Kuck, founder of Regal Marine Boats in Orlando has shown us how.

Carl Sandburg, speaking of Abraham Lincoln before a joint session of the Congress, said: "Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, and who is as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect."

Paul Kuck was such a man. His resolve and tenacity were like steel. Concerning the bottom line, he was focused. Yet, his heart was soft for the things of God and for the defenseless and disenfranchised.

Paul founded Regal (www.regalboats.com<http://www.regalboats.com/>) in 1969 and struggled at first to make the business survive. Then, he did the unusual. He determined to help those who could never repay him. He played a key role in the beginnings of Prison Fellowship with Chuck Colson. His passion for saving lives led him to serve on the board of CareNet, a consortium of crisis pregnancy centers throughout America. In addition, Paul supported Frontline Outreach for 30 years and was instrumental in recruiting me to Orlando. He once told me that when he realized that all he had belonged to God, he dedicated himself to fulfilling not his own agenda, but God's.

Here was a man who built a worldwide business in the luxury boat industry while serving in prison ministry, the pro-life movement and urban ministry. Yet, if anyone had an excuse for not getting involved, it would have been Paul Kuck. In addition to operating a struggling business, he had never been to prison, had no personal connection to abortion, and didn't live in the urban area. In fact, Paul had grown up in the small farming community of New Knoxville, Ohio where there were no black and Latino people.

But God shaped Paul's heart to reach out and serve his brothers. The same will happen to anyone who is willing to let go of excuses and earnestly ask God to reveal His desire for their life's impact.

In his lifetime, Paul and his wife Carol gave untold sums to ministries and immersed himself in God's call. In the process, Regal Marine grew to a multimillion dollar enterprise with distributors worldwide.

Here is the practical application: God created only one Paul Kuck, but your life is no less significant. God has put a passion in your heart to reach those who could never repay you. You, too, can be a business leader and have real impact in ministry. The question: Will you answer God's call? When you do, watch Him work in ways you never thought possible.

Two passages from Proverbs should serve as motivation:
"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself
be refreshed. ~ Proverbs 11:25
"He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and He will reward him
for what he has done." ~ Proverbs 19:17

I ask you to continue to pray with me that God's will be done in our community. And please share your thoughts, article topics, and/or questions. Thank you in advance for praying and fulfilling your unique role in bringing God's Light to the City. Be blessed!

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