Larry O'Nan – Stewardship, Struggle, and the Freedom to Fail

In the sleepy town of Grand Junction, Colorado, Larry O’Nan’s life began in the shadow of World War II. The son of a bi-vocational preacher and small-business owner, he was raised on sermons, simplicity, and stories carved into the wood grain of a small-town church. But even as a boy, Larry was unknowingly training for a life far larger than any stage he would one day step on.

He thought he’d found his calling in theater—mesmerized by the lights, the sets, the craft of turning words into life. But in college, a moment of quiet crisis cracked open the truth: the world of performance was too crowded with people pretending. He wanted something more authentic. Something real.

And real is exactly what life gave him.

From Theater Dreams to Purposeful Detours

After graduating with a degree in theater and speech, Larry never spent a day teaching. Instead, he took an unexpected turn—one that would lead him not to Broadway, but to a worldwide ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ. His talents in directing found new expression as he oversaw the production and touring of music groups across the U.S. and abroad, using creativity not for applause but for connection.

But just as he settled into that rhythm, another unexpected twist: organizational restructuring. A job lost. A calling questioned. A crisis—but not an end.

Instead, it became a beginning.

A Tub Full of Pledge Cards and a New Life Calling

It started with a bathtub—literally. Larry was asked to make sense of 29 boxes of untouched pledge cards, commitments from a massive fundraising event that had gone unprocessed. No training. No roadmap. Just chaos.

So he got to work.

From that chaos emerged clarity. Larry began to understand the mechanics and ethics of fundraising—not as manipulation, but as stewardship. Over four decades, he built a career rooted in what he called the "freedom to fail." If you’re willing to fall, he believed, you’re finally free to build something new.

This mindset would carry him through a lifetime of leadership, crisis management, and coaching others into their purpose.

The Long Journey of the Eye

In 1967, Larry sat in the back of a church and realized—for the first time in his life—he couldn’t see clearly. A diagnosis soon followed: keratoconus, a rare eye disease. Doctors told him he’d need a corneal transplant within 10 years.

He didn’t get one for 57.

Why? Because he stewarded his sight with the same diligence he gave to his calling. Contact lenses. Discipline. Patience. And finally, in his 80s, a successful transplant using a donor cornea from a 38-year-old who had passed away. Now, he sees through the gift of another life—and treats that gift with sacred care.

It’s not just a metaphor. It’s Larry’s life in practice.

A Legacy of Intentional Living

Larry’s journey has culminated in a book, Intentional Living and Giving, a roadmap for those ready to move from survival to stewardship. It outlines nine core principles of biblical stewardship, followed by practical chapters on how to apply them.

For Larry, stewardship isn’t just about money—it’s about life. It’s about managing someone else’s resources, time, and opportunities as if they were your own. Because, in his eyes, they never really were yours to begin with.

And now, as a widower who once held the hand of a beloved wife through terminal illness, Larry continues to wake up each morning with one question: What am I meant to manage today?

Key Takeaways from Larry O’Nan’s Journey

1. Failure isn’t the enemy—it’s the gateway – Larry’s greatest achievements were born from uncertainty and risk.

2. Visionary goals spark meaningful progress – Aiming for 100,000 attendees and getting 82,000 isn’t failure—it’s success multiplied.

3. Purpose grows in the soil of crisis – Whether it’s a job loss or a medical challenge, Larry teaches that adversity reveals calling.

4. Stewardship is a lifestyle, not a job – We are caretakers, not owners, of our time, talent, and treasure.

5. Intentionality turns chaos into clarity – Living with purpose means asking better questions and choosing growth every day.

Today, Larry continues to mentor, coach, and inspire through his writing and speaking. His message? You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to get up, be willing to fail, and manage what you’ve been given—one day at a time.

Get a signed copy of his book or learn more about his mission at LarryOnan.com or find Intentional Living and Giving on Amazon.