The God of His Sucess

Harold 

The youngest of three children, Finch was born in Kansas City to a family ruled by an unloving and selfish father. His father worked for the US Postal Service, while his mother, Finch says, had to “work very hard doing household chores without operable washing machines and refrigerators.” The family was not well-to-do and Finch can recall times when he had to walk to school in deep snow during winter with holes in his shoes!

Despite the obstacles and inadequate footwear, Finch continued going to school. “I had a loving mother who encouraged me to use my God-given brain to become exceptional in my studies and career,” he says. “My aunt went to 

Most of all, however, Finch, now 82, has a resumé that includes NASA space scientist, college pioneer, business founder and owner, international speaker and corporate trainer, film producer and missionary. He attributes his success to God’s inspiration and guidance.

To the moon and back 

“The pastor introduced Jesus and God’s plan of salvation to us. And the Holy Spirit touched me in a mighty and unforgettable way. The three of us, each weeping, prayed to 

One of those earthly achievements was being one of NASA’s pioneering scientists who developed a method to keep astronauts safe from the vast temperature swings in outer space. This discovery, known as the barbecue roll, was made famous by Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 and enabled humans to land safely on the moon.

“It was an amazing time in the life of America,” Finch says of his time at NASA. “The quest to have a manned lunar landing united a population that had been divided by economic, racial and military issues. We were on the cutting edge of science. I had recently received a master’s degree in engineering and at that time there were no space science programs. But everyone else was in the same boat, and with our God-given creativity and knowledge of the basic sciences, we were collectively able to solve every challenge. Every day was so exciting! Going to work was like searching for another piece in a giant puzzle that no-one had ever before assembled.” 

Seeking God's plan

After NASA, Finch developed an academic program for a community college and served as its interim chief administrator. His entrepreneurial spirit eventually led him to cofound two very successful 

However, in spite of all of his achievements, Finch remains humble and reliant on God. 

Today, Finch speaks to thousands of university students and people of all professions about the secrets of earthly success—and he always ends with the gospel, which he says is the key to eternal success.

“When an institution rejects God, it’s deprived of His protection, power, guidance and leadership,” he says. The three keys presented during his seminars can give great success during life’s short time on earth, but the only key that can give us everlasting and infinite success is Jesus Christ. That key to life eternal is a free gift from God, ready for us to accept or reject. 

Giving Back

Finch’s love for God led him to do volunteer work in India and Venezuela, where he helped in orphanages—something he says made a huge impact on his life.

“Saying goodbye to a special little friend, Provowaddy, who had virtually nothing except a love for Jesus, broke my heart and confirmed my calling to missions,” he says. “It also led to the decision to sell our business interests so that my wife, Peggy, and I could devote our resources and the last third of our lives in giving back to society and serving the Lord.”

Finch’s time working in the orphanages led to his philosophy that every human being—even orphans rejected by their own parents—has the potential to achieve anything. This philosophy in turn led to his latest business venture, the 

Finch firmly believes the Bible verse that says that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) because, he says, “I have personally experienced the power of believing that all things are possible. Frankly, the four words that I just love to hear are, ‘You can’t do that!’ I’ve heard them often before undertaking something ‘impossible,’ and I love to prove the nasayers wrong!"

One of the boys Finch met in India 30 years ago was told he was low caste and could not get a public education or a real job. “But the boy believed me, not them,” Finch says, “and today Joseph Jillella is a college graduate who runs the orphanage I volunteered at, along with several