The moment
In 1993, David Steward watched a collection company repossess his Lincoln from World Wide Technology’s parking lot while the office stood dark, bills went unpaid, and creditors pressed in. Then his mother-in-law called, read Psalm 91, and prayed—an act of faith that became a turning point.
The response
Steward’s turning point was not a sudden rescue or a denial of the crisis. In the dark office, after banks had shut the company down and its finances had been damaged by theft, Dorothy Willis reminded him of faith and the importance of giving. He received the call, prayer, and scripture, then kept going. World Wide Technology survived, pursued government work, and grew into a major technology company.
What to carry forward
Closed doors can leave real wounds, but Steward’s example asks what persistence, forgiveness, and service might make possible next. He kept showing up, learned from his parents’ self-reliance and faith, and chose a long view focused less on the next quarter than on serving clients and community.
A question for your own story
When a setback makes you feel shut out, what would it look like to keep showing up without surrendering your faith, generosity, or sense of purpose?
Sources cited in the chapter
- World Wide Technology Chairman Dave Steward on Founding the Largest Black-Owned Company in America
- The Billionaires Behind The Secret Tech Mecca In America’s Heartland
Continue with the complete story in Adversity’s Gift.
A concise chapter adaptation from Adversity’s Gift by Lawrence Colbert. Read the complete story and source list in the book. Featured subjects’ inclusion is separate from endorsement.