John grew up as an only child in a separated home. Although he was baptized in the Lutheran Church at an early age, his faith never progressed beyond book knowledge. In 1954, John attended Bethany High School in Minnesota for his sophomore year, taking a train to Mankato with just a trunk of clothes and supplies. This move marked the true beginning of his journey as God worked through John and those around him, leading him to meet his future wife, Karen, and igniting his passion for architectural drafting.

With a restless and yearning spirit, John traveled across the country, working a wide variety of jobs, including architectural draftsman, vocational teacher, and furniture sales manager. Throughout these years, he and his wife attended churches and joined Bible studies, where John deepened his relationship with Christ. In 1992, John made a life-altering decision by resigning from his job and moving to Lincoln, where he operated his own furniture store. Two years later, he finally rededicated his life to Christ at a Promise Keepers event.

As John's relationship with God deepened, he realized his increasing need for divine guidance. Shortly after his rededication, John was diagnosed with an abdominal tumor. His doctor prayed with him through the process, and through the Holy Spirit, John found peace—and he remains healthy to this day.

Throughout the trials in his life, John’s favorite Bible verse became Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” He writes this verse each month in his planner as part of his mission statement, which has guided him for the past 15 years. The more he matured, John saw how God had moved throughout his life, even when he didn’t recognize it in the moment. He understood that God isn’t opposed to using circumstances to guide people where they need to be, even when it involves pain.

For John, the focus was never on leaving a personal legacy but on reflecting God’s legacy through his life. He firmly believed that without a mission or purpose, one loses focus. His mission statement encapsulated this belief:

“Be God’s servant in all I do to grow and develop others in my daily walk with Jesus, my family, friends, business and social contacts, and all I come in contact with daily. Leave a Godly legacy to Karen, my children, and great-grandchildren, and all my family. Be in God’s Word daily, daily walk with Jesus as my personal Savior, be open to His purpose and direction for my life through the Holy Spirit by placing individuals in my life that need to know Jesus as their own personal savior and help them to be in God’s word in prayer. Surrender my life to God daily by giving up my pride and selfishness by focusing daily on His word and listening to the Holy Spirit through quiet times and for His guidance, patience, and wisdom.”

This is the mission John committed to living out each day, seeking to leave a legacy that reflects not himself but God’s work in his life.

You can learn more about John Radway and his work through Legacy Dynamics here: About — Legacy Dynamics