Barry Meguiar may be best known for polishing cars to a mirror shine, but ask him what really drives his life, and he won’t mention car wax — he’ll talk about Christ.
“We’re all in full-time ministry,” Meguiar told The Christian Post. “Everything we say and do, from the time we wake up in the morning to the time we go to bed at night, is either moving people closer to Jesus or further away.”
From Car Crazy to Christ Crazy
As reported by The Christian Post, the 82-year-old founder of Meguiar’s Inc. has spent over six decades building one of the most recognizable brands in automotive care. But beneath the business success is a man whose real focus is eternal impact. Even while filming the hit Discovery show Car Crazy, Meguiar said he was more excited about sharing Jesus than showing off engines.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
“Whenever I see you, I’ve gone over and watched you,” one car enthusiast once told him. “And watching your life, I realized that’s a God I want to serve.”
Through his ministry, Ignite America, and his syndicated radio feature Ignite with Barry Meguiar, he’s encouraging believers to stop waiting for the “right moment” and start walking in bold faith.
Order Barry Meguiar’s Book, Ignite Your Life, on Amazon.com!
Breaking the Fear Barrier
Statistically, Meguiar said, only about 1% of Christians actively share their faith. He believes the biggest obstacle isn’t ability, but fear.
“Satan puts fear in people,” he said. “They’re afraid they’ll get asked questions they won’t know how to answer. We even have a whole section on our website called ‘Most Frequent Excuses.’ But the truth is, you don’t need a script. You just need love and the Holy Spirit.”
Even in tragedy, Meguiar found an opportunity to shine the light of Christ. When his daughter died unexpectedly at 49, he used her funeral as a Gospel platform.
“I knew most people at her funeral wouldn’t be Christian because they were car guys,” he said. “So I shared the whole Gospel. … I cried as I spoke, but I opened up about the joy and hope we can still have in Christ.”
A Joy That Doesn’t Fade
That unshakeable joy — the kind that survives even heartbreak — started decades ago at a church banquet.
“I walked out in tears,” Meguiar said. “I said, ‘That’s what I want. I want that joy.'”
From that night forward, he and his wife Karen made evangelism their lifestyle. Not just on Sundays. Not just during ministry events. Every day.
“We’ve never lost it,” he said. “It’s crazy, but that joy is still there.”
What Really Matters
Rooted in John 15:11, Meguiar’s outlook on life is simple and profound: joy comes from bearing fruit.
“How do you have full, lasting joy every day? By bearing fruit,” he said. “And the only thing that will matter when we get to Heaven is how many people are there because of our influence.”
For a man who once built his life around a showroom shine, it turns out the legacy that matters most can’t be buffed — it’s built through bold faith and everyday obedience.
“Every day is an adventure,” Meguiar said. “You have no idea who you’re going to talk to today, but you can be sure God wants to use you.”
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
