The Business of Blessing: How Harold’s Insurance Background Funds Kingdom Work

Harold E. Long is a man whose life seamlessly blends business acumen with deep-rooted faith. While he is most often recognized as a pastor, author, and recovery advocate, Harold’s journey through the insurance and financial services industry plays a crucial role in the mission-driven work he champions today. His ability to bridge the secular and the spiritual makes his story not only inspiring but uniquely effective in resourcing his ministry and helping others rise above their circumstances.

Before dedicating himself full-time to pastoral ministry, Harold enjoyed a prolific career in insurance and financial services. From 1984 to 1987, he worked in the insulation industry, laying the foundation for a life of hard work. Inspired by his mother, Patricia Ann Long—a trailblazer in her own right as one of the early women in insurance sales for AAA Missouri—Harold joined AAA Missouri in 1990. There, he served as a captive agent for eight years, developing his skills in customer service, financial planning, and risk management.

In 1998, Harold launched his own AAA Entrepreneur Agency. This step marked his shift from employee to business owner, allowing him to control both the financial and ethical direction of his work. He later founded HALO Insurance & Benefits Group and expanded operations with a partner from 2009 to 2016. His entrepreneurial ventures were not just about generating wealth—they were deeply influenced by his values. During this time, he also earned seven professional designations in insurance and financial services through prestigious organizations like The American College and the National Alliance.

By 2022, Harold co-founded American Insurance & Financial Services, dubbed “America’s Trusted Insurance Agency.” The revenue generated from these ventures has not only supported his family but has directly contributed to his mission work. This includes funding church programs, supporting recovery housing initiatives, and launching new ministries, such as Transformation Church in Eureka, Missouri.

Harold’s business background empowers him to manage ministries with operational efficiency and financial integrity. He applies business principles to fundraising, grant writing, and resource allocation. This pragmatic approach ensures that faith-based efforts aren’t just spiritually rich but also sustainable and scalable.

His experiences in the financial sector have also made Harold uniquely equipped to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs within faith communities. He often counsels individuals recovering from addiction not only spiritually but financially, teaching them how to rebuild their lives, secure employment, and manage money wisely. In Harold’s eyes, economic stability is an essential pillar of holistic recovery and spiritual renewal.

What makes Harold’s story stand out is how he has transformed business into a blessing. He doesn’t see wealth as an end, but as a means to serve others and expand God’s Kingdom. Whether it’s helping someone find freedom from addiction or planting a church to serve a broken community, Harold understands that financial empowerment is vital.

In an age where faith and business are often kept apart, Harold E. Long proves that the two can work hand in hand. Through his dual callings, he demonstrates that faithfulness in the marketplace can pave the way for faithfulness in ministry. For Harold, insurance was never just a career—it was preparation for a higher purpose.