One small act of service can make a difference beyond your expectations when God steps in.
Eighteen pairs of shoes. That was what Ellen, Mark, and their friend Phillip prayed for when they posted a simple message on Instagram. What happened next went far beyond anything they imagined.
At the Matariah Adventist Learning Center in Cairo, classrooms bring together refugee children and young adults whose lives have been disrupted by conflict. Many arrive without shoes or basic school supplies, some carrying broken backpacks or sharing a single notebook between siblings.
The three volunteers planned only to raise enough money to buy shoes for 18 children. But almost as soon as the donations began arriving, the support grew beyond the original need. Friends, relatives, and acquaintances responded generously, and soon there were funds for 40 pairs of shoes. Each time the group spent money, more came in. Before long, backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and even a printer for the school were purchased.
“Our goals were so small. We put limits,” Ellen said, “but God has no limits.”
The project expanded as new needs became clear. During a sponsorship interview, Ellen met a mother of seven whose husband had been killed in the conflict. Her older children worked to support the family, but food was running out. Hoping to help, Ellen reached out to family members to cover the cost of one food box. The support that came in was enough for ten.
That pattern continued. Ten boxes turned into forty, then ninety, and eventually over 140 food boxes, each one prepared according to the size of the family receiving it. When the last delivery was complete, there was still food left over—just enough to remind them that God’s provision never falls short.
The small acts of service, multiplied through God’s blessing, began to catch on. As more people joined in, one short-term volunteer who had come to provide dental care returned home inspired to share the story, helping raise over $7,000 for student tuition and health needs.
What began as a prayer for 18 pairs of shoes grew into a movement that reached across classrooms, families, and even continents.
As Ellen, Mark, and Phillip transition into another area of service, they do so with the joy of knowing the work will continue under the leadership of another person and the anticipation of seeing what God will do with their service in their new location.
Let us pray: Thank you God for caring about the needs of your children, for providing for us, and for being a God of abundance. We present our needs to you and we ask to join in in providing for the needs of others.