One Dollar at a Time

By Andy Raatz

A mouse, a young boy, a dollar.  What do they all have in common?

Impact.  Though seemingly insignificant, their impact is exponentially larger than their size.

Aesop’s mouse chewed the lion to freedom.

A young boy slung a rock to kill Goliath.

A twenty-dollar bill helped build a church in Moldova.

Freedom House

Recently I shared with a friend how we’ve accomplished so much with so little at Freedom Home.  He responded to me, “Of course, you had a big check given” to support the work.  He assumed we had a stable of major donors that regularly send us huge amounts!

“No,” I replied!  “That is far from the truth!”

GOD’S WORK IS DONE BY COUNTLESS PEOPLE

God’s work is done by countless people, caring enough to give time and money toward the ministry in Moldova.  It is done by a grandma caring enough to send $20 towards rebuilding a church, the teen sacrificing $100 for a Speed the Light vehicle, the working man giving $500 to provide a safe place for one of the girls at the home.

His work is done by a group of ordinary people who have dedicated their lives to being God’s boots on the ground in Moldova.  It is accomplished by great Moldovan coworkers who have stayed in Moldova believing that God is the hope for our nation. It is done by numerous church teams coming to build, serve, and minister, giving a week of their lives to make a difference. 

The Church is built by the seemingly insignificant.

Yes, I’ve had about two or three large donations over the years.  All were immediately plowed into the work, solving a pressing need.  Six years ago, when we were at the end of our rope in building Freedom Home, someone handed us a $25,000 check.  It was the last push to get the home finished.

But it was the end of a miracle accomplished by a myriad of small sacrifices.  We helped build the church in Mihaileni by $25 and $100 monthly supporters.  We drilled the well in Cojusna will the help of an ordinary family sending in $1,000.  We operate Freedom Home because someone cares to send in $400 toward one girl’s monthly expenses.

At times I wish had a wealthy supporter who could write out a $150,000 check tomorrow so we could build the church for New Life.  But we’ll do it, $100 at a time.

I wish I had $5,000 each month for Freedom Home.  But I know that God’s uses the sacrifices of ordinary people giving together to bring healing to those girls’ lives.

Instead of depending on one individual, I get a front row seat to the miracle of the “insignificant,” watching God use the widow’s mites to build His church and change our nation.

One dollar at a time.

One brick at a time.

One life at a time.

Andy and Nancy Raatz are AGWM missionaries to the Republic of Moldova.