For much of my life, I’ve dreamed of traveling to Africa. The closest I’d come to visiting the continent was a vacation with my parents to the Canary Islands when I was a teenager. But this was only a tiny glimpse of this diverse place on the other side of the planet. It was only after meeting Shadrach Gonqueh in 1995, that the idea gelled in my mind of going to his home country of Liberia someday. This was the year my friend came to the US as a refugee to finish his education and I first experienced the power of saving one and God’s miraculous math.
So, when I had the opportunity last month to travel to Liberia with Shadrach and his family, I jumped at the chance. I wanted to see what was happening in his country myself. Before this trip, I had no idea the number of people who had been positively affected by Shadrach and my community’s decision to help him. But God knew the potential impact over 30 years ago when this story began.
It was 1993 when a missionary speaking at my church casually mentioned Shadrach’s desire to further his education. Out of nowhere, the Lord spoke to my heart. You can help this young man. At the time, I was a busy mom and a full-time Family Doctor while Shadrach lived halfway around the world. He was attending an Operation Classroom school in the Ivory Coast after fleeing rebels during the Liberian Civil War. Yet he dreamed of becoming a doctor—an impossible aspiration given the ongoing fighting in his country. I wondered then how I or others in my circle of influence could possibly make a difference for him.
But I forgot that God specializes in impossibilities. He takes our meager offerings then orchestrate miracles. Like the loaves and fishes in the Bible, the Lord multiplies our efforts. After God planted this idea in my heart, I answered with a timid Yes. He then moved other individuals and churches in the Indianapolis area to help. By combining our resources, we enabled Shadrach to come to the US for his college education then Dental School. Now as a dentist, he cares for patients in an underserved area of Indianapolis in his own practice. I still marvel at what God can accomplish when we relinquish what little we have and are willing to partner with him.
God’s miraculous math and the power of saving one are beautifully illustrated in a book by Heather Morris entitled The Tattooist of Auschwitz. A Slovakian Jew named Lale Sokolov is the hero of this story which is based on true events during WWII. Throughout the three years of Lale’s captivity in Auschwitz, he chose to help other prisoners in small, seemingly inconsequential ways. Yet, every kind gesture made a difference. Ultimately, his actions enabled him as well as several others in the camp to survive the holocaust.
Choosing kindness even when confronted with the overwhelming hopelessness of a concentration camp, was an act of faith. Every compassionate deed served as an act of defiance against a system bent on the total destruction of the Jews. Despite inhumane treatment by the Nazis, Lale never lost his sense of humanity. Throughout his imprisonment, he reasoned that each individual life he saved was of infinite value and worth the risk of torture or even death.
To save one is to save the world.
The words of Lale Sokolov in The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Like Lale Sokolov, in the moment, we are not able to grasp the profound impact of our decisions to act compassionately. It’s only in retrospect we see the ripple effect created by our kindness. And this was true of the interactions I had with Shadrach over 30 years ago. When he became a doctor, I had no idea this was only the beginning of God’s plan for Shad’s story.
Unbeknownst to me, Shadrach began working to help the Liberian people upon his arrival in the US in 1995. From establishing the Liberian International Christian College to serving on the board of Operation Classroom, Shad has promoted education for West African youth. He is a leader in the Indianapolis Liberian community while encouraging and supporting his family back home. I saw all the fruit of his tireless efforts during our travels throughout Liberia on my ten-day visit. The power of saving one is real and the multiplying effect on progress is evident throughout the country.
Even though Liberia has a long way to go to regain what it lost during the war, the country is moving forward. After returning home, I’m still struggling to process everything I saw and heard while there. The ripple effect of Shadrach’s life is ongoing and thankfully, there are many other Liberians like him also trying to make a difference for their country. Each positive step of progress begets another and bolsters hope for everyone. I don’t know what blessings God has in mind for Liberia in the future. But I’m excited to continue this journey with Shadrach as a partner with other Liberians in this grand, unfinished story.
Over the years, I’ve witnessed the miraculous power of saving one and watched as God took my tiny efforts and multiplied them for His glory. I am convinced that every decision made in obedience to Him matters eternally. And I hope never to forget what God has impressed on my heart throughout this amazing experience.
Every life is of infinite value and to save one is to save the world.
The very beating of your heart has meaning and purpose. Your actions have value far greater than silver or gold. Your life . . . and what you do with it today matters forever.
Andy Andrews from his book, The Butterfly Effect.
