When Gifts and Needs Meet!

Our world is filled with people with gifts and people with needs. Part of what I think God wants to do is match up people’s gifts with other people’s needs. The size of the gift or need of the persons involved doesn’t seem to matter.

Amelia Lisowe lives in Arkansas and is a very busy twelve-year-old competing in dancing and acting. Her family has a motto which says, “find something you’re good at and use it to make the world a better place.” She decided to do that. She discovered that she had friends who were living in foster homes. She felt that all of her friends should have a night light when they go into the foster-care program.

Amelia learned that many children have to be rescued out of their homes in the middle of the night because of neglect, abuse, or drugs. She said, “Having that night light makes it more comfortable in a new house where they may not know anybody and makes them feel more safe.”

Amelia remembers that when she was 8 years old, she wanted to volunteer, but nobody wanted an 8-year-old volunteer. She was told she was too young. Instead of feeling defeated, she just decided to be more persistent to follow her dream.

She shared her idea of collecting night lights for foster children with one of her schoolteachers. Her school started a drive collecting $1 donations to help buy night lights. That simple idea from a young girl has now spread to countries like England, Poland, France, Ukraine, and New Zealand.

In February 2023, she initiated an Ambassadors of Light program. Through this, young people would host night-light-packing parties in their communities to help minister to foster care programs.

Amelia discovered that her vision not only made a difference in the lives of children in foster care programs but has also given a sense of purpose to young people who are helping provide night lights. Both the giver and receiver are blessed. That’s the way it is in using your gift to serve. She is helping puncture a hole in the darkness of fear in a lot of foster care homes by providing a simple night light.

A foster care organization in Tennessee said that the first thing the kids always pull out of their bags in a new foster home is the night light. A little idea is making a big difference. She didn’t start this ministry to get recognition–she started it because she wanted to use her God-given talent to help make a difference in the lives of people.

If you dream about something that would be beneficial to you, it will probably turn into a nightmare. If you dream about a ministry that can make a difference in the lives of other people, you can see a dream come true! (Tweet this)

When some child or young person brings up an idea in your church, don’t put it down just because it comes from a youth. Arkansas foster care is different today because an eight-year-old had some ideas and kept pursuing them until somebody began to help her. My Arkansas friends would say, “Woo Pig Sooie!!”

One day there were 5,000 people who had been listening to Jesus teach. It was late, and people had nothing to eat. A little boy provided five loaves and two fish. When he gave his lunch to Jesus, it was enough to feed everybody. (John 6:1-14) A little becomes a lot when it’s put into God’s hands.

I think God loves seeing the gifts of people matched with the needs of people. What is your gift, and what need are you meeting? Remember—the size of the idea and the age of the person with the idea are not determining factors.

God has a place for you to be a light in the world!