Sometimes the most world-changing events begin with a whisper—a nudge, a quiet conversation, an act of obedience that seems small at the time. These ten real-life stories of every day people, show how simple faithfulness to God’s prompting can lead to eternal impact in ways we could never predict.
1. Albert McMakin & Billy Graham
Albert McMakin wasn’t a preacher. He wasn’t a missionary. He was a simple North Carolina farmer in the 1930s who loved Jesus. After becoming a Christian, he had a deep burden for his friends to know Christ too.
One friend he was especially burdened for was a teenage farm boy named Billy Graham. Billy wasn’t particularly interested in religion, and initially resisted going to the evangelistic meeting Albert was attending. But Albert wouldn’t give up. He kept inviting. Eventually, he offered to let Billy drive the truck to the meeting—which piqued Billy’s interest.
That night, Billy Graham heard the Gospel, was convicted of his sin, and ultimately gave his life to Christ. No one could have guessed that this one conversion would result in Billy Graham preaching to over 215 million people worldwide, becoming the most well-known evangelist of the 20th century.
The act of faithfulness: A quiet farmer didn’t preach to the masses—he simply invited a friend to meet Jesus.
2. Gladys Aylward & the Orphans of China
Born in 1902 in London, Gladys Aylward was a housemaid who felt a strong calling to serve as a missionary in China. When she applied to a mission board, they rejected her—she wasn’t educated enough, and she failed her Bible class. But her conviction never wavered.
Undeterred, she worked hard, saved her earnings, and eventually traveled to China on her own by train through war zones—an incredibly dangerous journey.
In China, she worked with an elderly missionary woman, and when that woman passed, Gladys took over the mission. She became known for her work with children and her dedication to adopting and rescuing orphans. During the Japanese invasion, she famously led over 100 children across treacherous mountains to safety—on foot, with no resources but her faith.
The act of faithfulness: Saying yes to God’s call, despite rejection, danger, and overwhelming odds.
3. Corrie ten Boom & the Hiding Place
Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian watchmaker in the Netherlands during World War II. She and her family were deeply committed to their Christian faith and felt convicted to help their Jewish neighbors during the Nazi occupation.
They created a secret room in their home—The Hiding Place—where they sheltered Jews. Eventually, the Nazis discovered their operation. Corrie and her family were arrested; her father and sister died in custody. Corrie was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, where she endured horrific conditions.
But even in the camp, she smuggled in a Bible and led secret Bible studies, bringing hope to the women around her. After the war, she began sharing her story and preaching forgiveness—even confronting one of her former prison guards and forgiving him publicly.
The act of faithfulness: Courageously lived out Christ’s love, risking her life and choosing to forgive the unforgivable.
4. George Müller & the Power of Prayer
George Müller lived in the 1800s in England and was known for founding orphanages that cared for over 10,000 children during his lifetime. But what makes his story incredible is how he operated: he never asked for money or help from people. He only prayed.
Müller believed in demonstrating God’s ability to provide, and he wanted to show that God could be trusted with every need. He would pray, journal his requests, and wait. And time after time, God answered.
One famous incident tells of a morning when there was no food for the orphans. Müller sat the children at the tables, gave thanks for food that hadn’t yet come, and trusted God. Within minutes, a baker knocked, saying he had felt led to bake extra bread the night before. Then a milk cart broke down outside the orphanage, and the milkman offered them the contents.
The act of faithfulness: Radical trust in God’s provision, expressed through daily, quiet prayer.
5. Henrietta Mears & Mentoring the Next Generation
In the 1930s, Henrietta Mears was a schoolteacher turned Sunday school director at Hollywood Presbyterian Church. At a time when Sunday school was often considered boring and shallow, she brought vision, order, and passion to the program.
Under her leadership, the youth ministry exploded—from 400 to 4,000 students. But more importantly, she personally discipled and mentored many of the young people who would later have massive influence on Christianity in the 20th century.
Among those impacted by her were:
Bill Bright, who later founded Campus Crusade for Christ (now CRU), which would spread the Gospel to millions of students globally. Billy Graham, who visited her retreat center and was deeply inspired by her clarity of vision and theological depth.
She also helped found Gospel Light Publishing and Forest Home Christian Conference Center, both of which continue her legacy.
The act of faithfulness: Quietly and consistently mentoring young people, sowing seeds of leadership that would impact millions.
6. Edward Kimball & D.L. Moody
Dwight Lyman Moody was born in 1837 in Northfield, Massachusetts. He moved to Boston at 17 to work in his uncle’s shoe store. His uncle required him to attend church in order to stay employed.
Moody attended Mount Vernon Congregational Church, and it was there that a Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball took a personal interest in him.
On April 21, 1855, Kimball felt strongly impressed to visit Moody at the shoe store where he worked. Nervously, Kimball went into the store and spoke with Moody in the back room about the love of Christ and the importance of accepting Him personally.
According to Kimball’s own recollection, he wasn’t sure his words had any effect at the time. But in that back room of the shoe store, Moody later said he gave his heart to Christ.
That seemingly small moment of obedience on Kimball’s part was the catalyst for Moody’s transformation. Moody would go on to become a world-famous evangelist, founding the Moody Bible Institute and leading countless thousands to Christ through his preaching and revival work both in the U.S. and the U.K.
The act of faithfulness: A Sunday school teacher followed a quiet prompting—and helped launch a movement that would reach millions.
7. Susanna Wesley – The Mother Who Discipled a Nation
Susanna Wesley (1669–1742) was the mother of John and Charles Wesley, the founders of the Methodist movement, which would eventually lead to spiritual revivals across England and America.
She gave birth to 19 children, though only 10 survived infancy. Her life was far from easy—she endured poverty, a house fire that nearly killed her children, and a husband who was often absent or imprisoned for debt. But despite all this, she remained devoted to raising her children with a foundation in Christ.
Susanna made time to personally disciple each child—setting aside one hour each week with every one of them, including the boys who would one day shake nations. She also held regular Bible studies and prayer meetings in her home, which began to attract hundreds of people, drawing more than the local church services.
Her influence on John and Charles was profound. John would later say:
“I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England.”
She never preached to crowds, traveled abroad, or founded institutions—but her legacy helped launch a spiritual awakening that impacted millions.
The act of faithfulness: Quiet, consistent investment in her children’s spiritual lives—raising revivalists in her own home.
8. Amy Carmichael – The Missionary Who Refused to Quit
Amy Carmichael (1867–1951) was an Irish missionary to India who served for 55 years without a furlough. Born in a wealthy Presbyterian family in Northern Ireland, Amy felt God’s call to missions at a young age. Though her health was fragile, her resolve was unshakable.
In India, Amy encountered the horrific practice of temple prostitution, where young girls—some as young as 5—were dedicated to Hindu temples and sexually exploited. Deeply grieved, Amy began rescuing them and taking them into her care. This decision was highly controversial and dangerous, putting her at odds with cultural norms and spiritual powers of the time.
She founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, which became a sanctuary for hundreds of children. Amy insisted on total dependence on God for resources—never fundraising—and she adopted Indian dress, customs, and language to show the love of Christ without colonial overtones.
Later in life, she suffered a severe fall and became bedridden for 20 years, yet she continued to write extensively—authoring over 35 books—which deeply influenced generations of missionaries and intercessors.
The act of faithfulness: Rescuing the unseen and unwanted, enduring suffering, and writing truth that still bears fruit.
9. Elisabeth Elliot – Obedient in Sorrow, Strong in Surrender
Elisabeth Elliot (1926–2015) was the wife of Jim Elliot, one of five missionaries murdered by the Waodani tribe (also called Auca) in the Ecuadorian jungle in 1956. The men had gone to reach this unreached people group with the Gospel—knowing the risk was high.
After Jim’s death, most would have returned home broken. But Elisabeth—along with Rachel Saint, sister of one of the other slain missionaries—chose to stay in Ecuador. She continued to live among and learn from the local tribes and, eventually, moved in with the very people who had killed her husband.
Over time, the Gospel softened their hearts. Many came to Christ—including the very men who had participated in the killings.
Elisabeth returned to the U.S. and began a lifetime ministry of writing, teaching, and speaking. Her book Through Gates of Splendor remains a Christian classic. Her message, forged in suffering, became a powerful voice on topics like obedience, suffering, and trusting God without full understanding.
The act of faithfulness: Forgiving, staying, and loving the very people who brought her unimaginable loss—because Christ loved them first.
10. Fanny Crosby – Blind Hymn Writer with Eternal Vision
Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915) lost her eyesight as an infant, but she never saw her blindness as a curse. Instead, she believed it was a gift from God that helped her see the world through spiritual eyes.
Fanny began writing poetry at age 8 and would go on to write more than 8,000 hymns, including beloved classics like:
Blessed Assurance To God Be the Glory Rescue the Perishing All the Way My Savior Leads Me
Her songs have been translated into countless languages and sung by millions across centuries.
Fanny was also active in urban missions. She worked in New York City rescue missions, ministering to the poor, the addicted, and the homeless—many of whom came to Christ through her witness and songs.
Despite global fame, she lived simply and gave most of her earnings to charity. When asked if she regretted being blind, she replied:
“If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind… for when I die, the first face I ever will see will be the face of my blessed Savior.”
The act of faithfulness: Turning personal limitation into a platform for praise—using her voice to help millions worship.
Conclusion: Faithfulness Over Fame
These stories remind us that the most extraordinary spiritual outcomes often begin with ordinary acts of obedience. Whether it’s inviting a friend, praying in secret, mentoring a young person, or risking everything for others—God often does His greatest work through the simplest obedience.
We may not always understand why God nudges us in a certain direction. We may not see the outcome in our lifetime. But God does. He sees what’s happening in people’s hearts. He knows the eternal impact of our obedience—even when we don’t.
Our job is not to understand everything. Our job is to trust Him and be faithful.
When God leads, we don’t need all the answers. We only need to say yes.
The Sisterhood Hub 