A God Wink on the Playground: One Little Girl’s Words and a Lifetime of PurposeThis week a beautiful little girl stopped me on the playground and spoke words that my friends later called a “God wink.”“I am so happy when I see you on the playground!!” she said, beaming. “I love seeing your face! When I see your face I feel safe and protected.”Her words landed straight in my heart. I fought back tears right there because, in that moment, I knew something deep and true: all the years of work had been worth it. Our efforts to help children feel safe are actually working.

For the last several years, my greatest heart’s desire has been to ensure children are safe—truly safe, both physically and emotionally. Looking back, that calling has quietly shaped my entire life and career.
It began with my first job as a lifeguard. Then came years as a youth pastor, followed by leading a rescue mission. I’ve fed hungry kids from the back of a van on city streets,

launched Good Samaritan Urban Ministries with a coalition of churches, helped create 156 units of family housing, after-school programs, a food pantry, summer camps, and support that reached more than 300 children. Later, as Associate Pastor of Outreach at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California, I led our congregation in serving the vulnerable families and children right in our neighborhood.
Then came my role as President and CEO of the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles. There, we welcomed hundreds of families and over 1,000 children across three sites—including Skid Row, one of the toughest neighborhoods in the country. Welcoming children into places of safety and peace has always been my highest priority.
Every child we served reminded me of my own dad. From ages four to seventeen, he was vulnerable and often without a stable home. He eventually worked hard, got his own apartment, and even brought his mom in off the streets. His story has always fueled my passion: no child should have to wonder if they’re safe.

That’s why the little girl’s words on the playground meant so much. In her innocent, joyful voice, I heard confirmation that something real is happening. The programs, the housing, the meals, the presence—our collective work—is making a daily difference in young lives. When children look at the people around them and feel protected, that’s the fruit we’ve been praying for.
I left the playground that day with a full heart and renewed resolve. There is still so much work to do, but moments like this remind me why we keep showing up.
If you’re working to make this world safer for children—in your family, your church, your school, or your community—please know your efforts matter. Sometimes a small child will be the one to remind you just how much.