August 11, 2025 • 27 mins
What happens when someone hands you an envelope of cash and says, "this is for someone in New York City"? For Vangie, it sparked a series of events that led to a miraculous encounter with a pregnant woman on a subway train—who just happened to be asking for exactly $47.
In this episode of When You Look, you'll hear about timing, faith, obedience, and the kind of divine appointments that can only be orchestrated by God. Hear how this encounter changed not just Sabrina’s life, but birthed a mission in Vangie’s heart that continues today.
Learn more about Vangie & Aaron's work at RVA Hope Center: https://rvahopecenter.org/When You Look Links Be a Guest https://www.whenyoulook.com/beaguest
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Chapters
0:23 - Intros
1:24 - A Mission Trip Begins: $48 for ‘Someone Special’
4:30 - A Pregnant Woman Steps In: “I Need $47”
6:15 - The Divine Encounter with Sabrina
8:00 - Ministering to Her Needs—Physically and Spiritually
10:00 - The Power of Timing and God’s Presence
12:10 - Everyone Was Crying—A Holy Moment
14:00 - A Specific Gift for a Specific Person
16:00 - How It Changed Sabrina—and the Team
18:40 - Vangie Reflects: A Catalyst for Urban Ministry
21:00 - Coincidence or God?
23:00 - RVA Hope Center and Reaching More Sabrinas
25:20 - Final Reflections and Gratitude
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
We're all freaked out, we're alllike, OK, and she said I am
pregnant, I am homeless and I have nowhere to stay and all I
need is just $47. Welcome to When You Look, where
ordinary people share their extraordinary experiences and
(00:20):
you get to decide, was it coincidence or God?
Vanji, welcome to When You Look.So Great to have you on the
show. What a pleasure to be part of
this show. Thank you for the invitation.
Yeah, absolutely. Genuinely excited to hear your
story. All of the stories that are
shared on When you look are first hand accounts and you have
(00:42):
one of those. So we're tremendously excited to
hear what you have to share. But before we jump into the
story, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, Aaron and I have been I'm a we've been happily married for
24 years and we have three adultchildren, Jonah, Anna Lynn and
Abram. And together we Co we Co founded
(01:07):
and we Co direct currently RVA Hope Center and we're just
blessed. Awesome.
Well, thank you so much for sharing about that.
Let's jump right into your story.
So give us a little bit of the back story and then walk us
through things as they went. Yeah, yeah.
I'm excited to share this story.We actually took our first
(01:30):
mission trip to New York City. Our church partners with New
York School of Urban Administries called Nicem.
So you might hear me say Nicem alot.
And we take a team out every Christmas.
And so we finally, after so manyyears, decided to give God yes.
And I try a domestic mission trip.
(01:51):
And it was our first and it was in 2013.
The night before we left, we hada total worship service.
And one of the ladies there put an envelope of cash in my hands
and said, this is supposed to bethat there's some money in here,
and it's supposed to be for someone special in New York
City. So I was like, all right, I will
(02:12):
take this envelope of cash. I don't know what it's for.
This is my first mission trip, but I will take it for someone
special in New York City. So we drive up to New York and
we have our training that day. And of course, one of the rules
is you're not supposed to give cash to the people whom we serve
because some of them are unsheltered and someone, some of
(02:34):
them might struggle with substance use disorder and all
the things. And so I thought, OK, Lord, what
am I going to do with this money?
I, I counted in the envelope, itwas $48, by the way.
So I told the ladies on my team,I sit on my night stand and
said, Hey, this is supposed to be for someone special, but
(02:57):
we're not supposed to hand out cash.
But let's just pray about what God has in mind for this.
So one night we thought, oh, youknow, we, we ministered to a
couple of ladies and one of themwas homeless and she needed some
money for a verification letter.But we were like, OK, I don't
know if this is what we're supposed to do with it.
(03:17):
And that was $35.00. But we're like, no, I, I don't
know if this is what the Lord wants us to do with it.
So we wondered, OK, Lord, let's just go back to nice some and
let's just pray about this more.So Sunday came.
So that was Saturday night. Sunday came and we're like, OK,
this is our recreation day. I'm going to take this envelope
(03:38):
that says for someone special, $48.
Jesus loves whoever is supposed to be there.
We're going to find somebody whom we're supposed to bless
this, you know, $48 for. So I put it in my purse all day
Sunday waiting for some sort of moment to happen.
And God really didn't show us anybody in our path that day of
(03:59):
whom we're supposed to to minister.
So then here, here we come this Monday and we normally don't, I
normally don't bring a purse. I brought my purse on Sunday.
I accidentally, I accidentally brought my purse on out for
safety reasons. Some of us carry our purses, but
I somehow inadvertently did and I had that envelope with me.
(04:22):
And our goal was to take these stuffed animals and acts of
kindness, do ministry to families on the ferry.
So we took a subway, then went on the ferry and lo and behold,
I had my purse with me. So we did ministry and I'm like,
OK, Lord, I have my purse with me.
(04:43):
We did ministry on on the ferry.And he really didn't show his
like the person who I'm supposedto do this $48 for.
So I'm thinking, OK, we're done for the night.
It's going to happen tomorrow. I don't even know what the Lord
is up to. In order for us to get to the
Pharaoh. You go through a sequence of
subway. So we're returning back and I'm
(05:05):
thinking the night is over of ministry.
All of our stuffed animals are gone.
We actually miss one of our trains, I believe that day.
And somehow we're we're delayed a little bit.
So mind you, there's fairies involved, there's subways
involved, there is trans positions of all that involved.
(05:27):
And our team probably of seven or ten are sitting in the subway
and the door opens at one of ourstops.
So it wasn't even, you know, we hadn't even gotten to our
destination. And this lady comes in and she's
like, can I have your attention,everybody?
And we're like, Oh my gosh, whatis this woman?
(05:51):
What? We're all freaked out.
We're all like, OK. And.
She said I am pregnant, I am homeless and I have nowhere to
stay and all I need is just $47 to pay for my the rest of my
hotel room. And at that moment we really
(06:11):
knew. I started crying, Aaron started
crying. I'm like, don't I have that in
this envelope? So I, I, our team knew about it.
So we're all freaking out that this is the person whom the Lord
appointed even before we left Virginia and, and told somebody
(06:32):
to give that certain amount of money.
So she asked her to sit with us,and you could just feel like the
work of God just around us. And our whole team got to
minister to her. And I got to show her the
envelope and say, you're not going to believe this.
But 500 miles away, five days ago, a woman put in my hand,
(06:56):
there's somebody in New York City that's going to need this
money. And we really didn't know who
it's going to be. And so we got to tell her that
that's how God sees her and he was going to provide.
So it was really cool that we got to give her that cash.
She saw I put Jesus loves you inthere.
And not only was that not, it wasn't just that that was that
(07:21):
was just ministered to her. Her name was Sabrina.
She we also, she got to explain that she grew up as an atheist
and she had challenges, including depression.
And at that moment, as we kind of surrounded her, I felt
prompted to ask somebody in our team, one of the young girls,
(07:44):
hey, does anybody want to share their their story?
And unbeknownst to me, one of the other team mates said, Hey,
I want to share to Sabrina my story.
I actually am a overcomer of depression and I'd love to tell
her. So here's Sabrina, who shared
that she's been challenged with depression.
And on my team is one of the girls that has been overcoming
(08:08):
depression. So they got connected and it was
just a sweet moment of connection.
She began. Sabrina began to cry.
And we just knew that, wow, he had appointed this days, days
and even years before. And Mickey also had a Bible.
So we were able to give her a Bible that day.
(08:31):
And another person on our team had a special word for her.
So she had, you know, asked her about her grandma.
And then when Miss Jeannie askedher about her grandma, she said,
yeah, actually, my grandma is a Christian, and she's been
talking to me about God. And anyway, it was just kind of
crazy. It was just kind of crazy.
(08:53):
So that that's that's what it was.
And not only ministered to our whole team, but the entire train
or everybody in our train was like, Oh my gosh, what is going
on? And I don't know, it's just, it
was just pretty amazing how whenyou think about the ferries and
the trains and the millions of people in New York City and
(09:14):
forgot to orchestrate that moment.
So it was awesome. Yes, wow.
I mean, that's so good. And you even use the word as you
were describing, not the planes,trains and automobiles, but the
fairies and the subways and all of that.
You talked about at one point a delay delay in your return of
(09:39):
some sort. Yes, we had missed, I believe it
was we had missed the subway. We were running to the subway.
We had missed it and we had to wait another 15 minutes for it
to come back around like, Oh my gosh, we just missed it.
But we're like it's OK, we'll just wait for the next 1.
So as we consider just the timing of everything we just
(10:02):
knew and then all the stops and of all of the sections into the
train of the, of, of your subway, she chose our our car,
our train car to jump into and ask for that request.
And it it has, you know, she haschanged my life forever because
it was a testimony to his just divine intervention.
(10:25):
So yeah. Wow, wow, that is so good.
Well, we're going to we're goingto go into in a little bit to
how it has changed your life. But before we get there, you
talked about being in the in thetrain car and you talked about
(10:47):
you, you could feel the work of God around us.
What did that? What does that mean?
Yeah, yeah. You know, in that moment, this
was Christmas time, I could justfeel the Holy Spirit's presence.
And honestly, what it reminded me and that it touched all of
us, was recall that Mary was pregnant and had nowhere to
(11:09):
sleep. And in that moment, it was just
kind of a holy moment kind of being in this space where God
brought her to us just like he brought Mary and desperate in a
desperate cry of wanting a safe place for her to lay her head
down. It was just such AI don't know.
(11:32):
It was just such a holy moment. Every everything, all the
answered prayers we've been praying about this envelope of
cash who was who was supposed togo to.
And in that very moment, it was like the culmination of, of
God's details coming together. And even our team, because each
(11:54):
one of our team members, it wasn't just me, each one of us
got to contribute to this moment.
And I, you could just feel God working.
I don't even know how to explainit.
Well, I think you, I think you did a nice job all of.
Us, all of us were crying. Honestly, the whole team was
crying. It wasn't just me and Aaron, but
our whole team was crying in that moment, yeah.
(12:17):
Yeah, 'cause it sounds like everybody was aware of the $48
that it, that, that it was in the envelope.
And there was also, it sounds like some degree of anticipation
over these handful of days of what are we to do with this?
When will we see this? It sounds like they're, again, I
(12:38):
don't want to put words in your mouth here, but it sounds like
there may have been some expectation and anticipation of
who is this? What will this look like?
And then these doors open up andsome doors open up.
So what was that like? Well, and to me, I thought most
people ask for like, do you havea dollar?
(13:00):
Do you have any spare change? Do you have any?
Do you have $100? It was a specific amount.
So we were just, I don't know, we were all shocked and it's
interesting because we thought we were done for the day.
So we took off all of our Christmas stuff.
We were just off of ministry mode and we were just like,
(13:21):
well, you know, what more could we just, we weren't even
expecting it because we thought,oh, our, our nights done.
We've already done with, we've gotten rid of all the animals.
We, you know, and just I, I justrecounting just taking that out
of my purse, which I wasn't supposed to have with me, which
that was the only outreach that I carried my purse and and just
(13:43):
being able to show her Jesus loves you for someone I wrote
for someone special in New York City.
Jesus loves you and for someone who's proclaimed to be an
atheist to demonstrate in a tangible way that Jesus loves
her by sending a bunch of crazy people from Virginia 500 miles
(14:04):
over 500 miles away at that verymoment you just can't make up.
This was an only God. Overwhelming feeling and, and
presence for sure. So, and we got to pray with her.
We got to, you know, her train got out, she exited before we
did. And so we got to bless her and
(14:26):
encourage her. And it was just an amazing
encounter. And yes, so we'll always
remember Sabrina. The name of our first ministry
vehicle is Sabrina. So she has a special place in
our heart for sure. Yeah, wow, Wow.
(14:46):
Oh my God, Oh my God. So.
Yeah, praise God. So let's let's rewind because I
want to come back to the beginning, OK?
And you are given an envelope. Yes.
What I mean you, you sort of mentioned that this was your
first mission trip. Did I hear that correctly?
(15:08):
OK. And not that that necessarily
matters, but someone that I presume you know just gives you
an envelope of cash, it says this is for somebody in New
York. I'm like, what was that like for
you to actually that was more. Even more complicated.
In fact, she she didn't even hand it to me.
(15:30):
We miss each other and she's like, Oh my gosh, you need to
come to my house. So I sent my son to her.
She's like, I didn't see you. I have money and I'm like in
this Thursday night, I'm leaving5:00 in the morning.
So I send my son out to her house.
She's like, no, this has to go. I'm she was a little under the
weather. Somehow we didn't connect.
(15:52):
So I sent my son over to her house to pick up this.
I'm like, what, what, what is this?
And he actually grabbed it for me since we were in the midst of
packing. And so, yeah, so here it is, a
person at church. I sent my son to go get this
envelope of cash. And I knew she was.
It had to go to New York City ifwe're going to go this to that
(16:15):
extent. So yeah.
Yeah, wow. Man, it's awesome.
It's awesome. No doubt praise God.
Praise God, Praise God. Yes, He's so good.
He's so good. So tell us a tiny bit more or
(16:36):
even a lot more of when you're with Sabrina earlier, you use
the phrase as you were talking to her.
This is how God sees you. Tell us a little more about
that. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, we really got to tell her in that moment that God hasn't
(16:59):
forsaken her, that even though she is homeless and pregnant,
that God has been caring for herall this time, that he's never
forsaken her, that, you know, heis, she is made in his image.
And we got to tell her about theplans and purposes that he has
(17:21):
for her and for her baby. And the the cool thing is our
words meant something because the ACT, this crazy divine
moment just happened. So it was an act of God and our
words were believable because hesent us messengers to
(17:43):
substantiate that he yes, he does see her in our time of of
need. She was, she was so loud and was
crying out. She literally it felt like it
was a cry for mercy and and and in his word he is shown over and
over and over again when we cry out to God, that man, he answers
us and so I I say she cried out for mercy.
(18:06):
Can anybody help me and that moment he used our team and this
specific amount of money to provide for her need.
And I just love that not only, you know, we each year the team
varies and you send somebody whois overcoming a young lady.
So this was a young lady and then he saying sends a teenager,
(18:28):
also a young lady to share aboutdepression.
So how cool that, you know, she got to really minister to her
and say, this is how I can overcome how I overcame
depression. And you can you can get through
this. And so I just it was so cool to
see how he used each one of us on the team to really speak life
(18:49):
to her. And it really changed her whole
countenance. She was encouraged.
She said she was going to call her grandma because she says
that my grandma, you know, talksabout reading the Bible.
My grandma prays. But had Miss Jeannie not say,
hey, do you have a family memberthat has been praying for you or
(19:12):
that loves you? Have you have you considered so
even encouraging her to think, hey, maybe I can reach out to my
grandma and she won't be alone anymore.
So it, it just was such AI can'texplain.
I really can't even explain thismoment, this front row seat to
(19:33):
to God's glory and orchestrationand connection with this, this
young lady. And I mean for us it, it was a
catalyst for our faith. Like you can't deny that there
is a God. And I think in that moment it it
it spurred us on. We were like, man, wow.
(19:55):
Our God knows all the details and he would orchestrate.
You know the timing of even us sending us out there to the
number of gifts like we were we had.
We came back once our stuffed animals were gone.
Just every, every the minute thesecond was orchestrated.
(20:15):
Really, the seconds were orchestrated in our connection.
If you really consider the tasksthat we had beforehand and all
the, the transportation pieces that led us to that, that, that
that exact intersection. You just can't make that up.
That God would would even set the that the timing of the
(20:37):
subway trains and ferries just so that Sabrina can be seen and
known by the God and the creatorof our universe.
It's just so powerful. So he wants to do that for each
of us, and he does so, and he does that for all of us in in
all of his ways. So it's just, it was just such a
amazing witness to God's power and sovereignty.
(21:00):
Yeah, yeah. Wow.
Angie, thank you so much. Yeah.
Well, in a lot of ways, you, youjust sort of answered the
question. But we asked 2 questions of each
of our guests towards the end ofour conversation.
(21:20):
The first of which is was it coincidence or God?
Oh, Oh my God. Oh my God, yes.
Yeah, right on. And I certainly had a sense for
how you were going to respond tothat.
But tell us a bit, but tell us alot.
Tell us, ultimately, how your life has changed as a result of
(21:43):
the encounter here with Sabrina.Yeah, You know, I'll get
emotional again. Other than knowing that our God
is so real. He showed us that there are a
lot of Sabrinas out there that are vulnerable, that have great
(22:04):
needs and that need to be met where they are.
And so he fostered in that moment.
I know Aaron and I, we were like, man, we want more of these
encounters. How do we, how do we get more of
these encounters? Excuse me?
So I know what it birthed in us.This is Hartford Urban Missions
(22:27):
and Urban Ministries. That's where it really began for
us. We would return to New York City
as well as other big cities suchas Philly and Atlanta and LA and
do similar ministries. Not because we were chasing
(22:48):
after the encounter. We're chasing after a God and
and Hungary to see his glory in those moments.
Like man, you know, like it doesgive us front row seats to these
crazy encounters. And so I would say RVA Hope
Center wouldn't be existing right now had it not been for
(23:15):
that that encounter with Sabrinaon that that one night, that one
very cold night in December of 2013.
And it has propelled us to find more Sabrina's.
It has propelled us to see, lookand shine light into the darkest
(23:37):
spaces of our cities. And yeah, like the name of our
first ministry vehicle is Sabrina, so we get to say her
name multiple times a week. Yeah, that is so neat.
Would you share more about how you are shining light in those
(24:01):
dark places? That was the phrase you just
used. Yeah, yeah.
So our mission with RVA Hope Center is to see transform lives
through the love and power of Jesus Christ, transfer lives and
hearts through the love and power of Jesus Christ.
(24:22):
And what that looks like is serving the most vulnerable and
the most vulnerable here in our city and that's Richmond, VA in
the context of the urban settinglooks like some of our
subsidized communities that are under resource.
So it's loving and serving thoseyouth that are at risk, and then
(24:50):
it also looks like serving womenand children who are being
sexually exploited and trafficked here in our city.
And those are their dark spaces.And so that's what we do.
Yeah. Wow.
Yeah, the Angie. Oh wow, there's so much here.
(25:21):
Yes, God is good. He's good.
Yeah, all the time. All the time.
All the time So. Wow, I'm I'm, I'm still taking
it All in all glory be to God like.
Glory to God, yes. It's amazing what you've shared
(25:44):
and the level of insight as welland everything that you talked
about in terms of the impact that it had on you guys for this
moment with Sabrina to then spurMcKnight, whatever, whatever
term we want to use a a passion for reaching the lost in the
(26:06):
urban spaces and all glory be toGod with that.
So thank you so much for sharingthe story.
Thank you for being the hands and feet and bringing not $47
but 48 in an envelope. And thank you for glorifying God
here by sharing this story broadly.
(26:27):
Absolutely. Appreciate it.
Thank you for having me. I love sharing God moments and
only God moments and just givinghim all the glory that
definitely she was a catalyst inmy life and Aaron's life.
(26:47):
And I believe that moment changed her trajectory forever.
So and ours too. So only God.
Amen. Yeah.
Amen. Love it.
Well, thank you. Thanks a bunch.
We'll chat soon. Really appreciate you being on
when you look. Yep, thank you so much for
having me. Well, there you have it.
(27:09):
Was it coincidence or God? You decide for yourself, but I
believe you just heard a story for His glory.
When You Look is powered by the stories that guests share.
So if you have a story to tell, let us know by going to
whenyoulook.com and click on Be a Guest or click on the link in
(27:29):
the description below. Please subscribe to the channel.
Like this video? Tell us what you think in the
comments and share it with somebody that will be impacted
by the story. Thanks and God bless.
We're all freaked out, we're alllike, OK, and she said I am
pregnant, I am homeless and I have nowhere to stay and all I
need is just $47. Welcome to When You Look, where
ordinary people share their extraordinary experiences and
(00:20):
you get to decide, was it coincidence or God?
Vanji, welcome to When You Look.So Great to have you on the
show. What a pleasure to be part of
this show. Thank you for the invitation.
Yeah, absolutely. Genuinely excited to hear your
story. All of the stories that are
shared on When you look are first hand accounts and you have
(00:42):
one of those. So we're tremendously excited to
hear what you have to share. But before we jump into the
story, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, Aaron and I have been I'm a we've been happily married for
24 years and we have three adultchildren, Jonah, Anna Lynn and
Abram. And together we Co we Co founded
(01:07):
and we Co direct currently RVA Hope Center and we're just
blessed. Awesome.
Well, thank you so much for sharing about that.
Let's jump right into your story.
So give us a little bit of the back story and then walk us
through things as they went. Yeah, yeah.
I'm excited to share this story.We actually took our first
(01:30):
mission trip to New York City. Our church partners with New
York School of Urban Administries called Nicem.
So you might hear me say Nicem alot.
And we take a team out every Christmas.
And so we finally, after so manyyears, decided to give God yes.
And I try a domestic mission trip.
(01:51):
And it was our first and it was in 2013.
The night before we left, we hada total worship service.
And one of the ladies there put an envelope of cash in my hands
and said, this is supposed to bethat there's some money in here,
and it's supposed to be for someone special in New York
City. So I was like, all right, I will
(02:12):
take this envelope of cash. I don't know what it's for.
This is my first mission trip, but I will take it for someone
special in New York City. So we drive up to New York and
we have our training that day. And of course, one of the rules
is you're not supposed to give cash to the people whom we serve
because some of them are unsheltered and someone, some of
(02:34):
them might struggle with substance use disorder and all
the things. And so I thought, OK, Lord, what
am I going to do with this money?
I, I counted in the envelope, itwas $48, by the way.
So I told the ladies on my team,I sit on my night stand and
said, Hey, this is supposed to be for someone special, but
(02:57):
we're not supposed to hand out cash.
But let's just pray about what God has in mind for this.
So one night we thought, oh, youknow, we, we ministered to a
couple of ladies and one of themwas homeless and she needed some
money for a verification letter.But we were like, OK, I don't
know if this is what we're supposed to do with it.
(03:17):
And that was $35.00. But we're like, no, I, I don't
know if this is what the Lord wants us to do with it.
So we wondered, OK, Lord, let's just go back to nice some and
let's just pray about this more.So Sunday came.
So that was Saturday night. Sunday came and we're like, OK,
this is our recreation day. I'm going to take this envelope
(03:38):
that says for someone special, $48.
Jesus loves whoever is supposed to be there.
We're going to find somebody whom we're supposed to bless
this, you know, $48 for. So I put it in my purse all day
Sunday waiting for some sort of moment to happen.
And God really didn't show us anybody in our path that day of
(03:59):
whom we're supposed to to minister.
So then here, here we come this Monday and we normally don't, I
normally don't bring a purse. I brought my purse on Sunday.
I accidentally, I accidentally brought my purse on out for
safety reasons. Some of us carry our purses, but
I somehow inadvertently did and I had that envelope with me.
(04:22):
And our goal was to take these stuffed animals and acts of
kindness, do ministry to families on the ferry.
So we took a subway, then went on the ferry and lo and behold,
I had my purse with me. So we did ministry and I'm like,
OK, Lord, I have my purse with me.
(04:43):
We did ministry on on the ferry.And he really didn't show his
like the person who I'm supposedto do this $48 for.
So I'm thinking, OK, we're done for the night.
It's going to happen tomorrow. I don't even know what the Lord
is up to. In order for us to get to the
Pharaoh. You go through a sequence of
subway. So we're returning back and I'm
(05:05):
thinking the night is over of ministry.
All of our stuffed animals are gone.
We actually miss one of our trains, I believe that day.
And somehow we're we're delayed a little bit.
So mind you, there's fairies involved, there's subways
involved, there is trans positions of all that involved.
(05:27):
And our team probably of seven or ten are sitting in the subway
and the door opens at one of ourstops.
So it wasn't even, you know, we hadn't even gotten to our
destination. And this lady comes in and she's
like, can I have your attention,everybody?
And we're like, Oh my gosh, whatis this woman?
(05:51):
What? We're all freaked out.
We're all like, OK. And.
She said I am pregnant, I am homeless and I have nowhere to
stay and all I need is just $47 to pay for my the rest of my
hotel room. And at that moment we really
(06:11):
knew. I started crying, Aaron started
crying. I'm like, don't I have that in
this envelope? So I, I, our team knew about it.
So we're all freaking out that this is the person whom the Lord
appointed even before we left Virginia and, and told somebody
(06:32):
to give that certain amount of money.
So she asked her to sit with us,and you could just feel like the
work of God just around us. And our whole team got to
minister to her. And I got to show her the
envelope and say, you're not going to believe this.
But 500 miles away, five days ago, a woman put in my hand,
(06:56):
there's somebody in New York City that's going to need this
money. And we really didn't know who
it's going to be. And so we got to tell her that
that's how God sees her and he was going to provide.
So it was really cool that we got to give her that cash.
She saw I put Jesus loves you inthere.
And not only was that not, it wasn't just that that was that
(07:21):
was just ministered to her. Her name was Sabrina.
She we also, she got to explain that she grew up as an atheist
and she had challenges, including depression.
And at that moment, as we kind of surrounded her, I felt
prompted to ask somebody in our team, one of the young girls,
(07:44):
hey, does anybody want to share their their story?
And unbeknownst to me, one of the other team mates said, Hey,
I want to share to Sabrina my story.
I actually am a overcomer of depression and I'd love to tell
her. So here's Sabrina, who shared
that she's been challenged with depression.
And on my team is one of the girls that has been overcoming
(08:08):
depression. So they got connected and it was
just a sweet moment of connection.
She began. Sabrina began to cry.
And we just knew that, wow, he had appointed this days, days
and even years before. And Mickey also had a Bible.
So we were able to give her a Bible that day.
(08:31):
And another person on our team had a special word for her.
So she had, you know, asked her about her grandma.
And then when Miss Jeannie askedher about her grandma, she said,
yeah, actually, my grandma is a Christian, and she's been
talking to me about God. And anyway, it was just kind of
crazy. It was just kind of crazy.
(08:53):
So that that's that's what it was.
And not only ministered to our whole team, but the entire train
or everybody in our train was like, Oh my gosh, what is going
on? And I don't know, it's just, it
was just pretty amazing how whenyou think about the ferries and
the trains and the millions of people in New York City and
(09:14):
forgot to orchestrate that moment.
So it was awesome. Yes, wow.
I mean, that's so good. And you even use the word as you
were describing, not the planes,trains and automobiles, but the
fairies and the subways and all of that.
You talked about at one point a delay delay in your return of
(09:39):
some sort. Yes, we had missed, I believe it
was we had missed the subway. We were running to the subway.
We had missed it and we had to wait another 15 minutes for it
to come back around like, Oh my gosh, we just missed it.
But we're like it's OK, we'll just wait for the next 1.
So as we consider just the timing of everything we just
(10:02):
knew and then all the stops and of all of the sections into the
train of the, of, of your subway, she chose our our car,
our train car to jump into and ask for that request.
And it it has, you know, she haschanged my life forever because
it was a testimony to his just divine intervention.
(10:25):
So yeah. Wow, wow, that is so good.
Well, we're going to we're goingto go into in a little bit to
how it has changed your life. But before we get there, you
talked about being in the in thetrain car and you talked about
(10:47):
you, you could feel the work of God around us.
What did that? What does that mean?
Yeah, yeah. You know, in that moment, this
was Christmas time, I could justfeel the Holy Spirit's presence.
And honestly, what it reminded me and that it touched all of
us, was recall that Mary was pregnant and had nowhere to
(11:09):
sleep. And in that moment, it was just
kind of a holy moment kind of being in this space where God
brought her to us just like he brought Mary and desperate in a
desperate cry of wanting a safe place for her to lay her head
down. It was just such AI don't know.
(11:32):
It was just such a holy moment. Every everything, all the
answered prayers we've been praying about this envelope of
cash who was who was supposed togo to.
And in that very moment, it was like the culmination of, of
God's details coming together. And even our team, because each
(11:54):
one of our team members, it wasn't just me, each one of us
got to contribute to this moment.
And I, you could just feel God working.
I don't even know how to explainit.
Well, I think you, I think you did a nice job all of.
Us, all of us were crying. Honestly, the whole team was
crying. It wasn't just me and Aaron, but
our whole team was crying in that moment, yeah.
(12:17):
Yeah, 'cause it sounds like everybody was aware of the $48
that it, that, that it was in the envelope.
And there was also, it sounds like some degree of anticipation
over these handful of days of what are we to do with this?
When will we see this? It sounds like they're, again, I
(12:38):
don't want to put words in your mouth here, but it sounds like
there may have been some expectation and anticipation of
who is this? What will this look like?
And then these doors open up andsome doors open up.
So what was that like? Well, and to me, I thought most
people ask for like, do you havea dollar?
(13:00):
Do you have any spare change? Do you have any?
Do you have $100? It was a specific amount.
So we were just, I don't know, we were all shocked and it's
interesting because we thought we were done for the day.
So we took off all of our Christmas stuff.
We were just off of ministry mode and we were just like,
(13:21):
well, you know, what more could we just, we weren't even
expecting it because we thought,oh, our, our nights done.
We've already done with, we've gotten rid of all the animals.
We, you know, and just I, I justrecounting just taking that out
of my purse, which I wasn't supposed to have with me, which
that was the only outreach that I carried my purse and and just
(13:43):
being able to show her Jesus loves you for someone I wrote
for someone special in New York City.
Jesus loves you and for someone who's proclaimed to be an
atheist to demonstrate in a tangible way that Jesus loves
her by sending a bunch of crazy people from Virginia 500 miles
(14:04):
over 500 miles away at that verymoment you just can't make up.
This was an only God. Overwhelming feeling and, and
presence for sure. So, and we got to pray with her.
We got to, you know, her train got out, she exited before we
did. And so we got to bless her and
(14:26):
encourage her. And it was just an amazing
encounter. And yes, so we'll always
remember Sabrina. The name of our first ministry
vehicle is Sabrina. So she has a special place in
our heart for sure. Yeah, wow, Wow.
(14:46):
Oh my God, Oh my God. So.
Yeah, praise God. So let's let's rewind because I
want to come back to the beginning, OK?
And you are given an envelope. Yes.
What I mean you, you sort of mentioned that this was your
first mission trip. Did I hear that correctly?
(15:08):
OK. And not that that necessarily
matters, but someone that I presume you know just gives you
an envelope of cash, it says this is for somebody in New
York. I'm like, what was that like for
you to actually that was more. Even more complicated.
In fact, she she didn't even hand it to me.
(15:30):
We miss each other and she's like, Oh my gosh, you need to
come to my house. So I sent my son to her.
She's like, I didn't see you. I have money and I'm like in
this Thursday night, I'm leaving5:00 in the morning.
So I send my son out to her house.
She's like, no, this has to go. I'm she was a little under the
weather. Somehow we didn't connect.
(15:52):
So I sent my son over to her house to pick up this.
I'm like, what, what, what is this?
And he actually grabbed it for me since we were in the midst of
packing. And so, yeah, so here it is, a
person at church. I sent my son to go get this
envelope of cash. And I knew she was.
It had to go to New York City ifwe're going to go this to that
(16:15):
extent. So yeah.
Yeah, wow. Man, it's awesome.
It's awesome. No doubt praise God.
Praise God, Praise God. Yes, He's so good.
He's so good. So tell us a tiny bit more or
(16:36):
even a lot more of when you're with Sabrina earlier, you use
the phrase as you were talking to her.
This is how God sees you. Tell us a little more about
that. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, we really got to tell her in that moment that God hasn't
(16:59):
forsaken her, that even though she is homeless and pregnant,
that God has been caring for herall this time, that he's never
forsaken her, that, you know, heis, she is made in his image.
And we got to tell her about theplans and purposes that he has
(17:21):
for her and for her baby. And the the cool thing is our
words meant something because the ACT, this crazy divine
moment just happened. So it was an act of God and our
words were believable because hesent us messengers to
(17:43):
substantiate that he yes, he does see her in our time of of
need. She was, she was so loud and was
crying out. She literally it felt like it
was a cry for mercy and and and in his word he is shown over and
over and over again when we cry out to God, that man, he answers
us and so I I say she cried out for mercy.
(18:06):
Can anybody help me and that moment he used our team and this
specific amount of money to provide for her need.
And I just love that not only, you know, we each year the team
varies and you send somebody whois overcoming a young lady.
So this was a young lady and then he saying sends a teenager,
(18:28):
also a young lady to share aboutdepression.
So how cool that, you know, she got to really minister to her
and say, this is how I can overcome how I overcame
depression. And you can you can get through
this. And so I just it was so cool to
see how he used each one of us on the team to really speak life
(18:49):
to her. And it really changed her whole
countenance. She was encouraged.
She said she was going to call her grandma because she says
that my grandma, you know, talksabout reading the Bible.
My grandma prays. But had Miss Jeannie not say,
hey, do you have a family memberthat has been praying for you or
(19:12):
that loves you? Have you have you considered so
even encouraging her to think, hey, maybe I can reach out to my
grandma and she won't be alone anymore.
So it, it just was such AI can'texplain.
I really can't even explain thismoment, this front row seat to
(19:33):
to God's glory and orchestrationand connection with this, this
young lady. And I mean for us it, it was a
catalyst for our faith. Like you can't deny that there
is a God. And I think in that moment it it
it spurred us on. We were like, man, wow.
(19:55):
Our God knows all the details and he would orchestrate.
You know the timing of even us sending us out there to the
number of gifts like we were we had.
We came back once our stuffed animals were gone.
Just every, every the minute thesecond was orchestrated.
(20:15):
Really, the seconds were orchestrated in our connection.
If you really consider the tasksthat we had beforehand and all
the, the transportation pieces that led us to that, that, that
that exact intersection. You just can't make that up.
That God would would even set the that the timing of the
(20:37):
subway trains and ferries just so that Sabrina can be seen and
known by the God and the creatorof our universe.
It's just so powerful. So he wants to do that for each
of us, and he does so, and he does that for all of us in in
all of his ways. So it's just, it was just such a
amazing witness to God's power and sovereignty.
(21:00):
Yeah, yeah. Wow.
Angie, thank you so much. Yeah.
Well, in a lot of ways, you, youjust sort of answered the
question. But we asked 2 questions of each
of our guests towards the end ofour conversation.
(21:20):
The first of which is was it coincidence or God?
Oh, Oh my God. Oh my God, yes.
Yeah, right on. And I certainly had a sense for
how you were going to respond tothat.
But tell us a bit, but tell us alot.
Tell us, ultimately, how your life has changed as a result of
(21:43):
the encounter here with Sabrina.Yeah, You know, I'll get
emotional again. Other than knowing that our God
is so real. He showed us that there are a
lot of Sabrinas out there that are vulnerable, that have great
(22:04):
needs and that need to be met where they are.
And so he fostered in that moment.
I know Aaron and I, we were like, man, we want more of these
encounters. How do we, how do we get more of
these encounters? Excuse me?
So I know what it birthed in us.This is Hartford Urban Missions
(22:27):
and Urban Ministries. That's where it really began for
us. We would return to New York City
as well as other big cities suchas Philly and Atlanta and LA and
do similar ministries. Not because we were chasing
(22:48):
after the encounter. We're chasing after a God and
and Hungary to see his glory in those moments.
Like man, you know, like it doesgive us front row seats to these
crazy encounters. And so I would say RVA Hope
Center wouldn't be existing right now had it not been for
(23:15):
that that encounter with Sabrinaon that that one night, that one
very cold night in December of 2013.
And it has propelled us to find more Sabrina's.
It has propelled us to see, lookand shine light into the darkest
(23:37):
spaces of our cities. And yeah, like the name of our
first ministry vehicle is Sabrina, so we get to say her
name multiple times a week. Yeah, that is so neat.
Would you share more about how you are shining light in those
(24:01):
dark places? That was the phrase you just
used. Yeah, yeah.
So our mission with RVA Hope Center is to see transform lives
through the love and power of Jesus Christ, transfer lives and
hearts through the love and power of Jesus Christ.
(24:22):
And what that looks like is serving the most vulnerable and
the most vulnerable here in our city and that's Richmond, VA in
the context of the urban settinglooks like some of our
subsidized communities that are under resource.
So it's loving and serving thoseyouth that are at risk, and then
(24:50):
it also looks like serving womenand children who are being
sexually exploited and trafficked here in our city.
And those are their dark spaces.And so that's what we do.
Yeah. Wow.
Yeah, the Angie. Oh wow, there's so much here.
(25:21):
Yes, God is good. He's good.
Yeah, all the time. All the time.
All the time So. Wow, I'm I'm, I'm still taking
it All in all glory be to God like.
Glory to God, yes. It's amazing what you've shared
(25:44):
and the level of insight as welland everything that you talked
about in terms of the impact that it had on you guys for this
moment with Sabrina to then spurMcKnight, whatever, whatever
term we want to use a a passion for reaching the lost in the
(26:06):
urban spaces and all glory be toGod with that.
So thank you so much for sharingthe story.
Thank you for being the hands and feet and bringing not $47
but 48 in an envelope. And thank you for glorifying God
here by sharing this story broadly.
(26:27):
Absolutely. Appreciate it.
Thank you for having me. I love sharing God moments and
only God moments and just givinghim all the glory that
definitely she was a catalyst inmy life and Aaron's life.
(26:47):
And I believe that moment changed her trajectory forever.
So and ours too. So only God.
Amen. Yeah.
Amen. Love it.
Well, thank you. Thanks a bunch.
We'll chat soon. Really appreciate you being on
when you look. Yep, thank you so much for
having me. Well, there you have it.
(27:09):
Was it coincidence or God? You decide for yourself, but I
believe you just heard a story for His glory.
When You Look is powered by the stories that guests share.
So if you have a story to tell, let us know by going to
whenyoulook.com and click on Be a Guest or click on the link in
(27:29):
the description below. Please subscribe to the channel.
Like this video? Tell us what you think in the
comments and share it with somebody that will be impacted
by the story. Thanks and God bless.
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