Michigan—When Madlyn Hamblin first learned her church would host evangelistic meetings in February, she looked at her already overcrowded calendar and thought, Well, maybe I can help one evening a week. She thought she was being extremely generous with her time.

An appeal was made for a children's program leader. Hamblin couldn't get that appeal out of her mind. She told the Lord, "You know how busy I am." She reminded Him that she works full-time and, at her age, she did not have the energy to care for a roomful of children like she used to do.

Surely someone will come forward to direct the children, she kept thinking to herself.

Weeks rolled by, and opening night loomed closer. Hamblin says the Lord spoke to her heart, and she was impressed to lead the children, though she was overburdened with the care of her husband's mother. Also, since her husband planned to participate in an evangelistic series in Cuba at that time, Hamblin would be more involved in their business in his absence. It just seemed like way too much to handle.

One morning Hamblin prayed, "Oh Lord, if you want me to take this job, please provide the desire to do it and the help that I will need."

"I can do that," God said, inaudibly.

The next Sabbath Hamblin learned the Pathfinders could help with the children's programs if someone would lead out. So, she decided to volunteer. She looked over the children's materials provided. Everything seemed to be planned out. Hamblin thought it would be quite simple—a music time, story time, craft time, and video time. However, she was a bit skeptical about using Pathfinders. She thought, Are they dependable? Can I trust them to present material and do what needs to be done?

Hamblin asked the Pathfinders to tell a story each evening and supervise the children. Rosario Tanguay, a relatively new church member, offered to coordinate the crafts.

So how did it all turn out? Hamblin says the Pathfinders and their leaders were amazing. They rose to the challenge. She says all she had to do was supervise. "It was evident from the very beginning that the Pathfinders were budding leaders!" said Hamblin.

When Hamblin's mother-in-law died during the meetings, Hamblin had to miss more than a week of sessions. The Pathfinders took right over, and with the help of some mothers things ran smoothly.

Hamblin said, "We had between six and 15 children attend each evening. One child's parents are being baptized, and she has made friends with the other children. I was told that a couple of the children said, 'We are going to be so sad when these meetings end!'

"I learned that the youth of the church, with proper direction, can do much, much more than we often give them credit for. Their abilities are often underutilized and rich with talent. I also experienced that God is definitely up to the challenge of assisting us with any work we commit to do for Him. He will not fail when we ask for strength and help in His name.

"Perhaps one day in Heaven children will come up and tell us that indeed we made an impact in their lives, in helping them to love and serve Jesus and His Church. And that is our goal, isn't it? To experience the joy and delight in knowing that we played some small part in affecting someone else's eternal salvation."

Diane Thurber, Lake Union Herald managing editor, as told by Madlyn Hamblin, Jackson Church member