Hey Everyone,
We often think a lasting legacy requires fame or fortune, a bold headline, or a grand public gesture. But sometimes, the most profound and enduring impact is built by someone who simply lived with an open heart and a deep love for others, right where they were. That’s the powerful truth I want to share with you today from a story that lives on in the very fabric of our work in Haiti. This story beautifully embodies our 3…2…1 Impact framework: three points to ponder, two quotes to share, and one story of profound impact.
1 Story of Impact
On our campus in Haiti stands a building, and on the front of it, a sign reads, “Irene’s Place – …here to serve…” The sign honors Irene Van Roekel, a woman who never once set foot in Haiti. Yet, her legacy is a blueprint for what a life of Impact can look like.
Irene was a woman from Sioux Center, Iowa, who farmed and ran an A&W Drive-In. But her unique calling wasn’t found in her work; it was found in her extraordinary personal life of hospitality and generosity. Her home was known as a place for anyone in need—a place to grab a bite, find a day job, or simply feel loved. Irene truly understood the meaning of having an “open door.” She lived her daily life with a passion for loving strangers. This was her immersive approach to serving the world.
When Irene went to be with the Lord, she generously left money for Haitian missions. The family decided the best way to honor her was to create a “home” where people could come and serve with the same spirit of generosity and love that she embodied. Today, a couple from Orange City, Iowa, just down the road from where Irene grew up, lives in this beautiful home, carrying on her legacy. On the first floor of that very building, Haitian artisans now find meaningful work through our partnership with Vi Bella, a purpose-driven jewelry business also based in Sioux Center. Irene’s life shows us that our mission isn’t always about a physical location; it’s a calling to serve wherever you are. Her generosity became the foundation for a place where her love of strangers could be carried on for generations.
3 Points to Ponder
Irene’s life gives us a clear guide for living a life of impact. Consider these three points:
- What’s your “open door”? It doesn’t have to be a physical space. It could be a listening ear or an open heart. What’s one small act of hospitality you can extend to someone today?
- The headlines often get our focus, but Irene’s life shows what truly matters is the heart, not the headline. A heart to serve and a genuine love for people are all you need for an incredible impact. What’s one thing you can do this week that will go completely unnoticed by the world?
- I’ve always believed that generosity and faith are connected, a beautiful dance of giving and receiving. Irene’s life was a testament to that truth. What part of your life do you need to let go of to trust in God’s provision?
2 Quotes to Share
These quotes perfectly capture the spirit of Irene’s life of service:
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” – Jackie Robinson
A well-lived life isn’t measured by what we get, but by how we pour ourselves out for others. The building named after Irene is a powerful reminder of her choice to live a generous life, serving a mission she never even saw.
Her legacy challenges us all to ask: What legacy of service are you building today? Feel free to reply and share—I read every response.
Live with impact,
Tim
