An Unexpected Yes
At New Mercies, we have clear roles and responsibilities for our volunteers, but every now and then, someone feels called to go beyond what’s expected. And when they do, it’s incredible to see how God uses it. That’s exactly what happened when a mom named Janelle needed someone to pick up her daughter early in the morning. It wasn’t something we typically ask of Host Families, but Kaylene, one of our Host Moms. saw the request, knew the mom, and felt the Lord nudging her to say yes. What followed was a beautiful picture how God uses each yes in unexpected ways.
A Daunting Request
A single mom we’ll call Janelle needed help with childcare for a time, a normal reason parents contact New Mercies. But the request that came through was daunting: she needed someone to pick up her baby, Lena, 3 days a week, at 4:00 a.m.
Even in a community as dedicated as New Mercies, it was the kind of ask that felt impossible. Mindy, Director of Child Hosting shared that they did not feel optimistic about someone being able to take it on. How early it was and how often seemed like a gap too wide to fill. But they shared the request anyway, praying that someone would be able to help.
That someone was Kaylene Miller.
God’s Hand
In God's providence, Kaylene already knew Janelle. They had worked together in the past through another ministry, and when she saw the request, it didn’t feel like a random call, it felt personal. Kaylene offered to take this on right away.
For several weeks, Kaylene picked up Lena at 4 a.m. on 3 days a week, caring for her until regular daycare hours began. But Kaylene didn’t stop there. She also began giving Janelle a ride to work, something New Mercies doesn’t ask volunteers to do. This wasn’t part of the normal expectations for Host Families, but Kaylene saw the need and chose to step into it.
With Janelle still working through some legal challenges and trying to get back on her feet, this transportation has been huge. Even though Lena now has a secured daycare spot, Kaylene plans to continue helping for a few more weeks, until everything is fully stable.
Called to Serve
What makes this story remarkable isn’t just the sacrifice of early mornings or the extra miles driven. It’s the heart behind it. Kaylene didn’t say yes because it was convenient. She said yes because she saw a mom in need and believed God had placed her in a position to help.
“You just never know how people are connected,” Mindy reflected. What looked like an impossible request became an unexpected opportunity, because God had arranged an existing relationship, and Kaylene was willing to lean into it.
At New Mercies, our mission is to mobilize the Church to walk with vulnerable families. Sometimes that looks like formal hosting arrangements. Other times, it looks like what Kaylene did: stepping into a gap no one else could fill, just because she could.
Kaylene’s story is a powerful reminder that the most meaningful ministry often happens when no one’s looking. Simply showing up is all God calls us to do.