Making a difference together
When Linda Palmer's husband, Bob, was diagnosed with leukemia, the world was entering into a global pandemic. Two months after beginning treatments, early in 2020, he was exposed to COVID-19 in the hospital. Bob passed away six days later.
In the midst of that loss, Linda remained keenly aware of the strong, undeniable presence of the Lord. Even on the day she lost her husband, Linda knew, in her deep places, that God was sovereign and God was good. In the midst of the grief that followed, Linda's heart broke not just for her own loss but for the suffering she saw in her own country and across the world. In that season, God called Linda into what she calls "the generosity space" in response to her awareness of God's goodness to her.
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As Linda began to give to a variety of organizations, World Vision stood out among them. Linda explains, "They showed up at my door, unexpectedly, and personally connected me to their work. That invitation changed everything."
While we know that some people will discover World Vision because they're searching for the best way to address poverty, that wasn't Linda's story. Instead, through World Vision, God educated Linda about poverty. She acknowledges, "Addressing poverty was the Lord's agenda. And I came to understand that poverty is a very big deal that needs to be addressed head-on."
Two particular experiences with World Vision impacted Linda.
The first was discovering Biblical Empowered Worldview. Based on the conviction that individuals are created in God's image, this unique way of engagement unlocks individuals' own potential to overcome adversity and poverty. Linda offers, "It helped me see that World Vision addresses the whole person, aligning individuals with God's heart so that transformation is lasting — even after the organization steps away."
The second experience that touched Linda was a Vision Trip she took to
Kenya. On that trip, Linda discovered that in Kenya, 23% of girls
are married off before their 18th birthdays. As a result, Linda became deeply involved in World Vision's Big Dream to End Child Marriage initiative that empowers girls to complete their educations, gain skills to rise out of poverty, and break free from the cycle of child marriage.
For Linda, the opportunity to give doesn't begin and end with her own giving. Instead, she actively welcomes others to give, as well. She shares, "I initially came looking for a cause — but what I found was a calling, and a community. It has brought deep joy and healing in my life, and now I feel compelled to invite others into that same journey."
Linda recognizes, in Scripture, what she calls "collective generosity." She cites King David's prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:14, "But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!" Noting how King David gave openly and invited others to join him, Linda explains, "This perspective has shaped how I approach generosity. I see it as an opportunity to invite others into something meaningful — to build a community around a shared mission."
So today Linda is inviting others to step into generosity in order to make a difference together.
