It’s a debate that is as old as Christianity itself: faith vs. works. The Bible says, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him? . . . faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14, 17). But the Bible also says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—Not by works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

I’m not a theologian and certainly can’t solve this age-old question. But I am humbled and surprised to learn how the message in my book has compelled people to put their faith into action.

A pastor in Jacksonville, Florida, called to tell me, “I simply wanted to say ‘thank you’ for reminding me that knowing the gospel, receiving the gospel, telling the gospel, and living out the gospel are inseparable.”

A stay-at-home mom in Pennsylvania was inspired by the book to eat cornmeal for six days in solidarity with the poor and hungry. She blogs about how it made her sick—but also grateful. And instead of birthday presents, her daughter asked party guests for personal hygiene items that she delivered to a local women’s shelter.

A corporate CEO gave the book to every member of management and set a goal to generate $1 million annually by 2013 “to be put to work for the Kingdom of God.”

Wow. These stories are not only an encouragement, but also an affirmation that the gospel itself was born of God’s vision of a changed people, challenging and transforming the prevailing values and practices of our world.

Salvation cannot be separated from service, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10). What do you think your faith is calling you to do?

Last week my daughter, Grace, graduated from high school. What a great Father’s Day gift, to see the youngest of my five children achieve this milestone! Grace, like all of her siblings, will go on to college—Pepperdine University.

I made my own way through school—all the way to a master’s degree—without much parental involvement, so I know it’s tough (see “Dreaming of the Ivy League,” pages 74-76). I made sure it was different for my children. It’s also been gratifying to know that Renee and I are helping the children we sponsor to get an education—something they need just as much as, if not more than, kids in the United States.

But for some, it’s still not easy. One of the children we sponsor, Jackson, a boy in Zambia, became the head of his household at 13, after both of his parents died of AIDS. He quit school to support his three siblings. In my book, I write about meeting Jackson and his brother, Morgan, a few years later on a trip to Zambia (see “A Sharp Elbow in My Conscience,” pages 268-271). I’ll never forget my emotional meeting with Jackson’s grandmother, Mary, who regarded me as a new father for the boys.

I’ve taken this role seriously. When I heard a few years ago that Jackson had dropped out of school again, this time due to misbehavior, and was causing problems for his family, I wrote him a letter expressing how troubled I was. I asked him to make better choices and consider his impact on his younger brothers and sister. And I told him I believed in him.

Since then, my son, Andy, now 27, taken over Jackson’s sponsorship payments. Andy met Jackson in 2008 and arranged to send him and his brother Moses to boarding school. What an amazing thing to see my own son care for my “adopted son” in this way.

British poet George Herbert said, “One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” I’m glad Andy and I can be there for Jackson, despite the distance. But he also needs those schoolmasters—caring teachers to help him complete the race he began so well when his world turned upside down.

This Father’s Day, I’ll be praying for Jackson and all our sponsored children. Will you pray with me for the millions of children around the world struggling to get an education? And please consider sponsoring a child. You might just be the answer to a child’s prayer.

My Ethiopia trip is still on my mind. I want to tell you about a man I met named Bzuneh Tulema, whose life was changed, in part, by an unexpected thing: bio-gas.

I have to admit, I snickered when I heard that we were going to see a bio-gas project in Ethiopia. There’s something funny about the concept of using waste—cow and human—for fuel. But I stopped laughing when I heard Bzuneh’s story.

Bzuneh, by his own admission, was once a falling-down drunk. I know firsthand what alcohol abuse can do to a family (see chapter 6 in my book, “A Hole in Me”). Bzuneh’s addiction caused misery. He beat his wife and his children, and they left him. His right cheekbone still bears the imprint of a crushing fall he suffered while inebriated.

Then something incredible happened. He was living in a small hut with his second wife, Bilile, also an alcoholic. They fought constantly—with words and fists. One day, their neighbors confronted Bilile, telling her she needed to put things right with God. “They said if you believe, you will become good people,” she told me. “So I went to church and accepted Jesus.”

Shortly after, Bzuneh also became a Christian and began to clean up his life. When World Vision workers met him, they saw a man with potential who needed a second chance. Bzuneh and 25 other farmers were given an ox, a donkey, solar cookers, and training to construct a bio-gas system for their cooking instead of relying on wood for fuel.

Bzuneh is now self-reliant, creating his own fuel and selling the excess as fertilizer. He raises livestock and honeybees. He is respected by his community. “Before the training, I was a poor man. After the training, I am changed. I even assist other people.” Bzuneh’s sons from his first marriage now live with him, and they remark that the difference in the sober father is significant.

What a privilege to meet this man who turned a wasted life into the sweet smell of success! See Bzuneh’s photo on my Ethiopia trip slideshow. And for reflection: What unexpected thing is God using in your life for good?

I’m constantly amazed by how God is using the message in my book to touch people. I’ve gotten so many comments from readers about how they feel compelled to act.

Just last week, I spoke at a Women of Faith conference in Spokane, Wash. Picture this: me as one of just a handful of men in a crowd of thousands of women on Friday night, and I was the keynote speaker! But they bought every available copy of my book, donated part of the profits to a local ministry, and sponsored more than 1,300 children—a new record for a Women of Faith conference.

Such a generous outpouring humbles me, as do your comments about how the book is impacting your lives.

Many have asked, “What’s the next step?” How I wish there were an easy answer! God’s call looks different in every person’s life. God created each of us with a unique contribution to make in the world. The best way I know to discover this is to offer up a willing heart, and turn a listening ear to that still, small voice. It’s also valuable to seek counsel from your pastor and loved ones—they’re part of God’s story, too.

You may also be asking, “Now what?” If you’re in a city where Women of Faith is gathering, please come. If you want to go deeper, we’ve created a free study guide for groups and individuals.

If you’ve already taken some next steps, please share your story. We’re each a piece in God’s great puzzle—when we share, we see how He’s fitting us all together.