When Amy Rickel accidentally sent a Facebook message to the wrong person in 2016, she had no idea that her mistake would become a life-changing moment. The young mother of three, struggling through one of the darkest periods of her life, reached out for spiritual guidance—only to discover that help can come from the most unexpected places.
Rickel had recently relocated from Michigan to Green Bay, Wisconsin, hoping to give her children the opportunity to be closer to their father. However, her plans quickly unraveled when she lost her job and her vehicle broke down, leaving her without transportation. Making matters worse, every shelter in the area was at capacity, leaving her three children without a safe place to stay.
A message meant for someone else
In a moment of desperation, Amy turned to Facebook, intending to reach out to a friend named Brian for spiritual support. “Hi Brian, wondering if you know a good Bible verse for someone to pray when in deep fear, weak, scared, and personal despair/lost breaking?” she wrote.
The message, however, landed in the inbox of Brian Van Boxtel, a complete stranger. When Amy realized her error, she quickly apologized. But Van Boxtel didn’t dismiss the message as a simple mistake. Instead, he saw it as divine intervention—a clear signal that he was meant to help this struggling mother.
Van Boxtel asked himself what Jesus would do in his position and decided to act. He sent Amy a follow-up message telling her he would pay for her motel. She was so overwhelmed by his generosity that she broke down, “bawling and praying,” according to Van Boxtel’s recollection of their conversation.
Community rallies around a stranger in need
With Van Boxtel’s encouragement, Rickel created a donation page to ask for additional assistance. “Any and all help will be welcomed and received with warm, loving, grateful hearts, and we, as a family, will pay it forward as soon as we are able. Thank you all in advance for even considering helping my family out; you may never know how much it will mean to me, but know that it will be everything at this time of year, knowing they are all warm and safe!” she wrote.
The response exceeded anything Amy could have imagined. A woman named Kathy Schumann offered her minivan for Amy’s use. Chad Morack learned that Amy was a licensed practical nurse and connected her with a medical recruiter, who quickly secured her a full-time position.
The outpouring of support transformed Amy’s life and renewed her sense of hope. “[I’m] pretty amazed,” Rickel said. “I still kind of find it unbelievable… It’s totally restored my faith in more than just humanity, my faith in God.”
Following a prompting to help
Van Boxtel could have easily ignored the misdirected message without consequence, but something compelled him to respond. Reflecting on his decision, he acknowledged the role of faith in his actions. “I know that God had me in the right place at the right time, and so I listened to my heart,” he said.
The story demonstrates how a single act of compassion can create a ripple effect, inspiring others to contribute and ultimately changing lives. What began as an accidental message became a testament to human generosity and the power of listening to one’s instincts to help those in need.
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