When Chris Marlow met a starving young orphan at a gas station in Zimbabwe in 2007, he knew he had to do something to start helping those in need. Today, he’s the founder of Help One Now, an organization that partners with churches and individuals to sponsor orphans and vulnerable children around the globe. In his first book, Doing Good is Simple (Zondervan, Aug.), Marlow encourages ordinary people to give back and make an impact from wherever they are in the world and in life. We spoke with Marlow about his book and mission, and here he provides six ways people can make a difference.

Just Start Somewhere

“We spend so many of our moments figuring out where to start, but we usually find the best ways to make an impact when we begin to take small steps in the right direction. Do something, rather than nothing—get involved with a nonprofit, volunteer on Saturdays, or sponsor a child. There’s so much more you can do besides writing a check or going on a mission trip.”

Start Small

“Don’t feel like your small is insignificant. It’s really significant. In my case, after meeting a starving kid at a gas station, I learned that there are 150 million orphans in the world. I felt overwhelmed by that number and there was a moment I wanted to give up because I couldn’t help all 150 million. But I realized that maybe I could help a smaller number of kids and focused on that. You need to just start doing something, and it’s OK to start small.”

Follow Your Passions

“Oftentimes when we’re serving, we tend to work off the best part of who we are. Use the good things in your life—your passions and talents, education, and access to resources and networks—to help other people live a good life as well. For example, I used to run a business in real estate and now I use that to do entrepreneur training and help people around the world build better businesses. It’s fun to see people who are passionate about something in their own lives use that to give back.”

Use Your Gifts

“It’s essential to use your gifts to make a difference. If you’re a communicator, a writer, a homebuilder, a teacher—we all have certain things that make us amazing, and you should use those gifts to make a difference.”

Build Relationships

“Part of doing good is simply building relationships. Don’t assume that knowing someone’s story, listening to their past, or understanding their needs is an insignificant thing. One of the most important things I’ve learned is to listen to the locals, pay attention to their stories, and figure out what gaps we can fill.”

Stick With It

“Often when we’re trying to learn how to give back or to make a difference, we take a shotgun approach. We don’t really get to see the impact of our generosity because we’re not involved long enough to see it come to fruition. That’s why I encourage people to stay involved with something for five to seven years, so they can see the impact they’re having. It’s amazing when you’re involved with an organization or community and get to see the literal impact and how you’re making the world a little better.”