By Gavin Boyle
Viral influencer Jimmy Darts explained how a radical act of kindness performed by his parents transformed his view of the world and inspired him to care for others every day.
“It’s a pretty crazy story. It was way before I was ever on the internet making videos. And it was when I was a child. I was 10 years old and my parents for Christmas [said], ‘Jimmy, we got a different kind of gift for you this year.’ And I’m like, ‘All right, what’s that?’ And they go, ‘We got $200 for you,’” Darts recalled, explaining that he would be able to keep $100 after giving $100 away.
“So my mom pulls over, I hand [a homeless man] the $100 bill, and, the look in his eyes of just seeing a kid…step out there…[it was the] last thing he was expecting…” Darts continued. “Just, in that moment, he felt so loved and just that exchange I had…it’s really powerful and shaped my life so much. I remember the look on that gentleman’s face when I gave him that $100, but I have no clue what I bought that year with the other $100.”
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That moment stayed with him years later when he decided to take his faith seriously and combine his relationship with the Lord with a passion for making videos on social media. Now with millions of followers, he regularly posts videos where he gives people life changing amounts of money in response to their kindness.
“Most of the money, I fundraise it. I’ll go live on Instagram and I’ll say ‘Guys, our goal today is to hit a $1000 dollars or $500.’ And as soon as we hit that goal, I say, ‘All right guys, stop sending the money. We hit our goal today.’ Then I go out and give that money away that day,” Darts explained.
Most of the time, he will then give this money to people after first asking them for help. The help may be for a dollar to buy baby food or recruit people who are expecting to do hard labor for him.
Darts believes that by sharing kindness, he is helping bring the kingdom of God to earth by not only changing the lives of the people featured in his videos but by also inspiring his followers to be kind to those around them as well.
“I get to share the Gospel with these people, get to encourage these people. So it’s crazy how it’s blowing up now, but it’s really just showing the goodness of God and reminding these people,” Darts said. “I tell them at the end of every video, I’m like, remember that verse? Don’t grow weary in doing good, for in due time God will reward you. And these people just melt with tears because they realize, like, dang, all those things I did, all the sacrifices I made. Like, God was watching me and saw that.”
As Darts continues to make a career on spreading kindness, it is amazing how the Lord continues to grow his platform and help him further the kingdom of God, one life changing encounter at a time.
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