While their neighbors rake leaves this fall, George and Tena Baehm will comb some 60 miles of local roadway, collecting cans, bottles and other recyclables. The Seventh-day Adventist couple decided to do something about the litter turning roadsides in Northern California’s Grass Valley—an area long known for its pristine wilderness—into veritable landfills.

What began as the Baehm’s decision to clean up their front yard has grown into a full-time recycling ministry. George and Tena collect trash eight hours per day, then donate the recycling funds to Maranatha Volunteers International, an international, volunteer-based, not-for-profit Christian ministry that has, over three decades, constructed churches, schools, and orphanages in more than 61 countries.

Though retired, the couple has never been the sort to sit around. Active supporters of Maranatha church building projects since the mid-1990s, they’ve sponsored and helped build churches everywhere from Peru to Nepal. Their passion for Maranatha’s $10 church program, coupled with their concern for the environment, now sends the Baehms as far away as Sacramento, California to collect recyclables.

Kyle Fiess, vice president of marketing for Maranatha, explains the $10 church concept: “Since 1988, this special program—by encouraging thousands of people to contribute just $10 a month toward a fund that goes toward the construction of one church a month—has sponsored over 150 churches seating more than 30,000 people who previously had no place to worship.”

“You might not think so, but we really enjoy cleaning up around here,” says George. “Our neighbors who see us picking up trash want to know what we’re doing and why. So we get a chance to tell them we take trash and turn it into cash—cash that pays for churches and schools around the world. ‘Give me that can of soda, and let’s turn that into a church,’ I tell them. There are still so many people who don’t have a church, and we can really do something about that.”

“This project has opened so many doors to witness for us, and we are just amazed that something of evil—because most of what we pick up are beer cans—can be used for God and really transformed into something positive,” says Tena.

George adds that initially, some locals were more than a little curious. “They think, ‘Why are these two little people picking up trash?’ They’ll say, ‘Run over there and give him a dollar; maybe he needs a bite to eat,’ which is hardly the case. But of course, when people see us reaching into dumpsters, we have to explain ourselves—especially since we’re only four feet tall!”

And explain themselves they do. “Everywhere George and Tena go, they talk to people about their experiences with Maranatha and they have encouraged many people to try it for themselves,” said Fiess.

During a phone interview with Adventist News Network, George and Tena said their short stature has inspired them to impact the world. “That we’re little definitely plays into this project, because people really take notice when they see us,” says George.

Tena adds, “This is one way we can make a difference, partly because of our size, and it has been such a great blessing. It seems like every day when we go out, we meet more people who end up helping us.”

One such person is a young man named Martin whose family owns a local Thai restaurant. When Martin learned the Baehms were recycling for Maranatha, he started saving bottles and cans from the restaurant for the couple. “We’re helping them out, and they’re helping us,” says Tena. “[Martin and his family] have asked where we go to church and they really care about what we’re doing.”

Tena adds that she and George certainly aren’t doing anything glamorous; they’re just following the advice of one of their favorite Bible verses, 1 Peter 4:10. “It tells us that ‘God has given each of us some special ability to use to help each other, as faithful stewards of God,’” quotes Tena.

The couple now has everyone from the local mechanic shop to Nevada City’s Ford dealership saving recyclables for them. That makes for a lot of trash. “We’re not talking about a couple dollars worth of stuff here. We’re talking about a car-full of stuff every day. And that’s good, because it adds up and it helps Adventists around the world have churches to meet and worship in,” says George.

Next year, the Baehms plan to accompany other Maranatha volunteers to Ecuador, where they’ll help build another church. “Once you start doing this, it’s something that gets into your blood,” says Tena. “You might wonder how we can work on these trips, because we’re little. But whether it’s painting or blocking, we do it—up to four feet, that is! We work as far as we are tall. And you know, it really doesn’t matter what size you are. If you have a willingness to help, God can always use you.”