Pastor Noah Schumacher and his wife Michelle are so into their Christian faith that they have been called “reckless and radical” because of just how devoted they are to God. At the end of 2018, however, their faith was put to the test like never before.

It all started when Noah’s mother Diana Horger went to the doctor complaining of a cough, only to be told that her liver was failing her and she was in need of a transplant. Noah wanted nothing more than to save his mother, but doctors informed him that he was not a match after he was tested.

“It’s kind of like a big puzzle piece,” explained Noah, 33. Even though he was not a match for his mother, Noah still knew he had to donate.

Noah, who has been the pastor at HighMill Church in Canton, Ohio for the past five years, was then told by doctors that he was a match to save the life of a child with his liver. Without hesitating, Noah knew what he had to do, so he went right to his wife.

“We came so far to help my mother, and I can’t walk away,” he said. “We were both so sad, but her response literally was, ‘Of course, we can do this for a child. This is living out the gospel for Jesus,’ and we both said ‘OK, let’s do it.'”

The decision was a no-brainer for the devout couple.

“To say we follow Jesus and to live sacrificially, and when I found out I could do this for a child because I follow Jesus, we’re called to do this, even to the point of death,” Noah added.

Noah and Michelle have travelled the world helping out with relief efforts and spreading Christianity in places like Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

“We’re busy,” Noah said. “Michelle and I both have always lived by a really simple mindset that if you cling to everything you have then you’re going to miss out in life, but if you give everything you have sacrificially you have everything to gain. That’s how we see Jesus live so that’s how we try to live.”

Noah got official approval to be a donor two weeks ago, and he is now awaiting the six hour operation in which doctors will make an 11-inch incision in his chest to remove his liver. His story of selflessness has quickly gone viral, and his family is hoping it might just end up saving his mother’s life by finding her a donor.

“I think this story could play out to work out well for everyone, ” Michelle said. “And that’s our hope.”