In 1947, Robert Pierce joined Youth for Christ, in a series of evangelical rallies held in China. On the trip, he met Tena Hoelkeboer, a missionary Teacher. She presented him with a battered and abandoned child. Unable to care for the child herself, Tena asked Pierce, "What are you going to do about her?" Pierce gave the woman his last five dollars and agreed to send the same amount each month to help the woman care for the child.