One Single Act: Gestures of Kindness, Compassion, and Courage that Change Us and the World

A guide to reclaiming humanity through acts of kindness and generosity, ultimately transforming how we see the world.

On July 1, 2025, the first day of her tenure as Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Winnie Varghese, along with the diocese of New York, launched a campaign called #OneSingleAct. From the top steps of the Cathedral, they invited the diocese and neighboring community to perform or acknowledge one act of generosity, compassion, kindness, or justice daily, sharing it on social media for 100 days to fill their feeds with hope. It caught on in a way similar to the “Pay It Forward” campaign.

This book takes the idea of #OneSingle Act as a starting point and speaks to the fundamentals of Christian Spirituality. In a series of vignettes and essays —some of which draw on her experience in ministry, her personal life, as well as the lives of others—Varghese reflects on the monumental impact a simple act of charity can have, that ordinary and remarkable acts of Christian kindness and generosity can be inspirational, illustrating a path toward personal transformation and global renewal.