Provision for the Mission Trip We Almost Cancelled

Our church youth group had been planning a summer mission trip to rural Appalachia for eight months. Two weeks before departure our primary donor called to say his business had hit unexpected losses and he had to withdraw his pledge. We were $4,200 short with no realistic path to make it up in time. Our youth pastor called a prayer meeting on a Tuesday night — maybe fifteen teenagers and a few parents sitting in a circle. We prayed honestly and without pretense, acknowledging we might have to cancel. The following Sunday a couple who had never been to our church before showed up for the first time. After the service they introduced themselves and said they had felt led to give to a youth mission and wanted to know if we had any needs. Their check was for $4,500. They had no prior knowledge of our situation. They had simply felt prompted to visit that Sunday. The trip went forward. Three students made decisions of faith during that week in the mountains.