The day after crying out to God for help, He showed us our first youth center at 834 N. National. We pursued the purchase of that building like God had already said it was ours.We needed $5000 at closing, which was a short 30 days away, and we had no visible means of support. On the day of closing God provided the final $1000 of that $5000. I had stayed home from my painting job that day to see how God was going to provide, and we received two phone calls pledging $500 each towards the need. The amount needed was secured about one hour before the closing on the property. God was faithful.
At the end of November, just one month later, our earthly account was empty, yet God provided the money to pay bills on the last day of the month.
Only one month later, in December of 1998, we had two separate incidents at months end, when our earthly account was totally bare, but our bills had to be paid. The first incident was a utility bill and utility deposit that needed to be paid. At 3:30 in the afternoon, just a couple hours befor the utility company was closing, we called in a prayer request to the local Wind fm radio station about the need. Some 30 minutes later a man called and proceeded to the center at 834 N. National. His remarks upon coming in the center and looking around were, “I wish I would have had a place like this when I was a kid.”
At the utility company the man paid the bill we had told him about and added on a little extra to the payment. Then as we walked out we were taken back by God’s amazing provision, when he handed us a check for $150. This happened to be the exact amount of the utility deposit we still owed, but that he knew nothing about. My 10 year old son was with me at the time. As we started to drive off I inquired tearfully to him, “Do you get the feeling that was an angel?” “Yes,” he acknowledged, “I did”.
Just one week later our earthly accounts were still empty, but we had to pay property taxes on the building, as well as our mortgage payment, some $1200. Again we awaited God’s provision at the youth center on the last day of the month, and the final $500 of that amount would come in at 4:00 in the afternoon, just one hour before the county offices would close. Once again the donor echoed the same encouraging comment upon entering the youth center, “I wish I would have had a place like this when I was a kid!” God provided.
Every month of the first year at 834 N. National we had similar circumstances, with very little money in our account. Yet always in a timely fashion God would provide just in time to take care of our bills.
In September of 1999, we were expectantly looking for God’s provision for another financial obligation. Our earthly account was empty, but we needed $1100 for a deferred down payment on the youth center. With only days until the bill was due, the mailbox yielded a donation of $50. As I retired to bed that evening Bridges For Youth still needed $1050 to take care of the need. I had the most amazing dream that night. It was as though I had the chance to enter the realms of heaven for a short time. The same uplifting song played over and over in my head that night as I slept. The songs lyrics, “ Let the glory of the Lord rise among us”, was reflective of God’s provision for our every need.
I was awakened early in the morning by a phone call from a donor who was unaware of the need. The donor indicated I could come by the office and pick up a donation, in which they did not disclose the amount. As I received the donation a short time later and looked at the amount, the words of the song “Let the glory of the Lord rise among us”, was still fresh on my mind. The donor’s husband handed me the check and it was written out for exactly $1050, the amount of money still needed to pay the bill. God was right on time again. Let the glory of the Lord rise among us! God is faithful. |
