By Rick Bowes
Not long ago I heard the most amazing “two-part answered prayer story” from a lady named Fran Murphy.
It seems that back in the year 2006, Fran, who lives in Athol, MA, and is a member of Athol SDA church family, was convicted that God was calling her to do something to help feed and clothe children who had been orphaned.
Following up on that conviction, Fran began to investigate the various children’s charities, asking the question, “Which one gives the most of the donations received directly to the children?”
As time went on it seemed that the more she asked that question of each charity, the more confused she became.
Finally, it dawned on her that God had the answer, and she prayed the simple prayer, “Lord, I want to help children, but I want the money to go to them, and not to fundraisers.”
One week went by with no direct guidance, but on the Sabbath morning of the second week, when the church secretary handed her a packet of information about ICC, Fran knew that she had received a dramatic answer to her prayer.
Long story made short: Not only did Fran make the decision to sponsor an ICC child, but as she told the answered prayer story to others in the church, one member after another decided to do the same.
That’s the first part of Fran’s answered prayer story.
The second part, equally as dramatic as the first, is that the church members then gathered together and decided to call the first Sabbath of each month “ICC Day”.
And so it is that ever since that first ICC Day way back in 2006, month in, month out, year in, year out, Fran has read a mission story from the latest edition of the Que Pasa.
This week, pondering Fran’s 18 years of story reading, I realized that though the stories came from different places and different circumstances, they were all the same in that they always began with pain and suffering, but they always ended with lives being changed, and lives being saved… thanks to ICC family members like Fran – and like YOU!
Sharing stories and features in the Que Pasa is another way that you can support and care for the children. And just as receiving new children vitalizes this mission so does having new members join the ICC family of supporters.
Thank you for sharing and caring for ‘His Kids!”
