Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

| by archiveworldraceblogs

A powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness as provider; we believe this will be just one of many stories!
 
Editor/staff note: this story had our jaws dropping.  If the support-raising process intimidates you or you’re discouraged by lack of finances — if money is the only thing that has you doubting God’s call to missions — please read this post (with slight edits from us) from Briana Rene.

As we were in the airport (LAX) for our all-night layover, I looked for a spot with good internet and plopped down by one of my teammates. Right after that this random guy came over and asked us if we wanted free internet, and who doesn’t want free internet when the internet in the airport is eight bucks? So we gladly agreed, and he sat down and typed in his password. 

We struck up a conversation with him and he explained to us that he had been stuck in the airport for two days because his flight kept getting delayed due to weather. To make matters worse, on his previous flight, his wallet had gotten stolen so he hadn’t eaten since then. We felt bad and offered to buy him some food when McDonald’s opened. 
We then told him about the World Race and what we were doing and he seemed really interested. He asked us how much support we needed to raise and we told him. 
Then he said, “Well, I don’t have my wallet, but I do have my bank account info, and I think it’s really cool that you guys left your home to do this for your faith. Go get some of your other teammates because I want to give around $20,000.” 
Yes, that’s right… TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS! He explained to us that he had inherited a large sum of money when he was eighteen and really felt prompted to give to us. So I ran down and woke up the squad and explained to them that there was this twenty-two year old that wanted to donate $20k. 
People couldn’t believe their ears, but they followed me back up the stairs and then he had us type in the site and he donated! He fully funded some people, and brought other people’s numbers way up! We were in shock: here was this kid who’s younger than some of us, that has money, but chose to bless us with it. 
When does that ever happen?!?! When God wants to bless His children! =D 
We bought him McDonald’s; it was the least we could do! Then he hung out with us for the rest of our layover. As we were leaving, he began to tear up and told us that he really saw something different in us and he could feel the presence of God around us. 
We got to pray with him and asked God to continue to open up his heart to the truth and to His love. He wasn’t a Christian, he told us that he was a Buddhist, but didn’t practice it. But there was a seed planted that night!
God loves to give good gifts to His kids, even when they least expect it!
It’s one thing to read verses of God’s generosity and provision:
  • James 1:17 (The Message): “Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.” 
  • Matthew 7:11 (New Living Translation): “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
And it’s another to experience the reality of these truths!  

If you feel like God’s inviting you to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” and you’re curious to see for yourself if “all these things will be given to you as well,” (Matthew 6:33, NIV) we invite you to: