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When in Doubt...Pray!

Album: 30: Through Thick & Thin

Episode: 392

Lesson/Theme: Prayer/Faith

Bible Verse: Mark 11:24

Characters: Mandy, Eugene

Writer:

Sound Designer:

Original Air Date: February 7, 1998

Last Air Date: July 23, 2009

Description:
Mandy comes into Whit's End a bit depressed. A girl at school has been telling her that God hasn't answered people's prayers since Bible times. Eugene decides to take her on an Imagination Station adventure to show her some examples of answered prayer. Their first stop is Bristol, England in the 19th century, where Reverend George Mueller is running an orphanage. The problem is that the orphanage is out of money, not to mention food. There is not a scrap of food for breakfast in the morning, but Reverend Mueller insists that God will provide. Before they can see how the situation will be resolved, Mandy and Eugene are whisked to a jail in the 1500s. Eugene and Mandy meet with William Tyndale who is in jail for translating the Bible into English. He prays that the Bible will be open to all. Once again, Eugene and Mandy are whisked to another time and place. This time they are in Ohio in the 1800s. They make their way along a terribly dusty road and learn from a family that there has been a drought for the entire summer. The drought is so bad that it is killing crops. A number of families are going to watch a pastor named Charles Finney pray for rain. Once at the church, the people watch while Pastor Finney gets up to pray. Just as he finishes praying, the clouds begin to gather and burst with rain. Everyone begins to rejoice, but the Imagination Station takes Eugene and Mandy back to the Mueller's orphanage. It is morning at the orphanage and there is still nothing to eat. Suddenly, however, a baker comes in with bread and sweet rolls that he had been baking the night before. No sooner has the baker finished talking when a milkman comes in. His wagon has broken down in the street and he doesn't want the milk to go to waste, so he gives it freely to the orphanage. Their prayers are answered! Just then, Eugene and Mandy are moved once again to England in the 1500s. Although Mandy is convinced that William Tyndale will be set free, he is burned at the stake. Mandy is upset, thinking that God did not answer his prayer. Eugene explains, however, that William's prayer of a Bible for all to read was answered, even though he didn't live to see it.

Questions:
Three different people prayed in the Imagination Station adventure. Which prayers were answered? How were George Mueller's and Charles Finney's prayers answered? God sometimes answers prayers in ways we don't expect. How did this happen for William Tyndale? What are some ways that prayer has been answered in your life?