When Losses Become Gains

June/July 2026

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In 1937, Henrietta Mears found the perfect campground for Christian youth retreats in the San Bernardino Mountains, but the $350,000 price tag was entirely out of reach. Shortly after, a     severe storm caused flash floods that washed away three cabins on the property. Because of the damage, the dying owner offered to sell the camp to Mears for just $30,000. That camp, Forest Home, went on to impact tens of thousands of young people, including a young Billy Graham, who overcame a major crisis of faith at that very camp under Mears's mentorship.

It was 1949 and Graham was struggling with intense intellectual doubts regarding the authority and inspiration of the Bible, spurred by his friend Charles Templeton. Mears invited Graham to speak at Forest Home. During that week, her unwavering confidence in Scripture and her deep theological grounding  provided the environment Graham needed to process his  struggle.

It was during this retreat that Graham famously went for a walk in the woods, laid his Bible on a tree stump, and prayed, "Father, I am going to  accept this as Thy Word - by faith!"

Just weeks after this breakthrough at Mears’ conference, Graham began the 1949 Los Angeles Crusade. Mears encouraged her large college class and Hollywood contacts to attend. The crusade, originally scheduled for three weeks, lasted eight and propelled Graham into national prominence and, well, you know the rest of the story of his life and ministry.

It is an inspiring story, but I wonder about the original landowner who lost $320,000 (equivalent to $7,338,000 in   today’s purchasing power) because of a flash flood! He could never have foreseen the impact his disaster would have on eternity.

The lesson for us, when facing problems which make absolutely no sense to us is this: trust God, even in the worst tragedies; He knows what He is doing, regardless of the losses involved.

Dr. Lynn Hardaway