One day, in 1987, Brother Anton picked up the phone and dialed. When the party answered, he spoke briefly: “Bread will be delivered with Psalm 14:4”; and he hung up. Believers at some distance had not been visited for a long time, and they had not been able to partake of the Lord’s Supper. As a minister, Brother Anton was responsible for the spiritual well-being of all the members of our church, which at that time was operating underground because of the terrible oppression of all true Christians in the country. The group that he called had been on his mind, for he had intended to visit them previously, but every time he had begun to lay plans to visit them, something stopped him from doing so. Now, he knew, it could not be delayed any longer.

The believers lived on the other side of the Danube River, which would have to be crossed by ferry. Preparations were made and, on the day indicated by the scripture reference, Brother Anton and his family prepared the family car for the trip.

All was well as they left home, but, when about half way, there was a loud bang and the car skidded to one side. Controlling the vehicle carefully, they stopped and examined the tires. One had blown out; but, more than that, it had almost disintegrated. It was completely irreparable.

Now what to do? They were far from home and knew no one in the locality. They tried to purchase another tire, but that appeared to be an impossibility. They tried here and there, and the day was passing without a solution. No one could help them, no one had a spare tire of the correct size, nor could anyone tell them where they might be able to find someone willing to sell a spare tire if one could be found. At last, in the afternoon, they found another car owner who would sell the spare tire from his own vehicle.

They returned to the car and mounted the new tire, but now it was too late to continue their journey. The only thing left was to return home.

When they pulled up in front of their home and got out of the car, a lady standing at the front of her house saw them and ran screaming into the house. The Antons did not understand. That lady had never done such a thing before, as they knew her well, being good neighbors. Anyhow, they entered the house and began to settle down after the long trip.

Soon there was a knock on the door. Anton went to see who it was, and there stood a policeman. “Where have you been? What was the purpose of your trip? Whom did you see? What time did you leave there?” Questions and more questions. This was not unusual in Romania at that time. But now the pathetic part of the story was revealed.

The brethren on the other side of the river, who had been waiting for them, had expected them at the time appointed for their arrival. They knew that at a certain hour the ferry that was to cross the river would bring them. But something terrible had happened. The ferry, when in the middle of the river, had suddenly capsized and all those on the ferry drowned, and it was believed that Brother Anton and his family were among the victims. The superstitious neighbor had heard of the tragedy and, on seeing them arrive home, thought it was an apparition—that the ghosts of the dead had returned to their house.

When all was over, the Antons knelt in thankfulness before the all-wise God who had preserved their lives. Now, just why did the tire of their car blow out? And why were they unable to find another one until late in the afternoon? Many things happen, not accidentally, but providentially, because the merciful hand of God is still overruling adverse circumstances in behalf of His chosen ones.