A Prayer for George Barclay

George Barclay has lost his job, and while he cheerfully fills his days painting garages and praying, his family sells the second car - and even his golf clubs. Alarmed by how calm their dad is, Jimmy and Donna decide to pray him into work: Jimmy asks God for a big salary, a fancy office, and a company car, while Donna simply asks for God's will. The very next day George runs into an old coworker, and soon he's offered a job better than the one he lost - salary, title, office, company car and all. It looks like a perfectly answered prayer... so why won't George take it? After much prayer and counsel, George turns the offer down, announcing that God is calling him into ministry, and his stunned kids must decide whether to stand with him. With Whit's help they do - just in time for one more surprise from their mom.

Found on Passport to Adventure Album 19 · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

1 of 3 0256 Aloha, Oy! A prize trip to Hawaii turns into anything but a relaxing getaway when the Barclays discover they won't be vacationing alone.

2 of 3 0257 Aloha, Oy! A Hawaiian vacation goes sideways when a lovestruck teen's risky stunts, a broken-down rental car, and a trip to Pearl Harbor each set the two families on a collision course with trouble.

3 of 3 0258 Aloha, Oy! A parasailing mishap, a sinking tour boat, and a chase through Honolulu collide as two vacationing families scramble to salvage their Hawaiian day - and Lawrence makes one last attempt to catch up with his Navy father.

0259 The Potential in Elliot A study session with the school's oddball young scientist forces Sam to confront what teasing a dreamer might really cost.

0260 Naturally, I Assumed... Eugene's daily library visits to Katrina come to a sudden halt when she mentions a mysterious "him" she can't keep waiting, sending Eugene - with Connie as his self-appointed romance coach - into a comedy of unspoken feelings and mistaken conclusions.

0261 Afraid, Not! Danny Schmidt's mysterious black eye and his refusal to explain it force him to confront the shame of being bullied and the fear that lingers long after the danger seems past.

0262 A Prayer for George Barclay With their unemployed father strangely at peace while the family sells off what they own, two kids decide to pray him into a new job - and get an answer no one saw coming.

0263 When Bad Isn't So Good When a well-behaved kid decides the only way to get noticed is to be bad, his scheme collides with a bitter theater owner whose insult-fueled radio fame is setting the whole town on edge.

0264 Making the Grade When career day sparks Jimmy's dream of becoming a paramedic, he discovers the job may demand far more than enthusiasm and a first-aid book.

0265 War of the Words A vocabulary spat between two Whit's End employees spirals out of control when a misheard word takes on a life of its own among the kids of Odyssey.

0266 It Began with a Rabbit's Foot... When budget cuts cost Katrina her college library job, a new position at Whit's End unsettles Eugene - and prompts Whit to recall how a rabbit's foot led to the Bible Room.

0267 ... It Ended with a Handshake When a personal computer disk goes astray, Eugene must scramble to keep his most private feelings from reaching the one person they're about - Katrina.

0268 Pet Peeves When Donna Barclay adopts a scruffy stray dog to bring some stability back to her rapidly changing family, she gets far more chaos - and far more insight - than she bargained for.

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Made by

Chris Anthony Host Paul McCusker Writer · Director · Producer Dave Arnold Sound Designer · Producer Chuck Bolte Executive Producer

The story

Read the full synopsis 3 min

Since losing his job, George Barclay has filled his time by serving people throughout Odyssey. He has painted a neighbor’s garage, landscaped at church, and helped Whit hang the door on a storage shed. Although applications and visits to employers have produced nothing, George tells Whit that unemployment has given him time to pray, clear away distractions, and reconsider his priorities. His family has supported him through reduced spending and extra work, but the financial strain is real: the Barclays are selling their second car and George’s golf clubs.

Jimmy and Donna are alarmed by how calmly their father gives up things he enjoys. They decide to find him a job themselves, only to discover that neither can clearly explain what he did at his former company. Their planning goes nowhere until Donna suggests that they pray together.

Jimmy asks God to provide a large salary, fine office, impressive view, and company car. Donna prays instead for encouragement, guidance, open doors, and God’s will for their father. Although brother and sister tease one another even while praying, both sincerely want George to find the right work. Donna feels certain something will happen.

The next day Jimmy watches for an immediate result. Whit reminds him that God answers in his own time and may respond in a way no one expects. At that moment George bursts into Whit’s End with astonishing news. On the way to the hardware store, he met Dave Carey from his old company. Dave has been promoted, a new position has opened, and he wants George to interview for it.

The interview goes extremely well. The company offers George a position above his former level, overseeing both operations and accounting. It includes a better salary, title, office, and even the company car Jimmy requested. The family celebrates what seems to be a wonderfully exact answer to prayer - until George says he is not sure he will accept. He wants time to pray, think, and consult his pastor.

Jimmy cannot understand the hesitation. Donna agrees that the decision belongs to their father, though she also expected an obvious answer. Whit explains that what looks obvious is not always the right answer to prayer. George must seek what God wants rather than simply accept the most attractive offer.

When the children come home later, they find both parents crying from happiness. George has declined the job. His months without work have changed his priorities, and the offer forced him to make a choice he has been considering and testing for a long time. After much prayer and counsel from his pastor, George believes God is calling him into Christian ministry.

Jimmy and Donna are stunned. They imagine having to behave perfectly as a minister’s children, moving to a distant mission field, or attending every possible church event. George asks them to slow down. He does not yet know where the calling will lead, and he has made the decision with his family in mind. He plans to attend seminary and find part-time work while preparing.

Mary points out that Jimmy and Donna’s prayer has been answered, although not with the job they expected. The children need time to absorb the news. At Whit’s End, Whit honestly tells them that ministry will bring real sacrifice and that they will sometimes have to share their father with people who need him. Yet the sacrifices the family has already made may have been preparing them for changes they could not foresee. What matters now is meeting those changes with courage and faith.

Jimmy and Donna return home and apologize for reacting selfishly. Donna tells George that she loves him, is proud of his difficult decision, and will stand with him no matter what happens. Jimmy adds his support even if there is no company car. Their response deeply moves George and Mary, and the family prays that the coming process will draw them closer to one another and to God.

George then admits that there is still more news. Mary has delayed telling the children until they adjusted to the first surprise. Now, with everyone gathered, she announces that she is pregnant.