"This is a church telephone number," said the pastor.

With astonishment the man exclaimed, "A church? How can that be? I was away from home last evening when my son called. He left this number if I wanted to reach him. How can this be a church number?"

"What's your son's name? We are not that large a congregation. I would know him or at least recognize his name if he attends services here," answered the pastor. The name the man gave was totally unfamiliar to the pastor. Just another "Johnny Doe."

The man persisted, "My son and I had words before he just picked up and left months ago. I've desperately tried to locate him. Can't you give my any help? In the message he left on my phone he mentioned that he hangs out at Sycamore Mall. Do you know this place?"

The pastor said, "Yes, I know it; it is not far from the church. Describe your boy so I'll recognize him if I see him." The man did so and also left his telephone number in case the pastor had any news for him.

Our pastor told us he thought it sounded like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack, but he felt an urgency to go find the boy. He excused himself from the small group sitting in his office, saying he had just received an emergency call. He went to his car and drove toward the mall.

As he approached the area he saw a boy on a sidewalk that fit the missing son's description. He pulled over to the curb, rolled down the window, and asked if the boy's name was the one given to him by the concerned father.

"Did you try to contact your father?" Getting a surprised, "Yes," pastor replied, "Get in the car."

As the youth did so, pastor said, "Your father called and wants to reach you. He said you had called him."

"Yes, I did call him. I want to know if I can come home," said the boy.

Pastor looked at the boy appraisingly and said, "Your father sounded as if he very much wants you home. But, I'm curious. You don't go to our church, do you?" As the boy shook his head, pastor continued his questioning. "Then how did you happen to give him our telephone number?"

With a bewildered look the boy admitted he had no idea how he thought his father could reach him at that number when he did not go to church there. But his face brightened when he said, "After we quarreled and I started to leave the house, my father said if I ever got in trouble or needed help I should find a church. So last night it was about midnight when I left the mall. It was getting cold and I had no place to sleep. I was just roaming the streets when I saw your church and I thought of what my dad had said. The church was all lit up and when I got there the door was unlocked. I couldn't find anybody at the church so I looked around and found a phone to call my dad."

The pastor looked into the upraised face of the boy and in puzzlement said, "But it couldn't have been lit up. After our evening service, we turn out all the lights and lock the door."

The boy frowned in his disbelief and then contradicted the pastor. "The lights were bright. I'd never have seen the church that far away if it hadn't been well lit. It was so bright that I remembered my father's words, 'Find a church.'"

Just another story of a prodigal son finding his way home. Maybe this is the end of the story, but not the end of the mystery. The pastor called a staff meeting and telephoned two board members who also had keys to the church. No one had gone back to the church after the evening service. The lights and unlocked doors are still a mystery.

It seems strange to me that this occurred on the very night a modern-day prodigal son had decided he would like to go home.

I have my own theories. I recall that Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Perhaps He also unlocks doors and turns on lights in timely fashion so a wayward one can find his way.