Red, White and Blue Bingo: A Night That Almost Didn't Happen

2 hours ago

5 min read

October 17, 2026

I am still trying to find the words to explain what happened on October 15, 2026, when Lettermen of the USA held its Red, White and Blue Designer Handbag Bingo at The Club in Homewood. We finished with 89 people registered and 85 guests in attendance. Of the four who could not make it, one graciously told us to keep the money as a donation. That meant more than they probably realized.

Those numbers may not seem extraordinary to someone looking at them from the outside, but I know what things looked like just two weeks earlier. We were facing the very real possibility that this event might not come together. There were moments when I wondered how we could possibly get everything done, and yet, somehow, what looked so uncertain became one of the most meaningful evenings we have experienced.

I believe with all my heart that Yahweh had His hand on this event.

As Scripture reminds us in Matthew 19:26, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Those words have never felt more personal to me than they do today.

We had been working through challenges with ticketing, technology, communication, and the countless details involved in organizing an event. At the same time, our small team was preparing for Autographs for Heroes in November, Turkeys for Heroes later that month, and our eighth One Yard at a Time Gala in February 2027. There was an enormous amount on everyone's plate, and I understood why there were concerns about whether bingo would succeed.

I want to be very clear about something. I hold no bitterness in my heart toward anybody involved in this journey. Every person who raised a concern, offered advice, or worked behind the scenes was dealing with the same uncertainty we all felt. We are human, and sometimes the weight of responsibility can make the road ahead seem impossible. I love and appreciate the people who have stood beside this organization, especially when the road has been difficult.

Yvonne Pope, our Director of Nonprofit Events, carried a tremendous responsibility in bringing the evening together. She knew how much was at stake and was honest with me about her concerns. I respected that because I knew her heart was in protecting the organization and making the event successful. Elaine Lyda worked tirelessly on the final details, including the signs, table materials, and preparations for guest check-in. So many others contributed their time, energy, resources, and encouragement. I am deeply grateful for every one of them.

Still, there came a point when I had to put my own worries aside and trust what I believed the Holy Spirit was telling me.

For 640 consecutive days, I had been turning to prayer through a Christian app that I used to pray by, accumulating 232,849 minutes, along with two hours every Friday morning at our men's prayer breakfast. I share that not to suggest that my faith is greater than anyone else's, because it certainly isn't. I share it because prayer has become the place where I bring my burdens, my fears, my gratitude, and sometimes my tears.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

There were many things about this event that I could not understand or control. I could only continue doing the work in front of me, praying for wisdom, and trusting that Yahweh would make a way if this was what He wanted us to accomplish.

And He did.

On the evening of October 15, guests began arriving, the tables filled, and the room came alive with laughter and fellowship. Russell Jones from WBRC served as our emcee, Pastor Tim Hendrix Jr. offered the invocation, and Danny Smith performed the National Anthem. What had once seemed like such a long shot was unfolding right before our eyes.

We had come together for a simple but important purpose: to support the mission of Lettermen of the USA and honor the women and men who have worn our nation's uniform.

Among those attending were Glen and Jennifer Bullard, a veteran family our organization had previously been blessed to help during a difficult period in their lives. Seeing them there meant a great deal to me. When they were recognized and then won a designer handbag, I couldn't help but smile. Here was a family we had once been able to give a hand up, now sharing in the joy of an evening that had almost never happened.

Galatians 6:2 tells us, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." That is what Lettermen of the USA has always been about. It is not about recognition or applause. It is about being there for people when they need someone and reminding our veterans and their families that they have not been forgotten.

We were also blessed to have community leaders, longtime friends, supporters, and people who were learning about our mission for the very first time. The following day, Amy Privette shared photographs and described it as a fun event for a great cause. Rhonda Thompson Truett expressed the same joy, and those simple messages reminded me that the evening had accomplished something beyond raising money. People had enjoyed themselves, made connections, and learned more about the work we are trying to do.

Looking back, I keep returning to Zechariah 4:6: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

That verse speaks directly to what I believe happened. No one person made this eveningsuccessful, and no amount of planning could have guaranteed the outcome. It took an entire group of people doing their best, sometimes under difficult circumstances, while Yahweh was working in ways we could not yet see.

I think about how close we came to giving up on the evening, how much uncertainty surrounded us, and how everything seemed to come together when it mattered most. I am not suggesting that faith removes every obstacle or that every prayer is answered the way we hope. Life has taught me otherwise. But I do believe there are moments when Yahweh allows us to see His grace so clearly that all we can do is stand in gratitude.

Second Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." And Galatians 6:9 encourages us, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Those words carried me through this experience, and I hope they encourage someone else who may be facing an uphill battle of their own.

I am thankful for Yvonne, Elaine, our volunteers, donors, sponsors, guests, and everyone who helped bring this evening to life. I am thankful for the people who encouraged us and even for the difficult conversations that made us think carefully about our responsibilities. Every person played a part in a story much larger than any one of us.

Most of all, I am thankful to Yahweh.

Two weeks before the event, I was wondering whether we would have enough people to fill the room. On October 15, I stood among 85 guests and watched an evening filled with happiness, generosity, and fellowship. I still find myself shaking my head in amazement at how it all came together.

Psalm 126:3 says, "The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."

I cannot think of a better way to describe what happened that night.

We began with uncertainty and ended with gratitude. We faced obstacles and found a way through them together. What once looked like defeat became something beautiful, and I will carry the memory of that evening in my heart for a very long time.

To Yahweh be the glory, because without Him, none of this would have been possible.

And to everyone who helped make Red, White and Blue Bingo a reality, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Darryl Fuhrman

Lettermen of the USA