Hope in the Balance: Hope Trilogy, #2

By Jim Baton

Award-winning author Jim Baton believes revival is coming to America. This is part two of what it might look like--

 

The small town of Hope is shaken when teenagers Kelsey and Harmonie uncover its skeletons of the past. Will those secrets tear the town apart, or will they become a path to healing? Meanwhile, it appears someone is willing to use any means necessary to take over their town. The girls look for new allies to save Hope. A House of Prayer arises to confront demonic forces, leading to glimpses of angelic activity. As the intensity of the warfare increases, people on all sides are being pushed past their limits. The future of Hope hangs in the balance.

 

The Hope Trilogy is written for those who are hungry for God's revival and transformation of their communities. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jim Baton
• Release date: May 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393133698

Jim Baton

JIM BATON has spent the last 20 years living in the world's largest Muslim nation, building bridges between Muslims and Christians who both desire peace. Jim is also a frequent speaker at interfaith and peace events internationally.  To contact Jim or to learn more, check out Jim's blog at www.jimbaton.com.

Book preview

Acknowledgments

My undying gratitude goes out to Jan Harris and Benj Gillen, whose input and editing skills added so much to this book.

I dedicate this book to the Welsh revivalist, Evan Roberts, after whom we named our son. As a young man, he convinced his youth group to pray for revival, and God poured out his Spirit on those teenagers so greatly that they turned the entire nation right side up again.

May this generation’s youth do the same.

PROLOGUE

New York City, 2040

THIS MUST BE ONE OF the best kept secrets in New York! I didn’t know this garden even existed, Jasper Pritz gushed as he examined some Indian ghost peppers just outside the United Nations Secretariat Building. What are those bamboo structures hanging from that branch?

They’re man-made beehives, Kelsey replied. The volunteers tending this exotic garden shipped in mason bees and leafcutter bees from Washington to pollinate the plants. There are specialty crops here from all over the world. Some of these vegetables we even get to eat here in the UNICEF cafeteria. Sometime you should try the Japanese shiso mint. She smiled.

Thanks for bringing me here. Jasper touched a green, snail-shaped vegetable marked Fiddlehead. There were many plants here that he’d never seen before. But he didn’t want to waste her time—the Assistant Director of Child Survival and Development had barely been able to squeeze him into her schedule today. Perhaps I can look around more after I interview you.

Kelsey directed him to a bench overlooking the East River. An invigorating cool breeze blew over them from the direction of Roosevelt Island, but the spring sun was warm enough this morning to enjoy the outdoors.

He watched her brush her long brown hair from her face. Her color contacts were purple today. Just like the last time they’d met, she seemed to radiate an inner peace uncommon for young women entrusted with influence over such life-and-death issues. Jasper was curious to learn more about Kelsey’s faith in this interview.

But first, he was curious about her outfit. She wore straight black slacks and heels, with a high collar forest green chiffon blouse, and a gold sash from her right shoulder to her left hip.

At our first interview, you wore a silver sash. Today it’s gold. Is there any significance in the colors?

I can see why you’re an investigative reporter, Kelsey smiled. Last time I was headed to a meeting at the UN as a committee participant. But today, I’ll be speaking briefly before the assembly. The gold sash marks me as a speaker.

May I ask what you’re speaking on?

"Of course. I’m addressing one of the rights of a child that has been neglected for far too long—their right to religious experience.

"You’re probably familiar with how the UN protects the rights of children. But did you know this? Article 14 of the Convention states that all children have the right ‘to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.’ Articles 13 and 15 add the rights to freedom of expression and association. Article 30 particularly mentions the rights of children in religious minorities to practice their religion with their communities.

"Unfortunately, in too many nations, governments have been willing to focus on children’s physical and mental health, but have turned a blind eye to their need for spiritual health. In some nations, minority children are prevented from worshiping with their communities or are persecuted for wearing a religious symbol or carrying a holy book. They could be denied housing for their families, or acceptance to public schools because of their faith. Some children are still the victims of kidnapping and forced conversion for the purpose of marriage.

"And in Western nations like ours, the so-called ‘separation of church and state’ has gone so overboard in silencing any religious expression or assembly in public schools or at public events that children’s spiritual health is not only neglected, at times it’s treated as a negative influence on the child’s life.

It’s time the governments of the world quit living in fear of religion, and learn how to build relationship with it, provide freedom for it, and especially protect our children’s spiritual development.

Kelsey looked down and covered her mouth. Sorry, I’ve been preparing for this speech for weeks. Don’t let me get going or I’ll use up all our interview time.

Jasper chuckled and straightened his tie. "I wish I had more time to interview you about what’s going on in the world. But my task with the Revitalization Commission, as you know, is focused on tracking only those cities in the U.S. that are experiencing transformation so we can apply those trends to struggling communities.

Which brings me back to your former town of Hope, Colorado. At our first interview, you shared how the town was dying, but you and a few others started a house of prayer and began digging into the town’s past. You had some narrow escapes from someone wanting to keep you from discovering something from the past, right?

Kelsey nodded. I did. But that was twenty years ago, when I was seventeen. I was too young to know the danger I was in. And when God started intervening with angelic encounters and miracles, I was far too excited to pull back. Looking back, I feel bad for what I put my father and my friend Harmonie through.

She pulled at one of the several earrings visible from the shaved side of her head.

Not everyone believed you when you described seeing supernatural phenomena. Did that bother you?

Not really. Kelsey smiled. I wasn’t sure what to believe myself. The experiences were so real, but I had no paradigm at the time to help me understand them. Now I’ve met hundreds of other people around America who have seen angels and witnessed miracles. Even the national media is telling the stories these days. It’s a different world now. She paused to glance up at the sky, and Jasper wondered if she were seeing something invisible to his naked eye.

I’m still astounded at Hope’s complete transformation, she continued. You know, we never set out to turn our town upside down. I mean, my father was praying for revival, but he honestly didn’t believe it would ever come. Our teacher, Ms. Montez, just wanted to learn about the town’s history. Harmonie and I were just trying to make it through our junior year and complete our Journalism homework assignment. From such an inauspicious beginning. . . .

It’s truly remarkable, Jasper agreed. After hearing your story last time, I’m intrigued to hear the stories of the others on the list you gave me.

He rolled back his shirt sleeve and tapped his holoband. May I record this again?

The ferry’s horn blew on the river. A group of UN workers laughed behind them. Will the audio be okay here? Kelsey asked.

No problem, I can sync it to your voice only. Hold on . . . now say something, anything.

Love well, embrace the role of a servant, stay grateful—something my father used to say that has always stuck with me.

Got it. Let’s pick up where we left off last time. If my notes are correct, you finally figured out who was trying to prevent you from discovering the town’s secrets, and why. But you hadn’t decided yet what to do about it. Were you afraid?

"Yes, I knew who and why. I wasn’t completely sure about how this person always seemed to know where I was and what I was doing, so I suspected there might be an accomplice. This made it difficult to trust anyone.

"But was I afraid? I suppose so, not for myself, but I was worried that if I exposed this person, my father or Harmonie could become a target. And it could tear the town apart. But if I kept the secret to myself, I knew nothing in our town would ever change. The rich and powerful would continue to oppress others, and darkness would continue to erode our city’s destiny until it was no more. I hoped that by bringing everything into the light, perhaps our town could find the strength to forgive, to move in the right direction.

Unfortunately, things had to get a lot, lot worse before they got better.

DECISIONS

Chapter 1

Kelsey Axel headed north on Third Street toward Armistice High School to meet her classmates, Harmonie Seymour, Kavon Harris and Bennett Crabb. A brilliant blue September sky promised to chase away all the tension of the last three days. But over the Rocky Mountains to the west, Kelsey noticed dark clouds were gathering.

When she reached the parking lot, Bennett greeted her with delighted eyes and a warm smile. Kelsey! So glad you came.

She glanced around. Where are Harmonie and Kavon?

Kavon texted that when Harmonie’s dad found out you were coming, he said she couldn’t come. And without her, Kavon bailed on us too.

Her eyes narrowed. Tell me you didn’t set this up so we’d be alone.

No, I swear, Bennett protested. He started scrolling through his phone. I’ll show you Kavon’s text—

Forget it. Sorry. I shouldn’t be so suspicious.

I’m guessing you’re bailing on me too?

Nah, I’ll go. I needed to get out of the house. Slacklining sounds fun, too. Kelsey had her own reason for spending her Saturday morning at Cougar Creek, but Bennett didn’t need to know that.

Cool. Let’s go. Bennett flipped his long blond bangs back from his forehead and started walking north to the edge of town.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, until they reached the stile allowing them to climb over the fence that kept the cattle inside the Deats Ranch. For generations kids had been passing through here to swim in Cougar Creek, and Arthur Deats didn’t seem to mind.

Bennett offered Kelsey his hand, but she ignored it and climbed over on her own.

He didn’t give up easily, though. You don’t have to be afraid of me, you know.

If I were, I wouldn’t be here, Kelsey retorted.

It feels like you’re still mad at me about last year, that thing with Chelsea. I was a stupid sophomore. Come on, give me another chance.

You seriously want to talk about this right now, with all I’m dealing with?

Like what? The library fire? They already caught the guy. It’s over.

Kelsey knew that the sheriff had arrested the wrong man, and it most certainly was not all over. The secrets she’d discovered could make things much more dangerous for her. But she couldn’t tell Bennett that.

She turned away from him, spotting a splash of blue under an aspen tree. Sure enough, it was a small patch of Colorado Blue Columbine. She knelt beside them.

In a flash Bennett’s hand was there to pick one of the flowers.

Stop! She held his arm. It’s against the law.

Only on public land. Angry old Deats won’t mind. He never comes around here anyway. He almost got his fingers around the stem when Kelsey pushed him away.

He gave her an odd stare, then stood up. The slackline is this way.

She followed, but her heart wasn’t in it. When she’d first moved to Hope in ninth grade, she’d had a major crush on Bennett, even though he never noticed her. Now they were juniors, and he was clearly pursuing her. Maybe she would like him again someday.

But today wasn’t that day.

A few minutes later they reached Cougar Creek. This spot was farther upstream than the swimming hole she and Harmonie usually went to. The water was quite shallow, the banks narrow. But Cougar Creek only reached about fifteen feet across at its widest point, and just over her head at its deepest.

The slackline Bennett had set up was about three times the width of a thick rope. He had tied it to a tree on each side of the creek.

You can really walk on this? she asked.

Sure, watch me. He set one of his feet on the rope, then pushed off the ground with the other and quickly balanced himself, arms stretched wide. Try to keep your head over the slackline and straight up. Let your foot step forward first, and don’t shift your upper body forward until your front foot is ready. Like this. He walked carefully but confidently out to the middle of the creek, then turned his body sideways to look downstream.

Now, I don’t recommend this move for a beginner. Unless you want to get wet. He grinned. Then he pivoted, walked back to her, and stepped off the line. See? It’s easy.

Kelsey popped her neck from side to side. On the one hand, she didn’t want to have an epic fall in front of a cute guy. But on the other hand, she and Bennett had always been rivals on the basketball court, and she hated to lose.

Might as well get this over with.

She grabbed onto the tree and tried to lift her foot above the slackline, but it was up to her waist. It’s too high, she said, thinking that Bennett being six inches taller than her gave him an unfair advantage.

Come down closer to the creek. Bennett held down the slackline with one hand while offering Kelsey the other. She took it, and gingerly set one foot on the line, then the other.

The slackline swayed wildly beneath her. She leaned forward to get closer to it.

Keep your back straight, head up and over your back foot. Use your arms and hips to steady yourself.

It took her a while to get the slackline to calm down. Once it was still, she tried taking a step like Bennett had showed her. The line wobbled, but she stayed upright.

She let go of Bennett’s hand. Are you going to catch me if I fall?

From the corner of her eye she saw him holding his cell phone. No way, but I’ll film it and put it on Tik Tok for you.

Keep your eyes on the target, she told herself. She stared at the opposite tree and took small, cautious steps forward.

When she guessed she was over the middle of the creek, she couldn’t help herself. She pivoted her body, arms out wide, just as Bennett had, to gaze downstream.

Far in the distance she spotted her swimming hole, and beyond that, some of the Deats’ cattle coming to the stream for a drink. A light breeze began to pick up, blowing her hair.

Suddenly, all the swirling tension of the past month surrounded her. Bennett was saying something from the bank, but his voice couldn’t get through.

A decision needed to be made. It could have dire consequences—for her, for others she cared about. Or it could maybe return Hope to its destiny.

So much hung in the balance.

After three days of soul searching, there, suspended in the air over Cougar Creek, Kelsey knew what she had to do.

She made a bargain with God: If I do this, would you give me a sign? How about if I can walk to the opposite tree and back across the creek without falling, that means you’ll make everything turn out okay?

She pivoted her body again and made it across the creek. Holding on to the tree, she slowly turned around and started back. Bennett was saying something, but again, she couldn’t hear him.

Somewhere over the creek, a sudden wind hit her, whipping her long brown hair into her eyes. Her front foot slipped off the line, and she fell forward . . .

. . . right into Bennett’s arms, her feet on dry land.

He was speaking again, but all she could think about was her bargain with God. I fell. Does that mean things won’t turn out okay? But technically I made it across the creek. Doesn’t that count?

She pulled her hair out of her eyes and glanced down. Bennett had one foot in the water.

Thanks, was all she could say as she gently pulled out of his embrace.

Dude, that was epic! I never thought you’d do so well on the first try.

Her eyes were on Cougar Creek. Hey, I’m glad I came. She turned back to him. And this is really lame of me, but I need some time to think through some things. Could you walk back without me?

He looked confused and hurt. We just got here. What—was it something I said?

No, I’m really sorry. I’ve just got a lot on my mind. And I think you brought me to the perfect place to think. But I need to be alone.

He pursed his lips. Whatever. I’ll leave the slackline here so we can do it again sometime. He paused.

She answered with what she hoped was a gentle smile.

Okay. Later. He shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled off, every other step making a squishing noise on the Indian Rice grass.

Once he was gone, Kelsey sat down and stared at the water. She closed her eyes and let the soothing, gurgling music wash over her.

Cougar Creek, where it all started seventy-five years ago.

Her dream from Wednesday night came rushing back. Hope McCormick and Harmonie’s grandmother, Sylvia Seymour, were right here at this creek, waving to Kelsey and Harmonie across time and space. It was the day that Hope McCormick had disappeared.

And they named this town Hope after someone who wasn’t even there.

After all their efforts to solve the mystery of Hope’s disappearance, and all the efforts of others trying to stop them, it came down to this—

Another teenager at Cougar Creek, trying to decide between running away from the truth or bringing it into the light.

Even if she had to take the fall.

Chapter 2

When Harmonie Seymour’s cell phone beeped, she hoped desperately that it was Kelsey.

But it was only Kavon.

She sighed and put down her grandmother’s journal. Hey, Kavon.

Hey, girl. Sorry about your dad shutting down your hanging out with Kelsey. He paused. So maybe you and me could hang out?

Her parents’ raised voices still rang down the hallway. As usual, it was about money. My dad’s in a mood. Looks like I’m stuck at home.

That sucks. Whatcha gonna do?

I did all my homework. I’m just reading my grandma’s journal.

Cool. I’ll probably work out, shoot some baskets, then tackle homework.

There was a longer pause this time. Harmonie wasn’t used to talking to Kavon on the phone—she always had Kelsey. But the way things were going, she’d better get used to Kavon.

I still can’t believe Bennett invited us, she said.

Yeah, for years the white kids never talked to me, unless we were on the basketball court—except for Kelsey. He must have it bad for her.

Her anxiety slipped out of her mouth before she could pull it back in: What if I lose Kelsey?

What are you talking about?

I’m serious. I’m a terrible friend for her. Every time she wants to have an adventure, I hold her back. I’m such a scaredy-cat.

I thought you liked researching the town’s past.

I did until bad stuff starting happening. Then I just wanted to stop. Kelsey would be better off without me.

Shut up. You’re Kelsey’s only friend too.

Maybe before. But since she wrote that article for the school newspaper, lots of girls want to be her friend. Now with my dad telling me to keep away from her, she’s bound to find someone better than me.

She ain’t gonna find no one better than you. I know you, girl. You’re the real deal. There’s courage inside of you. It’s just waiting for the right moment to come out.

Harmonie was really touched. That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.

Like I always tell you, I’m a much cooler guy than you think I am.

She giggled. Thanks, Kavon. Later.

Harmonie traded her cell phone for the journal. Her grandmother had been born and raised in Hope, and Harmonie found her life story fascinating.

She returned to reading a story about Grandma rebuking a demon in a woman at church, and the demon left.

Oh, how she wished she had the courage of this hero of hers, who stared into the face of the powers of darkness, and they were the ones who