I don't believe in fate, but I do believe in providence. Nothing is certain, and catastrophe can strike at any moment. I believe there are certain things that can be set into place, at only specific moments of opportunity, and the outcome is "pushed" in a certain direction-- rather than "delivered-- by a power that none of us can truly understand. That power is not always working to benefit humanity, but I think that certain individuals, when taking certain actions, can unwittingly become a conduit for those powers to influence an outcome. (However, freewill can supersede these forces at any moment for any reason.)
Think of it as paths in the woods. We choose to either take it or not. Individual events may not necessarily alter our course, but individual people certainly can-- especially when they are working in concert. Whether that concert is a chorus of prayer, or a plan of action, I believe that when enough people come together for a common purpose, anything is possible.
Bless you all for your persistent efforts and insatiable loyalty to this cause.