Return of a prodigal son
Return of a product called
sun red by Jared stack Hoff.
So he returned home to his father.
And while he was still a long way off.
His father saw him coming,
filled with love and compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced
him and kissed him.
Luke 15 verse 20.
Jeff Fitzsimmons first
became an Adventist at 22.
And was soon made a deacon and an
elder in the broken hill, seventh day
Adventist church, new south Wales.
In 2002, he moved to south Australia
with his wife to start their family.
Around six years later.
He left the Adventist church, following
his wife to the Pentecostal church.
They eventually divorced with the court,
awarding him custody of the children.
Although he no longer
considered himself Adventist.
Jeff was delighted to run into
his old friend, Daniel in 2019.
Who he had known from the pair of
Vista seventh day Adventist church.
They exchanged phone numbers
and made plans to catch up.
However Jeff was unable to contact Daniel.
He later learned that Daniel had
lost and broken his mobile phone.
Meanwhile, Jeff's son, Patrick.
I had developed an interest in
spiritual matters, searching
out every possible religion.
Particularly regarding the
origins of God and Satan.
Through watching online videos.
He soon started learning about
the Sabbath and Bible prophecy.
He was convinced that the true church
had to believe in the seventh day
Sabbath and the 10 commandments.
I thought to myself, this boy has
become a seventh day Adventist
and I need to get him to a church.
Jeffrey calls.
In December, 2020.
Daniel eventually managed to reach Jeff.
He suggested that they meet up at a
pop-up bookstore in Hollywood Plaza.
Solsbury.
Jeff was happy to be reunited
with Daniel and his wife Lolita.
When he met Rita pins.
Tony, the literature, evangelists
running the popup stall.
They each thought the
other looked familiar.
Later they remembered that they
had briefly met at the Queenstown
seventh day Adventist church.
At the pop-up bookstore, Rita and Lolita
gave Jeff some free, amazing facts
DVDs from the free literature table.
After watching the DVDs, Patrick was
so impressed that it inspired him to
search the internet for Doug Batchelor.
Where he discovered the
revelation now series.
They were so captivated that they
watched all 20 episodes within a week.
Jeff also met Shane at the pop-up
bookstore who invited him to
visit the Mawson lakes church
plant at faith Adventist center.
Jeff and Patrick attended
the next Sabbath.
Patrick.
And I were astonished that this little
church plant was so filled with love
care, and sensitivity said Jeff.
It felt like we had found our church home.
Patrick agreed saying that the
people at that church, a genuine
people who believe the Bible.
They both felt extremely accepted
and welcomed from the start.
They had only been attending for four
weeks when Jeff and Patrick made the
joint decision to be baptized together.
On April 17th, 2021.
Patrick was baptized and
Jeff was rebaptized into the
seventh day Adventist faith.
Since then Jeff and Patrick
continue to volunteer with Rita.
Whenever she runs.
Pop-up bookstores.
If your church is struggling
to grow, pop-up stalls could
be the solution says, Jeff.
It's a great way to get your
congregation talking to the community.
And sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jarrod Stackelroth: This year.
Literature ministry celebrates 175 years.
This month's devotional readings
come from the stories of faith.
Edited by a fire near.
Chu.
And produced by the literature.
ministries department of the
seventh day Adventist church
in the south Pacific division.
To find out more about this month's
heritage celebrations, visit
heritage dot Adventist church.
Dot com.
