A promise fulfilled, read by Jared stack or off. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of 30, 60, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted. Mark four verse 20. In 1896, Tom Kent was a heartbroken widower in Uganda. New south Wales, Australia. When he first met cyclist, Phillip Riki. Tom's wife, Mary had just lost her battle with pneumonia. And Tom was in despair, struggling to take care of their 11 children.
Just before she died. Mary asked Tom. To promise that he would meet her in heaven. And bring their children with him. After discovering the truths of the Bible. Phillip re-key wanted to spread hope across Australia. He left his job as an engraver and cycled across dusty Outback roads under the merciless hot sun. Distributing Christian literature. One day. He came across a farmer, plowing in a field. The farmer. Was Tom Kent. Phillip listened patiently to Tom's story of heartbreak.
And heard about the promise he had made to his dying wife. He shared the book, the great controversy with Tom. Tom wrestled with the truths in the book, but after careful study, he accepted the teachings. His new discoveries gave him the comfort. He had yearned for. Tom then shared these truths with his children and neighbors as a result Tom's children and five neighboring families became believers and disciples of Jesus. Fast forward from 1896 to the present day.
And this remarkable legacy lives on. When you add the descendants of Tom and the five neighboring families to the numbers of people, these descendants have converted to Christianity. That's 20,000 lives transformed by one faithful cyclist and a farmer who shared a very special book. God surely fulfilled the promise that Tom made to his wife. And then some.
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.
