Bakersfield Family Finds New Life in Christ Through Pentecost 2025 Series

Stitt Family's Path to Adventist Faith Demonstrates Power of Patient Prayer and Biblical Study

A 12-year spiritual journey reached its climax June 28 when Michael Stitt Sr. and Michael Stitt Jr. were baptized at Bakersfield Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. Their transformation from skeptical Bible students to committed Adventists—with Michael Jr. now pursuing pastoral ministry—illustrates the impact of the Pentecost 2025 evangelistic initiative.

Prayer and Providence

The story began years ago when Maritza Cartagena met Michael Stitt Sr. at work. After their marriage, the couple faced a religious divide: he was a devoted Church of Christ member serving as a deacon, while she was a faithful Adventist.

Rather than let faith separate them, they made a unique commitment. On Sabbaths, they would attend her church; on Sundays, his church. But Maritza had been praying for years that God would develop an interest in Adventist truth in both her husband and stepson.

"She didn't want to impose it upon them," said Conference Evangelist Eddie Perez, who worked closely with the family. "She wanted God to open their hearts."

The Challenge Begins

When Pastor Christian Hodet arrived at Bakersfield Central, he developed a relationship with the family and offered to have Bible studies. Both Michaels agreed—not from genuine interest, but hoping to prove Adventism wrong.

Michael Sr., an experienced Bible student with deep theological knowledge, came prepared. During their first study, he presented Pastor Hodet with a list of challenging questions about contradictory Bible verses and complex theological issues.

"He basically said, 'Answer these questions,' and they were tough questions," Perez explained.

For the next year and a half, Pastor Hodet and the two Michaels met weekly, methodically addressing each question and exploring biblical harmony. Gradually, they began recognizing the solid foundation of Adventist theology.

"They started to understand that perhaps their church or their understanding was wrong," Perez said. "But they still had a hard time making the decision because of their connection with their church."

Pentecost 2025 Impact

The breakthrough came during a February Pentecost 2025 evangelistic series in Bakersfield. The Stitt family attended every night, hearing messages that indirectly answered lingering questions and affirmed convictions they had developed through their studies.

During the final Sabbath appeal on February 8, something remarkable happened. Despite ongoing hesitation, Michael Jr. felt compelled to respond.

"He tells the story of how he felt afraid to make the decision, but he was convinced it was right," Perez said. "With fear and trembling and tears, he got up and came to the front."

His courage encouraged others, leading to multiple baptismal decisions that day. However, the family still needed time to arrange for relatives from their former church to witness their eventual baptism.

A Call to Ministry

Michael Jr.'s spiritual journey took an unexpected turn. Despite 20 years of planning for Air Force service, he began sensing God's call to pastoral ministry. The 24-year-old had just completed a bachelor's degree in communications with a public relations emphasis from Cal State Bakersfield.

On June 8, he called Perez about ministry opportunities. That same day, he applied to Souls West, a program offering hands-on training in literature ministry and Bible work.

What happened next was unprecedented. Conference leadership fast-tracked his application process, completing in two days what normally takes weeks. By June 10, Michael Jr. was approved, and June 11 found him knocking doors in Fresno as part of the Youth Rush program.

"This doesn't usually happen," Perez marveled. "John Miller, Literature Evangelism director, felt this was an answer to prayer. God was really leading this young man to ministry."

Overcoming Obstacles

The rapid ministry placement created one hurdle: Youth Rush requires baptized membership. With the family's baptism scheduled for June 28—20 days away—conference leadership made an exception, allowing Michael Jr. to begin his ministry work before his official baptism.

His plan includes two years at Souls West followed by university study to prepare for pastoral ministry.

Expanding Impact

The Stitt family's transformation continues rippling outward. Members of their extended family from the Church of Christ are now showing interest in Adventist understanding of the Sabbath and other doctrinal questions.

"This is really proving to be an unfolding story with many factors," Perez said. "I believe there are more family members who will be interested."

A Testament to Patience

The Stitt family's journey demonstrates how patient prayer, careful Bible study and the Holy Spirit's work can overcome seemingly insurmountable religious differences. What began as a mixed marriage between faiths became a powerful testimony to God's ability to unite families in truth.

Their story also validates the Pentecost 2025 evangelistic strategy, showing how systematic biblical presentations can build on years of careful groundwork to produce lasting decisions.

For Maritza, whose faithful prayers and patient witness began this journey, the baptism of her husband and stepson represents the fulfillment of a decade-long petition. Her example encourages other Adventists who may be praying for non-Adventist family members.

"This is truly a story where you see the blessing that can come when someone commits to prayer and lets God work," Perez concluded.

Written by Justin Kim