Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones. –Psalm 116:15

Brian Sean Fitzpatrick, 1960-2018.

The following is adapted from email conversations between my good friend and former AFTAH adviser Brian Fitzpatrick and his fiancée, Trinka Jeffery. The night of December 4, 2018, Brian passed away suddenly, at 58, to be with his Savior, Jesus. On a personal note, Brian was my best friend a really terrific guy who loved and served God. I am sad that we will no longer be able to talk, hang out and laugh together here on earth, but I know he is in a much better place. And I am grateful for what God did in his life. Minor edits, additions and web links have been made for the sake of clarity and to provide additional resources. I will see you again one day, my friend!  – Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH.org; Twitter: @PeterLaBarbera

Note: There is a memorial service for Brian on Saturday, Jan. 5th at the Philippine International Bible Church in Laytonsville, MD. Reception: 3:00 pm; service 3:30.
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Introductory note:

I’m Trinka Jeffery, Brian Fitzpatrick’s fiancée.  

Brian had a story that he would want you to know. Much of our courtship was in writing, and I’ve compiled his story, using his own words.

Please … will you enjoy a last little visit with Brian, with me?

I asked Brian how he came to know God the Father and his Son personally, and this is what he told me:

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From Atheist Scoffer to Christian Believer: The Testimony of Brian Fitzpatrick

As shared with Trinka Jeffery, August 13, 2017…

By Brian Fitzpatrick

I was not someone who would easily convert. It happened on a singles retreat, which I went to mostly because they were going to play softball. I brought a bat along in case somebody tried to baptize me in a river.

I grew up in a Catholic family, but at age 12 we studied Greek mythology in school, and it occurred to me that the Greeks believed in their gods just as I believed in Jesus and Mary, but both couldn’t be true.

My catechism teachers had no answers. So I decided to become an atheist. (OK … maybe partially so I wouldn’t have to get up on Sunday mornings.)

My parents weren’t pleased, and we fought over it for three years. At 14, I was required to be confirmed. I chose the confirmation name Thomas (for doubts), but this was forbidden because “it would kill your grandfather.” So I was confirmed as Michael because I thought the spelling was cool.

At age 20 or so, I read some philosophy and logic and learned that you can’t prove a negative, therefore you can’t prove God does not exist, therefore my atheism was irrational. So I became an extremely skeptical agnostic.

The first time somebody witnessed to me, it was a man from Campus Crusade [for Christ, later renamed Cru] during my freshman year in college. I was a rather bitter atheist, full of disdain for these hicks and very confident in what I didn’t know. I didn’t even let them in my dorm room. I stepped into the hallway and verbally fenced for 45 minutes or so: “How do you know this is true” and so forth.  Eventually they left and I went down the hall to the opposite stairway and ran ahead of them to the room of two fellow iconoclasts. “The God Squad is on the way!”

Here’s a wonderful video by Christian pastor Michael Glatze, who overcame the shallow “gay” lifestyle to become whole in Jesus Christ. (He lived a decade in the homosexual life, and at one time was a rising “gay” activist.) I encourage you to watch the entire 20-minute video. But if you are impatient, about halfway through the video, Glatze states, “Homosexuality is not something you need to do…It is not necessary for you to become gay.” Here is a website on the “Romans Road” explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To reach Michael, write michaeleglatze@gmail.com. Watch this on YouTube HERE. You can also listen to AFTAH’s (two-part) radio interview with Glatze in 2010 HERE.

This interview with John Stemberger [click HERE to listen], founder of OnMyHonor.net, was recorded today, July 18, 2013. Stemberger describes the formation of a new boys organization that will provide a wholesome alternative to the pro-homosexual Boy Scouts of America (BSA). [Watch an introductory video HERE.] The new boys organization [later named “Trail Life USA”] will be devoted to building good character among boys, centered on biblical principles. The new group holds its first national convention this September after holding a recent planning meeting of national pro-family leaders in Louisville, Kentucky. Stemberger, who is also president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council, led the grassroots coalition effort to stop the Scouts’ tragic cave-in allowing openly homosexual youth members. (He explains how the BSA voting process on the proposed pro-“gay” change was weighted heavily in favor of the Scouts, in part because BSA leaders would not reveal who was voting.)

Stemberger clarifies the membership requirements for boys — saying that no immoral sexual behavior or advocacy of any kind will be tolerated in the new organization. He said if a boy struggles with same-sex issues (or other issues), it will be seen as a “ministry opportunity” in the organization — which, unlike the Scouts, will be explicitly Christian. (Membership will be open to boys of all religions and backgrounds.) Regarding the BSA, he said that within a couple of years, it will be driven by the courts to allow openly homosexual adult Scoutmasters, which will further cripple that once-noble organization. Stemberger said the BSA was done in by the paid “professionals” who ran the organization, who ultimately were not dedicated to upholding the BSA’s principles. Click HERE for Part Two of this interview. [Click HERE for Matt Barber’s column on the opening convention of Trail Life USA.]

HOW TO LISTEN: This is an mp3 file, supported in most operating systems by Windows Media Player, Quick Time and/or I-Tunes.  Real Player is not supported and there may be difficulty when attempting to listen with it.  Left click once on the link below to play.  (Please be patient, depending upon the speed of your internet connection it may take a moment to load.)  OR right click the link then “save target as” to download the whole show.

7-18-13, John Stemberger

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Our sin-sick and sin-celebrating world needs Jesus Christ more than ever. The following is adapted from a tract, “The Romans Road,” published by The Tract League. I have adapted the Scriptural citations to the New International Version of the Bible. When you click on the verse, it will take you to that verse in its context, courtesy of Bible Gateway. If you have strayed from God, why not use Easter as a starting point to renew your relationship with Him? God bless you, and have a Blessed Easter! — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH

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I had a pretty good opinion of myself until a friend invited me to take a walk down the Roman Road. He used just a single book in the Bible to open my eyes to my relationship with God, and I haven’t been the same since.

He warned me that the trip might hurt, and he was right because he started by revealing my real status before God:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…. (Romans 3:23)

Then I learned of sin’s penalty:

For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23a)

He went on to tell me that God loves me so much He offers an alternative called ‘eternal life’:

…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23b)

Then he showed me how God provided His son Jesus as an atoning sacrifice for my sin. Jesus took my penalty!

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

I wondered if God would accept me. He assured me with even more good news:

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

My friend showed me what I should do to receive eternal life:

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

We prayed together, and I gladly accepted God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus. I asked him if there was anything in the book of Romans that could help me with my new life. He pointed to the beginning of Romans 12:

I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer you bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12)

He explained that if I gave God first place in my life, other things would work out according to God’s plan for me. I have read a lot of the Bible since that day, and my friend was right! My life has been transformed. I joined a church and was baptized.

Many verses are underlined in my Bible, but I’ll never forget the Romans Road because a close friend used it to show me the way to eternal life.

That’s why I gave this tract to you today — so you too can know the way to eternal life. If you already have walked that road, please pass this on. News this good is meant to be shared.

More Gospel tracts with varying themes are available for bulk purchase at The Tract League website.

Folks, our response to Tim Tebow caving in to the “Gay Thought Police” is coming soon. Here is First Baptist Church of Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress’ wonderful response to the controversy Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 at the church. It has been very encouraging to watch Jeffress (with God’s help) so effortlessly turn “lemons into lemonade” on this story. When even “TMZ Live” sides with Pastor Jeffress over Tebow on the story (a TMZ host said Tebow “wussed out on this one”), you know something interesting is afoot in the culture. My sense is that even as “gay power” grows in America — with all its accompanying intolerance and anti-Christian bigotry — there is also rising a societal disgust with speech-stifling political correctness. Maybe truly hate-filled homosexual militants like Wayne Besen (who smears Jeffress as a “hate pastor” HERE) are actually helping the pro-family movement. Let’s hope so. — Peter LaBarbera, Americans For Truth

Excerpted from WorldNetDaily. Matt Barber is Vice President of Liberty Counsel Action, a weekly WND columnist, and a Board Member of Americans For Truth:

In light of today’s horrific developments in Newtown, Conn. – developments so sorrowful that no words will do – I felt it only appropriate to pull my regular column for this week. I offer, instead, the only words I can at this inexpressibly mournful time: A simple prayer. ~ Matt Barber

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Please come, Lord Jesus.

Come, King Jesus.

Come soon I pray.

Yet, even still come now, Holy Spirit, until such time.

We need you.

The following is excerpted from from an article in Christian News Network, in which AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera is quoted. The original article contains video footage of the controversial Rick Warren interview with Huffington Post [or click HERE]:

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Rick Warren Uncertain if Homosexual Behavior is Sinful, Says ‘Gays’ Go to Heaven

November 29, 2012 By Heather Clark, Christian News Network

Controversy is stirring over recent comments made by Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life and megachurch leader of Saddleback Church in California, who stated that homosexual behavior “might be” sinful, and that he believes homosexuals go to Heaven.

During an interview this week with the Huffington Post, Warren was asked by Marc Lamont Hill if having romantic feelings for a member of the same sex is a sin. Leading up to the question, Warren was explaining that he does not hate homosexuals, and that people should disagree politely on the subject of homosexuality.

“I have many, many gay friends, and have worked around the world with them in gay organizations to try to stop AIDS,” he said. “We’re doing ‘World AIDS Day’ this weekend at Saddleback Church. My wife and I have given millions of dollars to help people with HIV/AIDS and have worked with gay organizations on that.”

“What about the love part, though? I hear about the AIDS part,” asked Hill. “It’s not illegal to love somebody,” Warren replied.

“But you think it’s a sin,” Hill asserted. “No, it’s not a sin to love somebody,” Warren said.

“It might be a sin to have sex with them,” he added. “It might be.”

Slams “gay” activists’ condescension and nastiness toward Black Christians

Bishop EW Jackson

This is Part Two of our interview with Bishop EW Jackson [click HERE to listen], founder and president of the Chesapeake, Va.-based STAND (Staying True to America’s National Destiny). Jackson’s YouTube video urging Black Christians to abandon the Democratic Party because it champions immoral and anti-biblical policies like homosexual “marriage” has over 1.1 million hits. In this segment, recorded October 19, 2012, Jackson takes issue with an “LGBT Equality Month” listing claiming George Washington Carver was “gay.” Jackson and AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera discuss the media’s and liberals’ bias against people of faith and especially Black conservative Christians. You can listen to Part One of the interview HERE.

HOW TO LISTEN: This is an mp3 file, supported in most operating systems by Windows Media Player, Quick Time and/or I-Tunes.  Real Player is not supported and there may be difficulty when attempting to listen with it.  Left click once on the link below to play.  (Please be patient, depending upon the speed of your internet connection it may take a moment to load.)  OR right click the link then “save target as” to download the whole show.

10-19-12, Bishop E.W. Jackson, Part Two