Church Display | Granville NSW

Saturday: 18 October

A Warm Welcome at Granville Fijian Seventh-day Adventist Church

Setting the Stage
Our day began early at 8 am as we made our way to the Granville Fijian Seventh-day Adventist Church. Upon arrival, we wasted no time—our team quickly claimed a spot on the corner and set up our brand-new gazebo, carefully touching up the sandwich board that had taken a few bumps during transit. With everything in place, we positioned Bubsie (our eye-catching mobile display) proudly under the shade.

First Connections
As church members began to arrive, we were greeted with genuine warmth. We handed out copies of “The Overlander” books to eager visitors, already sensing the community’s curiosity and openness. When Sabbath School got underway, most of our team joined the class while Kevin and Glenda stayed with the car, making the most of the foot traffic flowing by. They had wonderful conversations with community members throughout the morning.
Pieter was invited to lead the Sabbath School discussion—which was so interesting. There’s something special about diving into meaningful conversation with people from different walks of life.

The Main Event
During the main worship service, Pieter remained with the car while the rest of us were treated to something truly special: beautiful Fijian acapella singing that filled the sanctuary with joy. The service featured Veronica sharing a children’s story, and Pastor Kevin delivering a powerful sermon. Glenda and Veronica took turns sharing snippets of their experiences traveling around Australia this year, connecting our journey to the congregation’s own spiritual journey.
As worshippers filed out of the church, the interest in Bubsie reached new heights! Photos were snapped, books exchanged hands, and QR cards distributed. We were moved to learn that the congregation had been praying for their community and now felt inspired to visit and connect with their neighbors.

Unexpected Reunions
The day held some delightful surprises. Veronica reconnected with Sam, who had previously worshipped at the Riverland church back in Denmark in 2023—where both Veronica and Pieter are regular members. Those unexpected moments of recognition and shared history are truly precious.
Glenda also experienced her own moment of connection, meeting several people who had been students at Vatuvonu during the early 1970s when her brother, Pastor Ray Coombe, served there. What are the odds of crossing paths with people from such a specific chapter of the past?

A Perfect Finish
We wrapped up the day with a beautiful Fijian lunch shared with our new friends from the church. As we packed up Bubsie and said our warm goodbyes, we felt grateful for the genuine hospitality, the meaningful conversations, and the reminder that faith communities around the world share a common heart.