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Gregory’s Story:

As a child, I attended mass every Sunday with my family. I completed the necessary years of CCD to receive confirmation but stopped attending class after that; yet, the seeds of faith were strong in me. I loved to sing at every mass. I knew there was a God. I knew that His Son was Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, and I learned many other important doctrines and practices that all who call themselves catholic are bound to believe and do.

All of this I was given; nevertheless, I walked away from the Catholic Church at the age of 15 because I had a profound realization that going through rituals was not enough.

I had followed the instruction I had been given, but I thought I wasn’t doing enough for God, and felt that I was always on the verge of eternal damnation. People would tell me what a good boy I was, but I knew all I had done that was wrong. Sadly, I used to tell God that I would be good enough to get into purgatory when I got older. Then, someone close to me saw me struggling with my misconceptions of confession and purgatory. Through her, I learned that I needed a personal commitment to Christ. I had a deep conviction and conversion of heart through which I said. “Jesus, I want you. I want to serve you. I know I am a sinner, and that apart from your grace I can't earn my salvation.”

This began my 13-year journey as an evangelical protestant. Although the Catholic Church calls all the faithful to recognize these truths, I assumed it said otherwise. Never considering asking the priest for guidance, I now believed that the truth was somewhere outside the Catholic Church. Apart from the concerns expressed by my parents, not a single catholic asked me why I was leaving, nor did anyone try to stop me.

In those 13 years, I went to college, got married, had two children, and remained very active in evangelical Baptist-type churches. What eventually became so clear to me by the close of that era was that Truth is a Person. Jesus is the Truth and we are part of His body. If this is so, then how is it that Christians cannot agree on “the essentials” of faith; and who gets to declare what the essential doctrines are anyway? It’s one thing to say believe in Jesus and thou shalt be saved, but I came to realize that having different essential Truth meant having different understandings of who Jesus is and how He communicates salvation. Therefore, it would stand to reason that some people had a more complete understanding of Jesus, while others had a more deficient one.

A few years ago, I returned to my hometown in Danville, Pennsylvania, fully indoctrinated in evangelical protestant theology. I began working for a man who was a devout Catholic. We would often have lunch together as I tried to convert him. Yet, no matter what issue we debated, he had a solid Catholic answer to give me. I became frustrated at times, because he had questions that I could not answer, and I could never get him to doubt anything about Catholicism. He patiently and prayerfully met my every challenge and responded with great charity, while I blasted him on the Eucharist, Mary, the Pope, and several other topics.

During these debates, I came to realize the importance of historical continuity of faith. The more I realized how novel my dispensational theology was compared to traditional Christian teaching, the more I turned to reformed theology and preterist doctrine. That was as far back as I was willing to go for the time being. I relied on reformed apologists like Cornelius Van Til, Greg Bahnsen, and even James White (Praise God for the conversion of his sister!) Unfortunately for me, I saw no continuity in their system of belief either.

Finally, my Catholic friend led me to the early church fathers and I began to read historical Christian writings from the earliest centuries. After all, reformers and preterists alike appealed to these men for support. These fathers were Catholic! I was beside myself. There were so many things I assumed about the early church and they all fell apart with every sentence I read. In a rush of tears, I came knocking at the sacristy door at 7:45am almost two years ago. A Eucharistic Minister directed me to Father Weary and so began my return to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic faith.

My greatest fear now lay ahead of me. Somehow, I managed to keep all of this hidden from my wife. She would be returning the next day from a week-long Christian broadcasters’ conference. I had to reveal my convictions, but how?

 

As my plane ascended into the sky in Dallas, Texas that rainy February day, I was struck by the length of time that elapsed before we broke out of the thick clouds into the beautiful blazing blue sky. I was so anxious to go home. I had been spiritually invigorated at the National Religious Broadcaster’s convention and was ready to return to the challenges of life in small-town Pennsylvania.  I was content with my world. We were leaders in our Independent Bible Church.  I led Women's Bible Studies and spoke at seminars, created a mentoring program, and chaired the Women's Committee.  My husband played guitar in the Praise Group, was the youngest deacon on the board, and taught Sunday School with me.  The Chairman of the deacon board had even called us "the future" of our church. I had purpose.  I certainly wasn't looking for any missing pieces. That’s why the vision I received as I sat looking out the tiny airplane porthole shocked me so much. “You will not remain in the clouds forever, my child”, said that familiar yet rarely heard Voice. “The sun will shine again”. “What do you mean, Lord?” I found myself asking. Everything was great with my life, wasn’t it?

 When I returned home to a somber and distant husband, I knew something was drastically wrong. The clouds had descended suddenly on my sunny world. His decision to return to the Catholic Church threw me for a giant loop!  I was more anti-Catholic then I had realized.  I had pitied my husband's family members who were still Catholic, thinking they were missing out on the Truth.  Now I pitied my husband.  For several months I grew in bitterness toward him, and even considered leaving him.  But slowly, his tender, loving and gentle persuasion led me to take a second look at Catholicism.

As I looked at the earliest Christian writings after the apostolic works, I found...CATHOLICS.  These 1st and 2nd century believers defended the Real Presence, the primacy of Rome, the regeneration of Baptism, and the Communion of Saints!  Then I realized that people with these doctrines decided what Holy Scripture was!  The Bible, which I held up as the only source of revelation and truth, was canonized by men who didn't share my belief in "sola scriptura"!  The idea was somehow beautiful and quite horrible at the same time.

I am now convinced that the Catholic Church is the Church that Christ Himself instituted.  I believe that He protects her doctrines.  I understand that absolute truth cannot be divided. Christ could not have wanted His church to believe differently regarding key salvific doctrines. Truth is a Person, and He is not divided. I have given up a lot to believe these things.  My parents think I've walked away from Christ.  My father, who I worked for at a Christian (Protestant) radio station, no longer allows me on the air.  I've lost my leadership roles and many friends.  And, to be honest, there are days I wonder why.  I see Catholics living nominal Christian lives.  I see priests who swear, drink, or worse.  I see "faithful" Catholics who still want things their own way, and I wonder - What am I doing here?  Then I look at the steadily burning flame glowing red above the tabernacle, and I remember.  I am not becoming Catholic because the Church is perfect.  I am becoming Catholic because my perfect Christ resides there in Real Presence.  Mother Church is the only place to truly "taste and see that the Lord is good"!

I am currently enrolled in the RCIA program at St Joseph’s in Danville, hungering for Easter Vigil where I will finally be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament. Until that glorious day, I am as involved as possible in parish life. Gregory and I have had the opportunity to share our testimony on several occasions, including at an RCIA meeting in Portland, Oregon this past October. Gregory was able to speak in our church, sharing his story in order to encourage enrollment in an upcoming apologetics class. Due to his experience and through the amazing Grace of our Lord, 80 people signed up to attend the class! We will prayerfully begin serving in youth ministry following my confirmation, and we also hope to become part of our RCIA teaching team. My life’s goal is to strengthen the faith of my fellow Catholics and to speak the Truth in love to my Evangelical Protestant brothers and sisters. The clouds of confusion, bitterness, indecision and misinterpretation have lifted, and the Son, true to His word, has come shining triumphantly. He has “shone” me He is Truth, He has given His truth to His Church, and I am set free.