Baptist Pastor Here

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That was good stuff. Yes, the denomination idea spoken about there is also one of the reasons for me exploring this more.
 
To make a long story short, for the last year I’ve been wrestling with wanting to explore the Catholic and/or Anglican tradition. It all started when I decided to do a deeper study on the Eucharist.
Welcome! That is a similar story that several protestant pastors that have converted to the Catholic faith have shared. Scott Hahn for one.

His books might be helpful to you.
For if I were to “Come home to Rome” it would be quite the transition for my family
They coming home network might be something that you want to explore, it is a network of former protestant pastors who have become Catholic. Many of them have experienced similar things. Scott Hahn’s wife did not convert until several years after he converted. Her father was a Presbyterian pastor. He was a Presbyterian pastor. He lost his livelihood, and I’m sure things seemed very dire for him for a while. I can’t recommend his books enough.
 
Home2RomeIDK:

I was raised in a Conference Baptist church (I believe the denomination has since changed it’s name).

One of the pastors of my church was Harold Christenson, and of course, his wife Evelyn led women’s prayer group that my mother was involved with.

We were also fortunate to have Steve Douglass in our church membership, and I grew up hearing Dr. Bill Bright speak at our church several times.

And one of the people in my youth group was John Ortberg–I played piano for him many times when he sang solos!

I’m telling you this so that you will know that I had a very solid Christian background. I dated my husband while we were still young teenagers, and he was raised in an Assemblies of God church that was led by some of the “high-ups” in that denomination.

After we got married, we moved away from our hometown and were involved in several churches–Southern Baptist, Christian and Missionary Alliance , a C&MA church plant, a Reformed Church in America (our oldest daughter graduated from Calvin College), and finally an Evangelical Free Church.

That EFree church turned out to be a nightmare–after 7 years of much Christian service in that church (we were involved in some ministry almost every day or evening), we were asked to appear before a tribunal of people that we didn’t know (they were from outside the church) and were asked to leave. The accusations were heinous–I am grateful that during all my children’s ministries, I ALWAYS had parents present at ALL times–strangely, none of those parents were invited to the tribunal.

We literally ran out of that church and in the parking lot, I saw a huge crystalline Bible, several stories high, and I watched as the Bible literally sheared apart, like mica, and I heard loud and clear the voice of God telling me, “Sola Scriptura is a lie.”

We found out a year later that our main accuser, a woman pastor (she was the children’s pastor) in that church had been fired for telling a lie about finances. Obviously she was lying about us–probably because my ministries with children were growing by leaps and bounds, and she was jealous.

We also realized that our younger daughter in all likelihood experienced some kind of assault or abuse in that church.

For years after the ousting/shunning, I experienced various manifestations of PTSD–grisly nightmares about torture and martyrdom, trembling hands, crying at several triggers, fear, and grief–"church’ was the only life I had ever known. I had no other life.

There’s a lot more to the story, but no time or room here.

For a solid year, I didn’t pick up my Bible–I was afraid to…and we didn’t go to church, any church. It was so strange to be home on Wednesday evenings.

We never lost faith in God, just in the church. One evening, I told my husband, We should just go to that big Catholic church down the road–we know Catholics are Christians (because of lots of pro-life work that we did). God says that we shouldn’t forsake assembling together.

So we went to Mass, and that was the beginning of our conversion to Catholicism in 2004. We are at peace.

I wish you well, brother. Seek, and you will find!
 
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As a Pastor you have authority now, you preach to entire congregations. As a layman during and after RCIA you will have to listen a lot before you can be heard again. Have you thought about it? Do you feel ready for it?
Prayers for your discernment and spiritual enlightening.
 
Thank you for your testimony, I appreciate you sharing it.
 
Yes, that’s one of the things that are on my mind as well. I love & have a passion for teaching/preaching. However, I wrestle with how to stay true to my convictions and current church when I’m having such strong struggles right now. I’m having trouble focusing on my weekly sermons because this is taking my main focus. So, if it means giving up my voice for a period of time to be where God wants me, then yes I’m willing to sit quietly for awhile. I appreciate your message & prayers.
 
To message another person. Tap/click on their name. Then on the Message icon in the box that comes up. You compose, and send. I click on yours and see this:(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Have you contacted the Coming Home Network? They help people of all persuasions who are thinking of coming into the Church, but you are the one who makes that decision. They originally started to help Protestant clergy who did not know who else to turn to.
 
@Home2RomeIDK:

Hi!

I was raised as a Southern Baptist. And I was received into
the R.C. Church 30 years ago. Your experience sounds
a lot like mine. I was attracted to Catholicism.

Before I went through classes for converts and candidates
(aka RCIA), I was afraid I couldn’t believe all the teachings.
But once I started RCIA, everything fell into place.

God called me. I think God is calling you. Call the nearest
Catholic Church and ask about RCIA. You’re an inquirer.
You have nothing to lose. Your knowledge of the Bible
will be a great blessing to others in the program.

God bless you!
 
Although I’m still not fully persuaded by some of my hang-ups with the Catholic Church, I suppose I’m just asking for prayer. Prayer as I explore fairly the obstacles that stand in my way.
I will pray for you tonight.

But this reminds me. You say you were inspired to dig deeper. I remember when I began to dig deeper how everything I ever wanted to know was right there all along. I just didn’t know how to see it.
 
Where ever you end up on your journey, learning more about Catholicism will never be a waste. Increase in knowledge is good for its own sake! May your journey lead you to where you should be and find peace.
 
It all started when I decided to do a deeper study on the Eucharist.
I too pray God leads you where He wishes you to be… but can I ask, other then the real presence of God in the Eucharist… was there anything else that was different from the Catholic Eucharist and the one in the Baptism church?
 
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@Home2RomeIDK, just look at all the friends you have made here today! And all of the prayers they have offered for you too! 🙂

Prayers offered that God will reveal his will for you and lead you on the path to where he wishes you to be.
 
Although I’m still not fully persuaded by some of my hang-ups with the Catholic Church, I suppose I’m just asking for prayer.
I would recommend you start watching David Anders’ show Call to Communion where he fieldscquestions from non Catholics. He himself is a convert. Here is one of his daily shows available on YouTube:

 
Well, as a former Catholic, and trying to be as charitable as possible, beware of inklings that tend to say where the Lord is more fully at.

I would be baptist if I were not more in pentecostal vein ( seperate baptism in Holy Ghost, or at least belief in operation of some of his giftings). Always enjoy the solid rock gospel message and lives baptists seem to have. Yet if you think something is missing or you are being drawn to something more mystical, I would first recomend seeking a deeper annointing of the Holy Ghost, even in Christ.

For sure religious activity has a deep draw. Baptists I think have rightly stripped away a lot of the acquired ornaments/ traditions that Catholics, Orthodox, and some Anglicans and some Lutherans have. I am drawn to some myself at times (like stations of the Cross before Easter to teach kids). However, Jesus said true religion is service to the body (good works, visiting sick, elderly, helping poor). I suppose if one were busy with that, one might not be hungry for something deeper/mystical/spiritually self indulgent perhaps.

I am also reminded of a sermon by Rev. Richard Wurbrand titled “The Power of Nothing”. It is about his experience in prison behind iron curtain for his faith. Christ became more real to him in a prison cell when he literally had nothing, naked cell, naked body. . . .
 
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