Conversion stories: Catholic & Protestant

[AlegreFe]

I see Protestant churches as lifeboats in a big sea where people are being pulled out of the water of sin - they stay there awhile, subsisting on rations but after a time, they need more - they try other lifeboats but are offered the same diet - far off in the distance you see the Barque of St Peter - a cruise liner - or is it a mirage - the lifeboat captain says it’s a mirage - you’re hallucinating - it will fall off the edge of the earth because it’s going in the wrong direction but you feel you’ve been going nowhere in this lifeboat and the new people being rescued are taking all the rations, what little there was to being with. You start to see smaller craft with markings of St Peter coming nearby and some are boarding it from other lifeboats. You also notice other St Peter craft along side the Barque of St Peter where people are boarding - you decide it must not be a mirage but you can’t shake it - because the lifeboat captain’s warnings ring in your head and you turn away, trying to ignore what you’ve seen. But you can’t ignore it. You feel like swimming but there are sharks in the waters- but you know you are going nowhere in this lifeboat that now is beginning to stink. You hope that maybe someone in your company will see what you see but no one does. You are gazing at the Barque and people think you’re hallucinating and you feel ridiculous - or foolish. You think about the banquets they must be having on St Peter’s and the wonderful view from the deck - but you’re thirsty and you’re going nowhere. You hope St Peter’s never leaves your sight or that you somehow are close enough to board it someday.

I see you’ve been watching Steve Ray?!

I love Steve Ray! I have his conversion story on tape. I’ve watched it a couple of times already as it’s good to watch and/or hear something more than once to hear something new each time. :yup:

 

[AlegreFe]

Actually, I did think this up. I didn’t know about Steve Ray - I would like to read his.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Laughing.gif We posted at the exact same time! You can get his conversion story here. But it’s better to “see” his conversion story on VHS tape. They don’t have it on DVD or I’d get it. But you have to actually see Steve because he’s great, he’s genuine and he cries. But they are happy tears because he found Jesus right here in the Catholic Church.

 

[spauline]

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Laughing.gif We posted at the exact same time! You can get his conversion story here. But it’s better to “see” his conversion story on VHS tape. They don’t have it on DVD or I’d get it. But you have to actually see Steve because he’s great, he’s genuine and he cries. But they are happy tears because he found Jesus right here in the Catholic Church.

AMEN! I have been blessed to see Steve Ray live in person sharing on several occasions, both in Michigan, and once last year in Oregon City, Portland area. He is marvelous. Not only that, at one time I lived in Ann Arbor area and went to his church and got to meet his family. He is a wonderful human being, bringing great glory to God. BTW, he has his own Catholic forums site called forums.catholic-convert.com. Have you been there?

In Her love,
scott

 

[Jeanette_L]

Trust me…In my short time as a Catholic I have ran into more than a few so-called Catholics who proclaim these same negative things. I just pray that I can say (or do) the right things to help them understand.

I am completely on board with what you are saying here. I am in the same boat in that I am currently living with a Catholic family (not my own family), and I am stunned at how unCatholic they are in just about all the major decisions they make in life! There are so many things in their lives that are completely out of line with Catholic teaching and I am so hurt that they don’t seem to care. And because I am a new Catholic, I feel completely inadequate as to how to deal with this. They really don’t like hearing anything from me concerning Catholic things, so I am quiet, but hurt. Hurt for Christ. And I am becoming so aware of how hurt He must be from so many who claim to belong to Him and really could care less about how they live their lives.

 

[spauline]

I am completely on board with what you are saying here. I am in the same boat in that I am currently living with a Catholic family (not my own family), and I am stunned at how unCatholic they are in just about all the major decisions they make in life! There are so many things in their lives that are completely out of line with Catholic teaching and I am so hurt that they don’t seem to care. And because I am a new Catholic, I feel completely inadequate as to how to deal with this. They really don’t like hearing anything from me concerning Catholic things, so I am quiet, but hurt. Hurt for Christ. And I am becoming so aware of how hurt He must be from so many who claim to belong to Him and really could care less about how they live their lives.

You’re not alone, Jeannette. I’m afraid to say. I can relate. My family is only nominally Catholic. My younger brother and sister are fornicating and get drunk, have done drugs, my parents have allowed this. I’m not allowed to “preach”. They don’t want to hear it. For them, Catholic sexual teaching is absurd and not in touch with reality. I pray God strengthen you in this dear cross you have.

In her love, which, with her Son’s Heart, will conquer,
scott

 

[AlegreFe]

AMEN! I have been blessed to see Steve Ray live in person sharing on several occasions, both in Michigan, and once last year in Oregon City, Portland area. He is marvelous. Not only that, at one time I lived in Ann Arbor area and went to his church and got to meet his family. He is a wonderful human being, bringing great glory to God. BTW, he has his own Catholic forums site called forums.catholic-convert.com. Have you been there?

In Her love,
scott

I would love to see Stephen Ray and his family.

I have been to his forum on his own website. :yup:

 

[AlegreFe]

I am completely on board with what you are saying here. I am in the same boat in that I am currently living with a Catholic family (not my own family), and I am stunned at how unCatholic they are in just about all the major decisions they make in life! There are so many things in their lives that are completely out of line with Catholic teaching and I am so hurt that they don’t seem to care. And because I am a new Catholic, I feel completely inadequate as to how to deal with this. They really don’t like hearing anything from me concerning Catholic things, so I am quiet, but hurt. Hurt for Christ. And I am becoming so aware of how hurt He must be from so many who claim to belong to Him and really could care less about how they live their lives.

We have to pray for this family.

 

[AlegreFe]

You’re not alone, Jeannette. I’m afraid to say. I can relate. My family is only nominally Catholic. My younger brother and sister are fornicating and get drunk, have done drugs, my parents have allowed this. I’m not allowed to “preach”. They don’t want to hear it. For them, Catholic sexual teaching is absurd and not in touch with reality. I pray God strengthen you in this dear cross you have.

In her love, which, with her Son’s Heart, will conquer,
scott

I guess the only thing you can do is pray and show them as example. Your witness might help. But of course for now we can pray for your siblings. I will remember them and you in my prayers.

 

[spauline]

I guess the only thing you can do is pray and show them as example. Your witness might help. But of course for now we can pray for your siblings. I will remember them and you in my prayers.

thank you so much, AlegreFe, I appreciate your kindness and prayers. and I agree, the best we can do is love them and pray. Pray, pray, pray, as Our Lady says.

thanks again, and I pray that the Lord bless you and all your loved ones in your journey!

scott

 

[JoeyWarren]

One advise for Anti-Catholics like your brother. Pray! Pray! Pray! The Holy Spirit will change his heart and he will be Catholic.

Not true in its entirety, their hearts are hardened as in Meribah. Some are truely lost to us.

 

[Jeanette_L]

Not true in its entirety, their hearts are hardened as in Meribah. Some are truely lost to us.

But we always have hope, until the last breath of life! Divine Mercy can reach a lost soul even then.

So, I agree with AlegreFe’s great and timeless advice, prayer is never wasted! I may get frustrated at times because I want fast answers, but we all have to be patient and leave the timeline, method and outcome to God.

 

[Jeanette_L]

We have to pray for this family.

Thank you so much. I guess that’s why I’m here, even though at times I feel inadequate, I do understand that it’s not my adequacy that counts, but His! I have been asked to be the Godmother for their 2 week old son, so I will always be connected to this family and hopefully there will be some good fruit for it somewhere down the road!

Thank you for your prayers for them. It helps to get an encouraging word and prayer here and there!

 

[Jeanette_L]

You’re not alone, Jeannette. I’m afraid to say. I can relate. My family is only nominally Catholic. My younger brother and sister are fornicating and get drunk, have done drugs, my parents have allowed this. I’m not allowed to “preach”. They don’t want to hear it. For them, Catholic sexual teaching is absurd and not in touch with reality. I pray God strengthen you in this dear cross you have.

In her love, which, with her Son’s Heart, will conquer,
scott

Yes, this is the same attitude I am encountering. I’m seen as some kind of fanatic because I take the Church’s teaching seriously. I’m not perfect, by far, but I do believe what the Church teaches is absolute truth, I don’t understand how a person can call themselves Catholic and go through the motions of showing up for Mass every Sunday but not care about committing every mortal sin out there. I guess it comes down to never having had a conversion of the heart. All their efforts will do no good without their heart being engaged.

PRAYER!!! I try to pray the Rosary regularly for them. I’m so new at this, but it gives me a certain comfort when I pray this for them, a kind of peace.

I thank God for this forum and the true Christians I have encountered here, without it (and EWTN) I would seriously doubt that I had come into a Church that had real believers in it! You guys give me the courage to keep on pushing forward.

God Bless!

 

[AlegreFe]

Not true in its entirety, their hearts are hardened as in Meribah. Some are truely lost to us.

I’m afraid he’s right Manny. http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Crytear.gif

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning, if
the sin is not deadly, he should pray
to God and he will give him life. This is
only for those whose sin is not deadly.
There is such a thing as deadly sin, about
which I do not say that you should pray.
17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin
that is not deadly. 1 Jn 5:16-17

But part of me still has hope for my brother.
I do not know what is really in his heart. Perhaps he has this “macho” attitude to “hide” what he would think is “weak” for a man. So maybe inside there is a spark of something good. I do believe that there is something good in him. After all God made him so I try to find good in everyone.

So I would really appreciate your prayers for my brother. Thanks in advance.

 

[AlegreFe]

But we always have hope, until the last breath of life! Divine Mercy can reach a lost soul even then.
So, I agree with AlegreFe’s great and timeless advice, prayer is never wasted! I may get frustrated at times because I want fast answers, but we all have to be patient and leave the timeline, method and outcome to God.

:yup: Yes I trust in the Divine Mercy of God! And that is Jesus Christ Himself!

Jesus Christ says that no sin is greater than His Mercy!!
That is of course if one repents and accepts His Grace to change. :yup:

So please keep praying for my brother. He really needs them.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[AlegreFe]

Thank you so much. I guess that’s why I’m here, even though at times I feel inadequate, I do understand that it’s not my adequacy that counts, but His! I have been asked to be the Godmother for their 2 week old son, so I will always be connected to this family and hopefully there will be some good fruit for it somewhere down the road!

Thank you for your prayers for them. It helps to get an encouraging word and prayer here and there!

Oh that sounds wonderful!! Congrats on you being the godmother of that sweet baby!!
I have tears of joy for you and especially for them. http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/CryHappytear.gif
God is indeed working here, I’m sure you know that from your statement;
“hopefully there will be some good
fruit for it somewhere down the road.”
Don’t you just love how God works?! http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Grin.gif

 

[AlegreFe]

I just saw Phil McCord on CNN’s AC360. This man was Baptist but because of a Miracle that he received by praying to Mother Theodore Guérin, he converted to Catholicism. Glory to God!!
Phil’s miracle was the second miracle that was needed to canonize St. Theodore Guérin.

I tried looking for his story on Anderson’s website but it wasn’t there or I couldn’t find it.

But I did find this short radio interview with Phil McCord on American Catholic Radio.

To hear the interview click here. It’s 5 minutes into the show and it’s only a few minutes long. They don’t even mention that he was a Baptist before the miracle. I don’t know why. But they did mention that fact on AC360.
Anyway the part on Phil is very short but I would like to suggest to keep listening to the show if you wish.

Ooh I found this also;
Second Intercession: Healing of Phil McCord

I found this picture of him with a nun (put on your habit Sister ) carrying candles in the procession for Mass.
http://www.spsmw.org/s3/uploaded/3174/6phil.jpg

Here’s something from that news website;
Phil McCord, director of Facilities Management for the
Sisters of Providence, at the news conference announcing
that the path to sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church
has been cleared for the foundress of the Sisters of
Providence, Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin. Phil’s loss
of eyesight was cured and the miracle has been officially
attributed to Blessed Mother Theodore.

 

[spauline]

Yes, this is the same attitude I am encountering. I’m seen as some kind of fanatic because I take the Church’s teaching seriously. I’m not perfect, by far, but I do believe what the Church teaches is absolute truth, I don’t understand how a person can call themselves Catholic and go through the motions of showing up for Mass every Sunday but not care about committing every mortal sin out there. I guess it comes down to never having had a conversion of the heart. All their efforts will do no good without their heart being engaged.

PRAYER!!! I try to pray the Rosary regularly for them. I’m so new at this, but it gives me a certain comfort when I pray this for them, a kind of peace.

I thank God for this forum and the true Christians I have encountered here, without it (and EWTN) I would seriously doubt that I had come into a Church that had real believers in it! You guys give me the courage to keep on pushing forward.

God Bless!

Thank you, Jeannette, God Bless you for your perserverance in faith and prayer. You’ve nailed it! The best thing we can do is love and pray. I say the Rosary daily, too, and in almost all the mysteries, I find a way to look at a particular virtue in the mystery and offer supplications for some aspect of that virtue to begin anew in my family’s hearts. And I pray also fervently for my own salvation and holiness so that I might ‘evangelize’, and if necessary use words.

Two important mysteries for me in this regard, is the Visitation (that I might show charity and love toward them as Mary did to Elizabeth), and the Transfiguration (that I might be transfigured in the depths of my being by the grace of Jesus, that I might radiate that grace to them, as Jesus literally radiated His Glory on Mount Tabor).

Yes, I find that part of the reason that keeps many devout Protestants from coming into the Church is the poor witness of typical Catholics. Persons such as you will be a bright light to our separated brethren to show them that there really are Catholics who have a personal relationship with Jesus!

God Bless you, Jeannette! And I will add you to my prayer list.

In her Love,
scott

 

[Jeanette_L]

Oh that sounds wonderful!! Congrats on you being the godmother of that sweet baby!!
I have tears of joy for you and especially for them. http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/CryHappytear.gif
God is indeed working here, I’m sure you know that from your statement;
“hopefully there will be some good
fruit for it somewhere down the road.”
Don’t you just love how God works?! http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Grin.gif

He sure does work in ways we can’t foresee! Sometimes I get freaked out because I don’t know where things are headed, but I am slowly learning to just hang on and try to enjoy the ride!

 

[Jeanette_L]

Thank you, Jeannette, God Bless you for your perserverance in faith and prayer. You’ve nailed it! The best thing we can do is love and pray. I say the Rosary daily, too, and in almost all the mysteries, I find a way to look at a particular virtue in the mystery and offer supplications for some aspect of that virtue to begin anew in my family’s hearts. And I pray also fervently for my own salvation and holiness so that I might ‘evangelize’, and if necessary use words.

Two important mysteries for me in this regard, is the Visitation (that I might show charity and love toward them as Mary did to Elizabeth), and the Transfiguration (that I might be transfigured in the depths of my being by the grace of Jesus, that I might radiate that grace to them, as Jesus literally radiated His Glory on Mount Tabor).

Yes, I find that part of the reason that keeps many devout Protestants from coming into the Church is the poor witness of typical Catholics. Persons such as you will be a bright light to our separated brethren to show them that there really are Catholics who have a personal relationship with Jesus!

God Bless you, Jeannette! And I will add you to my prayer list.

In her Love,
scott

Thank you Scott for your inspirational words and insights, I really have received refreshment from them this evening. I appreciate so much the fellowship I sense on this forum and thank God for it. Thank you for your prayers and I will add you and yours to mine also.

God Bless and Merry Christmas if we don’t bump into each other until then!