Converts from Methodism

[irishmac]

Blessings to everyone here on CAF.

Is there anyone here who converted from Methodism to Catholicism? If so, what was it that threw you into the Tiber? What was it that made you convert?

Dominus vobsicum

 

[AngelRose81]

I’m currently in RCIA (will be confirmed at Easter Vigil) and I am converting from the United Methodist Church. I take it that is what you mean by methodism. My father is actually a UMC pastor.
I’d been interested in Catholicism for a long time (through college, etc) and I happened to catch The Journey Home on EWTN and that really got me to thinking seriously about it. So I started to study the Church and its teachings and I felt led to continue my journey by going through RCIA. I feel that the Catholic church is where I belong and I feel like I am closer to God here. Also, Mary was a big deal for me. My mother passed away during my second year of college and although I don’t express it much, this has been extremely hard on me. So I guess the thougt of Mary as my “heavenly mother” and someone I could pray to for intercession, etc. really got me and I feel close to Mary as well. Personally I guess I think that is odd since most Protestants/Evangelicals/Etc. have a big problem with Mary. I didn’t and I’m very grateful for that. I love the rosary and I pray the Hail Mary quite often just to feel that she’s with me along with Jesus! I’m so excited and feel “on fire” for my faith right now and I can’t wait until the Easter vigil so that I can recieve Jesus through the Eucharist. I’m almost sad when I go to Mass on Sundays because I can’t recieve yet. That I guess is the biggest thing for me right now, especially during Lent. I feel like I am missing out on the most important thing. But I’ve always heard that the best penance is not getting to recieve Jesus through the Eucharist and I believe it because that is what I’m longing for the most right now!

Sorry my answer was so long (i actually could have made it longer!) but maybe that answers your questions! God bless!

-Kristy

 

[irishmac]

I’m currently in RCIA (will be confirmed at Easter Vigil) and I am converting from the United Methodist Church. I take it that is what you mean by methodism. My father is actually a UMC pastor.
I’d been interested in Catholicism for a long time (through college, etc) and I happened to catch The Journey Home on EWTN and that really got me to thinking seriously about it. So I started to study the Church and its teachings and I felt led to continue my journey by going through RCIA. I feel that the Catholic church is where I belong and I feel like I am closer to God here. Also, Mary was a big deal for me. My mother passed away during my second year of college and although I don’t express it much, this has been extremely hard on me. So I guess the thougt of Mary as my “heavenly mother” and someone I could pray to for intercession, etc. really got me and I feel close to Mary as well. Personally I guess I think that is odd since most Protestants/Evangelicals/Etc. have a big problem with Mary. I didn’t and I’m very grateful for that. I love the rosary and I pray the Hail Mary quite often just to feel that she’s with me along with Jesus! I’m so excited and feel “on fire” for my faith right now and I can’t wait until the Easter vigil so that I can recieve Jesus through the Eucharist. I’m almost sad when I go to Mass on Sundays because I can’t recieve yet. That I guess is the biggest thing for me right now, especially during Lent. I feel like I am missing out on the most important thing. But I’ve always heard that the best penance is not getting to recieve Jesus through the Eucharist and I believe it because that is what I’m longing for the most right now!

Sorry my answer was so long (i actually could have made it longer!) but maybe that answers your questions! God bless!

-Kristy

Kristy,
Thank you for your beautiful testimony. And Welcome Home.

The reason I was asking such a question is that I wanted to know the biggest stumbling blocks for a Methodist in considering conversion to the Church. My fiancée is a Methodist and I’m a Catholic. I wanted to know where I should focus on as I help her understand my Faith. She is hung up on some of the moral issues. She says that the moral stance the Church takes is one of the big stumbling blocks.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post a reply. And I know the Holy Spirit will reside in your heart on your Confirmation Day. Congratulations and Welcome Home.

Dominus vobsicum

 

[AngelRose81]

Kristy,
Thank you for your beautiful testimony. And Welcome Home.

The reason I was asking such a question is that I wanted to know the biggest stumbling blocks for a Methodist in considering conversion to the Church. My fiancée is a Methodist and I’m a Catholic. I wanted to know where I should focus on as I help her understand my Faith. She is hung up on some of the moral issues. She says that the moral stance the Church takes is one of the big stumbling blocks.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post a reply. And I know the Holy Spirit will reside in your heart on your Confirmation Day. Congratulations and Welcome Home.

Dominus vobsicum

Thank you.

Question…is your fiancee coming from a UMC background or is it another background? In my dad’s church, he is a very traditional Methodist and follows a strict order of worship (Apostle’s Creed, responsive readings, etc.) He’s one of the few in my area that still follows this. I think many of the individual churches beliefs in Methodism vary and I know that of the two churches he has pastored, they have very conservative beliefs in such concerns as abortion (against it), gambling or the lottery (against it), and even drinking (against it). Of course, not all of the members probably felt this way about all things, but if you were to ask the church as a whole, this is what they would say.

Just curious…what part of the moral issues is she having trouble with? If you don’t mind me asking (I don’t want to get too personal if you don’t want to!)? Regardless, I’ll be praying for you and for her and hopefully she’ll see the truth and come around eventually. My husband is the same way. He’s not Catholic, and he always has lots of questions for me and a lot of the time he has big problems with things (his main issue is the Eucharist and why only Catholics are allowed to recieve). So I’ll definitely pray for you! God bless!

 

[irishmac]

Thank you.

Question…is your fiancee coming from a UMC background or is it another background? In my dad’s church, he is a very traditional Methodist and follows a strict order of worship (Apostle’s Creed, responsive readings, etc.) He’s one of the few in my area that still follows this. I think many of the individual churches beliefs in Methodism vary and I know that of the two churches he has pastored, they have very conservative beliefs in such concerns as abortion (against it), gambling or the lottery (against it), and even drinking (against it). Of course, not all of the members probably felt this way about all things, but if you were to ask the church as a whole, this is what they would say.

Just curious…what part of the moral issues is she having trouble with? If you don’t mind me asking (I don’t want to get too personal if you don’t want to!)? Regardless, I’ll be praying for you and for her and hopefully she’ll see the truth and come around eventually. My husband is the same way. He’s not Catholic, and he always has lots of questions for me and a lot of the time he has big problems with things (his main issue is the Eucharist and why only Catholics are allowed to recieve). So I’ll definitely pray for you! God bless!

Hi Kristy,

She comes from a United Methodist Church in Northern California. Her church is “reconciling,” or accepting of all lifestyles, if you know what I mean. The problems she has with the Church are mostly equality based; like the issue of homosexuality, or the role of women in the Church, etc. She sees the Scriptures as mysogynistic and not in tune with the 21st century. She also has her doubts about faith. She was wonderful enough to begin an RCIA program at the local parish. She lovingly took the class so that she could understand my persistance in the Faith. She is awesome. I, however, was not the greatest evangelist, though. I didn’t truly support her through the process because someone told me to let the Holy Spirit come to her. So, I was stand-off-ish with her formation. I am now trying to demonstrate to her my Faith, helping her understand.

I am just curious how to show her the beauty of he Church. I have trouble explaining the Church’s stance on all the moral issues. But I think the problem is I can’t get her to believe the moral stance until I get her to, at least, understand the authority of the Church.

Please pray for my fiancée and I and the struggles ahead of us. I will offer you my prayers for your husband. May he, too, learn to love the Church and come Home as well. Once again, congratulations.

Dominus vobsicum

 

[GregoryPalamas]

If she converts on her own and is fully in agreement with the faith you will be a blessed person. If not then break off the engagement.

CDL

 

[OldRedleg]

Irishmac,

I’m a former United Methodist who converted to the Faith in 1996. I can identify with your fiancee’s questions and reservations. When I married my craddle Catholic wife in 1983 there was never any effort on her part, or her family, to make me convert. However, I made my own committment that it was important to me that we go to church together as man and wife. So that meant that I went to Catholic Mass with her. It was easier for me to worship God in a Catholic Church than it was for her to commit a sin as a Catholic by not going to Mass.

My journey home to the Catholic Faith was a long one that required a great deal of study, prayer, and reflection. Don’t force this issue on her. That would be the worst thing to do. A conversion of faith is something that must be taken seriously…and will be difficult for anyone who is truly faithful to the beliefs that they were brought up under.

As for myself, there were several areas that I had to resolve. The true presence of Christ in the euchrist and the need to confess sins to a Priest were probably the toughest. I also still have trouble with “canned prayer”. By this I mean that as a Methodist prayer was a personnel conversation with God. Saying roseries, stations of the cross, and all the other devoitionals seemed strange and unnecessary. But once I really studied the tradition, history, and theology behind them I could see their great worth and get real meaning from them.

My advice is to keep strong those ties that bind all Christians. The Apostles Creed is part of the Methodist faith and ours. Support her in her journey. It also will help her to find another old Methodist like myself who has come home to the Catholic Church who she can discuss her beliefs and concerns with.

God Bless.

 

[irishmac]

Irishmac,

I’m a former United Methodist who converted to the Faith in 1996. I can identify with your fiancee’s questions and reservations. When I married my craddle Catholic wife in 1983 there was never any effort on her part, or her family, to make me convert. However, I made my own committment that it was important to me that we go to church together as man and wife. So that meant that I went to Catholic Mass with her. It was easier for me to worship God in a Catholic Church than it was for her to commit a sin as a Catholic by not going to Mass.

My journey home to the Catholic Faith was a long one that required a great deal of study, prayer, and reflection. Don’t force this issue on her. That would be the worst thing to do. A conversion of faith is something that must be taken seriously…and will be difficult for anyone who is truly faithful to the beliefs that they were brought up under.

As for myself, there were several areas that I had to resolve. The true presence of Christ in the euchrist and the need to confess sins to a Priest were probably the toughest. I also still have trouble with “canned prayer”. By this I mean that as a Methodist prayer was a personnel conversation with God. Saying roseries, stations of the cross, and all the other devoitionals seemed strange and unnecessary. But once I really studied the tradition, history, and theology behind them I could see their great worth and get real meaning from them.

My advice is to keep strong those ties that bind all Christians. The Apostles Creed is part of the Methodist faith and ours. Support her in her journey. It also will help her to find another old Methodist like myself who has come home to the Catholic Church who she can discuss her beliefs and concerns with.

God Bless.

Thanks ORL,

God bless you and your wife. I will take your advice to heart and try to strengthen our similiarities in our conversations over religion. I want to let her come to the decision on her own. But I will be there ready to support her and love her. Thanks again for your story and I hope that the Lord blesses you and keeps you both in the palm of His hand.

BTW, Is your Old Leg…red?

j/k

Dominus vobsicum

 

[snowman10]

Ok so I was baptized in the UMC and was raised that way, taking part in EVERYTHING. I read the passages at age eight and sang in choirs and was VP of my youth group when I was around 17-18. I was my church’s golden boy. They thought I would end up a UMC Pastor. Boy did I shock them…

I met a girl who was a cafeteria Catholic (didn’t do confession or fast and used ABC). Anywho, my family said something about her faith and it made me take notice and want to investigate the Church. Mind you, before this I was a rabid anti-Catholic. Well I started reading and studying and guess what, it turns out the Catholic Church is the TRUE CHURCH…how about that.

The girl and I have since went our own ways (long story…she left me for another guy and a ton of other stuff) I was heartbroken and had trouble getting back to Mass because of my connection to her and the Church. But I realized the Church and my relationship with Her and God is stronger than what she and I had.

So that is my story in a nutshell. I am working my way to actually converting. I have done 1/2 year of RCIA. The point is, the Church will be there for you even when it seems like everything in your life is going down the drain.

all the best,
dxu

 

[irishmac]

Ok so I was baptized in the UMC and was raised that way, taking part in EVERYTHING. I read the passages at age eight and sang in choirs and was VP of my youth group when I was around 17-18. I was my church’s golden boy. They thought I would end up a UMC Pastor. Boy did I shock them…

I met a girl who was a cafeteria Catholic (didn’t do confession or fast and used ABC). Anywho, my family said something about her faith and it made me take notice and want to investigate the Church. Mind you, before this I was a rabid anti-Catholic. Well I started reading and studying and guess what, it turns out the Catholic Church is the TRUE CHURCH…how about that.

The girl and I have since went our own ways (long story…she left me for another guy and a ton of other stuff) I was heartbroken and had trouble getting back to Mass because of my connection to her and the Church. But I realized the Church and my relationship with Her and God is stronger than what she and I had.

So that is my story in a nutshell. I am working my way to actually converting. I have done 1/2 year of RCIA. The point is, the Church will be there for you even when it seems like everything in your life is going down the drain.

all the best,
dxu

Hey snowman,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I hope that you pray very deeply and that the Holy Spirit blesses you with discernment. Hopefully, you’ve already begun discerning the truth of the Catholic Church, despite the unfortunate pains you suffer from the break-up of a relationship. Don’t let the actions of your past relationship affect your growing respect and curiousity in the Catholic Church. I can only hope that you continue on your path to spiritual growth.

If you need to talk with someone about the Catholic faith, then please PM me and I’ll be happy to chat with you.

Dominus vobsicum

 

[OldRedleg]

Irishmac,

Reference being an “OldRedleg” .

I’m retired from the US Army. In the Army I was a field artillery officer. Field Artillerymen are called “red legs” because they used to wear a red stripe on their uniform tousers.

Reference your fiancee. Keep the faith. You both will be in my prayers.

 

[StratusRose]

I was a bad Methodist. I didn’t investigate my faith until I was knee-deep in RCIA. I loved the Catholic Church so much more because they were concrete in their teachings whereas the Methodist Church were very wishy washy on the subjects of birth control and abortion. When I did investigate, I was very disappointed in their answers. Then after I converted they ordained an openly gay woman who was living with her partner. At that point, I knew I had made the right decision.

When I was in RCIA, I called myself a Cathodist, because I felt I was already Catholic, but wasn’t officially one yet. My priest still gets a kick out of that.

Welcome Home.

 

[irishmac]

Irishmac,

Reference being an “OldRedleg” .

I’m retired from the US Army. In the Army I was a field artillery officer. Field Artillerymen are called “red legs” because they used to wear a red stripe on their uniform tousers.

Reference your fiancee. Keep the faith. You both will be in my prayers.

That’s interesting. I’ve never heard that one before.

Dominus vobsicum

 

[irishmac]

I was a bad Methodist. I didn’t investigate my faith until I was knee-deep in RCIA. I loved the Catholic Church so much more because they were concrete in their teachings whereas the Methodist Church were very wishy washy on the subjects of birth control and abortion. When I did investigate, I was very disappointed in their answers. Then after I converted they ordained an openly gay woman who was living with her partner. At that point, I knew I had made the right decision.

When I was in RCIA, I called myself a Cathodist, because I felt I was already Catholic, but wasn’t officially one yet. My priest still gets a kick out of that.

Welcome Home.

Thanks for responding. “Cathodist!”

Actually, I not the one on the journey home, or even contemplating coming home. I’ve been in my room this whole time.

Seriously, I am cradle Catholic that never truly strayed away. The love of my life is a Methodist and my hope is that my family can be of one faith.

Dominus vobsicum

 

[StratusRose]

Thanks for responding. “Cathodist!”

Actually, I not the one on the journey home, or even contemplating coming home. I’ve been in my room this whole time.

Seriously, I am cradle Catholic that never truly strayed away. The love of my life is a Methodist and my hope is that my family can be of one faith.

Dominus vobsicum

Oops. Sorry!

 

[Harpazo]

I’m currently in RCIA (will be confirmed at Easter Vigil) and I am converting from the United Methodist Church. I take it that is what you mean by methodism. My father is actually a UMC pastor.
I’d been interested in Catholicism for a long time (through college, etc) and I happened to catch The Journey Home on EWTN and that really got me to thinking seriously about it. So I started to study the Church and its teachings and I felt led to continue my journey by going through RCIA. I feel that the Catholic church is where I belong and I feel like I am closer to God here. Also, Mary was a big deal for me. My mother passed away during my second year of college and although I don’t express it much, this has been extremely hard on me. So I guess the thougt of Mary as my “heavenly mother” and someone I could pray to for intercession, etc. really got me and I feel close to Mary as well. Personally I guess I think that is odd since most Protestants/Evangelicals/Etc. have a big problem with Mary. I didn’t and I’m very grateful for that. I love the rosary and I pray the Hail Mary quite often just to feel that she’s with me along with Jesus! I’m so excited and feel “on fire” for my faith right now and I can’t wait until the Easter vigil so that I can recieve Jesus through the Eucharist. I’m almost sad when I go to Mass on Sundays because I can’t recieve yet. That I guess is the biggest thing for me right now, especially during Lent. I feel like I am missing out on the most important thing. But I’ve always heard that the best penance is not getting to recieve Jesus through the Eucharist and I believe it because that is what I’m longing for the most right now!

Sorry my answer was so long (i actually could have made it longer!) but maybe that answers your questions! God bless!

-Kristy

Wow you and I are almost alike. I’m 17 and a convert from the United Methodist Church. I’m excited as there are only 8 days left!!

I first started studying Catholicism, because I am Italian, and I wanted to see the religion that was the most dominant in Italy. I went through different conversion stories, Church documents, doctrines, and I listened to a lot of Open Line on EWTN. I later started to attend Mass with a friend, and let’s just say Christ showed me the way home and I’ve never been happier. I never really had a problem with Mary either. I knew since I was young that she was much more important than what the Methodists were telling me. I’m grateful for my Methodist background, but I’m the only one in my immediate family who is Catholic. I pray everyday for my family’s conversion. Who knows, I could end up leading a Methodist church into the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Alex Jones did it, I suppose it’s possible for me too! Wishful thinking, I know…

In Pax Christi
Andrew