What Was the Moment...

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deerenan

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I am an evangelical that attends a very loving nondenominational church. I love the people but have become convinced that there must be much more to worshipping God. I am leaning very much toward the Catholic Church, something that will shock and disappoint many of my dear friends at my current church.
My question is, for those of you who have converted, what was the moment or event that made you know for sure that the Catholic Church is where you belong? I am longing for the Truth you have, but leaving the church I grew up in and that all of my family attends is so painful. Each day that I think I will leave, I always lose courage. If you could share what finally helped you make the choice, it would be great!
 
I sympathize with you. I currently attend an evangelical church with wonderful people, satifying worship, and riveting sermons but I have come to the realization that the Catholic Church is the one Church that He founded and it posseses the fullness of Truth.

There was never a “moment” when I had the realization that the Catholic Church was the one true Church, it was more of a process, a slow demolition of long-held beliefs. I still have some doctrinal issues I am working through but I think I will be able to answer them.

I do not look forward to losing friendships that I have developed (there is a strong anti-Catholicism in my church) but Christ is leading me to His Church. He gave His life for me, I should give my life to Him as well.
 
My journey has been very long. I fell in love with the Catholic Church at 16 but, do to the fact that my mom wasn’t Catholic, the priest adviced me to wait until I was 18. My mom and family friends worked on me to the point that I did decided not to be Catholic. I ended up searching in many different religions.

When I became Christian I decided to go back to the same denomination that my parents attended…Baptist. The people were very lovely but there were many theologoical beliefs that I had problems with.

The great ahha moment came when the Passion of Christ came out. Our pastor discouraged us from seeing this movie. His main reason boiled down to the fact that Mel Gibson was Catholic. His antiCatholism made me research Catholic beliefs more thouroghly. WHich is why I am now in RCIA.
 
I am a revert from an Evangelical Church and for my wife who was even more into the Evangelical Church. It was extremely difficult for her, for both of us.
She did comment to me that at one point she did just say to God “I will look at the Catholic Church and trust in you” since she was fighting it the whole way. This was the point she started actually checking to see if the Catholic Church had any validity.
Myself I was on a search for truth after many conflicting messages, I didn’t really want to be Catholic as I was afraid of commitment, yet I had to check it out, to answer my brothers extreme views. I ended up discovering for myself the Catholic Church and now thank God He led me home. There were a lot of discouraging comments and situations yet I now just want to share the Catholic Church with everyone, and I love every opportunity to share it with my evangelical friends.

God Bless
Scylla

For many people it is not a moment, but the chance we give to God in opening our hearts and saying “thy will be done, if this is what you want from me I will follow.”
 
For me, that moment was when I realized how much love is in the Catholic Church, and that it is God’s love. I had all these anti-Catholic and very negative views of so many things. I had always heard about God’s forgiveness and thought I knew what it meant. But it wasn’t until I actually experienced that, and realized that I as an individual am important to the Lord because He loves me. Not because he’s trying to make us all slaves and miserable. But, because He loves me, in the way I love my children, or my fiance, or my Daddy. True, genuine FULL love. When I think about it, I can feel it again, too. And the Catholic Church very much reflects His feelings towards us. There are many black and white reasons as to why I believe the Catholic Church is the only Church that is truly God’s Church 100%, but because I was so anti-religious as well as anti-Catholic, I believe God gave me this emotional revelation of His glory so that I might understand, and come to Him.
 
I agree that it was a long process that made me convinced that God was calling me to the Catholic Church. I had studied the faith and prayed over & over again… “Lead me Lord… and I will follow.” I believed He wanted me to go… but like you… it was just soooo hard. I thought…who BECOMES Catholic??? What will everyone think?

So I did nothing… for awhile. Oh I would “visit” the Catholic Church here & there… but I stayed put at my old church. But then I had a “moment.” I was sitting in my old church - we had just done communion and I had this feeling… deep inside (Holy Spirit?) that I KNEW I didn’t belong there any more. I felt like a liar because I no longer believed that I was truly serving God in that place. I HAD to go home.

Best decision I ever made in my life - no regrets at all. There is NOTHING like knowing you are doing God’s will. Did my friends think I was nuts? Yep. But who cares? God is pleased. 🙂

Peace be with you my friend,
CM
 
What made me decide to become a Catholic was when I went to my first Mass as an adult. Its funny how the mind works, my mom took me to Mass every single day from my birth until I was 6 years old, I don’t remember any of it (one would think a 6 year old would kind of remember something!)

Anyway, I was 26 years old and I went with a friend of mine in Corpus Christi, TX. I remember walking in and feeling at home immediately (I guess my roots had always stayed with me). I remember they were talking about Ash Wednesday coming up and I so wanted to be a part of everything. The richness, the tradition, the authenticity and most importantly the Eucharist.

After that one experience I started doing a lot of research, trying to read everything I could get my hands on (I’ve never been one to jump into something quickly). I did this for three years before finally doing it. I enrolled in the RCIA classes at a local parish here in Little Rock and was confirmed this past Easter. I wouldn’t have changed anything for the world, it was perfect.

My entire family was at my confirmation, please keep in mind that everyone else had stuck with the Assembly of God faith over the years. Just to see everyone come together for me, not judging me, being totally supportive, etc. Like I said, it was perfect.

Since my becoming Catholic (I was baptized in the Church but never went through the other steps, my mom left the Church before I could) my mom has since came back and is now in good standing with the Church and one of my sisters is thinking about coming back also. This just goes to show that you never know how one person’s decision can change so many other’s mind. It definitely has a positive influence on those who you are around.

If you decide to convert it will be the best decision you will ever make, truly.
 
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deerenan:
I am an evangelical that attends a very loving nondenominational church. I love the people but have become convinced that there must be much more to worshipping God. I am leaning very much toward the Catholic Church, something that will shock and disappoint many of my dear friends at my current church.
My question is, for those of you who have converted, what was the moment or event that made you know for sure that the Catholic Church is where you belong? I am longing for the Truth you have, but leaving the church I grew up in and that all of my family attends is so painful. Each day that I think I will leave, I always lose courage. If you could share what finally helped you make the choice, it would be great!
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Deerenan
I’d like to suggest you read the book ‘Surprised By Truth’. It’s a collection of conversion stories explaining the ‘whys’ and ‘whens’ of several people. I have Volume One and it is an awesome book, containing the conversion stories of people like Tim Staples, Marcus Grodi, Jimmy Akin, Paul Thigpen. It might help you on your journey. I believe most, possibly all, the people in Volume 1 were former Evangelical/Protestant ministers. Their stories are truly inspiring.
 
I grew up in an anti-Catholic atmosphere. My family were “sometime” protestants who were very vocal in their opposition to Catholics and the Catholic Church. I learned to parrot this while never understanding any of it.
Then I became friends (much later in life) with a non-practicing Catholic who loved to debate religion from the Catholic point of view.
All these experiences came together, for me, as a complete curiosity about Catholicism.
It took 2 years of research followed by and 2 and 1/2 years of R.C.I.A. to bring me home to The Holy Catholic Church.
My happiness and fullfillment and joy cannot even be described!
 
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Elzee:
Deerenan
I’d like to suggest you read the book ‘Surprised By Truth’. It’s a collection of conversion stories explaining the ‘whys’ and ‘whens’ of several people. I have Volume One and it is an awesome book, containing the conversion stories of people like Tim Staples, Marcus Grodi, Jimmy Akin, Paul Thigpen. It might help you on your journey. I believe most, possibly all, the people in Volume 1 were former Evangelical/Protestant ministers. Their stories are truly inspiring.
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You might also want to hop over to chnetwork.org for some conversion stories. (It’s run by Marcus Grodi)
 
My hang up was the teachings about Mary, as many others have had. So, being the analytical sort, I bought a rosary, gulped, and started praying the Hail Mary. My dh is a cradle Catholic but he hadn’t prayed the rosary in years and couldn’t remember exactly how it went, so I’m sure I wasn’t including all the words (this was before everyone on earth had easy access to the internet). I instantly felt Mary upholding me and receiving me as one of her own–like a long lost daughter. That was my ah-ha moment. I realized the Church is right about Mary and therefore it is right about everything else. We started attending a Catholic parish and that next Easter Vigil I was received into the Church. I have never regretted it even in the hard times for I have found in the sacraments and in Catholic spirituality all my needs.
 
When I really asked, “where did the Bible come from?”

Really, this was HUGE. I had read all the Bible passages that say that Sola Scriptura is not quite right, and they had a major impact on me to be sure. But what that really led me to do is find out where it came from in the first place. When I did, that very instant I realized the truth. I was so overwhelmed with the utter straightforwardness of it and the total clarity.

You may want to read this, I wrote it the next day:

lazerliek42.tripod.com/sola.htm
 
I was raised Methodist without ever knowing that I was baptised Catholic as an infant. I was put in a Catholic school (purely educational purposes) and went to Mass with everyone else. Knowing no Catholic theology, I immediately knew that I was where I belonged. The Eucharist converted me. Since then, my entire immediate family has converted or reverted. My extended family has simply taken it in stride.

My husband, on the other hand, was raised in a very anti-Catholic household. I don’t think he could find a single relative living or dead who was ever even sympathetic to Catholicism. During our friendship, I asked him why such a godly man did not attend church. He told me that he had made the circuit, but none of the churches (pretty much Baptist, non-denominational, Assembly of God, etc) seemed to really have the Truth. I asked him why he didn’t look into Catholicism. He laughed at me, then set about researching Catholicism to prove to me why it was wrong. What he found was that Catholicism allows for all his philisophical and theological beliefs (even though they are not in the majority, they are still equal–stuff I don’t much care about, like Thomas or Aquinas kind of stuff). After reading the Catholic side and Protestant side of arguments (like the Real Presence in the Eucharist) he realized that he was never given the entire story as a Protestant and that the Protestant side simply didn’t hold up. He didn’t feel comfortable with devotions like the rosary, then found out that to be Catholic one is not required to participate in such devotions. He came back to me and told me he wanted to join the church. He had never been inside a Catholic church to this point.

His family was NOT happy. Most were passive-agressive about it. They didn’t say much in the way of confrontational things. They came to his Confirmation, but purposefully were cruel in doing so. His mom said she would come since that is what a mother does, but she would “cry tears of sadness” the whole way through. They purposefully never said anything like “Congratulations” that could be interpreted as support. They knew there was a reception afterwards, so they ducked out right before the Mass ended and just disappeared. My DH spent about 15 minutes looking around the church for them, sure they were lost somewhere. He called their phones, which were turned off. He finally realized they had just left without saying a word to him. That hurt him a lot.

It has been several years now. It is just accepted that we are Catholic. No one says anything good or bad. My husband is a wonderful husband and father. I am so very blessed.

My experience was a spiritual one during mass, one which spoke to my heart and soul. His was a logical one, one which came about through study and knowledge. The common denominator is that we were both open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
 
For awhile, I sat on the fence, going to both Evangelical and Catholic (not receiving communion at the Catholic). Enrolled kids in CCD but also went to Sunday School.

The “Moment” came in the Evangelical Church as others went forward to receive communion. Communion was very infrequent in the Evangelical Church I attended. I sat there with tears running down my face realizing I could not go forward with my brothers and sisters in Christ who did not believe in the Real Presence of Christ. That is the “More” you are missing. Accept Christ into your heart? How about accept Him into your heart, mind, body and soul! The Eucharist is the most powerful and pivotal part of Worship. It is the “More”.

How did a baptized Catholic of rebeling parents who never attended CCD in her life come to that realization? Through the Holy Spirit and Scripture alone.

God can perform miracles.

But you do not face an easy road. The most painful thing even today is the fact that many of my brothers and sisters in Christ think I am going to hell.

God Bless,
Maria
 
This is a really beautiful thread! I didn’t have the same experience, converting from athiesm…my family just thinks I’m a dreamer 🙂
 
I don’t think I had a defining moment, either. It’s just something I’d been feeling I wanted to do since I was 14 (I’m 21 now). My dad comes from a family with strong, southern protestant, Scots-Irish roots. My mother is Korean, and she was actually raised Catholic, but she converted when she married my dad. And so consequently, my parents raised my sister and me as Baptists.

I sort of fell away from religion throughout my teenage years in pursuit of fun. I never stopped believing in God, but I was disillusioned with the typical, middle-class, protestant culture of the utterly fake, happy family sunday display (although I have to note these people aren’t the fiery, fundamentalist, evangelicals you see on tv. There is a big difference between the two). But more importantly, I was confused about our faith being so splintered into so many factional denominations.

I’m in RCIA now. I’m still not 100% sure, without a doubt, that this is what I want to do. But I’m studying, praying, and trying to work through the issues I have with the Catholic faith nightly. I’m really looking forward to next week’s session of RCIA, actually, because now that the environment-setting, and introductions are over, we will be starting to discuss the faith. The instructor said to bring questions…and let me tell you. I have a ton of them.

Anyway, deerenan, I hope you find your way.
 
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deerenan:
I am an evangelical that attends a very loving nondenominational church. I love the people but have become convinced that there must be much more to worshipping God. I am leaning very much toward the Catholic Church, something that will shock and disappoint many of my dear friends at my current church.
My question is, for those of you who have converted, what was the moment or event that made you know for sure that the Catholic Church is where you belong? I am longing for the Truth you have, but leaving the church I grew up in and that all of my family attends is so painful. Each day that I think I will leave, I always lose courage. If you could share what finally helped you make the choice, it would be great!
Click to expand...
I guess I’m technically a “re-vert”; I chose not to be confirmed at the usual time, drifted away in my 20’s & came back to the faith & was confirmed when I was 30.

For me, it wasn’t a single moment–it was a multitude of “moments” over the course of several years. Listening to Catholic Answers Live radio program helped knock down a lot of the stumbling blocks I had lined up against the Church. Through a Baptist bible study, ironically, I fell in love with the words of the Mass. I’ll never forget the tingle up my spine I felt when I realized the words “Lord, I am not worthy to receice you, but only say the word and I shall be healed” is taken from the book of Matthew. Those words used to be a stumbling block for me; no more!

Someone already suggested the site chnetwork.org; I second that. There is also another thread here titled “Did you go through hardships when you converted?” that may add some extra thoughts into the mix for you: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=76850

May God bless you on your journey! Keep us posted here, too! 🙂
 
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to answer my question. I have checked out the web sites and also ordered my first books from Catholic Answers today!
I started on this journey back in May and it feels to me like I should have had some resolutions by now. It helps knowing that for so many of you it was a journey, not just one single moment.
I can’t wait for my books to come! I already know I’m a much better Christian than a few months ago. The amount of studying I have done recently is over twice as much as ever before. I can feel all of my beliefs shifting. I know now it is just a matter of time.
I’ll keep you posted on my journey!
 
“Our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest in you.”
Said by one of the greatest converts ever: St. Augustine!
 
Well,

When I was a teenager I was pretty much an agnostic. I accepted the possibility that Christ could have been real, and that he could have been the Son of God. My grandfather is the one that raised me in the Catholic Church, but I left when I was about 14 and just quit going to Mass. After that, I started attending a youth group with some friends of mine at a protestant church (I don’t even remember what denomination it was, either methodist or baptist). I never went to church there, basically just went for the atmosphere and because my friends and my girlfriend went. They were all pretty good people, and truly had a love for God. I felt kind of out of place at that church though, not because of the people, it was just something missing. Then later, after I broke up with my girlfriend, I quit going to that youth group. For a few years after that, I just didn’t even care. Then my best friend at the time had basically convinced me of some weird theology which was a mix of SDA/JW beliefs. Eventually after debating quite a while with him on things about the Church that I knew he was misrepresenting, I finally realized which church was right. I went to confession and will never think of leaving the church again.
 
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