Conversion Stories

Bunnydrop, all my best wishes to you for your journey home, too.
it's sad to hear about the reactions in your surroundings, but be assured the real friends won't just drop you off! you know that! im praying for your journey may the holy spirit guide you.

Thanks folks for the replys.I dont regret for one moment my descion to convert.Im so eager its childess in a nice way.The more each day passes the stronger i feel about my faith. x

Hello Everyone...this OBOB has been such a blessing to me, glad I found it!

I am working on converting to Catholicism from Protestantism. I have been attending the Roman Catholic Church for almost two years now, and I have been studying church history and preparing myself for RCIA classes. My main reason for converting is that "sola scriptura" which the Protestant Reformation is based on seems fundamentally contradictory (follow only the Bible, but then they interpret it as they want, and have all kinds of supplementally literature, programs, etc. to "compliment" it).

It is a scary journey to go alone, but with God anything is possible!

That's great, Hikingchick! I wish you the very best in your journey.

hikingchick77 said:

Hello Everyone...this OBOB has been such a blessing to me, glad I found it!

I am working on converting to Catholicism from Protestantism. I have been attending the Roman Catholic Church for almost two years now, and I have been studying church history and preparing myself for RCIA classes. My main reason for converting is that "sola scriptura" which the Protestant Reformation is based on seems fundamentally contradictory (follow only the Bible, but then they interpret it as they want, and have all kinds of supplementally literature, programs, etc. to "compliment" it).

It is a scary journey to go alone, but with God anything is possible!

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Amen, sister!

Well, where do I begin?

My mother was brought up in the Roman Catholic Church, although she never received any sacraments, and stopped attending at all when she was 19. Both my parents believe that as long as you believe and live your life right, you don't need to attend church, and as for the children, they can decide when they reach the age of reason. I had been to a few churches while growing up, but they all seemed the same. I felt like I was being judged when I went in, and it got to the point where I once had to walk out, because I was being stared at by everyone in the room, and they weren't trying to hide it.

Fast forward to January 2009, a friend of mine from the university I'm attending knew a bit about my religious past (or lack thereof) and asked if I'd like to attend Mass with her. I went, and felt like I belonged there, almost immediately. Granted, I didn't really understand much of anything that was going on, but I really got into the homily. The week after Easter, I decided that this was definitely, without a doubt, where I belonged. So I talked to the priest, and started RCIA classes the next week. So now I'm trying to learn everything I can, and eagerly awaiting my baptism next Easter.

balesom said:

Well, where do I begin?

My mother was brought up in the Roman Catholic Church, although she never received any sacraments, and stopped attending at all when she was 19. Both my parents believe that as long as you believe and live your life right, you don't need to attend church, and as for the children, they can decide when they reach the age of reason. I had been to a few churches while growing up, but they all seemed the same. I felt like I was being judged when I went in, and it got to the point where I once had to walk out, because I was being stared at by everyone in the room, and they weren't trying to hide it.

Fast forward to January 2009, a friend of mine from the university I'm attending knew a bit about my religious past (or lack thereof) and asked if I'd like to attend Mass with her. I went, and felt like I belonged there, almost immediately. Granted, I didn't really understand much of anything that was going on, but I really got into the homily. The week after Easter, I decided that this was definitely, without a doubt, where I belonged. So I talked to the priest, and started RCIA classes the next week. So now I'm trying to learn everything I can, and eagerly awaiting my baptism next Easter.

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Celebrate good times, c'mon!

That is amazing how God reaches out to us when we least expect it.

Hello to all converts/would be converts.x

I am coming back to my Catholic faith. I was baptised Catholic, went to a Catholic elementary, highschool and college, but I was never taught much about my faith, I learned what do in Mass, I celebrated Reconciliation and Communion, but my parents never took me to church and by the time I was in highschool I got the idea into my head that religion wasn't important. Probably because I didnt really have any examples in my family or within my friends. But then about a year and a half ago I really felt God calling me home. I tried to ignore it for awhile until I couldn't any longer. I visited a few other churches but none o them felt like the Catholic church, like home. Since then I have been attending mass every Sunday and plan to complete my confirmation via the RCIA class this year. I am very excited I still have so much I want to learn but I am happy to be home.!

oldfashionedbelle said:

I am coming back to my Catholic faith. I was baptised Catholic, went to a Catholic elementary, highschool and college, but I was never taught much about my faith, I learned what do in Mass, I celebrated Reconciliation and Communion, but my parents never took me to church and by the time I was in highschool I got the idea into my head that religion wasn't important. Probably because I didnt really have any examples in my family or within my friends. But then about a year and a half ago I really felt God calling me home. I tried to ignore it for awhile until I couldn't any longer. I visited a few other churches but none o them felt like the Catholic church, like home. Since then I have been attending mass every Sunday and plan to complete my confirmation via the RCIA class this year. I am very excited I still have so much I want to learn but I am happy to be home.!

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This is very exciting!!! Honestly your story is so similar to mine but I didn't hear God (not that He hadn't been yelling over the years ) until I was about 32 and then I detoured into Protestantism for several years before finally coming back.

You've made a good decision at a young age....you will be blessed!!!

oldfashionedbelle said:

I am coming back to my Catholic faith. I was baptised Catholic, went to a Catholic elementary, highschool and college, but I was never taught much about my faith, I learned what do in Mass, I celebrated Reconciliation and Communion, but my parents never took me to church and by the time I was in highschool I got the idea into my head that religion wasn't important. Probably because I didnt really have any examples in my family or within my friends. But then about a year and a half ago I really felt God calling me home. I tried to ignore it for awhile until I couldn't any longer. I visited a few other churches but none o them felt like the Catholic church, like home. Since then I have been attending mass every Sunday and plan to complete my confirmation via the RCIA class this year. I am very excited I still have so much I want to learn but I am happy to be home.!

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Welcome home!

I don't want to make a real long winded post on my personal story, so I'll try to keep it on the short side!

I have practically grown up as an Adventist (Seventh Day Adventist). As a teenager, I struggled with all sorts of sins (as I'm sure all do), and it was in summer of 2005 that i truly came to Christ because I was drawn to the Scriptures and learned of my Lord, and what God wanted of me. I grew and grew in faith the next couple of years. In June of 2007, I was actually REbaptized into the Church (I had been baptized as a kid, but didn't know what I was doing, honestly). A while afterwards, I started studying Catholicism, and even now I don't know why I was drawn to do so. I also studied Adventist history and things about Ellen White (the Adventist 'prophet'), and found she plagerized, made false prophetic statements, etc. I was actually angry when I found out these things, because, of course, the SDA church will not tell Adventists anything unflattering about 'the prophet'. I continued to study Catholicism, and last summer after high school graduation I went to MCRD Parris Island, SC (I had joined the Marines). One day, I asked my Senior Drill Instructor if I could have a appointment with our battalion Chaplain. Funny enough, he was a Catholic Chaplain! So one day I got to go see him, and we talked for around two hours about all sorts of things, from Church history to doctrine, etc. I became very close to him (btw, his name is Lt. Kersten, or Father Kersten, whichever your prefer ). I met him a couple of times during training, and I remember him saying one day: "I don't think you have a problem with Catholicism or it's teachings. I think you don't know if you are willing to leave Adventism". I thought about that for the next two weeks. Then, one Friday evening, he came to our squadbay. We only had two weeks of boot camp left, and he was asking the different platoons if anyone wanted to be confirmed into the Church. I walked up to him last. He smiled and said, "Recruit Haynes, are you truly wanting to do this?". I said yes, and he wrote my name down. That Sunday, Sept. 21st, myself and other recruits recieved Confirmation (and baptism if not previously baptized with a valid Christian baptism), and our first Communion.
I am still growing as a Catholic, and there are still doctrines I question (some Marian doctrines I still am shaky on, I admit). But I love the Church, the Saints, the Pope, and most importantly, the Eucharist.
Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Oh, btw, my dad is still an Adventist and knows I am Catholic. I love my dad with all my heart, and he is a fantastic Christian man. I would not even have my faith at all if it wasn't for him. So, though we may not share the exact same beliefs as far as doctrine, we share that same common faith in Jesus Christ, and I will be forever in debt to my dad for planting the seeds of faith within me and for always being the great Christian dad he is.
Love ya, dad!

CJ, you and I are going to have to talk sometime. I am a former Adventist too. I'm still on the church books, actually. I am converting to Catholicism.

You know, now that you said something, I think I'm still in the Church books, too!

Hi all, I too am a convert. I just finished reading this entire post!! I love it!! I am a convert from evangelical churches. I can understand some of the problems that many here related to. BTW I am in my 70's so it is NEVER too late. I want to post my story but I am too tired right now. I promise I will soon tho.

Keep up the good work all you that are converting, youi will be so glad that you did.

May God Richly Bless You
Dave

I have a question about the conversion. what is it that we refer to as the catholic faith. I am a christian and sometimes when i go to preach the gospel I have some catholics telling me that they do not want to be a christian, that they are catholics. well my question is aren't catholics christians? a bit puzzled about this. an educated reply would be appreciated...

zionzeal1 said:

I have a question about the conversion. what is it that we refer to as the catholic faith. I am a christian and sometimes when i go to preach the gospel I have some catholics telling me that they do not want to be a christian, that they are catholics. well my question is aren't catholics christians? a bit puzzled about this. an educated reply would be appreciated...

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That is an odd response for a Catholic. We often have others telling us we are not Christians. But a Catholic is a Christian. Can't be Catholic without being a Christian.

zionzeal1 said:

I have a question about the conversion. what is it that we refer to as the catholic faith. I am a christian and sometimes when i go to preach the gospel I have some catholics telling me that they do not want to be a christian, that they are catholics. well my question is aren't catholics christians? a bit puzzled about this. an educated reply would be appreciated...

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zionzeal1, it is not uncommon for Christians to be saying such things. Though, as Davidnic has rightly said that Catholics are Christians first, many Christians (including) Catholics tend to be happier classifying themselves according to their denomination. The reason is plainly, due to the severe differences between the various Churches. However, I'd like to remind all those brothers and sisters in Christ that Jesus Christ never said that He's Catholic, Protestant, Mormon or Anglican. What He did was that He proclaimed the Kingdom of God. Thence, anyone who believes in the Good News is a Christian and every Christian is equally deserving of Eternal Life.
No matter how wrong a person's theology be, if his faith is genuine, he is worthy of Christ and Christ Himself will rebuke him. Therefore, even if a person says that he's not even Christian, he will remain so for the holy Spirit of God never abandons Her home: The People of God.
Thenceforth, the reason that some folks don't call themselves Christians is based on a bit of prejudice and a bit of fear. Their intentions are pure (to be away from those who denounce Christ) but their method is wrong. These sort of people are found in every religion. Moslems kill each other on the basis of sectarian differences, and they consider it an abuse if someone calls them as believers of a rival sect.
Hope I've helped.

God Bless You For Having Taken The Time To Come Here....
My Friends, I am pleased to share my own story of conversion with you. To strength those already in the faith and to encourage those who are not. Peace and Blessing of Our Lord and saviour be with you.
The Almighty God first called upon me when I was a child without thought, sense or reason. I was hardly eight. There was always the Good News Bible in my house, a book that almost mysteriously attracted me. I was born in Lahore, Pakistan into the Islamic religion, but my family wasn't Taleban-style. We always had a beautiful cross in our house and nobody openly spoke against Christianity. Little by little, I started to find a strange familiarity in the Christian faith. Finally, when my passion for the Passion of Christ had become too strong, I openly declared my faith.
"Yes, who could deny that you are Christ's letter written by us - a letter written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, carved not in slabs of stones, but in hearts of flesh."
- 2 Corinthians 3,3
That was like a declaration of war in my family. Though most people weren't informed, for fear that they may boycott all relations with me, those that did know, did attack my faith.
Yet, the Lord had cleared the way for Himself into my family.
""....the voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.""
- John 1,23
My father had left us, for then we lived in a split-family. I had never known any of my paternal relatives for I had lived with my maternal ones. My paternal relatives didn't approve of my mother, so we lived close to (and sometimes with) my mother's relatives. There was only an aunt (who is elder to my mum), my only sister (who is elder to me) and a cousin (from another eldest aunt) to form 'the opposition,' for my mother didn't discourage me. Later an uncle, his wife and their son were added to the opposite group. It's ironic to note that this uncle and his family had spent most of their time in England, a Christian country.
Nevertheless, most of my visits to relatives often ended up in heated religious debates. Nevertheless I held onto the faith and didn't fall for their lies. My Bible was wrongly stolen from me, but almost miraculously, I found another in my house. My friends, you cannot imagine how pleased I was to find it.
I developed a strong hostility towards Moslems (they are about 99% of Pakistan's populace!) and I went on in my faith. However, slowly, my faith gradually began to weaken until it disappeared and I was left in darkness.
""Hear ye: Behold, the sower went out to sow. And whilst he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate it up. And other some fell upon stony ground, where it had not much earth; and it shot up immediately, because it had no depth of earth. And when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And some fell upon good ground; and brought forth fruit that grew up, and increased and yielded, one thirty, another sixty, and another a hundred."" (Mk 4:3-8)
I had become like the seed that fell on the stony ground, or the seed that fell among the thorns. I reverted to Islam (I hadn't been baptised) and I abandoned my Lord and Saviour.
However, when I was eleven, again the Lord God called upon me, this time, I had not the word nor cross. Yet I was blessed with a great love for the fellow Christian. This love was intense, this love was Holy. However, it was only love and not faith. thence, it was hopeless. Thence, I denied God again and became a hard-liner Moslem again. This time, being more missionary and more faithful in the religion of Islam.
I began to despise the same God who died for me on the Cross. I viewed the Christian faith through the narrow prism of Islam and when I found it unfitting I turned against her, my Holy Church.
Yet, when I dived deeper into Islam, I found Islam to be falsehood and I was saved from the darkness by my Holy Saviour, Jesus. However, it wasn't like I changed the signal fro red to green, but after being shown the realities of a number of faiths, including the filth of paganism, I, myself, declared Christ to be my eternal Master and I submitted to Him and Him alone. From then till now and forever, there shall be no turning back. How long can we deny our Lord? He is ever Patient, ever Merciful as we pray in our chaplets:
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion -- inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.
Let us always love Him and thank Him, for even those who don't, are saved by His Holy spirit.
This, then, is my story: God.
May The Peoples of the Nations praise Him and Adore Him. May We Honour His Kingdom, for indeed His Kingdom Shall Come. Let Us Always Work, As The Followers of Christ - a Saviour, For The Salvation Of Others. Kindly, take the time to join the faith of St. Francis in his prayer:
Lord, make me an instrument
of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life. Amen

I converted from atheism. You can read my story here: blogsofasoul.blogspot.com/2008/10/conversion.html