Testimonies of God's Grace
The following is a growing collection of testimonies of former Catholics who the Lord has brought to salvation.
Celeste H. - Barclay, TX
From Performance Driven to Forever Grateful
I was raised in a large Roman Catholic family and was baptized as an infant, received my first communion, and was eventually confirmed in the church. My RCC training consisted of attending catechism classes which were taught by nuns. I remember memorizing answers to the catechism questions and fearing the wrath of the nuns if I failed to answer a question correctly. I learned to fear hell (which was the punishment for missing church on Sunday or "Holy Days of Obligation" unless you were deathly sick), and remember having frequent nightmares as a very young girl about burning to death in a dark, bottomless pit.
Dr. David H. Stone - Rockford, IL
From Catholic to Atheist to Born Again
I wasn't "born into" a Biblical worldview. I was raised in a very traditional Roman Catholic family, detoured into atheism as a teenager, was challenged by reasonable arguments to consider the truth of the Gospel, became a Christian, and finally settled on a solid Biblical foundation. Over the years I have come to recognize and validate that the word of God is fully trustworthy, consistent, and perfect, both theologically and scientifically.
As I grew up in a large Roman Catholic Church on the south side of Chicago I was fully engaged in religious activities, but had never carefully examined the foundations of my beliefs. In short, I was an eager churchgoer and would have professed to be a loyal Catholic youth. Through grade school I was educated by nuns in our church's private school and I served regularly as an altar boy. I can still remember one of the long Latin prayers I used to recite.
Dennis Reid - Schriever, LA
Researching Catholic Teachings and Scripture Brought New Life
After being raised from infancy as a Catholic, I did not question salvation or anything else the Church taught. I knew in my heart that I loved Jesus. From about the time I was about 12 years old, I kept thinking that something was wrong with the whole Mary thing and why they weren't they talking about Jesus more. I had read and heard through many television preachers that salvation was by grace through faith in Jesus, a gift from God and not of works, but they never spoke about Mary except for the Christmas story of Jesus' birth. I went to high school at Vandebilt Catholic in Houma where we had a religion class each day.
Bart Brewer - San Diego, CA
Pilgrimage From Rome, A Testimony Of A Former Priest
Romans 10:2-3 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Millions - perhaps the majority -of Roman Catholics, are Catholic by name, by culture, or by inertia. Our family, however, was Roman Catholic by conviction. We understood and practiced the teachings of our religion. We believed it to be the "one true church" founded by Jesus Christ.
Andy C - Southlake, TX
Complete in Christ
I fell away from the Catholic Church by the end of college. I guess I never really accepted my religion growing up but I never understood what bothered me about it, I never had a good experience; it all seemed to be about guilt and punishment.
As I got older, I began to feel restlessness in my life. I sensed something was missing, but I had no idea what. I threw myself into my career and had a lot of success, but I never gained peace of mind. Life had treated me pretty well, but that uneasiness was always just below the surface, ready to bubble up.
Mike Gendron - Plano, TX
A Testimony of God's Amazing Grace
As a devout Roman Catholic I believed I was on the way to heaven until I began reading the Bible at the age of 34. I was horrified to see that I was really destined for a Christ-less eternity in hell. Being ignorant of God's word, I was following a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). Then God called me to Himself through His Gospel which is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Now I know Jesus has saved me completely and forever! He has paid the complete punishment for all my sins and has given me the assurance of eternal life. Through His amazing grace, God has brought about some dramatic changes in my life.