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My first real introduction to the Catholic Church as an adult came with my entrance to full-time pro-life work. While I had been baptized as a Catholic as a child, it was only done for the sake of my great-grandmother and meant nothing to my family.
In 1993 I joined Missionaries to the Pre-Born in California, a ministry of Operation Rescue. My first day in the office I was shocked to find three of the five other people there were Catholic. I actually spent my first few days trying to explain to the Catholics why they were in danger of going to hell and could not possibly be Christians.
The problem I had was that what I had been told about Catholicism was simply not true; it was distorted teaching from Protestants who did not bother to discover the truth. While I was not ready to convert back then, I was extremely happy to work alongside my Catholic brothers and sisters.
Even though I was able to understand that Catholics were truly Christians, I was still convinced that they were just deceived. I thought if I could study the Catholic Church I would be able to use this knowledge to convert them and show them where they were deceived.
In the late 1990s, I met Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life. He was the first priest I really got to know personally. During this time, I was running Rock for Life, a youth pro-life organization. We would have huge youth events during the March for Life week in Washington, bringing hundreds of young people to D.C. for a four-day pro-life training camp.
These groups of kids were split almost half Protestant and half Catholic, a phenomenon that can only really happen in the pro-life movement. Father Pavone would join me every year to help provide leadership and lead prayer for the Catholic kids during the week.
In 2003, when I left Rock for Life and started Stand True: Christ Centered Pro-Life, it was Priests for Life and Father Pavone who helped launch this new ministry. They not only helped us in starting this new pro-life youth ministry — they helped out my family also.
Over the last several years, I have known deep down that the Catholic Church must be more than I thought it was. I fought myself and denied all the signs I was seeing. I was afraid; even though I knew deep down there can only be one truth, I would always find something to dismiss Catholicism.
At this time I had been a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for almost 10 years, as I was so inspired by the liturgy and reverence I found there. I had also been in a constant journey for God’s truth, studying his word as well as church history. The problem I began to see, however, was that my church had no authority for how it interpreted Scriptures. We claimed to be sola scriptura, and yet to hold office in the church you had to subscribe also to the full truth of the Westminster Confession of Faith.
I finally started looking past the Reformation only to find a huge part of history that I was ignoring; it was like a light suddenly switched on and I saw past the 1500s and the Reformation. I started to look at Church authority; there had to be one true authority that Christ established on earth to keep the teaching of his Church throughout time.
Right now, there are tens of thousands of denominations, and every time someone disagrees with another teaching of their church they simply start a new one. The Catholic Church has had its teaching since the beginning of the Church in the Scriptures. There is no way God can be happy with thousands of denominations or so-called nondenominational churches (See John 17:21). The fact is that current Christian teaching can sometimes differ so much between two churches that it really constitutes different religions and different Gods. There must be one established truth that God gave us, one that has remained from the time of Christ.
Another concern of mine that has been eating at me for many years was teachings on pro-life issues and contraception. I have actually followed the Catholic Church’s teaching on contraception since 1993 and have been trying to bring this truth to Protestants. There is only one Church that has been consistent from the time of Christ to today on the teaching of pro-life issues and contraception. Before 1930 there was never a single Christian church in history to accept any form of contraception, and today the Catholic Church is the only one that absolutely has kept this Christian truth.
Another major concern for me was Communion and the way it is mostly dismissed as just a symbol by most churches. I have always believed that Communion was more than just a symbol, and in looking back at early Church teaching, it is crystal clear that this was taught from day one. St. Ignatius of Antioch, a student of John the Apostle, taught on this and clarified it well.
These are just a few of the things that drew me back to the Catholic Church; however, there is so much more. I was baptized Catholic as a child, so the process is not as complicated for me. I will be starting RCIA classes and working towards confirmation.
I am asking my friends to pray for my family’s journey and me as I truly seek to be closer to Christ. My relationship with Christ is the most important thing in my life, and I hope my friends will stand by me as I grow closer to him.
As for the work of Stand True, it will remain focused on educating, activating and equipping young people to stand up for life and Christ. We have always been an organization that reaches out to and works with all Christians, and we will remain true to that.
I also want to thank several influential Catholics who came into my life and loved me into the Church:
Father Frank Pavone and the staff of Priests for Life;
Joe, Ann and Eric Scheidler and the staff of the Pro-Life Action League;
Jimmy, Dave, Martha and the Crossroads teams;
The Ruiz family;
Hannah Raymond and the students at Franciscan University; and
Kate Bryan and all the staff at Youth Defence.
There are many more of you, and you all know how much you mean to me; thanks for the love.
For Christ I stand.
Bryan Kemper is the founder of Stand True Ministries and Rock for Life.
Dan Burke: Call to Prayer: Seven Resources for your Lenten Journey
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Welcome Home Bryan! Thanks for the shout-out…may you and your family be blessed!
We can reflect on the passion narrative of Jesus before Pilate ( Matthew 27:13) As I quote from the revised English bible ” Then Pilate said to him , ” Do you not hear all this evidence they are bringing against you?”
The faith objectives on sacred doctrine : A book for the believer( 2 chronicle 3:2) illuminating( psalm 119:105,) perfection and TRUTH( 2Samuel 22:31) the standard of TRUTH ( Collosians 2:8) these are unchangeable characteristics principles of sacred doctrines.
Although we cannot know in what consists the essence of God, nevertheless in this science we make use of His effects
either of nature or of grace, in place of a definition , in regard to whatever is treated of this science concerning Gid; even as in some philosophical sciences we demonstrate something about a cause from it’s effect , by taking the effect in place of a definition of the cause . ( summa theology)
The object of the science is that of which it principally treats.But in this science the treatment is mainly about God ; for it is called theology , as treating of Gof. Therefore God is the object of this science.
Peace to all
Awesome story! Welcome home, Bryan!
Mr. Bryan Kemper I am truly amazed of your story, truly you are a Christ-centered man, I should pray that other denomination should seek the way you did, and realized that Catholic was the only religion way back 2000 years ago during Christ when he established it, Keep up the faith and i will pray for you and your family, Good luck more power!!!
Rolando
Welcome home Bryan:
I too was born Catholic but left the Church never knowing who I was leaving at the Altar!
You will find so much grace in the Catholic Church, you will daily smack your forehead and say “I could’ve had a V-8” so to speak.
It’s been 7 years that I have been back in the Catholic Church and almost daily I continue to thank God for bringing me back and marveling at the closeness I have with Him, that I had never experienced in 31 years of non-denominationalism.
God bless you!!
http://www.crossedthetiber.com
Thank you for your witness. It’s good every once in a while for us “Cradle Catholics” to be reminded of what we’ve been taught to believe.
God bless and keep you and your family!!! Such a powerful testimony to the Church and truth!!!
I have always been Catholic. When I fell away from the church it was all the way, not just to another “denomination.” When I came back it was back to being a Catholic, going to church on Sundays and sending my children to Catholic School. I have always been pro-life, but when I got involved with 40 Days for Life, God put me on a path to learning just how beautiful and TRUE the Catholic faith is. I am learning more every day. I’ve seen and heard this happen with others as well, most notably Abby Johnson. I am in AWE of how God has used this evil of abortion, the one that has permeated our society so fully, to bring so many of us closer to him.
Welcome home, Bryan. You will not be sorry that you are back.
Bryan, you are an inspiration, my friend. You are very courageous and please know that you and your family are always in my prayers. Everyone at YD and I are praying for you and your family! May Jesus, Mary, and all the Holy Angels and Saints protect you :) God is SOOO GOOD!
God bless,
Kate
You see, this is what happens when you spend too much time around us—well, us and Ignatius of Antioch. God bless you for all your good work, and for this inspiring article.
Bryan welcome home. I was raised Baptist so am very familiar with the idea of looking at the church as Jesus and the apostles then great leap which ignores everyting until the present day. When I began looking I first found the chuch then the truth. Prayers for you and your family.
Bryan,
You are so very much welcomed home to the Universal Catholic Church!
We will keep you and your family in our prayers! Do not let anyone discourage you during your journey towards Confirmation! Memorize this prayer if you haven’t already and say it daily:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and the snares of the devil, and may God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and oh do thou Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, cast into hell, Satan, and all the evil spirits who roam the world seeking the destruction of souls! Amen!
Wooo!! Students for Life of FUS is SOOO excited for you, Bryan! You have been, and will continue to be, in our prayers!
Welcome Home!
Good article, Bryan. If the Reformed churches could only see that they were a PART - a truly important part—of the Catholic Church correcting herself and accurately defining herself at a time when she needed to do so! She has remained on a good path, has had life breathed into both her and her priesthood since Vatican II, and is continuing to progress, even as we are now seeing the restoration of the new Roman Missal since Vatican II. THAT is an amazing testimony, given the chronological age, utter size, and diverse internationalism of the Church. There is simply nothing to Protest anymore. But it woul take great humility to see oneself as a “part” and not as the “ends.” God bless you and your family. —Jennifer Tritle, Catholic Convert for the past seven years from the Reformed Protestant tradition.
Thank you to everyone for the support. You can follow my pro-life work at http://www.bryankemper.com
Bryan - I cannot stop smiling about this! I am truly blessed to call you my friend. I’m praying for you and your family daily.
Welcome Home!!! I know I am so blessed to be home after 30 years away!!! You and your family are in my prayers!!!
Very sad for you Bryan.
Listen to Paul and be prepared for spiritual attack. Congratulations and Welcome Home!!!
Glad you saw “The Truth”. I personally feel that poeple have the right to believe in what interpretation of God they want, HOWEVER, Christ did build the Catholic Church. When I talk to others that are Baptist or Esecopalian (excuse the spelling), I find that they do create their own truths to create their own “Personal Jesus”—and they do tend to try to bash the Catholic Church—Most likely out of fear that they may feel their beliefs are more or less fabricated.
Like many, I was suckered into the garbage that the mainstream world fed me—Plus the Catholic parish I attended seemed to contain half hearted members—Poeple that would walk right out of church after communion, I heard poeple swear in the church during conversations, and how poeple would cut off others in the parking lots. To me, it seemed like these poeple in my parish thought “Well, I attend mass once a week, that’s good enough to get into heaven..” So, I stopped going to Church. I still believed in Jesus, but I went searching for years new ways to be spritual. From crystals, to wicca, buddhism and the Kabala—It personally did not work for me (And I am not knocking anyone that practice these things).
I actually went to a healing mass that I heard from an aquantance that said it was very uplifting with a Priest that played acoustic guitar and sang. This priest also said things I could relate to such as—God is all around us—in nature and that the church is not a building—its his children gathered together to praise God.
This priest motivated me to “come home”. I told him my situation and he even made time to meet with me two times for two and a half hour meetings and helped answer questions about the church’s ideals and to help me understand the church’s teachings—and also, dismiss the garbage that mainstream media manipulated me to think.
This was over two years ago. I owe my life and my faith to the church I attend—And I have never been more happy in my life to have Jesus, the angels and saints walk with me during my journey on earth…
... I especially love your phrase “loved me into the church” ... what a beautiful and inspirational story Bryan simply put welcome home brother, it is a beautiful family ... hope your ‘reunion’ with the church is all you could possibly hope for!
Another really amazing thing about your story is to reflect on how the pro-life movement has inspired such beautiful ecumenism. Another way God has of using everything for good. Congratulations!
I joined the Church at age 17 and know that we are so very blessed by the fullness of Truth. Praying for you and your family.
I, too, am a convert that was influenced through the pro-life movement and Fr. Pavone. My first exposure to Father was listening to him on a shortwave radio, at the insistence of my brother-in-law. Other mis-informed beliefs about the Church were cleared up by listening to EWEN radio for years. I’ve been home for 26 years, and my husband returned with me. Actually, he told me he wanted to go back, and I took three years of wrestling with God over the “issues” before I said yes. So glad I did! It’s great to have another Catholic brother! some of my story at http://meacatholic.wordpress.com
I was in years past managing editor for an Evangelical book press, my first immersion in the Evangelical culture. I was astonished to discover during that time how little church history a lot of devout Evangelicals know. Although the Evangelical movement has much to offer, I perceived an arrogance in the prevailing Evangelical view that almost everything of value in the church occurred within the past five hundred years. For that reason, I was happy to read this in the personal account above:
“I finally started looking past the Reformation only to find a huge part of history that I was ignoring; it was like a light suddenly switched on and I saw past the 1500s and the Reformation. I started to look at Church authority; there had to be one true authority that Christ established on earth to keep the teaching of his Church throughout time.”
Welcome home, Brian! As a post abortive woman who came back into full communion with the Catholic Church because of this issue, it’s wonderful to see another who was led back for the reasons you stated. I feel solidarity with my fellow Christians. I found redemption and healing through the consistent message of the prolifers in the Catholic church, especially the “40 days for life” movement. I think the vast majority of posts also echo it’s the same Jesus whether we we are Protestant or Catholic. The money raised by the Catholic community for prolife work was not handed to us from the outside. We raised these funds ourselves.God bless you and your family.
Welcome Home!!! “Be not afraid…Be not afraid” JPII
“The problem I had was that what I had been told about Catholicism was simply not true; it was distorted teaching from Protestants who did not bother to discover the truth.”
Sometimes it’s even other Catholics that don’t know what they’re talking about, which is even more sad.
Awesome! I came back just this year. God never forgets those who are baptized in His church!
Good for you and realizing the true teachings of the church. My husband was a protestant for 50 years and became confirmed into the faith this past Easter. He realized he was missing something but did not now what. When he started to go to the Catholic church two years ago with me and my kids, he finally realized how much he was missing his life. All of our teachings are from the scriptures and beliefs of Jesus Christ. We have two wonderful priests who make the masses exciting and interesting. In fact, his father is a protestant preacher and told him to “be caregful” when he told him that he was going to the Catholic Church with our family. My husband was so happy when he became Catholic, and there is lots of happiness in his life now. He studied for two years about the Catholic faith and found out he was deceived when he was growing up, as his father bashed the Catholic faith and told him that they are going to hell. I am not sure why they think this. It is very shallow of any protestant thinking that. Most don’t know the truth and are told by people because of the reformation and the made up teachings of Martin Luther and his made up beliefs. God Bless you for coming home to the church.
“God luck” with RCIA! Welcome home!
I also join others here in saying : Welcome Home Bryan. I would like to remind my converted Catholics that where they were duped was the belief by Protestant Denominations that anything which is not in the Bible is nonsense. However, the truth of the matter is that the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church stands on Three Pillars : The Scriptures, the Tradition and the Magisterium. When Christ said : “You are Peter and on this Rock I shall build My Church” it is the Catholic Church He meant. When he told Peter ” “I give you the Keys of Heaven, what you bind on earth is bound in Heaven and what you loose on earth is loosened in Heaven” He gave Peter and his Successors the power to govern the Church through the Pillar of the Magisterium. Those Protestants who always throw the challenge to Catholics : “where is it written in the Bible??” confuse you by ignoring this cardinal fact : Before the Holy Bible was compiled by the Catholic Church - under the Inspiration and Guidance of the Holy Spirit - the Catholic Church had been active, alive and vigorously preaching the Message of Christ - the Way, the Truth and the Life - through the Tradition, that is, the Teachings, writings and Epistles of the Apostles and the Teachings and the Writings of the Popes, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. The Catholic Church has also a very vital deposit of revealed Truths from the lives of Her Saints through History up to the latest very humble Polish nun, Saint Faustina Kowalska, through whom Christ demanded that the Catholic Church establishes the Feast of Divine Mercy on the 2nd Sunday After Easter way back in 1931. It is this Feast we are celebrating this Sunday - the 1st of May, as Mother Church honours the “Spark” from Poland whom Jesus predicted would fulfill His Wish and establish this Feast for the Universal Catholic Church by declaring him Blessed. It is to-be Venerable John Paul II who promulgated this Feast in the Year 2000 and gave us St. Faustina as our 1st Saint of the Third Millennium. May you all celebrate this Feast of Mercy - the greatest Gift from our Risen Christ - the Day of Atonement - now revived for His Bride until the end of time.
Welcome Home, Bryan!!
We welcome you, Bryan! For many Catholics, the road to a total conversion is a lifelong process. There are so many great and awesome things about the Catholic church that we haven’t learned yet, so I will be walking that journey with you as I learn more about the Catholic church to deepen my faith in Jesus Christ.
Through Christ,
Dan Miller
http://www.40daysforlfe.com/milwaukee
Coordinator
Welcome home Bryan. I had the same experience as yourself, I was extremely anti-catholic and I returned three years ago for the exact same reasons, having studied the teachings of various different Baptist , Pentecostal and Jehovah’s Witnesses churches I was amazed at how blind they were, genuine in their faith but blind to the truth.
There is only one truth and it is found in the Scriptures! There is only one way to get into Heaven and it too is in the Scriptures!. As an x-catholic and now (for many years now) I am a born again Christian!
Satan has you so deceived if you believe the catholic church is the way because so many of the teaching of this false religion, you can find the truth in the Scriptures if you would taked the time to read and ask Jesus for the wisdom to open your eyes to the truth!
Read your KJV Bible and seek the truth! Don’t continue to be lied to by Satan!
Dear Jamie Kelso. I too was fooled by the Born again Church. In truth, their is no such thing as a born again Christian. You were either a Christian to begin with or you were not. You can be born again through Baptism of Water and Spirit which then makes you a Christian, but their is no such thing as a born again Christian. Since you feel that the RCC is not the true Church ask yourself.
Why have the anti Catholic Churches accepted the Bible that was given to us by the Catholic Church. The Books in the KJV, which I have are the same books that the CCC gave us. The KJV and other Bibles changed the wording around a little to make it look different as they could not use the exact same wording as that would infringe copy right Laws. it is only the interpretations that are different.
Would we have the Bible if the CCC did not put the books together.
How do you know you have the truth at all.
The apostle paul said, Keep to the traditions and teachings you received from us, either by word of mouth(which means Orally) or by letter and the CCC is the only Church to do so.
The Apostle Paul also said even if an angel from heaven came to me with a new doctrine I would not believe. Yet Martin Luther came with a new teaching and you believe him. Martin Luther left the CCC and he took the CCC Bible with him, He left behind everything else. Think about it realistically.
Since you are so convinced that you are correct. I challenge you to a debate on the true teachings of the Church on my home page, just add me as a friend and we will debate it and I will show you all the Scriptures that prove you to be totally incorrect. I will Pray that our heavenly Mother will wrap her arms around you and take you back to Her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture says Honor your Mother and Father. Mary is also in the Bible, However the KJV did change a word in John19,37 that told us that we would look to Mary Too, however they forgot about Luke 2,35 look up 2 John 1,4 and read on. Can you accept the Challenge? I doubt it but hopefully you will. The so called Born agains have thought you anger and Bitterness. The utterances you spoke do not come from the “LORD” Love one another as I have loved you. Lastly, if you knew the book of Romans then you would not dare say who would go to heaven. Would you like me to quote that scripture for you? If so, then add me and we will debate it and I will show you the truth, otherwise do not throw insults that you can not back up with scripture.
I can assure you that All Catholic teachings are to be found in the Bible
Pastor Chris
Thank you, Christy Carr, for your response to Jamie Kelso. I repeat the teaching you give her from St. Paul : “Keep to the traditions and teachings you received from us, either by word of mouth(which means Orally).” Jamie, the Catholic Church was alive, vibrant, active and teaching authentically what St. Peter and other Apotles received from Jesus Christ Himself. This was way, way before - through the direction of the Holy Spirit - the Holy Bible was complied by the Catholic Church. Therefore, dear Jamie, the Catholic Church rests of Three Pillars: The Scriptures, the Tradition (stated above by St. Paul) and the Magisterium. This is the Power of Keys given by Jesus to St. Peter when He handed him the Keys of Heaven. The Pope has authority from Christ Himself, as the visible Head of the Catholic Church, to govern, direct and shepherd Christ’s sheep until the end of time. Jamie, you declare you are a Born Again Christian - which means according to you - if you drop dead now you will go straight to Heaven!!!!! How utterly wrong you are. But accept this. Every baptized Christian in born again by water and the Holy Spirit as Jesus told Nicondemus. BUT, and this is a very vital BUT, we work our salvation everyday by striving to live as Christ taught us. Since you are fully conversant with the Bible you know the Beatitudes and the yardstick Christ taught that will determine who will and who will not enter His Father’s Kingdom. And remember, on the 8th day after Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to His Apostles and instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation. “He blew unto them and said, receive the Holy Spirit, the sins you forgive and forgiven and the sins you retain are retained”. Why did Christ have to do that - the first first time He appeared after Resurrection.” It is simply because He knew mankind would continue to sin after Baptism and, so, he ensured we have a Sacrament which reconciles us to the Father and restores the Sanctifying Grace our souls received on Baptism. But bear this in mind. We do not confess to the Priest but the Christ Himself in the person of the Priest. He taught us to obey and observe all that He has taught us through the Apostles and those who came after them up to this,the Year of Our Lord 2011. He left a Visible Church with St. Peter as the visible Head through which His sheep would be nourished through Sacraments as they await their final day of departure from this life. But we all must remember, when that time comes, each one of us shall stand before the Seat of Judgement of God and He SHALL HAVE THE FINAL WORD AND THE CASTING VOTE that will determine one’s Eternal Destination. No one on this earth can categorically declare they are SAVED AND OR BORN AGAIN AND THEREFORE, THEIR ENTRY TO HEAVE IS GUARANTEED. That is a fallacy of the highest order which means that God has no say in the state of your soul when you stand before Him. The whole Truth taught by Jesus Christ subsists in totality only in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church He founded on St. Peter and the Apostles. You are absolutely free, Jamie, to reject this Church because God has given each one of total freedom to accept Him or reject Him. Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life and He is the Spiritual Head of His Body, the Church which He guaranteed that the Powers of Hell (whether from within or without) shall never prevail upon it and - these are His words - “and behold, I shall be with you until the end of time.” So, Jamie until Jesus Christ comes, we remain faithful to His Holy Church, obeying the authority of our Shepherds and striving every day to live the Holy life Christ won for us by prayer, loving our one another as Christ loved us and fulfilling all the Commandments He left us.
I just read your story, Bryan, & am overjoyed! If possible, I would like to know more about your ministry(ies). My email is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). God bless you!
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