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From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart: Rekindling My Love for Catholicism
In From Willow Creek to Sacred Rekindling My Love for Catholicism the bestselling coauthor of Jesus for President, Chris Haw, chronicles his spiritual journey through evangelical Christianity and his return to Catholicism. Haw provides a respectful and engaging look at the megachurch movement and a heartfelt expression of love for the Catholic Church’s liturgy and its commitment to the poor.
In the spirit of Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain and Dorothy Day’s The Long Loneliness, Chris Haw’s From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart recounts the journey of a young Christian seeking a personal relationship with Christ within the context of a faith community committed to love, justice, and solidarity with the poor. Haw’s journey spans contemporary American Christianity—from a nominal Catholic background to megachurch Evangelicalism, to a new monastic community, and then back to Catholicism after an intense spiritual experience on Good Friday.
Haw’s story and style will appeal to Catholics who champion the Church’s social teachings, those drawn to monastic practices and living in intentional community, and those seeking solidarity with the poor and marginalized.
In the spirit of Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain and Dorothy Day’s The Long Loneliness, Chris Haw’s From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart recounts the journey of a young Christian seeking a personal relationship with Christ within the context of a faith community committed to love, justice, and solidarity with the poor. Haw’s journey spans contemporary American Christianity—from a nominal Catholic background to megachurch Evangelicalism, to a new monastic community, and then back to Catholicism after an intense spiritual experience on Good Friday.
Haw’s story and style will appeal to Catholics who champion the Church’s social teachings, those drawn to monastic practices and living in intentional community, and those seeking solidarity with the poor and marginalized.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 26, 2025
A man who was born Catholic and sojourned at Willow Creek, a huge nondenominational church in Chicago, ends up back in the Catholic church.
So much of what he says applies to the Mennonite church, IMO—and fun stuff! He meets up with Mennonites in Belize who are an integral influence on his whole spiritual journey. So he keeps referring to the Anabaptists as though we are “part of the conversation” (as Brad Jersak, Brian Zahnd, Brian McLaren, also do; I think it was the latter who said that we need to give the Anabaptists a seat at the table, even though they would not ask for it for themselves.) Which of course I find Endearing.
At one point, the author is attending Sacred Heart, plus a Brethren church, and the Brethren minister tells him that in his opinion, the next big thing is more likely to come out of the Brethren church than the Catholic church. And the author realizes—the point isn’t to be part of the “next big thing.” It’s being faithful exactly here. Any church that is focused on survival—on being where the big things are happening—is ignoring the resurrection. What if we would hold on to what we have, where we are? How can you improve a group you leave?
I marked so many pages and I want to hand the book out to so many people. But... you know... Catholic. Sympathetic to the idea of women pastors. Not Plain. Other Problems like That.
One of my acquaintances recently moved from a horse-and-buggy community to a Catholic setting. After reading this book, that seems a fairly small leap. May the Church—Catholic and otherwise—thrive. God is with us.
So much of what he says applies to the Mennonite church, IMO—and fun stuff! He meets up with Mennonites in Belize who are an integral influence on his whole spiritual journey. So he keeps referring to the Anabaptists as though we are “part of the conversation” (as Brad Jersak, Brian Zahnd, Brian McLaren, also do; I think it was the latter who said that we need to give the Anabaptists a seat at the table, even though they would not ask for it for themselves.) Which of course I find Endearing.
At one point, the author is attending Sacred Heart, plus a Brethren church, and the Brethren minister tells him that in his opinion, the next big thing is more likely to come out of the Brethren church than the Catholic church. And the author realizes—the point isn’t to be part of the “next big thing.” It’s being faithful exactly here. Any church that is focused on survival—on being where the big things are happening—is ignoring the resurrection. What if we would hold on to what we have, where we are? How can you improve a group you leave?
I marked so many pages and I want to hand the book out to so many people. But... you know... Catholic. Sympathetic to the idea of women pastors. Not Plain. Other Problems like That.
One of my acquaintances recently moved from a horse-and-buggy community to a Catholic setting. After reading this book, that seems a fairly small leap. May the Church—Catholic and otherwise—thrive. God is with us.
June 9, 2014
This was an interesting book from a guy who is walking the walk. Chris Haw started out as a very fervent member of the uber-large, flashy-splashy evangelical megachurch Willow Creek, and ended up living as (essentially) a Catholic worker in Camden, NJ. From the excesses of American evangelical Protestantism to the quiet poverty of one of America's poorest and most violent, hopeless cities. That's a long, strange trip.
The first half of this book discusses Haw's disenchantment with evangelical Protestantism circa 2003. Rather than think critically about the war in Iraq, many of Haw's fellow Willow Hillers (and classmates at a Christian college) embraced President Bush's crusade, and gave in to what the author believes is the worst parts of American Christendom: the marriage of cross and empire. The fact that Mr. Haw is friend with Shane Clairborne (a dude whose book The Irresistible Revolution messed me up forever, as well as his hanging out with Mennonites and reading Wendell Berry, led him away from the God, Flag, and Country evangelicalism that's so popular in America today, and toward the staid and repetitive liturgy and practices of Catholicism.
So here is my thing about theology: it only matters if you are doing something with it. The second half of this book is a highly intellectual dissection of Catholicism's nooks and crannies, with a boat load of G.K. Chesterton thrown in for fun. It's all interesting, and as a Catholic, I appreciated Mr. Haw's thoughts about things like the sacrifice of the mass, the impossibility of a "Just Plain Old Jesus" church, and his beautiful description of a Good Friday service in Camden. But at the end of the day, I am much more interested in reading about his life in Camden, and about how his faith leads him to work with some of the poorest, most desperate and hopeless people in America. That's theology: it's -praxis, not -doxy, and this guy gets that. I just wish he has more to say about his life, and the life of his family, in the parish where they work and live.
A good book from one of the 'neo-monastics.' I am challenged by his dedication to the Gospel, inspired by his spirit, and humbled by his commitment to live among 'the least of these' in our country. Well done, Mr. Haw, and good luck.
The first half of this book discusses Haw's disenchantment with evangelical Protestantism circa 2003. Rather than think critically about the war in Iraq, many of Haw's fellow Willow Hillers (and classmates at a Christian college) embraced President Bush's crusade, and gave in to what the author believes is the worst parts of American Christendom: the marriage of cross and empire. The fact that Mr. Haw is friend with Shane Clairborne (a dude whose book The Irresistible Revolution messed me up forever, as well as his hanging out with Mennonites and reading Wendell Berry, led him away from the God, Flag, and Country evangelicalism that's so popular in America today, and toward the staid and repetitive liturgy and practices of Catholicism.
So here is my thing about theology: it only matters if you are doing something with it. The second half of this book is a highly intellectual dissection of Catholicism's nooks and crannies, with a boat load of G.K. Chesterton thrown in for fun. It's all interesting, and as a Catholic, I appreciated Mr. Haw's thoughts about things like the sacrifice of the mass, the impossibility of a "Just Plain Old Jesus" church, and his beautiful description of a Good Friday service in Camden. But at the end of the day, I am much more interested in reading about his life in Camden, and about how his faith leads him to work with some of the poorest, most desperate and hopeless people in America. That's theology: it's -praxis, not -doxy, and this guy gets that. I just wish he has more to say about his life, and the life of his family, in the parish where they work and live.
A good book from one of the 'neo-monastics.' I am challenged by his dedication to the Gospel, inspired by his spirit, and humbled by his commitment to live among 'the least of these' in our country. Well done, Mr. Haw, and good luck.
September 15, 2012
When we visited the cathedral in Sienna, the man behind us annoyed me by groaning and saying how the money spent on the cathedral should have been spent on the poor. I should have told him that the Catholic church helps more of the poor than any other institution.
Chris Haw discusses this issue and many others in this well-written and inspiring account of why he left a Protestant evangelical church for a somewhat traditional Catholic one. Although attracted to the heady atmosphere and showmanship of the evangelical church as a teenager, an older and university-educated Haw surprised himself by returning to Catholicism and finding a deeper meaning and spirituality there.
He goes through many of the old arguments, such as religion versus spiirituality, faith and works, transubstantiation, and the worship of Mary. Haw eventually agrees with Chesterton, a famous convert, about many of these topics and comes down on the side of Catholicism. He wants to reform the church from within and he writes that the true rebels were those who also wanted to do that, like St. Francis and Thomas Aquinas.
The theology is a bit difficult at times and it sometimes requires re-reading. However, I enjoyed reading the arguments and it did strike me that Haw should have been a lawyer because he was so good at answering the criticisms of the Church!
He is an amazingly inspiring young man who chose to live in a poor and violent neighbourhood and help the people there. If only there were more like him. Here he also writes about the work of the Church in this area.
Chris Haw discusses this issue and many others in this well-written and inspiring account of why he left a Protestant evangelical church for a somewhat traditional Catholic one. Although attracted to the heady atmosphere and showmanship of the evangelical church as a teenager, an older and university-educated Haw surprised himself by returning to Catholicism and finding a deeper meaning and spirituality there.
He goes through many of the old arguments, such as religion versus spiirituality, faith and works, transubstantiation, and the worship of Mary. Haw eventually agrees with Chesterton, a famous convert, about many of these topics and comes down on the side of Catholicism. He wants to reform the church from within and he writes that the true rebels were those who also wanted to do that, like St. Francis and Thomas Aquinas.
The theology is a bit difficult at times and it sometimes requires re-reading. However, I enjoyed reading the arguments and it did strike me that Haw should have been a lawyer because he was so good at answering the criticisms of the Church!
He is an amazingly inspiring young man who chose to live in a poor and violent neighbourhood and help the people there. If only there were more like him. Here he also writes about the work of the Church in this area.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2012
My review of From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart is available here published by the Englewood Review of Books.
February 3, 2025
If this doesn't turn us all into Catholics, I don't know what will. The author managed to be a passionate apologist for Catholicism whilst also daring to look its specters squarely in the eyes (I hope that metaphor is coherent). His approach was astonishingly effective and it unsettled me, to be perfectly honest.
Other apologias (yes, that happened -- I just used that word) that try to do what Haw does either double down so hard they fall off the cliff of traditionalism or else they're so vapid they fall off the cliff of progressivism.
I thought this was especially good: "I've attempted to resist choosing between tradition and progress. For it seems that while tradition may at times hinder progress, it is also what enables it. Galileo himself was an innovator within a tradition; he too had to learn from the traditions of physics in his day in order to improve them. He offered a remix of the world ... that would again be remixed..."
In a nutshell that is what the book does so well - show that tradition and progress don't have to be mutually exclusive. For Haw, the point is not that the Catholic church is perfect (one chapter is entitled, On Being Part of a Terrible Organisation) but rather that most of the points Protestantism makes have already been addressed within Catholicism. For instance, when there is a lack of emphasis on certain issues, new orders are created (eg. lack of mission spawned the Jesuits). Haw sees this as far superior to the creation of new denominations within Protestantism, not least because many Protestant denominations have either fizzled out or subdivided. It reminds me of how a pastor from Belfast once compared Catholics to elephants and Protestants to mice; mice reproduce a heck of a lot faster but they aren't as, shall we say, substantial. As an aside, I'll just say that this pastor was a friend of praise and worship singer Robin Mark, but that really has nothing to do with this review.
What makes this book commendable is Haw's ability to find fresh takes on so many tired issues. For example, he sympathizes with what is probably my main resistance to Catholicism, their stubborn refusal to ordain women as clergy. Yet as he points out, even here we are giving tacit approval to the Catholic hierarchy for we want to expand it rather than abolish it. Additionally, on the topic of clerical sex abuse, he argues that the rate (around 4 %) is still far lower than average society where as many as 1 in 5 men are offenders.
Other apologias (yes, that happened -- I just used that word) that try to do what Haw does either double down so hard they fall off the cliff of traditionalism or else they're so vapid they fall off the cliff of progressivism.
I thought this was especially good: "I've attempted to resist choosing between tradition and progress. For it seems that while tradition may at times hinder progress, it is also what enables it. Galileo himself was an innovator within a tradition; he too had to learn from the traditions of physics in his day in order to improve them. He offered a remix of the world ... that would again be remixed..."
In a nutshell that is what the book does so well - show that tradition and progress don't have to be mutually exclusive. For Haw, the point is not that the Catholic church is perfect (one chapter is entitled, On Being Part of a Terrible Organisation) but rather that most of the points Protestantism makes have already been addressed within Catholicism. For instance, when there is a lack of emphasis on certain issues, new orders are created (eg. lack of mission spawned the Jesuits). Haw sees this as far superior to the creation of new denominations within Protestantism, not least because many Protestant denominations have either fizzled out or subdivided. It reminds me of how a pastor from Belfast once compared Catholics to elephants and Protestants to mice; mice reproduce a heck of a lot faster but they aren't as, shall we say, substantial. As an aside, I'll just say that this pastor was a friend of praise and worship singer Robin Mark, but that really has nothing to do with this review.
What makes this book commendable is Haw's ability to find fresh takes on so many tired issues. For example, he sympathizes with what is probably my main resistance to Catholicism, their stubborn refusal to ordain women as clergy. Yet as he points out, even here we are giving tacit approval to the Catholic hierarchy for we want to expand it rather than abolish it. Additionally, on the topic of clerical sex abuse, he argues that the rate (around 4 %) is still far lower than average society where as many as 1 in 5 men are offenders.
January 1, 2026
thoughts on the paganism influences in the church I found rather beautiful.
large point was no one can't not have an accent. (essentially his hermeneutical journey away from a fundamentalist reading of scripture).
points on tradition being helpful was not earth shattering....this would have been augmented if he did draw a stronger break down of "solar scriptura" as accented.
living in desperately poor places changes you.
gets to the "waste" of the church, the announcing of Jesus w oil that could have been sold and given to the poor. points out (more eloquently that I) that this is greed and worship of money rather than using it. even poor people need beauty and "pay" for it. "waste" donated coats discarded on the sidewalk.... they know the value of the item versus the value of their life dragging dead weight around... (my comparison in working w the unhoused).
another large point was reformers within the Catholic Church have maintained humility and nonviolence by not forcing reforms on all (like Luther in his city). breaking something because one loves it and wants it to be better and forcing everyone to do better in that one's eyes is hypocritical, violent, and destructive. he largely thinks the various orders, movements, and counter reforms were good and when some needed to die out, that was for the good too.
large point was no one can't not have an accent. (essentially his hermeneutical journey away from a fundamentalist reading of scripture).
points on tradition being helpful was not earth shattering....this would have been augmented if he did draw a stronger break down of "solar scriptura" as accented.
living in desperately poor places changes you.
gets to the "waste" of the church, the announcing of Jesus w oil that could have been sold and given to the poor. points out (more eloquently that I) that this is greed and worship of money rather than using it. even poor people need beauty and "pay" for it. "waste" donated coats discarded on the sidewalk.... they know the value of the item versus the value of their life dragging dead weight around... (my comparison in working w the unhoused).
another large point was reformers within the Catholic Church have maintained humility and nonviolence by not forcing reforms on all (like Luther in his city). breaking something because one loves it and wants it to be better and forcing everyone to do better in that one's eyes is hypocritical, violent, and destructive. he largely thinks the various orders, movements, and counter reforms were good and when some needed to die out, that was for the good too.
August 17, 2020
I’ve spent the last year really struggling with my Catholic faith, to the point where I’ve debated leaving the Church altogether. This book, particularly the last three chapters, was helpful in, as the subtitle says, rekindling a love for the Catholic Church. There are points I would push back on, for sure. But there are points that gently pulled me back towards the Church. There was never a feeling that I was reading Catholic propaganda, designed to convert me into the most devout Catholic. (In fact, the opposite is true; Haw demands critical thinking about the Church from those within it, his self included.) Haw’s ethos as an author, the way he has walked the walk and the journey he’s gone on, contribute to this feeling.
Since the pandemic started, my Catholic identity crisis has been put on hold as more pressing issues arise, so I anticipate returning to this book later, when the most pressing issue in my life is whether or not I should attend Mass each week. That being said, the themes of loving what is broken, of fixing a broken institution through love, of being critical of while still enjoying a tradition, of changing your mind, and of forgiveness (amongst others) are still very helpful at this moment in time.
Since the pandemic started, my Catholic identity crisis has been put on hold as more pressing issues arise, so I anticipate returning to this book later, when the most pressing issue in my life is whether or not I should attend Mass each week. That being said, the themes of loving what is broken, of fixing a broken institution through love, of being critical of while still enjoying a tradition, of changing your mind, and of forgiveness (amongst others) are still very helpful at this moment in time.
May 5, 2021
Fantastic book for anyone thinking about joining the Catholic Church or thinking about leaving the Catholic Church. It can revive your faith
January 7, 2026
I share his having converted but I admired the way he was able to do it.
I loved reading about his commitment to helping others and using his faith to do that
I loved reading about his commitment to helping others and using his faith to do that
March 15, 2016
This book is the story of the author's journey from the Catholicism of his youth to megachurch evangelicalism at Willow Creek and back to Catholicism in his adult years. The book is written in two parts. The first entitled Action (with Some Contemplation) tells his story. The second titled Contemplation (with Some Action) is his reflection on the journey with a particular focus on his thoughts and feelings about returning to the Catholic fold. This book is remarkably free from any cheap shots at either expression of the church and for that the author is to be commended. At the same time, his reflection on both expressions of church is not without critique mild though it may be, but that is really not his agenda. The author's formative years were spent in the company of Claiborne and Hargrove-Wilson at Eastern University. This ultimately played a role in his pioneering a missional community in the urban setting of Camden, NJ. Btw, Camden must seen to be believed. It's alternatively declared to be the poorest and most dangerous city in the USA. It is in Camden where Haw began again to engage with the Catholic Church.
January 7, 2015
A slightly different, more politically progressive take on the typical Catholic conversion story. Chris' life story shows a remarkable dedication to social justice, especially in his current ministry in Camden, NJ. His book is a well-researched and annotated apologia pro vita sua, citing modern philosophers and ancient theologians. Much of it seems directed at his evangelical former compatriots, assuring them he has not sold out by embracing liturgy and papal leadership. He's very honest about what he dislikes in his new Catholic Church("On Belonging To A Terrible Organization"), but also profoundly reflects on how its teachings grappling with the meaning of suffering and pain in the world. If you liked Jennifer Fulweiler's Something Other Than God, this provides an interesting counterpoint.
January 26, 2018
A favorite book of mine of one man's spiritual pilgrimage from Willow Creek Community Church, Eastern University, S. Claiborne, Belize into Camden, NJ and his neighborhood Sacred Heart community, neighbors, foes and more: Poignant, personal, profound, earthy, deep, very incarnational (missional), and totally non-polemical (non-tribal) and thus REFRESHING to the soul, mind, whole being. See his interview (video) on national news at http://video.foxnews.com/v/1959305032...
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review of it at https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-...
OTHER reviews, etc at https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFi...
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review of it at https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-...
OTHER reviews, etc at https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFi...
October 26, 2012
Short review: Chris Haw traces his movement from cradle Catholic to teen Willow Creek to radical poverty ministry at Eastern College (with Shane Claiborne) to Sacred Heart in Camden NJ. Part two of the book deals with the intellectual and emotional adjustments of all of that movement. There were some frustrating points, I would deal with the movements differently, but in the end many of the questions raised I appreciate even if I come to different answers.
Click through for a longer review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/chris-haw/
Click through for a longer review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/chris-haw/
June 14, 2013
Not as good as I thought it was going to be based on the first 30 pages. Interesting perspective but a little slow.
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April 27, 2014Deep
August 2, 2014
Almost made me convert to Catholicism, but not quite. Very good, heartfelt, theologically infused memoir of sorts.
September 23, 2014
Great for my Catholic friends. Lots of good insight.
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December 26, 2017bijzonder verhaal
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