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Stepping Out in Faith: Former Catholics Tell Their Stories
Eleven people tell stories about their transition from Catholicism to evangelicalism.
124 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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December 27, 2021
4.5 stars.
I was greatly encouraged by reading this collection of testimonies from people who had left the Catholic Church and discovered the gospel of grace. The stories were attractive for their diversity—different stories, different questions, different destinations—but also their similarities. A repeated emphasis throughout the testimonies were how God providentially used events to take people out of spiritual ignorance and darkness, connected them to evangelicals who were seriously studying the Bible, and utilized vibrant Christian community over time as instruments to produce saving faith.
While there will be better written and more thorough doctrinal examinations of Catholic vs. Protestant thought, this book has particular value in the warm and personal stories that it relays. It would be a great book for a Christian to share with Catholic family or friends to stimulate a conversation (or for churches to give away to visitors who may be connected in some way to the Catholic Church). From there, it can lead to more detailed study of specific biblical teachings.
I was greatly encouraged by reading this collection of testimonies from people who had left the Catholic Church and discovered the gospel of grace. The stories were attractive for their diversity—different stories, different questions, different destinations—but also their similarities. A repeated emphasis throughout the testimonies were how God providentially used events to take people out of spiritual ignorance and darkness, connected them to evangelicals who were seriously studying the Bible, and utilized vibrant Christian community over time as instruments to produce saving faith.
While there will be better written and more thorough doctrinal examinations of Catholic vs. Protestant thought, this book has particular value in the warm and personal stories that it relays. It would be a great book for a Christian to share with Catholic family or friends to stimulate a conversation (or for churches to give away to visitors who may be connected in some way to the Catholic Church). From there, it can lead to more detailed study of specific biblical teachings.
December 11, 2018
Helpful testimonies from a whole bunch of people who transitioned from being Catholic to having faith in Jesus for salvation. I enjoyed it.
August 26, 2015
Stepping Out in Faith: Former Catholics Tell Their Stories is a compilation of 11 stories edited by Mark Gilbert. This book is written to people who are questioning the Catholic Church, and the contributors "want to help you think through these questions." The introduction written by Mr. Gilbert lists the practices of the Catholic Church that may be questioned by some, but he gives no biblical support to show why the practices should be rejected as heterodox. It should be noted that the goal of this book is extremely vague as seen in the concluding sentence to the introduction: "Whether you are considering a path that may take you away from the Catholic Church or not, I hope these stories will be an encouragement for you to take the path that will lead you to peace with God." The Bible clearly states that without the remission of sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, no one can find peace with God. We are saved by grace through faith; it is a free gift of God and not of works.
The ecumenism prevalent in today's evangelical world undermines the sacrificial work done by the reformers who broke from Roman Catholicism during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Even though this book is about those who have "come out" of the Catholic Church, there is not clear reasoning as to why the "change in churches" is needed to begin with. By implication, the individuals move from one form of Christianity to another. The Introduction does not give a clear presentation of the Gospel, which is critical in a book of compilations, and does not give clear guidance or biblical wisdom to anyone who is thinking of leaving the Catholic Church.
It is difficult to review this compilation as one book without seeming to single out the individual writers. Therefore, I may not mention each story specifically, but I will highlight the problems as I encounter them and will not list every instance even though the problems may be apparent in subsequent stories.
In the first story, Ms. Morbelli relates her personal experience with no biblical references. Her view of conversion (from the Catholic Church to the Anglican Church) is synergistic when she writes: "I learned from God's word that the first thing I needed to do was recognize that I am essentially sinful...All God asks is that we recognize that we have rejected him, and the we trust that Jesus has done this for us." Her vague writing also indicates a somewhat universalistic view of salvation: "His plan for humanity began to make sense...He knows us well and knows that we cannot do this by our own merit. This is why Jesus died on the cross. It was for each one of us personally." Finally, she relates that "One of the first things that struck me in this new church was the lack of religious icons and rituals, and so this was one of the first issues I had to confront. I had to let 'religion' go." Turning from icons, rituals, and relics is not "letting religion go", but it's following the biblical command found in Exodus 20:3-4 not to have other gods before God and not to make any graven image.
In the second story, Mr. O'Brien describes his move from the Catholic Church to the Anglican Church in ecumenical terms: "I remember not so much becoming a Christian as realizing that I was a Christian." To further illustrate this point, he writes, "I never viewed my conversion as an explicit rejection of Catholicism, but rather as an embracing of Jesus as my Lord and saviour [sic]."
The most helpful part of the compilation is the third story by Mr. Schmucker. He clearly outlines his move from the works-based salvation of the Catholic Church to the grace-based salvation of Christianity. He presents the Gospel and provides biblical references throughout his narrative. Similar Bible references would be helpful in the Introduction. In summary, he writes: "Salvation does not come from works. It is not by my good deeds that I gain heaven. It is not by my baptism, my first holy communion, or my confirmation. Those are all 'works'. Instead, salvation comes by faith. By believing that Jesus is Christ who died in my place, for my sins, and has risen from the dead to bring new life--this is how salvation comes."
Like Mr. Schmucker, the 5th story written by Mr. Coffey does a better job of presenting the Gospel; however, since Mr. Coffey is now a Christian pastor, I expected more biblical support to his story. Throughout the stories in this book, the acceptance of the Gospel has been man-centered rather than the work of the Holy Spirit, and Mr. Coffey's story is no different. He writes: "I couldn't understand why people were not hungering for this message of grace and hope...Salvation by grace and not by works of merit has been the doctrine that has appealed most to those I've led to Christ," (emphasis mine). But the Bible states that salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit and does not appeal to anyone because all are dead in trespasses and sins, (Eph. 2:1). Further in his testimony he contradicts himself: "Think about this. If we could, by our good works, contribute to our own salvation, then the death of the Lord Jesus Christ would not have been necessary. It is because none of us can make any contributions towards our salvation that God had to become man, dwell among us and give his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." He is trying to align his view of salvation to the Bible, but his Arminian belief that man has the power to accept or reject Christ is not biblical, so at times, his comments are inconsistent.
I understand the vulnerability that each writer has risked by writing his or her story. It takes courage to open up your life for all to see. If the purpose of this book is to convince people to leave the Catholic Church, then I don't believe it accomplishes this goal. The stories in the compilation are not always clear on the differences between the Catholic Church and Christianity and why leaving is necessary for a true believer. If the intent of this book is just to encourage those leaving or thinking of leaving the Catholic Church, then I don't believe it met this goal either. Generally, the stories have a pragmatic tone based mostly on personal experience, which limits the application of the content. Instead of being helpful, I believe that, at best, this book will confuse the reader and, at worst, it will keep him in bondage to a works-based salvation. Therefore, I cannot recommend this book.
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
NB: The formatting for the Kindle version does not include an interactive table of contents which makes is very difficult to navigate through the book.
The ecumenism prevalent in today's evangelical world undermines the sacrificial work done by the reformers who broke from Roman Catholicism during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Even though this book is about those who have "come out" of the Catholic Church, there is not clear reasoning as to why the "change in churches" is needed to begin with. By implication, the individuals move from one form of Christianity to another. The Introduction does not give a clear presentation of the Gospel, which is critical in a book of compilations, and does not give clear guidance or biblical wisdom to anyone who is thinking of leaving the Catholic Church.
It is difficult to review this compilation as one book without seeming to single out the individual writers. Therefore, I may not mention each story specifically, but I will highlight the problems as I encounter them and will not list every instance even though the problems may be apparent in subsequent stories.
In the first story, Ms. Morbelli relates her personal experience with no biblical references. Her view of conversion (from the Catholic Church to the Anglican Church) is synergistic when she writes: "I learned from God's word that the first thing I needed to do was recognize that I am essentially sinful...All God asks is that we recognize that we have rejected him, and the we trust that Jesus has done this for us." Her vague writing also indicates a somewhat universalistic view of salvation: "His plan for humanity began to make sense...He knows us well and knows that we cannot do this by our own merit. This is why Jesus died on the cross. It was for each one of us personally." Finally, she relates that "One of the first things that struck me in this new church was the lack of religious icons and rituals, and so this was one of the first issues I had to confront. I had to let 'religion' go." Turning from icons, rituals, and relics is not "letting religion go", but it's following the biblical command found in Exodus 20:3-4 not to have other gods before God and not to make any graven image.
In the second story, Mr. O'Brien describes his move from the Catholic Church to the Anglican Church in ecumenical terms: "I remember not so much becoming a Christian as realizing that I was a Christian." To further illustrate this point, he writes, "I never viewed my conversion as an explicit rejection of Catholicism, but rather as an embracing of Jesus as my Lord and saviour [sic]."
The most helpful part of the compilation is the third story by Mr. Schmucker. He clearly outlines his move from the works-based salvation of the Catholic Church to the grace-based salvation of Christianity. He presents the Gospel and provides biblical references throughout his narrative. Similar Bible references would be helpful in the Introduction. In summary, he writes: "Salvation does not come from works. It is not by my good deeds that I gain heaven. It is not by my baptism, my first holy communion, or my confirmation. Those are all 'works'. Instead, salvation comes by faith. By believing that Jesus is Christ who died in my place, for my sins, and has risen from the dead to bring new life--this is how salvation comes."
Like Mr. Schmucker, the 5th story written by Mr. Coffey does a better job of presenting the Gospel; however, since Mr. Coffey is now a Christian pastor, I expected more biblical support to his story. Throughout the stories in this book, the acceptance of the Gospel has been man-centered rather than the work of the Holy Spirit, and Mr. Coffey's story is no different. He writes: "I couldn't understand why people were not hungering for this message of grace and hope...Salvation by grace and not by works of merit has been the doctrine that has appealed most to those I've led to Christ," (emphasis mine). But the Bible states that salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit and does not appeal to anyone because all are dead in trespasses and sins, (Eph. 2:1). Further in his testimony he contradicts himself: "Think about this. If we could, by our good works, contribute to our own salvation, then the death of the Lord Jesus Christ would not have been necessary. It is because none of us can make any contributions towards our salvation that God had to become man, dwell among us and give his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." He is trying to align his view of salvation to the Bible, but his Arminian belief that man has the power to accept or reject Christ is not biblical, so at times, his comments are inconsistent.
I understand the vulnerability that each writer has risked by writing his or her story. It takes courage to open up your life for all to see. If the purpose of this book is to convince people to leave the Catholic Church, then I don't believe it accomplishes this goal. The stories in the compilation are not always clear on the differences between the Catholic Church and Christianity and why leaving is necessary for a true believer. If the intent of this book is just to encourage those leaving or thinking of leaving the Catholic Church, then I don't believe it met this goal either. Generally, the stories have a pragmatic tone based mostly on personal experience, which limits the application of the content. Instead of being helpful, I believe that, at best, this book will confuse the reader and, at worst, it will keep him in bondage to a works-based salvation. Therefore, I cannot recommend this book.
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
NB: The formatting for the Kindle version does not include an interactive table of contents which makes is very difficult to navigate through the book.
January 31, 2014
Personal redemption stories are so unique and beautiful in their own distinct way. The various emotions that I feel stirring up inside of me when I get the chance to hear or read about someone describe how God radically redeemed them from the slave block of sin is almost beyond words. Furthermore, it is even more touching to me, personally, whenever a person’s redemption story mirrors my own story. I spent 19 years in the Catholic Church before the Spirit of God did a work of true regeneration in my heart. The Gospel was presented in such a clear and authoritative way at the Baptist Church I was visiting at as a 19 year old college student that I was literally taken aback by its power. I honestly had no clue that the Bible that sat in front of me (mostly unopened) all those years in the Catholic Church could be so powerful and radically life-changing. Sure, I believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and died on the Cross for humanity’s sins and was raised on the 3rd day, but I had never personally repented of my sins and fully trusted in the God who “justifies the ungodly” (Romans 4:5) . However, that all changed on a beautiful morning in June 2002 when the Spirit of God totally interrupted my life and convicted me of my sin in such a way that I didn’t think was possible, and thus began the slow process of my exit from the Catholic Church. Up until that point in time, I was still going to Catholic services on Sunday mornings with my family and then visiting a Baptist church with my then girlfriend (who is now my wife) on Sunday and Wednesday nights. However, those visits to the Catholic Church became less and less frequent following my salvation experience. Therefore, I can relate to some aspects of each personal story of liberation from the Catholic Church contained within Mark Gilbert’s wonderful book, Stepping Out in Faith.
Stepping Out in Faith covers 11 intimate stories of people who were reared in the Catholic Church, but who later left the church due to a variety of different reasons (mostly over doctrinal differences). For example, Omar Anheluk has this to say in Chapter 6: “I really don’t like labels, but I must say what is on my heart. I want to be as honest and helpful as I can. I want to talk openly about real differences that really matter-eternally. When I was growing up in the Catholic Church, no-one helped me to find the God who is there and who is real. No-one pointed me in the right direction. No-one showed me just how good God is, and no-one showed me that faith in God is all about trusting Jesus and handing over control of your life to Jesus.” (pg. 72) I would personally have to echo those same sentiments that Omar just shared based on my experiences with the Catholic Church, and the fact that what I was taught in the church did not measure up with what I read in God’s Word after my conversion. Furthermore, you see semblances of that very same progression born out in the other 10 stories in Stepping Out in Faith. There is a point in which each author begins to study the Word of God on their own, and we read about a “light-bulb” of realization that God turns on in their heads and hearts that leads them to an understanding that the doctrine of the Catholic Church has some serious flaws. Once that light bulb is turned on, it is impossible to turn it off even though it took some of the authors a little while longer to leave the Catholic Church than it did others.
The personal testimonies contained in this book are definitely unique, but they each share a common theme: The power of God’s Word to change lives. For example, there is the story of Ngaira Smith (Chapter 4) who turned her back on the Catholic Church at the age of 16 after a serious car accident only to see God, in His uniquely providential way, draw her to Himself by various other serious tragedies (serious relationship split, benign tumor in breast, cheating boyfriend, dad diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and another serious car wreck). Smith experienced even more heartache when she tried to move to a couple of Catholic Communities only to see the cover-up of sexual abuse within the Order. Finally, she learned and experienced the truth of God’s Word while visiting an Anglican Church in central London, and, in her own words, “As a Catholic, I had major reservations about attending an Anglican church. It took me several years to feel comfortable and part of the congregation. I still identified myself as Catholic, but here at this other church my knowledge of God was growing, my love for God was growing, and the power of sin in my life was weakening.” Personally, it didn’t take me years to leave the Catholic Church, but it definitely was a tough transition because the Catholic Church was pretty much all I knew. Acclimating to an Independent Baptist Church took some time, but I was daily growing in the Word of God just like Ngaira so that made the transition much easier. Again, the stories might be different, but the power of the Word of God effecting change is a common theme throughout the book and has been throughout history as well.
Stepping Out in Faith is by no means a deep theological presentation of the differences between the Catholic Church and the Protestant Faith, but there is a pretty clear picture presented in each of the 11 stories of just some of the many differences between the two religions. The overarching themes of the book, to me, are: (1) God’s glory in the redemption of lost sinners; (2) There is power in the Word of God, and that power brings change and growth.
I received this book for free from Matthias Media via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Stepping Out in Faith covers 11 intimate stories of people who were reared in the Catholic Church, but who later left the church due to a variety of different reasons (mostly over doctrinal differences). For example, Omar Anheluk has this to say in Chapter 6: “I really don’t like labels, but I must say what is on my heart. I want to be as honest and helpful as I can. I want to talk openly about real differences that really matter-eternally. When I was growing up in the Catholic Church, no-one helped me to find the God who is there and who is real. No-one pointed me in the right direction. No-one showed me just how good God is, and no-one showed me that faith in God is all about trusting Jesus and handing over control of your life to Jesus.” (pg. 72) I would personally have to echo those same sentiments that Omar just shared based on my experiences with the Catholic Church, and the fact that what I was taught in the church did not measure up with what I read in God’s Word after my conversion. Furthermore, you see semblances of that very same progression born out in the other 10 stories in Stepping Out in Faith. There is a point in which each author begins to study the Word of God on their own, and we read about a “light-bulb” of realization that God turns on in their heads and hearts that leads them to an understanding that the doctrine of the Catholic Church has some serious flaws. Once that light bulb is turned on, it is impossible to turn it off even though it took some of the authors a little while longer to leave the Catholic Church than it did others.
The personal testimonies contained in this book are definitely unique, but they each share a common theme: The power of God’s Word to change lives. For example, there is the story of Ngaira Smith (Chapter 4) who turned her back on the Catholic Church at the age of 16 after a serious car accident only to see God, in His uniquely providential way, draw her to Himself by various other serious tragedies (serious relationship split, benign tumor in breast, cheating boyfriend, dad diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and another serious car wreck). Smith experienced even more heartache when she tried to move to a couple of Catholic Communities only to see the cover-up of sexual abuse within the Order. Finally, she learned and experienced the truth of God’s Word while visiting an Anglican Church in central London, and, in her own words, “As a Catholic, I had major reservations about attending an Anglican church. It took me several years to feel comfortable and part of the congregation. I still identified myself as Catholic, but here at this other church my knowledge of God was growing, my love for God was growing, and the power of sin in my life was weakening.” Personally, it didn’t take me years to leave the Catholic Church, but it definitely was a tough transition because the Catholic Church was pretty much all I knew. Acclimating to an Independent Baptist Church took some time, but I was daily growing in the Word of God just like Ngaira so that made the transition much easier. Again, the stories might be different, but the power of the Word of God effecting change is a common theme throughout the book and has been throughout history as well.
Stepping Out in Faith is by no means a deep theological presentation of the differences between the Catholic Church and the Protestant Faith, but there is a pretty clear picture presented in each of the 11 stories of just some of the many differences between the two religions. The overarching themes of the book, to me, are: (1) God’s glory in the redemption of lost sinners; (2) There is power in the Word of God, and that power brings change and growth.
I received this book for free from Matthias Media via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
September 13, 2016
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone). Sola Gratia (Grace Alone). Sola Fide (Faith Alone). Solus Christus (Christ Alone). Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be Glory). These five solas of the Protestant Reformation stand in stark contrast to the beliefs and positions held by the Roman Catholic Church in the days of the Reformers and to a large degree, this vast difference in belief holds true today. While I do not have a Catholic background and most, if not all the members of my family come from denominational backgrounds other than the Roman Catholic tradition, I do work in a city with a rather large Roman Catholic community and thus I work with numerous people who attend Catholic churches and who are members of that faith. Even still, I am not that familiar with that it means to hold to Catholic traditions and the trappings they entail. For those like myself who might be rather unfamiliar with what is involved in being “Catholic”, Stepping Out in Faith, edited by Mark Gilbert, shares the stories of eleven individuals who were led by God to leave the Catholic faith.
Each story contains an honest and forthright account by the contributors as to why they found their respective experiences in the Catholic Church as a whole to be rather wanting in meeting for example their spiritual, emotional, or communal needs. For example, Alex Morbelli shares in his portion of this book that following the emotional chaos resulting from her husband’s illness, that she was “living with the tension of trying to reconcile what I was hearing from God in the Bible and what I was hearing and seeing in the Catholic Church.” For Morbelli, this tension led her to realize that while the Catholic Church had perhaps taught her at an early age some important truths such as there is a God and Jesus died for our sins, the rest of the theology that was being taught to her frankly did not marry with sound biblical truth.
Others in this book share stories of a child and adulthood attending the Catholic Church that was nothing more than being a part of the “faith” with little to now grasp of what it means to have a personal relationship with God or His Son who paid the penalty for their sin out of His great love for His bride. It was fascinating to read these various accounts shared in Stepping Out in Faith that reveal the vast difference between participating in a “religion” and being part of the body of Christ, a community of believers focused not on an institution, but rather on their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In sharing his experience, contributor Gerard O’Brien notes his movement or stepping out in faith from Catholicism to the Protestant faith did not involve a Damascus Road style experience. His process of stepping out in faith was due to his careful study of Scripture, noting what it says to include the reality that being a good person or a good Catholic simply would not cut it in the eyes of God. For him, “the death and resurrection of Jesus” is what changed his mind. O’Brien notes a very important point, namely that “If Jesus had to die for our sins, then the idea that we could be good enough for God makes no sense.” There is no amount of penance, ritual keeping, or adherence to the doctrine of the church that can save. Only the shed blood of Christ is sufficient for the remission of sins and the restoration of relationship with a holy God.
It was also very interesting to note how the period of searching that each of these eleven contributors went through before they moved away from being involved with the Catholic Church was a period of time when their faith deepened in the things of God. This was due to the setting aside of what can be termed “religion” and the acceptance of God’s Word as the final arbiter and source of all truth. For many of these individuals, the simple reading of Scripture and the movement of the Holy Spirit in their life as a result of spending time in the Bible was the impetus for their stepping out in faith. Contributor Alex Purnomo declares “I also started to read the Bible for myself.” In his case, it was the culture and commitment to the reading of Scripture by those in the house church he was attending that helped and encouraged him to spend time in the Word. It was that quality time with God that helped him step out from being religious to being in a relationship with God.
While Stepping Out in Faith is arguably geared more towards members of the Catholic Church who may have questions about their upbringing in the Church or what the Church has been instructing them all these years, it nevertheless is a valuable tool for Protestant minded individuals to read as well. Those like myself who work with a number of people who attend the Catholic Church and who consider themselves “religious”, will have a much better understanding after reading Stepping Out in Faith of some of the vast differences in approach Catholics have to issues of faith in God, the reading of Scripture, and for that matter, salvation. I found the various stories to be compelling reads and the honesty of each contributor was greatly appreciated. This book is not a polemic against the Catholic Church. Conversely, it shares the real life stories of people who realized there is more to this thing called the Christian walk that simply going to a church building, reciting prayers, and trying to be good. To that end, I found it to be highly successful in its overall approach to the topic.
I received this book for free from Matthias Media via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Each story contains an honest and forthright account by the contributors as to why they found their respective experiences in the Catholic Church as a whole to be rather wanting in meeting for example their spiritual, emotional, or communal needs. For example, Alex Morbelli shares in his portion of this book that following the emotional chaos resulting from her husband’s illness, that she was “living with the tension of trying to reconcile what I was hearing from God in the Bible and what I was hearing and seeing in the Catholic Church.” For Morbelli, this tension led her to realize that while the Catholic Church had perhaps taught her at an early age some important truths such as there is a God and Jesus died for our sins, the rest of the theology that was being taught to her frankly did not marry with sound biblical truth.
Others in this book share stories of a child and adulthood attending the Catholic Church that was nothing more than being a part of the “faith” with little to now grasp of what it means to have a personal relationship with God or His Son who paid the penalty for their sin out of His great love for His bride. It was fascinating to read these various accounts shared in Stepping Out in Faith that reveal the vast difference between participating in a “religion” and being part of the body of Christ, a community of believers focused not on an institution, but rather on their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In sharing his experience, contributor Gerard O’Brien notes his movement or stepping out in faith from Catholicism to the Protestant faith did not involve a Damascus Road style experience. His process of stepping out in faith was due to his careful study of Scripture, noting what it says to include the reality that being a good person or a good Catholic simply would not cut it in the eyes of God. For him, “the death and resurrection of Jesus” is what changed his mind. O’Brien notes a very important point, namely that “If Jesus had to die for our sins, then the idea that we could be good enough for God makes no sense.” There is no amount of penance, ritual keeping, or adherence to the doctrine of the church that can save. Only the shed blood of Christ is sufficient for the remission of sins and the restoration of relationship with a holy God.
It was also very interesting to note how the period of searching that each of these eleven contributors went through before they moved away from being involved with the Catholic Church was a period of time when their faith deepened in the things of God. This was due to the setting aside of what can be termed “religion” and the acceptance of God’s Word as the final arbiter and source of all truth. For many of these individuals, the simple reading of Scripture and the movement of the Holy Spirit in their life as a result of spending time in the Bible was the impetus for their stepping out in faith. Contributor Alex Purnomo declares “I also started to read the Bible for myself.” In his case, it was the culture and commitment to the reading of Scripture by those in the house church he was attending that helped and encouraged him to spend time in the Word. It was that quality time with God that helped him step out from being religious to being in a relationship with God.
While Stepping Out in Faith is arguably geared more towards members of the Catholic Church who may have questions about their upbringing in the Church or what the Church has been instructing them all these years, it nevertheless is a valuable tool for Protestant minded individuals to read as well. Those like myself who work with a number of people who attend the Catholic Church and who consider themselves “religious”, will have a much better understanding after reading Stepping Out in Faith of some of the vast differences in approach Catholics have to issues of faith in God, the reading of Scripture, and for that matter, salvation. I found the various stories to be compelling reads and the honesty of each contributor was greatly appreciated. This book is not a polemic against the Catholic Church. Conversely, it shares the real life stories of people who realized there is more to this thing called the Christian walk that simply going to a church building, reciting prayers, and trying to be good. To that end, I found it to be highly successful in its overall approach to the topic.
I received this book for free from Matthias Media via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 23, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Very helpful insights into on one side the really good things about the Catholic church, but on the other hand the sad fact of obscuring the gospel.
"How amazing it is that I, a speck of dust on the earth, would be loved by the one who has the immense power to create this universe".
Gifting it to a Catholic friend, I really hope he enjoys it as much as I did!
Very helpful insights into on one side the really good things about the Catholic church, but on the other hand the sad fact of obscuring the gospel.
"How amazing it is that I, a speck of dust on the earth, would be loved by the one who has the immense power to create this universe".
Gifting it to a Catholic friend, I really hope he enjoys it as much as I did!
March 3, 2019
A collection of anecdotal stories of Catholics who left Catholicism for Christianity. A few encouraging stories. Most knew why they left, others seemed to have left because of family, emotions, circumstances, etc. Whatever the case they have moved towards truth - not away from it.
August 7, 2020
A collection of life stories of people who have left Roman Catholicism and become Protestant Christians. I found it helpful to learn of their backgrounds, experiences, struggles and how they came to their new faith.
February 21, 2022
Great book to give to a Catholic friend. Kinda interesting to read, but overall I wouldn’t recommend taking the time to read it.
January 27, 2014
"A young boy in the confessional lies about his sin, knowing that he is choosing hell over shame and embarrassment. A young man in spiritual distress decides to become a priest so he will go to heaven. A white leather Bible sits in a box on a shelf for years, off limits to the little girl who asks to see it, because it might get dirty. 'Just do what I say,' a priest tells another boy who is full of questions about God, 'and everything will be okay.'
In every one of these situations God transformed people by His Word in the Bible, replaced lies with truth, and brought peace through the salvation that is only found in Jesus Christ. This is a book with not one, but 11 happy endings.
The 11 individuals who share their stories of Stepping Out in Faith could not be more different. They are men and women from different generations and from around the world. But they have in common the peace they have found in God through the gospel of Jesus Christ." [back cover]
The emptiness in our hearts is universal. I liken it to a keyhole. There is only one key that unlocks our hearts so that we can find the fulfillment that seems to elude us in our lifelong search for meaning. The eleven individuals who shared their stories in this short but powerful book all found the key in the Gospel of Jesus Christ--in the person of Jesus Christ. In this book the point is not where the storytellers came from, but where they were going and what they found.
This short 124-page book can be read in one sitting, or chapter by chapter. It is not a theological treatise, nor an apologetics book, but a collection of personal stories of people on a journey. I found it so compelling that I read it through twice. The struggles and triumphs I read about warmed my heart, gave me hope and encouragement. That is always the reason we share our testimonies--our stories. It is not to gain attention for ourselves, but to cast the spotlight onto Jesus Christ, our loving Lord and Savior.
I highly recommend this intriguing collection. It is a book you will want to share with friends, neighbors, and family. It may help the ones searching to find the peace with God they are looking for.
More about the author/editor:
"Mark’s role at ENC is to help build a network of evangelists throughout Sydney. Mark grew up as a committed Roman Catholic, but despite this, did not hear the Gospel until he started University. He trained as a Doctor before retraining as a minister, and has served in Anglican churches since 2000. He currently works as an Evangelist on the Northern Beaches. Mark has published a number of resources to help people share the Good News about Jesus with people from a Roman Catholic background including; The God Who Saves, The Road Once Travelled and Stepping Out in Faith."
Mark Gilbert's organization
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC)on behalf of Mathias Media. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
In every one of these situations God transformed people by His Word in the Bible, replaced lies with truth, and brought peace through the salvation that is only found in Jesus Christ. This is a book with not one, but 11 happy endings.
The 11 individuals who share their stories of Stepping Out in Faith could not be more different. They are men and women from different generations and from around the world. But they have in common the peace they have found in God through the gospel of Jesus Christ." [back cover]
The emptiness in our hearts is universal. I liken it to a keyhole. There is only one key that unlocks our hearts so that we can find the fulfillment that seems to elude us in our lifelong search for meaning. The eleven individuals who shared their stories in this short but powerful book all found the key in the Gospel of Jesus Christ--in the person of Jesus Christ. In this book the point is not where the storytellers came from, but where they were going and what they found.
This short 124-page book can be read in one sitting, or chapter by chapter. It is not a theological treatise, nor an apologetics book, but a collection of personal stories of people on a journey. I found it so compelling that I read it through twice. The struggles and triumphs I read about warmed my heart, gave me hope and encouragement. That is always the reason we share our testimonies--our stories. It is not to gain attention for ourselves, but to cast the spotlight onto Jesus Christ, our loving Lord and Savior.
I highly recommend this intriguing collection. It is a book you will want to share with friends, neighbors, and family. It may help the ones searching to find the peace with God they are looking for.
More about the author/editor:
"Mark’s role at ENC is to help build a network of evangelists throughout Sydney. Mark grew up as a committed Roman Catholic, but despite this, did not hear the Gospel until he started University. He trained as a Doctor before retraining as a minister, and has served in Anglican churches since 2000. He currently works as an Evangelist on the Northern Beaches. Mark has published a number of resources to help people share the Good News about Jesus with people from a Roman Catholic background including; The God Who Saves, The Road Once Travelled and Stepping Out in Faith."
Mark Gilbert's organization
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC)on behalf of Mathias Media. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
January 27, 2014
One of my favorite memories of our two years at Grace Community Church was the new experience of hearing the testimonies of new converts who were being baptized. It was such a sweet time, so encouraging and refreshing. It was remarkable to me that so many of those being baptized were former Catholics. And I loved hearing how other members of the church had been so faithful to build relationships with these folks, faithfully sharing the only truth that leads to salvation.
Stepping Out in Faith: Former Catholics Tell Their Stories (edited by Mark Gilbert) reminded me of those baptismal services. As each of the 11 stories unfolded, I couldn't wait to see how the Lord had intervened in each person's life. Each story is unique. Some were Catholic in name only; others remained Catholic for a time after being saved, leaving once they grew to see the extent of doctrinal error. Some were slowly drawn by the Lord in the course of everyday life; others became open due to traumatic events in their life or the life of a family member. These testimonies are diverse because people are diverse.
But most of these stories had something in common: the importance of the local Christian church. So many of these former Catholics found their way out of their comfort zone and into a healthy, gospel church. There they discovered two things: people who lived out Christ's love, and pastors who taught from God's Word.
I read this book to evaluate whether or not it would be a good book to pass along to Catholic friends at the right time (and it is that), but I found it challenging me, as well. How willing am I to invest time, energy, and genuine friendship in unbelievers who I encounter in my daily life? How prepared am I to listen, to get to know them, to serve them, to share the hope that they so desperate need? This is my challenge; this is our Lord's command.
"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:5-6)
Cross Focused Reviews provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review; however, the views stated here are my own.
Stepping Out in Faith: Former Catholics Tell Their Stories (edited by Mark Gilbert) reminded me of those baptismal services. As each of the 11 stories unfolded, I couldn't wait to see how the Lord had intervened in each person's life. Each story is unique. Some were Catholic in name only; others remained Catholic for a time after being saved, leaving once they grew to see the extent of doctrinal error. Some were slowly drawn by the Lord in the course of everyday life; others became open due to traumatic events in their life or the life of a family member. These testimonies are diverse because people are diverse.
But most of these stories had something in common: the importance of the local Christian church. So many of these former Catholics found their way out of their comfort zone and into a healthy, gospel church. There they discovered two things: people who lived out Christ's love, and pastors who taught from God's Word.
I read this book to evaluate whether or not it would be a good book to pass along to Catholic friends at the right time (and it is that), but I found it challenging me, as well. How willing am I to invest time, energy, and genuine friendship in unbelievers who I encounter in my daily life? How prepared am I to listen, to get to know them, to serve them, to share the hope that they so desperate need? This is my challenge; this is our Lord's command.
"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:5-6)
Cross Focused Reviews provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review; however, the views stated here are my own.
January 21, 2014
About the Book:
Eleven people tell stories about their transition from Catholicism to evangelicalism.
Table of Contents:
When everything else is gone | Alex Morbelli
Confident in God’s love | Gerard O’Brien
A wretch like me | Matt Schmucker
The ultimate fresh start | Ngaira Smith
Letting in air and light | Tony Coffey
Words of eternal life | Omar Anheluk
Authentic church | Alex Purnomo
No more fear | Eddie Piani
Learning to trust | Angelo Porcu
A retired Catholic | Gay Ross
Certainty for eternity | Mark Gilbert
My Review:
Stepping Out In Faith, gives us a more in depth understanding into the lives of a few selected people that decided that in order to have a closer walk with God, they would soon have to leave the Catholic church and turn to evangelicalism. Each of these stories though unique all share a common thread in that they all were seeking the true intercessor, Jesus Christ. They come to realize that a priest is not the one they should be confessing to.
They each share with us their individual circumstances hoping to inspire others. The story told by Alex Morbelli, really resonated with me and was truly touching. Her husband being faced with the fact he had only a few short months to live said some gripping words that broke me. Her story was such a sorrowful one that eventually turned around for God's good, ultimately.
Her whole life, she was brought up in the Catholic church only to eventually attend an Anglican church where she was mystified when the same rituals and ideas were not shared there as they were in Catholicism. She was having a hard time dealing with such a stark change until some of her new found friends in the Anglican body of believers, took her aside with books of doctrine from each religion and educated her further.
These loving people gathered her up and helped guide her and soon she was transformed and was able to understand thus growing closer to God as a result. Her story along with others are very inspiring. This short read provides us with in sight as well as inspiration.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Cross Focused Reviews.
Eleven people tell stories about their transition from Catholicism to evangelicalism.
Table of Contents:
When everything else is gone | Alex Morbelli
Confident in God’s love | Gerard O’Brien
A wretch like me | Matt Schmucker
The ultimate fresh start | Ngaira Smith
Letting in air and light | Tony Coffey
Words of eternal life | Omar Anheluk
Authentic church | Alex Purnomo
No more fear | Eddie Piani
Learning to trust | Angelo Porcu
A retired Catholic | Gay Ross
Certainty for eternity | Mark Gilbert
My Review:
Stepping Out In Faith, gives us a more in depth understanding into the lives of a few selected people that decided that in order to have a closer walk with God, they would soon have to leave the Catholic church and turn to evangelicalism. Each of these stories though unique all share a common thread in that they all were seeking the true intercessor, Jesus Christ. They come to realize that a priest is not the one they should be confessing to.
They each share with us their individual circumstances hoping to inspire others. The story told by Alex Morbelli, really resonated with me and was truly touching. Her husband being faced with the fact he had only a few short months to live said some gripping words that broke me. Her story was such a sorrowful one that eventually turned around for God's good, ultimately.
Her whole life, she was brought up in the Catholic church only to eventually attend an Anglican church where she was mystified when the same rituals and ideas were not shared there as they were in Catholicism. She was having a hard time dealing with such a stark change until some of her new found friends in the Anglican body of believers, took her aside with books of doctrine from each religion and educated her further.
These loving people gathered her up and helped guide her and soon she was transformed and was able to understand thus growing closer to God as a result. Her story along with others are very inspiring. This short read provides us with in sight as well as inspiration.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Cross Focused Reviews.
January 22, 2014
A young boy in the confessional lies about his sin, knowing that he is choosing hell over shame and embarrassment. A young man in spiritual distress decides to become a priest so he can be sure he will go to heaven. A white leather Bible sits in a box on a shelf for years, off limits to the little girl who asks to see it, because it might get dirty. “Just do what I say,” a priest tells another boy who is full of questions about God, “and everything will be okay”.
Steppig Out in Faith by Mark GilbertIn every one of these situations God transformed people by his word in the Bible, replaced lies with truth, and brought peace through the salvation that is only found in Jesus Christ. This is a book with not one but 11 happy endings.
The 11 individuals who share their stories of Stepping Out in Faith could not be more different. They are men and women from different generations and from around the world. But they have in common the peace they have found in God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is a great book to help us understand those who are in the Catholic faith. In this book we hear the words of former Catholics, in their own words, describe how they felt and how they converted from their "religion". It is amazing to hear how God transforms each one of these people, and to see how many of them have grown in their relationship with Christ.
It is well written, very easy to read, and I think this is a book for someone who is thinking of converting, or is uncomfortable in their "religion". It is also a great help for teaching and learning how Catholics think.
I received this book free from www.crossfocusedreviews.com . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Steppig Out in Faith by Mark GilbertIn every one of these situations God transformed people by his word in the Bible, replaced lies with truth, and brought peace through the salvation that is only found in Jesus Christ. This is a book with not one but 11 happy endings.
The 11 individuals who share their stories of Stepping Out in Faith could not be more different. They are men and women from different generations and from around the world. But they have in common the peace they have found in God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is a great book to help us understand those who are in the Catholic faith. In this book we hear the words of former Catholics, in their own words, describe how they felt and how they converted from their "religion". It is amazing to hear how God transforms each one of these people, and to see how many of them have grown in their relationship with Christ.
It is well written, very easy to read, and I think this is a book for someone who is thinking of converting, or is uncomfortable in their "religion". It is also a great help for teaching and learning how Catholics think.
I received this book free from www.crossfocusedreviews.com . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
January 28, 2014
This was an interesting and surprising book.
As former Roman Catholics tell their stories, we learn much about the effects of the theology of Catholicism.
Many of the contributors were raised Catholic. While there seems to have been some nominalism, others seem to have been quite devoted to the church of their childhood. All have one thing in common: that church did not satisfy them, nor did it lead them to Jesus Christ.
I had the misguided notion that the stories would speak of people who found that the theology of Roman Catholicism was lacking, so that they then left.
What I found was that they found that Catholicism left them empty. In other words, the issue was not first cerebral, but was a matter of heart.
Over and over the refrain is that the contributors wanted a relationship with God, but could not find it in Catholicism.
Over and over the contributors speak of reaching out to try to find a way to fill the emptiness, but never found it.
Each story tells of how that the contributor was blessed to be found of Christ and enjoy the relationship with Him that comes by God's free grace.
The stories were quite moving at times. I was moved to tears more than once as I contemplated the struggles these people faced. It was a joy to read of their journeys that led them to faith in Jesus Christ alone.
The greatest lesson that I learned is that there is a need for all of us to recognize the needs of people. We cannot satisfy ourselves with rote "worship" services. Neither can we be satisfied with cold intellectualism. We certainly cannot rest upon our practices, principles, and religion. We must reach out to people's hearts with Christ, who is the only one who can fill those empty places that we all have within us.
As former Roman Catholics tell their stories, we learn much about the effects of the theology of Catholicism.
Many of the contributors were raised Catholic. While there seems to have been some nominalism, others seem to have been quite devoted to the church of their childhood. All have one thing in common: that church did not satisfy them, nor did it lead them to Jesus Christ.
I had the misguided notion that the stories would speak of people who found that the theology of Roman Catholicism was lacking, so that they then left.
What I found was that they found that Catholicism left them empty. In other words, the issue was not first cerebral, but was a matter of heart.
Over and over the refrain is that the contributors wanted a relationship with God, but could not find it in Catholicism.
Over and over the contributors speak of reaching out to try to find a way to fill the emptiness, but never found it.
Each story tells of how that the contributor was blessed to be found of Christ and enjoy the relationship with Him that comes by God's free grace.
The stories were quite moving at times. I was moved to tears more than once as I contemplated the struggles these people faced. It was a joy to read of their journeys that led them to faith in Jesus Christ alone.
The greatest lesson that I learned is that there is a need for all of us to recognize the needs of people. We cannot satisfy ourselves with rote "worship" services. Neither can we be satisfied with cold intellectualism. We certainly cannot rest upon our practices, principles, and religion. We must reach out to people's hearts with Christ, who is the only one who can fill those empty places that we all have within us.
August 3, 2016
(Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free from CrossFocusedReviews.com in exchange for my honest review.)
Being outside a faith community is hard. Being inside a faith community takes work. Switching or leaving a faith community? Ouch!
"Stepping Out in Faith" is a collection of eleven stories of people who were Catholic. To further their walk with God, each felt it necessary to leave the Catholic church. Each story, from a wide variety of individuals (male, female, married, single, widowed, etc) gives a sincere, 'authentic' voice to what can be a very traumatic event (changing faith groups).
I suppose I should say at this point that I have never been Catholic. I've been to a Catholic church once or twice and talked to a priest on one occasion. I consider myself Christian. I consider people who are Catholic to be Christian. Several of the contributors to this book believe Catholics are not Christian in terms of adherence to the Holy Bible. The only thing that 'raised my eyebrow', as it were, was when the authors say the Catholic church claimed it was the only way to God (which the authors did not believe), and then later most or all of them say that what they found was the only way to God.
Overall, I give this four out of five stars. The book can be a valuable tool for someone thinking of switching faith communities or churches. It challenges people not considering switching faiths to practice what they preach as well. This book is well worth the read.
Being outside a faith community is hard. Being inside a faith community takes work. Switching or leaving a faith community? Ouch!
"Stepping Out in Faith" is a collection of eleven stories of people who were Catholic. To further their walk with God, each felt it necessary to leave the Catholic church. Each story, from a wide variety of individuals (male, female, married, single, widowed, etc) gives a sincere, 'authentic' voice to what can be a very traumatic event (changing faith groups).
I suppose I should say at this point that I have never been Catholic. I've been to a Catholic church once or twice and talked to a priest on one occasion. I consider myself Christian. I consider people who are Catholic to be Christian. Several of the contributors to this book believe Catholics are not Christian in terms of adherence to the Holy Bible. The only thing that 'raised my eyebrow', as it were, was when the authors say the Catholic church claimed it was the only way to God (which the authors did not believe), and then later most or all of them say that what they found was the only way to God.
Overall, I give this four out of five stars. The book can be a valuable tool for someone thinking of switching faith communities or churches. It challenges people not considering switching faiths to practice what they preach as well. This book is well worth the read.
August 11, 2016
A collection of testimonies from former Roman Catholics, I found the book to be inspiring yet (for the most part) still quite respectful of the Roman Catholic tradition. Two things seemed to stand out from the majority of these testimonies:
1. The indispensability of genuine Christian love showed to people that was not experienced in the Roman Catholic church. It's clear that such love was central to many of these person's conversion away from Roman Catholicism.
2. A resistance from friends and family to investigate the Bible itself. I was surprised how often such people were told, by even Roman Catholic priests or nuns, that they should not study the Bible.
The book also encouraged me to perseveringly pray for those who need the love of Christ as displayed in the biblical gospel.
Great little book! Highly recommend!
1. The indispensability of genuine Christian love showed to people that was not experienced in the Roman Catholic church. It's clear that such love was central to many of these person's conversion away from Roman Catholicism.
2. A resistance from friends and family to investigate the Bible itself. I was surprised how often such people were told, by even Roman Catholic priests or nuns, that they should not study the Bible.
The book also encouraged me to perseveringly pray for those who need the love of Christ as displayed in the biblical gospel.
Great little book! Highly recommend!
April 22, 2014
An interesting collection of accounts of people who have come to faith in God from a background of Catholicism. These narratives emphasize the importance of the role of grace in salvation, the forgiveness offered through Christ, and the truth available to all believers in the Bible. I have friends who have turned from Protestantism to Catholicism, so I will be offering this book to them in the interests of dialog.
January 31, 2014
Read my review here:
http://reformed-at-last.blogspot.com/...
You can hear Shaun Tabatt from Author Talks interview Mark Gilbert here:
http://biblegeekgonewild.com/2014/01/...
http://reformed-at-last.blogspot.com/...
You can hear Shaun Tabatt from Author Talks interview Mark Gilbert here:
http://biblegeekgonewild.com/2014/01/...
April 14, 2014
My husband just returned from a conference and he was given a stack of free books, this one included. It was a quick read but very interesting. I felt it was gracious toward the Catholic church for the most part...gave me good insight into what the big differences are between Protestants and Roman Catholics.
January 15, 2015
This is a collection of the "faith journeys" of eleven different people from Catholicism to a living faith in the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. Their stories are personal, honest, and unembellished. The doctrinal differences between Catholicism and Protestantism are not addressed, other than in the context of these individuals' life experiences. A good Christian read!
April 16, 2014
The stories told in this book both encouraged by faith in the gospel and filled my heart with praise to the God of grace. However, testimonial books are not my favorite type of genre. I only read the book because I received it for free.
April 18, 2014
This is a great collection of stories. Even if you're not Catholic or a former Catholic, it's worth the read to hear the stories of how these men and women came to Jesus. Even better if you have a friend who is thinking about whether or not they should remain in the Catholic church.
March 8, 2014
My review is on my blog, Back Porchervations.
August 1, 2014
My family can relate to many of the stories in this book.
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