He Was Leading Me Home
Nearly two years ago my husband told me something that completely shocked me. He said he felt called to become Catholic. For twelve years he had been a Protestant pastor, and we had even met while studying at Bible ollege. Our whole life had been built around ministry and the Protestant faith. I had grown up as a pastor’s daughter, and I had married a pastor. It was the foundation of everything I knew. So when he told me he believed God was leading him to the Catholic Church, I was confused, hurt, and honestly afraid.
At first I tried to be supportive. I even bought him a Catholic Bible. But that support quickly turned into worry and fear. How could the foundation of our life suddenly change? For about a year we struggled deeply. We argued often, and at times I felt like our marriage itself had been shaken. I felt betrayed by the idea that he wanted to leave everything we had built our lives on.
Eventually, after a particularly difficult season, I agreed to go to Mass with him each week. I also agreed to attend a program called Step-In to learn more about the Catholic faith. But I did not go with an open mind. I went ready to defend my beliefs. I remember the first session clearly. I had my Bible ready, prepared to disprove anything that sounded wrong. I was determined to hold my ground.
But something unexpected happened. As we watched the video and listened to people share their personal faith journeys, I began to let my guard down just a little. I realized that these were people who loved God and wanted to know Him just like I did. Slowly I began to see that there were more things bringing us together than separating us.
After the first session the priest came around to talk with each person about what they hoped to gain from the gatherings. I remember trying to avoid that conversation, keeping myself busy so he wouldn’t come over to us, but eventually he did. With kindness and compassion he asked us our story. My husband shared about his desire to return to the Church. Then it was my turn. Suddenly I was nervous and completely lost for words, which if you know me is very out of character. I finally managed to say that I was Protestant and would remain Protestant. I explained that I was only there to support my husband.
The priest simply nodded and said he was happy I was there. There was no argument, no pressure, just welcome. From that moment I felt more at ease attending the sessions. I still brought my Bible every week, ready to challenge anything that didn’t sound right. But often when I checked Scripture, I discovered things I had never seen before. Sometimes I realized I had missed something. Sometimes I realized I had misunderstood something. And sometimes I realized that I might have been wrong.
As Jesus says in John8: 32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” . The more I learned about the Catholic faith, the more my relationship with God began to grow. But inside I still struggled deeply. How could this be right? How could I have been wrong about so much? There were still teachings that were difficult for me. But little by little the Lord met me in each place of doubt and gently revealed more of Himself.
The moment that truly changed my heart came during Advent when we focused on the Holy Family, Mary and Joseph. All my life I had believed that Catholic devotion to Mary was idolatry. But as we studied Scripture and saw the connections to the Old Testament, something began to change in me. I began to see Mary not as someone Catholics worship, but as the humble servant who said yes to God. In Luke 1:38 she says, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And I remembered that Scripture itself says, “From now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).
Instead of pushing me away, Mary began to draw me closer to Christ. I found myself admiring her faith, her trust, and her obedience. The wall that had been around my heart began to fall just like the walls of Jericho. As Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell.”
Slowly I realized something surprising. The very things that had once pushed me away from the Catholic Church were now the things drawing me in. Step-In became more than a program for me. It became a call to step forward, a call to deeper discipleship, and a call to the family of God.
For the first time I began to understand the incredible gift of the Eucharist, Christ giving Himself to us in the most intimate way possible. Jesus says in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
I am so grateful for this program, and honestly I am a little sad to see it end. I have come to love the community here, the depth of teaching, and the opportunity to grow in my faith. But most of all, Step-In has helped me fall more deeply in love with my Savior.
I thought I was coming here simply to support my husband. But in reality, God was gently leading me somewhere I never expected.
He was leading me home.
