We’re a married couple in our mid-30s who live in the D.C. suburbs with our four kids. Jason is a lawyer, and Nikki is home with the kids and has also been working on a Master’s degree in theology. We blog as a way of trying to explain to our family and friends why we decided to “cross the Tiber” to be received into the Roman Catholic Church. We also hope to encourage others who are either on this journey, or already at home in the Ark, to keep seeking after the fullness of His Truth as we all try to help each other reach Heaven.
Dear Nikki and Jason,
Thanks for this great log of your thoughts and discoveries. It has helped me see where you are at and how you got there…..even though I thought I knew you both so well! Your writing is un offensive and Nikki, really, I saw this coming from the time you loved to watch Christmas Mass!
Love you both always,
Mom R
Welcome Home! My wife and I, and our 4 kids, are converts as well. Email me, as I would love to chat. We have some very dear friends in DC, and if you are close, I would love to introduce them to you.
Peace in Christ!
“As a lifelong evangelical Protestant, I am right now at a place I never thought I would be”. Yup! This surprising revelation is not uncommon to us converts. I can’t explain it other than to say one should never be surprised at the work of the Holy Spirit. Welcome home Nikki and Jason.
Interesting thoughts from both of you. Your both good writers. I can see that Tara and I have asked some of the same questions that you guys have. I’ve asked questions about “church” and “authority” quite a bit since the end of law school. Seems like we’ve been asking the same questions and come to different conclusions. Tara and I have come to appreciate “simple church” – non-institutional gatherings of Jesus-followers or as Nikki mentions – meetings in homes, or bars or workplaces. It seems the two of you are traveling the road of following Jesus in a manner that is more centralized than what you grew up with; while Tara and I are attempting to follow Jesus in a manner that is more decentralized than what we grew up with. There are pros and cons of both.
Wish you both well on the Journey of Following Jesus,
Erin
Thanks for the comment, Erin, and thanks for visiting the site! It’s interesting what you say about “centralized” and “decntralized.” I actually think that, in some ways, the Catholic Church is more decentralized, practically speaking, than the typical Protestant congregation. The Pope is an awful long way away and, at least in my experience so far, administers the Church in a much more loose manner than most locally-run Protestant congregations are managed. As to the administration of the local parish, the average Catholic parish makes due with far less staff than Protestant congregations of comparable size. I understand this isn’t going to the question of the truth of either system. They’re just some thoughts on the issue you raise. May God be with you in your and Tara’s journeys as well.
I am so excited for you and your family! Once I read Rome Sweet Home, I began my journey to the Catholic Church and went through RCIA in 2002. I will be praying for you as Christ leads you home and will rejoice with you as you enter the Chruch at Easter! Many blessings and much love. ~Julie
Just found you through Devin Rose’s blog–I look forward to checking in!
Thanks!!! Your blog is seriously cracking us up. My husband also spent many years in the UCC so he’s interested in your take on all that.
Oops, my bad. It was CoC. Minus the U.
That makes more sense (and I thought as much after reading “about him”). Thanks.
Welcome Home from a father of four, a former Pentecostal Protestant minister and convert along with our whole family in January of 2006. God bless you and keep you. Surely his face is shining upon you. Thanks for sharing your story. I will continue to follow via RSS
Thank you for the comment! We recognize what a tremendous sacrifice it is for a Protestant minister to come home to the Church and appreciate you sharing your testimony with us. God bless you and your family.
Jason
I like Nikki’s referenced to the hymn…”I love your church, O Lord!” I’m head over heels in love with it too. Congratulations and welcome home.
Thank you for the kind words!! We are so excited to be home, and your encouragement means a lot!
Jason
Best wishes.
God bless.
Thanks much, Victor. Blessings to you as well!
Congrats on your Tiber swimming.
Thank you!
Hi Jason & Nikki,
In your busy lives, do you have time to answer one question about one aspect of Catholicism that I have yet to receive a satisfactory answer despite submitting it to several Catholic apologists?
The two of you and I have a couple things in common. I practiced law in Ohio for 20 years before moving to Georgia for a change, and then to northern Virginia (Manassas). Besides law, I also have a Baptist background (I might still be a member of a Baptist church in GA, though I am not attending any Baptist church now in VA). I enjoy watching the Journey Home, but the question I want answered is never asked by call-ins or emails.
So, are you up for the challenge? If so, email me at johnjluce@gmail.com and I can email you my question.
Thanks.
Blessings,
John