Ken Hensley was a rock and roll-loving Southern Californian who suddenly found himself confronted with the claims of Christianity. He began to explore the Bible and various Christian authors privately, afraid he’d be mocked by his friends if they found out what he was reading. As a new Christian, he wanted primarily to go into teaching, but ended up pastoring for a number of years.
One day, a member of Ken’s congregation came to him and mentioned he’d been debating with a group out of San Diego called Catholic Answers, and they’d sent him some materials. Imagine Ken’s surprise when he found out one of the tapes was a talk by his friend Scott Hahn- who he’d known as a Presbyterian minister, and had no idea he’d become Catholic!
In this episode, Ken also addresses the struggles that protestant pastors face when they become Catholic- the financial hardships, the reorientation of their careers, and the struggle to understand their vocation in the Church. This one is definitely a good one to share with any pastor you know who’s considering joining the Catholic Church!
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Dear Ken, So many of your articles have been reaffirming regarding our family’s transition to the Church. Interestingly, we were at Fuller at the same time, you in theology and me in psychology. It took us much longer to find the truth but we are now firmly home. A point you made, the need for inquisitiveness, stood out as so very essential to recognizing the need to find the true Church. The need to answer the difficult questions would seem self-evident given the persistent debates (actually arguments) that occur so frequently in Protestant colleges and seminaries. Similarly to you, I am dumbfounded that so many Protestants have no curiosity regarding what the Protestant divisions imply. One passage that has struck me so powerfully is John 17:21 “that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” That last declaration displays the futility of all schism. Thank you to you and Marcus for a wonderful show. Wes Vincent
Thank you!
thank you for this interview! I was the seminarian in our house that came into the church. My then 18 yr old son came into the church with me, my then 19 year old did not. A year later my husband (and oldest) still want nothing to do with the Catholic Church. Discussing it is not an option. Truly a hard place to be. God bless you and yours. Thank you for your testimony
Thank you so much for this interview and your candid answers. I am the wife of a minister and it has been hard knowing that the decision that I make will effect him. Just listening to other people share their own experiences and struggles
helps me cope. I feel guilty both sides; that I am not moving into the Church faster and that I am compromising my husband’s position at all. Thank you all for all that you do.
Be assured of our prayers for your faith journey. If there is anything we can do for you please get in touch!
Thank you, R. Giddens. Knowing nothing about you but what you’ve written here, the only advice I can think to give you is what I would give to the wife of any Protestant minister drawn to the Catholic Church: even if you would not be naturally inclined to want to “study” the issues involved, do it. Take the time to read the books and discuss the issues. May the Lord lead you and your husband!!