Marcus Grodi welcomes back former Baptist and good friend Steve Ray. “Jerusalem Jones” talks about the way in which biblical typology opened his eyes to the Catholic Church. Ray focuses this episode on the Virgin Mary in Scripture and how the Catholic Church’s tradition on the Mother of God is the most biblical interpretation.
Resources mentioned:
- Steve Ray’s website www.CatholicConvert.com
- Footprints of God series by Steve Ray (Holy Land documentaries published by Ignatius Press)
- Upon this Rock by Steve Ray
- Crossing the Tiber by Steve Ray
- Steve Ray’s Holy Land Pilgrimages www.footprintsofgodpilgrimages.com
- Steve Ray’s conversion story
- Deep in History conference talk “Peter, the Rock, the Keys, and the Chair” Watch for Free | DVD | CD | MP3
- Steve Ray’s Deep in Scripture episodes: The Papacy episode | John 3:16 episode | The Heart of St. Paul episode | “Born Again” episode (Part 1) | “Born Again” episode (Part 2) | Typology and a Visible Church episode
All I can say is this seems typical of those who convert. A crisis of belief occurs and all of the sudden Catholicism has all the answers.
You may have forgotten how they come to “Catholicism has all the answers”… they studied (actually this would be an understatement, they really did their research, reading the writings of the EARLY CHURCH FATHERS and going back farther in history) and not like they wanted to end up in the Catholic Church, a common theme in their conversions is that they all studied the Catholic Church to REFUTE it (I don’t know if you have heard a FULL conversion story of Steve Ray, he wanted to stop a friend from converting to the Catholic Church that’s why he studied the Church). However, once they learned that all they knew about the Church was a misunderstanding and after learning about what the Church is REALLY ABOUT, they cannot turn their backs. Do you think it is a walk in the park to convert to Catholicism? They have to leave their church (community), their families and long time friends. Some of these converts are revered pastors where they are “rock stars”, unless they are sure the Catholic Church is true, it is very doubtful they would have “come home”. I suggest that you pray for God to help you see the truth (to seek the truth earnestly) when you watch conversion stories so that you might be more open to God’s leading. I pray that you will have a fruitful journey. God bless you