Evangelical Protestant to Orthodox Priest | Fr John's Conversion to Orthodoxy | TIO003 CWP069

[@brav0wing]

I am an Orthodox Christian from Romania. So happy to see that Orthodoxism it's finding its way into the U.S.

[@broman9075]

In a small mission in Alabama, my whole family, four other families, all going through catechism in rocor. Former pentecostal, the calvinist, then Lutheran, now Orthodoxy. So glad to finally find the truth. Been a 35 year long journey.

[@ProtestantismLeftBehind]

Ty for sharing. I left behind Protestantism after 24 years finding the Orthodox Church, was chrismated 2023.

[@stockman214]

what a beautiful thing! thank you for sharing

[@stockman214]

So much of the Divine Liturgy is praying to God. Amen and thanks be to God.

[@notyourtypicalcomment2399]

Isn’t the long prayer to be done in private?

[@friendsofsaintanthony]

God was working from Fr John's earliest years, bringing him to the Orthodox faith.

[@sofiebult]

So how long was the journey to orthodoxy?

[@notyourtypicalcomment2399]

Isn’t the long prayers supposed to be done in private?

[@gidget8717]

Orthodox faith? Has orthodoxy usurped Christ? 😳

[@dashcamacademy6457]

@@gidget8717 No, why would it? The priest makes that very clear - in fact, Orthodoxy is profoundly Christ centered

[@dashcamacademy6457]

@@notyourtypicalcomment2399 yes, private and public, there are no restrictions about worshipping God (thanks be to God ☺)

[@b.r.holmes6365]

I've worshipped at his parish in San Diego several times. It is a beautiful Christian community on fire for the Lord and the truth! ❤ ✝️

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Glory to God!!

[@stockman214]

Amen!

[@clivejames5058]

I converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism because of the Sacraments but I was uneasy about some of the doctrines (especially the ones not found in Scripture, telling me I was in a state of mortal sin, unless I believed in them). Finally, after more than 20 years, I found the Orthodox Church, chatted to a priest (over several visits) and had all my questions/doubts answered. I often wish I had been born into the Orthodox Church but then going via a circuitous route was probably no bad thing. It forced me to study, to discuss and to search into every corner of my spiritual life. I feel I am finally home at the age of nearly 70!

[@RyanFitzgerald-kr6ss]

That's awesome, so glad to hear about this!! We all have different paths - may God bless you!!

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Amazing, thank you for sharing!!❤

[@stockman214]

We all have unique paths - thank you for sharing your story!

[@WilliamEllison]

Then you wouldn't have a story to tell.

[@dashcamacademy6457]

@@WilliamEllison yes indeed, would love to hear that!!!

[@silenciummortum2193]

God bless you, Father. I am converting to Holy Orthodoxy through ROCOR. Please pray fervently for my conversion as I pray for all of you!

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Amen, Amen, Amen!

[@mirelaalina4050]

Eastern Orthodox ☦️ Our God and Love Jesus Christ! ❤️

[@RyanFitzgerald-kr6ss]

Amen to that! Hopefully you enjoyed this interview with Fr John.

[@stockman214]

Thanks be to God!

[@pg618]

For 10 years I read this read that went here went there then with gilquest I became Orthodox 37 years ago, that is home, thank God.

[@RyanFitzgerald-kr6ss]

this is great to hear!

[@tateoien871]

Hey Fr. John! Have the pleasure of visiting his parish when I come back home to visit family, he's a lovely priest.

[@Mahat70]

So happy God led me to Orthodoxy and Fr John and Fr Nathan. I look forward to every Sunday and my catechism classes.

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Glory to God!!

[@dashcamacademy6457]

This is great to hear!!❤❤

[@thomascurry4762]

I'm so glad that God led me to faith in Jesus Christ!

[@cherylcorbitt4540]

Thank you. We are in our 70s and were chrismated on Lazarus Saturday this year. I see new people and families come almost every Sunday! Is this happening where you are? I truly believe God is calling His children home. Praise God and Lord have mercy!

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Yes it is happening here in San Diego as well! God bless you and thank you for sharing☦️

[@LivingWaterEternal]

I will have to come check out the church as I am going through what he has explained. Great interview. Thank you. So funny to living in San Diego thinking about this and the video appears. God is the best!!!!

[@dashcamacademy6457]

Wow that is amazing! Yes you should go, it is amazing.

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Please come visit, it'd be great to meet you! ❤☦️

[@dashcamacademy6457]

Wonderful! We’re you able to visit?

[@lindaphillips4646]

Hi, 'Living'. Probably my favorite song in my prtnst life was "God moves in a mysterious way.. ". I still love it. Teared up a little as i typed that. Such things as these are not coincidences.. I hope you get to walk through those doors very soon. This Sunday just past was Pentecost. The Orthodox church is a blessing. A profound blessing. Many of us understand what Fr. John said. So glad you are having similar thoughts.. ☦📿💝📿☦

[@dashcamacademy6457]

This is so good, I just watched it again. Love his candid and peaceful approach. He's like an open book, I love it. We need more priests like him.

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@Anthony-vm9gz]

This is cool to hear. Fr John is an awesome priest :)

[@friendsofsaintanthony]

100%

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Amen!!

[@stockman214]

Amen!

[@marianaxia6309]

What a wonderful story and a great video overall! Thank you so much for sharing! May God grow and bless His flock and increase them day by day to become truly Orthodox followers and cross-bearers in this fallen world!

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@RobSablon]

Thank you for publicizing this.

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Glory to Jesus Christ! Thank you for listening and sharing ☦ Are you Orthodox? :)

[@acekoala457]

Thank you Father and Craig Patrick for your time.

[@monvici]

I'm proud of your decision. Wellcome to Orthodox church! ❤️🙂

[@nuggetoftruth-ericking7489]

Interesting testimonies...thanks.

[@jeremystock7092]

I've been waiting for this episode!!! ☦️❤️☦️❤️☦️

[@ApostolicStorm]

The Protestant reformation did exactly what it’s called-it was a theological protest that literally reformed the ancient Apostolic Church to a watered-down lukewarm Church. Saint Paul commands all believers to obey his God-ordained Church traditions (1 Corinthians 11:1-2), which the paralyzed Protestant circles heretically deny. Welcome to Orthodoxy, to the true Church established by Jesus Christ. Amen.

[@stockman214]

Thank you for writing!

[@Bullcutter]

The Protestant Reformation was a movement against the corruption and errors of the Catholic Church. I suggest you read a good book on the subject!

[@miguelramos1855]

You must have misread Corinthians there is nothing mentioned about tradition.

[@parsaeye]

You have zero understanding of the Reformation! Read the history of it, and most importantly, the reasons for it before making blind statement!

[@Sonofiraq24]

You know that you are generalizing Not all of protestants are lukewarm or watered down Most protestants are devout christians

[@b.questor]

I find orthodoxy challenging. Understanding is a blessing.

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

God bless you!! 🙏🏽

[@Theoretically-ko6lr]

Glory to God ❤

[@QuTeBug]

Goodness, my daughter lives in Page, AZ

[@RyanFitzgerald-kr6ss]

Maybe she knows Fr John???!!

[@Dom_Alexander]

Epic I’m glad to see the full video!

[@RyanFitzgerald-kr6ss]

yes we need more of this!!

[@lornadoone8887]

Robert E. Webber, mentioned around the 21:00 min. mark, passed away in 2007. I believe he was still Evangelical Anglican at that time.

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Thank you for that information. Greatly appreciated. May God have mercy on us all.

[@Boka387]

Hello there from Orthodox Serbia. May I ask, when do you celebrate Orthodox Christmas in the US, is it January 7th or in December?

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Greetings! It depends on what Church, but the Antiochian, Greek, and OCA churches celebrate on December 25th 🎉

[@monvici]

January 7th. Protestants and Catholis spend it on December

[@ShepardWalks]

What church is it?

[@dashcamacademy6457]

the Eastern Orthodox Church

[@cloudofwitnessesradio]

Filmed at St Anthony the Great Orthodox Church in San Diego ☦️

[@110j]

What's the name of the arabic chant in the beginning?

[@jesseroach8825]

Sounds like the Paschal Stichera

[@110j]

@@jesseroach8825 it's actually Paschal canon

[@zaklinakovace6792]

​@@110j beautiful singing ❤❤❤

[@gman1550]

I’m curious what “schmoltzy” music sounds like

[@dashcamacademy6457]

I imagine it would be the sentimental, emotion driven type. What do you think?

[@joshr805]

how is going from Christianity to Christianity a change.

[@dashcamacademy6457]

The whole interview is about the huge differences!

[@E-pistol]

What's the difference?

[@eddiedelisio]

Watch the video 😅

[@dashcamacademy6457]

Difference between what??

[@E-pistol]

@@dashcamacademy6457 , Pope deniers.

[@RyanFitzgerald-kr6ss]

the world a difference!

[@E-pistol]

@@dashcamacademy6457 , Papacy deniers.

[@dawnnichols7742]

Please heavenly Father open the eyes of those who do not know or believe the Bible, but believe man's idea of the Bible.

[@albertaowusu3536]

Still a protestant ❤

[@dashcamacademy6457]

Worth checking out the important issues brought up in this interview.

[@thomascurry4762]

Why do we celebrate a conversion to an organization instead of to Christ? I see these conversion stories and to me all I hear is, "Joe Schmoe decided to switch from Miracle Whip to Mayonnaise?" Does it matter where I sit in a pew as long as I have Christ and him Crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)? I don't know about the people on this forum, but I seek reconciliation with God. That is salvation, and that alone is what matters. Acts 4:12 (among many other verses) teach us that only under the name of Jesus Christ - his death and resurrection - are we brought to everlasting life. So, if there is a human religion, or organization, that can offer this gift of Christ, then I will celebrate it. Otherwise, all I can celebrate is those who come to faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everything else, to Quote Aquinas, is straw. I'm happy this guy has found a community with this group, but it is only faith in Jesus that matters and not where he pays membership dues.

[@Blaisesongs]

My question exactly. Salvation in Christ alone. Do you know the Savior? Switching denom’s is not “conversion.”

[@thomascurry4762]

@@Blaisesongs Amen!

[@nuns8126]

He found God in the Episcopalian Church. He met Jesus already. Then he was searching for the correct "organization". Mind you, he already had a relationship with Jesus.

[@nuns8126]

​@@Blaisesongsyour definition of salvation is deficient. It's not a Once Done salvation. The truth is its a continual conversion to christ. It's daily transformation to Christ. The name of this process is called Theosis.

[@thomascurry4762]

@@nuns8126 If one gets his theology from the Bible and the tradition of the Apostles, then salvation - like the death and resurrection of Christ which brings salvation - is a one time event (for lack of a better word). Sanctification is another process that happens gradually. However, as we know from the Gospels, Salvation is not dependent upon a process of sanctification. Rather, it's the other way around. Your definition of deification (i.e. theosis) is an accretion to the Gospel. I am not saying theosis isn't a thing. All I am saying is that theosis is not the same as salvation (i.e. righteousness). Theosis may properly be part of sanctification because it involves some doing on the part of the person. Man cannot save himself, and just as God did not require Man's participation to be created - God does not require Man's participation to be saved in the new creation.

[@evanmbiter]

God is love. We all fall short and sin. Love is just and merciful. Because God is loving He must judge sin, we all stand judged and are due to face His wrath as slaves of sin. Because God is merciful He provided a way out from under the weight of the law, His wrath, and a way for us to be regenerated. If we trust Jesus shed His sinless blood, died and rose from the grave He forgives us of our sins and gives us a new heart that wants to look God as our Father genuinely and delight in Him, freeing us from being slaves to sin. The rest is our mind catching up with that reality and taking hold of His teaching and truth until He returns, or we die. We aren't saved or kept saved by obedience. We can only be lost through unbelief (trusting in our own righteousness, to be or remain saved) or blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (attributing clear works of God, healing/deliverance, to demons and Satan). Commandments aren't have to's, they are what we do because we actually want God's direction and It's what fulfills us. You can't be born again without the desire to honor God. (Works based salvation "Christians" and those who believe you can have the Holy Spirit without receiving the desire to honor the Father are both wrong.) We love because God first loved us.

[@donhaddix3770]

this proves nothing. people change religions ever day

[@RyanFitzgerald-kr6ss]

Inquiring minds want to know, this is a very compelling account!

[@dashcamacademy6457]

What is there to prove? He is sharing his spiritual journey.

[@donhaddix3770]

@@dashcamacademy6457 bsd trip

[@dashcamacademy6457]

What? You are incoherent.

[@backinmyrightmind]

@@donhaddix3770troll

[@WilliamEllison]

Evangelical Protestant to Orthodox Priest is the same thing. FACT. I know this because I'm Protestant and believe exactly what Orthodox Priest believe. This title is WRONG, and it's just trying to stir up HATE.

[@acekoala457]

No. I used to be Evangelical. And I didn't believe anything close to what I believe now.

[@RyanFitzgerald-kr6ss]

No William, he is simply sharing his spiritual journey, there's no hate in his words at all, none! According to his experience there are important differences. Of course there are important things in common as well - praise be to God!

[@ChristisLordandKing]

Protestants idolize Scripture. Protestants teach a false doctrine of salvation. Protestants disrespect and grieve the most Holy Mother of God. I'm ex protestant myself; surely you don't pray to the Holy Saints of God, right? I didn't when I was protestant. They are taught that it is idolatry. This is a discrepancy. You cannot argue that this is the same belief. I would be interested in hearing some form of elaboration, if you're willing. I do wonder how you could make such a claim. And how could you claim Fr. John is stirring up hate? Again, elucidation would be appreciated.

[@dailymeditateandchill3262]

By definition, you DO NOT believe the same as the Orthodox. Just like, an Orthodox would not confuse their beliefs with that of a protestant. It's not hate, it's truth. If you want to be protestant, cool. But you're fooling yourself if you think what you believe is the same, otherwise, why are you still a protestant? Go ahead and convert. Might as well if that's truly the case.

[@DevinMork]

Wrong

[@jspur7507]

Anyway my name is John c. Spurlock, and I have enough Study about the false history of the church. That is that he history of the orthodox church and the Catholic church has not always had right doctrine unfortunately. Bryan Denlinger is a real good teacher who teaches against going to church building, and he is right Paul never told anyone to go to a church building. I myself used to think that it was an obligation to go to church myself for years. Heck I even was in a Baptist church, and there I was Water Baptised because I thought that since Jesus got baptised that I needed to get water baptised myself, but hat was not a part of Paul's gospel, and it was not a part of the Dispensation of Grace Either, and that is because we no longer need to get baptised in water, but only in the Holy Ghost for the body of Christ. Anyway nevertheless I've done enough Study to know that the church Traditional Time-lines in the Dates of certain Manuscripts are not the correct dates because they do not fit the proper time-lines to when that manuscript was written. Like the book of John's Revelation where he says that the coming of the Lord is Immanent which actually contradicts the apostle Paul's Writings where he says that the lord's Return wasn't immanent. And so that can only mean one thing: that the time-lines that were agreed were wrong. Also there is a good teacher by the name of Paul Felter that also says this as well. anyway the bible Cannot contradict itself if it is accurate. anybody that has studied the bible after all knows that the bible does not contradict itself, and the only reason why one would believe that is if they were not Dispensationalist. So that is what is wrong with the Catholic Church to day, and also certain Eastern Orthodox churches as well. Plus there may be some catholic churches who are trying to get away from traditional catholic churches, but however the catholic church has always been servants of Satan in the higher-up ranks of the catholic church: people who are in charge of power and money. And as a matter of fact the United States Government is controlling this war in the Ukraine, and our the fact is that the Ukraine had lost that war already over a year ago according to experts and the only reason why their still war mongering over there is because of money. So the west has been milking this situation over there, but just listen to the experts like Scott Ritter or Col. Douglas Macgregor, and you can find them on the show called Redacted Hosted by Clayton Morris. So the war in the Ukraine is only about money and nothing else just so you know. Well these churches are kind of the same way wanting power, and making slaves of Christians if they can however. Anyway they are not at all a "First Century Church", and that is because they do not believe at all in what Paul taught: that is: is they are not Pauline, and for today the true church of God is a Pauline Church which is the "True Body of Christ". But I am well aware of the Scripture. I did not always understand dispensationalism so I myself was confused for a long time. Also keep in mind that the book of Isaiah also Prophesizes about Paul They Apostle: although it does not reveal what his ministry was, but that he would come out of the root of Jesse. Paul Felter talks about that. And that is for some people who believe that Paul was false which is not true at all. The don't like Paul because they hate grace because they can't scare people into their submission to their lies, and scaring people into beleiving that one can lose their salvation which is nonsense. Once Saved than always saved no way around that one: although false teachers fight it anyway. It is very obvious that it is a pre-trib. rapture but people still teach post anyway: These people are very unrealistic and perhaps crazy, and that is because they either hate dispensationalism, or they do not understand it. I also know that the false church today speaks against John Nelson Darby because he tied to correct the church's false teachings. He believed in dispensationalism so they didn't like him because I guess they couldn't fool anybody anymore about what scripture actually says. There was a a lecture that I briefly listened to where a woman said that she thinks that dispensationalism interfers with certain Doctrines so in her opinion that it wasn't true. Well she was wrong because people who do not believe in dispensationalism do not understand what true doctrine really is, or that is: they don't understand what is actually correct, and it is important to be correct because every Christian deserves to hear the truth being taught. John Hagee is a preacher who teaches that people in the church today are under the "Ten Percent Tithe", but in actual reality we are not under the ten percent tithe because the ten percent tithe was a tither that Israel was supposed to give, and it was actually 4 tithes a year. Heck there was even a tithe that God Sanctioned Israel to give during the 7 Festivals that was a tithe to themselves, Yes God said that they could give one tithe every year to themselves which was the fourth tithe that year. And God told them actually that they could tithe Strong Drink as that 4th tithe, or drink wine if their hearts desired it that one tithe. But my point is though that that tithe was only for Israel, and there are teachers who teach that we're under the tithe which we are not. Paul never told us to go to any church building, nor told us to tithe ten percent. Paul never told the body of Christ to tithe ten percent, but he said that we can give out of our time or money whatever we want to and not if we cannot afford it, but you''ve got false preachers like john Hagee saying that. He also claims to be a preacher who does not compromise which makes him a liar obviously. But Churches today want to make slaves out of people so that is one reason why they hold to false doctrines. ?It is largely the reason why they don't want their church congregation to be free in their own person. Plus anyway every person only has to answer to God and not to man. My relationship with god is my own business and not the churches, and if the church was really interested in me then they would not care what I put in the offering plate, or if I even give at all anyway. I would not recommend anyone belonging to any church at all. That is not what Paul Taught. But Paul's Epistles are different levels of Maturity, and even listen to a real good teachers teaching on that by the name of Paul Lucas because he is right. Each Epistle to the church that he preached to had a different level of Maturity and it was up to that individual Christian to Study God's Word and to rise to each level of maturity. But anyhow: listen to Paul Lucas because he can clear this up for you. And when we rise to our eventual highest maturity level then when we are Judged at the Final Judgement Seat of Christ: that is where we will have our works be burned, or will our works last, and after our judgement: then we will be placed in an area of Heaven that fits our maturity level, and that is where we will be placed to do a particular job based on our maturity level, and then we will be the replacement of those fallen angels who rebelled against God back in Genesis, but the church will be put in heavenly places after the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church. Anyway I just want to warn especially new born baby Christians to stay away from Orthodoxy, or just the catholic church, or any church for that matter because most of them do not care about you as a person, and they want you to be their tax cattle. They want to make you into their source of money, and that is all.

[@johnnyd2383]

"Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour." (Acts 3,1)

[@acekoala457]

"One Christ, One Faith, One Baptism"-St. Paul "The Church is the Body of Christ"-St. Paul

[@AShroudOfTruth]

Stop putting PAUL on a pedestal above CHRIST, or any other called saint! Turn to no one but to 'the ONE' who earned your love, trust and veneration! The Christ himself! Paul was an imperfect sinful man who made many mistakes (just as we all do) - and as all the 12 disciples had, those ones who actually knew Him and spent time with our Lord failed in some ways, but Christ has never once failed! He is Lord, He is the Master of Masters - turn to no other!

[@AShroudOfTruth]

Jesus said Himself that He did not come to change the law! He changed not one tittle! In fact, He fulfilled ALL of them to the letter, and WE are to follow in his footsteps!

[@AShroudOfTruth]

Absolutely not once saved always saved! Go ahead, risk turning your back on Christ, intentionally going your own way, swimming in your selfish sin according to YOUR will and not His will 'without repenting' and face the consequences. Think twice!