The Most Incredible Conversion Story Ever (w/ John Edwards)

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by podcaster, writer, and speaker John Edwards to share what I think is the most incredible conversion story ever.
John breaks the record previously held by the wonderful Tsh Oxenreider as he speaks for a full hour unpacking his whirlwind conversion story: through a crippling drug addiction, successes and failures, ups and downs, and an incredible return to the Catholic Church through the grace of vulnerability and the sacraments John's story is absolutely breath-taking. I can promise you'll be on the edge of your seat throughout; and once you start, you won't be able to hit pause!
For more from John check out ‪@justaguyinthepew‬ and his website for links to book him to speak and for more information about the resources he's creating through his ministry: www.justaguyinthepew.com
For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [e-mail].
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[@carakerr4081]

Funny I listened to this conversation about a year ago and I wasn’t considering Catholicism at that time. God is now leading me to the Catholic Church after 10 years in the evangelical Protestant church. Amazing testimony God bless you 🙏🙏🙏

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Awesome!

[@Bacco1st]

Blessings to you, God Loves us All and is happy you are enjoying the Faith in his Holy Catholic Church and Family.💖🙏💖

[@dorcas4035]

Prayers for your journey 🙏❤️‍🔥

[@lynevoss4106]

@carakerr4081, how are you? I hope you finally decided to “Come Home.” If not, COME ON OVER, FRIEND! What do you have to lose? Just come right in and when you’re in and you decide it was not what you expected, hey, you’re free to return to your old church. One thing to FOCUS on while you’re thinking about it some more. How do you reconcile with our Lord’s message in John 6? Remember, all His disciples left Him after that exhortation. And, they could not “bear” and “accept” it because they all knew Jesus meant what He said to EAT His Body and DRINK His Blood. And, when they all left He did NOT call them back and appease them by saying, “Come back. I meant it to be just a SYMBOL.” No He did not! Because God will NEVER force Himself on us! God bless you. friend❤️🙏❤️‍🔥🙏

[@madgiemadgie9128]

WOWW!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I only put this on to get me through ironing. I cried loud Nigerian tears, I laughed, I clapped, I praised our Awesome God Of Mercy! What a life he has lived, what a turnaround! And John thought listeners would be bored? This is better than Netflix and Prime Video! Fantastic. God bless you both🙏🏾❤️

[@TheCordialCatholic]

What a comment. Thank you so much! Wow!

[@BensWorkshop]

Truly Praise The Lord!

[@olivetaelizabeth]

"I will not divorce you because of the vows I made to God". So proud of you Angela ☺💕

[@MelaniesManicures]

That was the moment I cried the first time. How amazing and faithful she is. 💖

[@olivetaelizabeth]

@@MelaniesManicures 1John 3:1 "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the Children of God". :) We are indeed the Children of God ! :)

[@Dash_023]

Amen!

[@brittanycutrera814]

She’s a good Catholic.

[@ritabowen8302]

​@@MelaniesManicures🙏

[@BrandonDanilition]

I became a catholic at the age of eighteen. I just posted my first video sharing my video. Your take is so true, more than just becoming catholic… the power of the sacraments!

[@angelakodicek]

Can you please share the link to your conversion story?

[@danfeeney1762]

There is nothing that converts like genuine christian witness. John you are converting and saving people with your story. God bless

[@pololo2553]

Confession is giving a bath to your soul. Restore your relationship with Jesus and He pours His grace on you.

[@NavigatingCareers]

So enjoyed your story very much, John!! I’m a Catholic Life Coach and I am definitely sharing your story with others ❤🤗🙏🏻 God bless you and your family!!

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thanks for watching, and sharing!

[@smad8254]

I love this. I'm a 26yo but somehow I relate so much to his story on how the more you lie the further you are from God and it's always not wanting to be vulnerable that stops you from turning to our father. I went yesterday to confession for the first time in years only because I was tired of going around looking for happiness elsewhere other than him. Glad to have find this talk at the right time at this point in my life.

[@jeaninabutcher6660]

Fantastic!

[@stephenbaker7079]

That is truly GOOD NEWS!

[@cartouchei9446]

What a blessing…….. im proud of you , Jesus is proud of you. I am impressed with your courage. ❤

[@testimoniodefe]

You had me on the edge of my seat, crying, sobbing. What an amazing testimony of God's love and mercy. My story is similar to yours in terms of the lying to keep up with a facade. Sometimes I still feel like I am a sum of all my horrible sins, I know it's the devil putting that in my mind. But God's mercy is way bigger than any sin. Thank you ❤️

[@BensWorkshop]

The depth breadth and spender of God's lover is beyond measure.

[@sopad4629]

You have 57K views. We appreciate you sharing. You are a hero. for helping us save our souls. Your story is a good example to hear the Mercy of God. We all need His mercy and we appreciate you reminding us of His Mercy. You helped a lot of men and fathers humble themselves to the Lord. Thank you for letting us hear the love, the goodness and the mercy of God. God Bless you and your family.

[@NihouNi]

It’s a truly vital point that is made - about men needing a space in which to be vulnerable. I work with men who have been pornography addicts and online sex offenders. A theme that comes up all the time is their keeping everything to themselves and never talking about woundedness. May God always bless your work.

[@momflock]

Amazing story. It gives a mother hope for a lost son.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

I hope so!

[@mariainesmayor2606]

Thank you for sharing your story.... Welcome to Catholic Faith.

[@jonathansonnier3078]

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU JOHN NOBODY IS SLEEPING YOU BROUGHT US THROUGH EVERY EMOTION IN THE BOOK AND SLEEP AINT ONE OF EM. THANKS MAN

[@TheCordialCatholic]

I know, right?!

[@OstKatholik]

I heard his story, when he talked at Matt‘s Channel about it. Crying like a child. Everyone should hear it.

[@Gerschwin]

Just listened to this.. Yip. Cried like a baby

[@eyesonyou8296]

Where can i find it please? If u can share the link please. Thank u very much, Godbless🙏

[@melaniewalker162]

kzbin.info87uzBUMS8Ps?si=JknGdprt-qzUCYRb

[@melaniewalker162]

​@eyesonyou8296 I think he is talking about Matt Fradd kzbin.info87uzBUMS8Ps?si=JknGdprt-qzUCYRb

[@xavm4628]

God loves us no matter what we have done. Thank you John for sharing your story.

[@kimfleury]

Well. It wasn't click bait. I didn't notice how long the video was when I hit play. Normally I would have just shut down at bedtime, but I'm up way past my bedtime and my eyes are swollen from the tears. May the Lord strengthen John more and more each day, and bless John's whole family, his mission, and you and your mission.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

It wasn’t!! I’m so glad you watched it! 🥰

[@-LMB]

What a beautiful and powerful testimony! What a marvelous God we have! It’s amazing to see the wondrous things he does when a person surrenders his life to Him. God bless you John, God bless your wife and blessing to those faithful priests!

[@tasiaflynn3549]

Jeremiah 1:4 The Lord said to me, 5 " I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born. You speak from your heart with your testimony God bless you and your family's and God bless you two ❤❤

[@berthahernandez2209]

Thank you for your testimony. May God bless you and your family. We so much need men’s groups like yours. Prayers for all men and fathers 🙏🏼❤️

[@SaintlySaavy]

Reading the comments before watching. Wow, let me get comfortable!... I'll follow up after watching this

[@kristyfranco3739]

Wow! Thank so much for sharing John 😊 God bless you and your family. It is so wonderful to see God working in men’s hearts. We need holy men! Thank you for responding to God’s call and for touching the hearts of other men who need to know that they are all loved so dearly by God. What a good God!

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thanks for watching!

[@alcidesrios7222]

Bro this was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was upset with my boys because they didn’t put away the washed clothes. I started folding them while listening to this story and it was perfect, I was uninterrupted while doing the clothes which was perfect so as to be able to listen to this story. Wow amazing story!!!!!!!

[@darrellperez1029]

I think we heard this story on a TMIY session. The story is incredible.

[@judyedwards9774]

Beautiful story. How Jesus works thru people. He was coming after you until He caught you.. Thank God.. God Bless you John....keep helping others...

[@davidpescod7573]

John, you are a source of help to all of humanity which daily fails in so many ways, ending up believing they are worth nothing. Yet God loves intensely every single person who has lived or will live. Your experience shows how truly wonderful is the mercy of God who forever calls each individual. We must learn how glorious it is to answer that call

[@triconcert]

Wow! That's really an amazing conversion story! God bless you John.

[@1yogachris]

It's very deep. I've learned something important about confession. Thank you.

[@rosiegirl2485]

I have also heard his story before. Though I don't mind hearing it again! It truly is packed with action and lots and lots of grace! This story really shows us how good and loving our God is! ❤

[@starpinestudio]

Incredible testimony... Wow.. So genuine and humble. God Bless both of you and I pray we meet in heaven someday!

[@Fraevo10]

This man’s testimony gives tremendous glory to the redeeming love of God that is in Christ Jesus. I cried several times listening to it. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is so good.

[@catherineakriehn5150]

I'm so grateful to have heard your testimony. I could relate to you and your place of brokenness due to the immense sin in my life. Thank you for reminding me how much God/Jesus loves me so much and that I'm not the sum of my sins but the sum of His love. Thank you Jesus. P.S. What a great blessing your wife Angela is!, God is GREAT

[@Elena-kc3vw]

Reminds me of Ebenezer Scrooge after his encounter with the spirits of past and present in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Such grace! God bless us, every one.

[@decluesviews2740]

What a powerful interview and testimony!

[@TheCordialCatholic]

I know, right?!

[@jjwurtz]

Very inspirational story!! More men bead to read “Be a Man!” Great book!! Keep sharing!!

[@genevieverose931]

Real life is messy and honesty is the food we all need, to help us realize we are all sinners and you are not going to shock a Priest with your confession. Shame and fear are weapons of the Devil. We need to be willing to humble ourselves and accept forgiveness from God and forgive ourselves and then let it go. 🙏💖🙏

[@cristinabarone9799]

You definitely have a good Catholic wife, so blessed. God is so good and the miracles He preforms without us realising. He knows exactly what we need and sometimes we need to be strip right back, to bring us back to humility. All glory to God. God bless you all.

[@thysdebeer8592]

Great story. Thank you for sharing from South Africa.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thanks for watching! My wife and I love South Africa! We spent some time there years ago!

[@maryjoanangeles4030]

John is creating a new dynamic for male only ministry. It is a great need of the times when men are losing their masculinity and with it the gift of being good if not great fathers and husbands to their families, the smallest unit of society. Bless also John’s beautiful faithful patient w❤fe who brought him to the Catholic faith and also became his rock at the lowest point of his double life she did not know about. The concept of Alcohol Anonymous has been proven through the ages because while we sin alone we can only have healing with people helping us get over it by just listening and not judging us. Then, the Holy Spirit can take over in bringing us back to the Loving Always Waiting Father through Jesus. Mother Mary will also intercede for us as well asSt. Joseph if we ask them to.

[@garyhogan7881]

As a lifelong protestant, I'm sitting here in tears. Longing to go to confession. Wow, what a story. So, You're telling me Jesus is in the sacraments??...

[@EpoRose1]

What a great story! Teared up when all the men got up “like pistons!”

[@johnchung6777]

Excellent video on John Edward’s testimony,I’ve seen it on Keith Nester’s video also.And there’s one thing I have to mention about we Catholic’s and that is do not underestimate the powers of evils because of our fallen human nature and our free will .For we Catholic’s have to realize that evils are not limited to our fallen human nature and our free will John’s testimony and countless other Catholics attest to what I’m saying,if any catholic is offended please do understand that it’s not my intention AT ALL.

[@Boxed4Y]

What an impactful testimony! Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting this show together. What a gift!

[@mariemorrison6278]

Wow, we need to understand God's love and mercy. Trust in Him. His suffering led to our redemption, all we need to do is ask for the grace to transform our suffering so that we don't transmit it to others.

[@taramccreary8997]

Gosh this story brought me to tears so many times.

[@Azulcielo226]

Glory to God! Wonderful testimony! Our Lord is so merciful! When he touches our heart we fall in love! May God bless you, your family, your ministry.🙏

[@BensWorkshop]

At 53:58 Not a chance of being asleep. I did shed some tears. Also I did stop to praise the Lord for saving John's life. Wow. What a witness.

[@teresitamiranda1194]

What a beautiful conversion story, that i never heard before. Thank you for sharing!!. God Bless you both!!!. I always pray for conversion and repentance for all people, that God will touch people who doesn't know God. I always include myself with that!!🙏🙏🙏

[@berthahernandez2209]

The evil wants us to be stuck in our sins. He doesn’t want us to go to confession. We need to let go of our pride. Confession teaches us to humble ourselves unto God. 🙏🏼❤️ The evil one is really attacking the sanctity of family. Prayers for the patriarch of the family. Strengthen their faith so they can protect their families. 🙏🏼❤️

[@carlosux]

jeez. this brought me to tears. wow

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

“Freedom’s a good thing if you know who you are.”

[@MariaIsabelMenaMontenegro]

Jesus be with you always, God bless for ever

[@timbobsm]

John, you most certainly did not put me to sleep. What a story of converting your life to Christ and helping so many others to do the same. As I listened I also thought of all the sins that I have hidden well from every one...including even in the confessional. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@hesychasticus]

This is powerful! Outstanding testimony and for me personally, relevant and timely. I can see this was recorded a couple of years ago but I guess I wasn't ready to hear it until today. Thank you.

[@Corolla97ww]

Great testimony.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

The most incredible, I’ve heard.

[@sydneyhk1]

Wow this is so beautiful. Your transparency and ownership is a beautiful testimony to God. Praise God

[@F1Hopeful]

Moving in the change possible when faith in Christ takes center stage in our lives…. Thank you!!!

[@lucybarnachea3920]

Wow, so powerful ❤❤

[@Alexander-fr1kk]

One word… AMAZING!!!

[@johnayala5551]

I thank God for these good men ❤

[@nildaamarga3990]

God is so good brother John your so bless and to your entire family

[@MelaniesManicures]

I was so moved to tears with this testimony. You have an amazing family and wife. The priest was amazing as well. Glory to God! I can relate to your story and I pray it touches others who are stuck in the grips of addiction. I’m so happy for you and your journey! Im a new convert from this past Easter vigil and confession was so amazing and it was so wonderful to get out all of my sins to a priest that was ordained by God acting in persona Christi and looks you right in your eyes and gives absolution. I know that as a Protestant we could ask Jesus for forgiveness but I held on to those sins never forgiving myself. Confession is a beautiful sacrament and Jesus is so amazing for giving us this gift and then to receive Jesus in the Eucharist at communion is one of the most wonderful moments of my life. Every time I am United with Christ is just amazing to know He is with me and his Grace is what I need. I just love being Catholic and I want everyone to experience it. Loved this video. I definitely was not sleeping at all. I hope everyone gets a chance to hear this testimony and see there is hope and joy in life with Christ no matter what you have done or how far we’ve fallen. Amen! 🙏

[@MelaniesManicures]

@@solafide9533 you love to comment on every Catholic video. Hi nice to see you again. But I disagree with your theological ideas. I’ll pray for you.

[@MelaniesManicures]

@@solafide9533 you said it. Theology is based on truth like the Catholic faith.

[@MelaniesManicures]

@@solafide9533 Why are you saying, “R church”? What does that mean?…. Nobody bows down to statues. They bow down to Christ the source of all grace. Why don’t you use google and find out the answers instead of spamming every comment on every Catholic KZbin video. Catholic answers is a great source, but of course the Bible is the best source. You will find most answers there, but not all. The rest of the answers come from the Catechism of the Catholic Church in which all traditions have been handed down since Saint Peter. But you don’t want answers. You want to keep posting things you believe to be true with your own personal interpretation of the Bible. We luckily have a Church that was created by Jesus that interprets the Bible so we are never confused unless we don’t know our faith. Revelations 5:8 relates to praying to saints. Saints=anyone who went to Heaven. Of course there wasn’t because the Bible ended and life continued as the church decided what books went in the bible. Thank you to the Catholic Church for compiling the bible. Unfortunately Protestants removed 7 books. Important books that you are missing. And yes the apostles baptized believers with Holy water. They didn’t merely break bread..Jesus said, “This is my body” & “this is my blood”…”unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life within you”. Also the disciples murmured and many left because it was so shocking! At mass we are participating in the passion and are receiving the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of Jesus Christ. And Popes don’t demand anyone kiss their hands and feet. Pope Francis actually washed and kissed prisoners feet this past Easter. It was beautiful and it brought tears to my eyes. Every priest washes regularly peoples feet at Easter as Jesus did. I don’t want a lollipop. By the way that sounds so condescending.

[@MelaniesManicures]

@@solafide9533 I was asking you….What are you meaning by R church?

[@MelaniesManicures]

@@solafide9533 When you bow down to kneel, what are you looking at or standing in front of?…I’ll guess…Maybe a person in front of you in a pew, maybe it’s in front of a pastor? Maybe you’re in front of a wall. Does that mean you’re worshiping those things? Our minds and hearts are bowing to God when we bow and pray. We know that all source of Grace is from God. We see the grace God poured out to the saints that are in Heaven and all Glory is to God. We are thankful to God that we see how the saints lived and followed the Lord and we thank God for the gift of learning from the saints and how they lived their lives. You see what you want from a photo, but you don’t see what’s actually happening in a person’s soul. Have you ever looked at photos of your loved ones or kissed their photo? Have you ever cried when you missed them?

[@blessingsuponblessings]

I’m just in awe to see through your story how God works. Thank you so much for sharing! Praise God✨

[@dec2462]

“We’re not the sum of our sins, we are the sum of His love” ❤love that!! I think every human is the same in that we crave those things that become addictions. What we really crave is God. We just don’t know it. It’s such a difficult transition to wean off earthy addictions to trust 100% in God. When it happens it’s such a victory. Because we will never go back to the fake “high” So never be ashamed of your past, any one of you out there Because sometimes that’s what it takes before you finally find your true love in God. God uses everything in our lives as stepping stones that lead to the doorstep of His mercy

[@tamaraharding5046]

OMG, this testimony is so incredible, you are so loved and cherished John!

[@blakepgh]

I cried three times

[@njohn6995]

Wonderful testimony. Thanks for sharing.

[@paulaalinsangan6435]

What an amazing and inspiring story! You're blessed to have such loving parents, and a wonderful wife. This story proves again the story of God's love and mercy. I learned some years ago (after reading Imitation of Christ) never to judge a person for a misfortune or to give up on someone because of his sinful ways. To do these would be to question God's plan for the person. Instead, we should hope and pray for the person to receive God's love and mercy. And, of course, we should do the same for ourselves. Thank you, John, for your testimony, and now this 75-year-old from the Philippines has become one of your supporters in your mission (and this channel's, too) through prayer.

[@katinphilly1312]

This was fantastic, God bless you both. Thank you

[@cantrait7311]

What a story thanks for sharing

[@petramiranda5095]

IF only these miracles would save ALL addicts, and in a perfect world there would be NO divorce nor broken families. Some people live a very long time living on their addictions and vices, a very long time they live doing this bad lifestyle. Unfortunately, there are too many of us who suffer from their hardened hearts and selfish choices. God bless you, your wife, and your sweet children. I have so much more to write, but I'm certain you get the point. Praise be Jesus Christ that your life was turned around.

[@lucettebrown6493]

Thankyou for showing us the real loven forgiveness n longing for Our Father in heaven longs for us to return to Him no one is ‘ not worth the saving’ That’s the evil one making a last grab for our souls.

[@jaycole3050]

What a riveting story! Thank you for sharing John.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thanks for watching!

[@benzrzo1087]

Fantastic story. Glory to God!

[@krenomichael1812]

Amazing testimony!!

[@joncoady3253]

Beautiful. Beautiful.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thanks for watching!

[@lucettebrown6493]

Perfectly said respond to the Lord.

[@Dash_023]

What an amazing story!

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thanks for watching!

[@jambangoni]

Loved it

[@Mariusz8888]

Amazing ❤

[@dannylegarda8587]

Awesome interview

[@michellemarie9526]

Wow. God is so good.

[@thistledownz.2982]

Praise the Lord 🙏

[@myheroesofamerica719]

I love this

[@JS-wp4wy]

Wow

[@soroushfetkovich5084]

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!

[@markp2023]

There are traditional Catholics that have scriptures showing communion under one kind for the laity the host only I saw a miraculous photograph of a host it had swirls of blood in it so when you partake of the body you're also partaking of the blood the flesh has blood in it

[@twaambochirwa2695]

Thank you 🙏

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thanks for watching!

[@thecatholicman]

Great video

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thanks for watching!

[@nicoleyoshihara4011]

❤

[@emmanuelogbu8851]

Do not mistake the loyalty of friendship for the bond of blood-V

[@christianstephens7213]

This story is an unexspected gym .

[@jobebrian]

1:11:01 Honest question that I don’t expect and even hope won’t be answered: What, at this point, constitutes “messing up very badly”? After you’ve kicked the cocaine and the pornography and all the lying that goes along with it, what does one go to confess every other week? “I indulged my memory of pornography I looked at ten years ago”? “I said something sarcastic and cutting to my best friend.” I’m certainly not denying that we all fall back into sin. We do, and we need (I need) to go to confession to be healed and be free to live as better Christians. My difficulty is with a kind of pettiness, maybe even scrupulosity that seems anything but freeing. In any event, an absolutely fantastic story. Thanks to both the Cordial Catholic and John for really bringing it!

[@jobebrian]

@po18guy Awesome! Thank you, po18guy, I’ll get it.

[@rosythomas3267]

God humbles us only for exalt us, It's a real life 's example your story.please pray for me that I may appreciate the Dacrament of confession as you do

[@TheCordialCatholic]

We’re praying for you!

[@jaypee6955]

Thanks for sharing. Watching from the Philippines.

[@johnhaupt1097]

In all churches for 300??????? Omw. I think its best if no one reply to you any further. The hatred is bad. And yes Jesus started the Catholic church through Peter.

[@ColleenB10]

Bawling 😭😭

[@thestonehousefarm1942]

Awesome testimony

[@lucettebrown6493]

Be humble n ask for Mercy He has already paid the price for our sins. Paying forward.

[@lucillebonds2196]

Our Lord Jesus Christ opened heaven for us again, giving us a chance to be happy with Him in Heaven. Our actual sins, they are on us. We need to work our salvation with fear and trembling . But God is so good and great He founded and established His Church (Called it Bride of Christ) appointed St Peter as the first leader with succession upon death. He send us leaders to teach and baptized those who wanted to partake of his way of salvation.

[@adamnowak926]

👍