When a Pastor Becomes Catholic - Ken Hensley

What happens when a Protestant pastor feels a new call on his heart from God, to lay down his ministry and become a Catholic?
Ken Hensley shares what that looked like in his own life when he was serving as a Baptist pastor, and how he works today with dozens of men and women in similar situations through The Coming Home Network.
Are you a pastor looking for fellowship and encouragement as you explore the Catholic Faith? Our apostolate was founded specifically to assist people like you.
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[@johndougherty7216]

Not a pastor, but I’m struggling much like this. I started studying Catholic Christianity because I was called to help Catholics know Jesus better. I had no clue that I would find so much truth that now I have to become Catholic. Now I face the reality of following Jesus into a conversion that will alienate my friends and everyone at church and seriously threatens my marriage. But you have to take up your cross and follow Him to be His disciple. Please pray for me.

[@sleepystar1638]

its the treasure in the field, sell all you have, know that you may be abandoned by everyone

[@perpetuaandfelicity731]

John, to become Catholic is to suffer with Christ . That is the path to eternal joy.

[@user-rb7cr4me8t]

I will remember you as I pray the Stations of the Cross today.

[@jhamberg8968]

Praying for you to discover the FULLNESS of the Catholic faith. The coming home network has countless conversion stories that may help you in your journey. Please watch as many as you need to boost you over. Also read the books of well known Protestant pastors/now theologians that walked this journey: Crossing the Tiber (Steve Ray) Rome Sweet Rome (Scott Hahn) Stunned By Scripture: How the Bible Made Me Catholic (John Bergsma) Jimmy Swaggart made me Catholic (Tim Staples) God bless you!

[@1901elina]

I'm adding you to my prayer book and will pray for you!

[@petertherock7340]

When I made the decision to become Catholic, my life was something of a mess. I was going through my second divorce. My Protestant Reformed Church was in the process of excommunicating me. I entered RCIA in the midst of turmoil socially. My Protestant family thought I had lost my wits… and even said so! My own mother (RIP) told me to become a Lutheran instead a Catholic 😮! Anti Catholicism still has a firm hold on most of my family today, even many years later. One thing that the RCIA director told me at the time of my entrance into Christ’s Church was that there literally is something for every one. And this has proven to be true over and again. Ten years later I am now married validly in the Church to my Catholic wife. We have children to raise, a home, and more Catholic friends than ever. God takes what is broken and creates beauty! 😊😊😊

[@aliszhinchaenz]

Always remember, if you're being persecuted, Jesus was the first.

[@petertherock7340]

@@aliszhinchaenz Thank you! My past challenges never rose to the level of “persecution.” Just some differences of opinion about religion among my family at large. 👍

[@naomymose1866]

Great, holy eucharistic is real lord Jesus,, that is great sucrifice we have every mass, Jesus the Lamb of God is sucrified.

[@joanhaselman444]

God Bless you for persevering. May the Holy Angels always surround you, your family, everyone in your sphere of influence, to lead, to guide, to protect, all through your lives, and at the end of your life, escort you to Heaven. Amen

[@user-ci6vu3qp6k]

Some of the best defenders of the catholic faith are former protestants. I thank the lord for that enlightening people.

[@user-gl9jd3ih8h]

Yes, couldn't agree more! They seem to be the ones shouting from the rooftops. Plus they know their Bible!!! The Catholic Church per se is very timid regarding evangelism.

[@user-gl9jd3ih8h]

Warm greetings from Australia 🦘

[@iggymich]

​@@user-gl9jd3ih8hAre you a catholic? Evangelism is not shouting on the rooftops and conning people money like the way protestant pastors do. Catholics have a catechism. And catholics dont do what others do. We follow the bible according to traditions of the saints who wrote it. Those who saw Jesus and were with and those who died due to confessions of being christians too. Those who brought us here by his grace. They never shouted and asked for money to buy aeroplanes , jets and great vehicles. They never conned people of their wealth. But got all they needed justly by Gods graces.

[@o.o.2255]

Welcome brother - I was a nondenominational charismatic evangelical luther-bapti-costal. Happened to be anti-Catholic, too. In my journey to disprove Catholicism as heretical, I discovered by the Holy Spirit, this is the true faith. Catholicism is Judaism fulfilled. I fought it but in good conscience, I reverted back to the Catholic church.

[@zealousideal]

Same. 👍🏼 ❤

[@MarcMercier1971]

Keith Nester comes to mind. What a new-found treasure to the Faith.

[@IG88AAA]

I love Kenneth’s work on sola scriptura. His series on Catholic answers really reveals the many problems with it.

[@Cristinact]

I have just started reading "Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism" and they coincide on your words on so many levels. Conversion is a whole process, it takes time, it does not take overnight to change and it does have that ripple effect that you mention at the beginning. I am a cradle Catholic and although I've never gone from one Church to another, I have experienced conversion in a different way. It is a neverending process, you can never say: "That's it, that's enough from me". Great to see your testimony, God bless you.

[@malcolmmeer9761]

As a 70 yr cradle Catholic I have watched On The Journey and picked up a lot more nuances of my Faith. Watching this short, it really drove home one Gospel passage..The young man asked Jesus what he needed to do to truly follow Jesus, give everything up. That's extremely hard to do, the young man hung his head and walked away..Thank you for heeding God's call. Welcome home

[@Eve-Nicholson]

Best thing I ever did. A proper faith with tremendous joy and living in richness of beauty of Christ......

[@susand3668]

Dear Ken Hensley, thank you for causing such a ripple effect, at such a cost to yourself, opening yourself to the graces the Lord had in store for you! Love is sacrifice, as He showed us on the Cross.

[@dannogoo]

As a cradle Catholic, I do appreciate the converts zeal for the faith in their involvement in the church. I love apologetics by many former Protestant pastors and Kenny is good example in giving perspectives I often took for granted or was not aware of. I also recognize their commitment to that Treasure by giving up on all their possessions. And I thank God for their contributions.

[@prikitieuw1386]

Welcome to joining the church founded by the Lord Jesus himself

[@williamhocter4658]

Thank you so much for your witness. Converts are so amazing. You’re absolutely right. Cradle Catholics like myself often take our treasures for granted. Thank you for reminding us. God Bless you!

[@cantwheelie_rob]

Pastors worried about giving up their job, friends etc for following Jesus to the Catholic Church should remember Jesus said this… Mathew 16:25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” I don’t believe was only referring to physical death but also leaving your past life for his sake.

[@hwrk777]

Thank you for this inspiration!

[@timothyoreilly6675]

If you want to learn about Catholic Christianity then ask a convert (especially a Protestant or Jewish convert).

[@johnydevassia]

I am celebrating your return to the Catholic Family . Prayerful welcome. I am proud of you God bless you dear.

[@jk777212]

beautiful testimony thanks for sharing.. many prayers for you and family ✝️☦️📿

[@vickytheodorides]

Welcome home✝️

[@Oldparson220]

I was in bible college, after I graduated, I came back to the Catholic Church and was shocked that all my friends turned thier back on me. Thier was definitely a price to pay, but it's been well worth it.

[@garryrecamadas1548]

Because , they have a humble heart to find the truth...

[@sushilaloganathan9586]

Thank you, God bless .🙏🙏🙏

[@mssixty3426]

Thank you🙏🏻

[@irisadams3481]

Amazing Grace Amen 🙏

[@Rue1008]

Thank you, God Bless. 🙏

[@davidstoeckl6439]

That's beautiful

[@gloriamacias2180]

So if pastors are becoming Catholic, why aren’t they bringing their followers to the truth?

[@johnosumba1980]

Because that is God’s work, only God brings people to himself, otherwise so many have crossed over following their conversion and in fact sometimes a whole Church “ congregants”. Just check around.

[@justthink8952]

It is not easy to encourage them to cross over. Without God's grace, it is not going to work. Most of them are stubborn even when they know there are many Protestant teachings that are not consistently true.

[@yankeecitygirl]

Alex Jones did, 50 of his congregation came into the Church with him. Anglican pastors now in the Ordinariate came in with their parishioners.

[@franaldo93]

🙏😇

[@JimScaparotti]

Hi Ken, I love this… encourage you and your crew to create or repurpose your content into more of these “shorts” that are easily shared… thanks

[@ceiciliasura3879]

Salve,may i share this video?🙏

[@PInk77W1]

Hugh Quinn

[@mosiergroup4215]

Before 1600 years ago you were either Catholic or Jewish! In the year 107 Saint Ignatius of Antioch called Christians Catholic for the first time . If you look at the founding fathers of the church that in itself provides us with the facts

[@ajw2100]

Praying Jesus reveals himself to you, b/c there are many practices in Catholicism that are against the word of God...I grew up in Catholic School and attended Catholic Church in my youth, later in life, Jesus truly saved my soul, I am Pentecostal, I pray the Lord reveals Himself to you...this is said in love, and concern. God bless you. 🙏🏾

[@ZacharyLittle777]

Jesus Christ (The Eternally Existing Son of God, God The Son, Savior, Christ) promises eternal life ONCE you believe he died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the 3rd day! Once Saved Always Saved! You can't lose your salvation once you believe on Jesus Christ alone! Salvation is forever and salvation can't be lost!!!!!!!!!!

[@jerome8950]

Are you saying that someone cannot believe in Jesus Christ and then afterwards make the decision to walk away from Jesus and to have nothing to do with Him ? If a Christian does that, is he still saved?