[NYer]

To learn more about Michael Cumbie, please go to www.mikecumbie.org.

[JamesP81]

But also, as a Southern Baptist, we did not believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that they still operated today or were meant for today.

Interesting that he says this, as my SBC pastor says the opposite. This is a good illustration of the significant variance you can get with baptist churches.

[NYer]

Last night, I turned on EWTN in time to catch most of The Journey Home. Michael Cumbie was Grodi's guest. To hear him describe his journey to catholicism with his charming southern accent, was simply amazing. He has such a personality. If you missed the program, here are the re-air times.

One of the callers was also Evangelical and somewhere on his way into the Catholic Church. He asked Michael how he had overcome the usual obstacles - Mary, Purgatory and the Communion of Saints. Don't miss this one, even if you have to watch streaming video on your computer.

[livius]

I think this is wonderful (I live in Florida).

One of the problems with Evangelicals, however, is that it's very hard for them to get rid of the "middle class white person = good Christian" mentality, which was fine in Evangelical churches but doesn't work in the Catholic Church. I heard a former Evangelical speak and I was, quite frankly, shocked by his hatred of Hispanics and his complete incomprehension of the idea that somebody could be a good Christian and not be exactly like him.

I think we need a special program to inculturate Evangelicals - who have accepted the truth claims but not necessarily the reality - into the Catholic Church.

[mckenzie7]

I had the pleasure of hearing and meeting Mr. Cumbie in Anaheim at The National Catholic Family Conference a few years ago and he was awesome.
I like what he had to say about his previous fellow Baptists and I won't forget it. Respect them as they search for truth, as many of them love Jesus fervently and study His Word tirelessly! A great example for myself and many like me!

[Binghamton_native]

Should we balance this thread with the testimonies of converted priests?

[franky]

A great show!

Very funny guy and full of zeal. I wish some priests had his zeal.

[Salvation]

Great story!

[Incorrigible]

Michael Cumbie and a partner of his came to my parish last year.  He was promoting his renewal mission.  (The Pastor, born in Ireland, is very conservative, yet he's very into the Renewal movement.)

I admit, as a cradle Catholic, I found it humorous to hear the converted preaching to us!  He didn't sell me but I'm more of a sedate worshiper and prefer more traditional (well, traditional N.O.!) Masses more to my liking.

 

[Convert from ECUSA]

" can say some men with their own agendas came out of the council and tried to use the phrase, 'in the spirit of the second Vatican Council ... we have to change, etc, etc.... ' I think the Council was God's way of trying to bring renewal to the Church in the twenty-first century. I have to say, all the things I read about Catholicism -- the rubrics of the mass, the silence of the sacred space, the kneelers and the formality of dress -- it was all so refreshing to me. But when I actually saw the typical Catholic churches, it was very different. If I had walked into a modern, updated, liberal Catholic parish I would never have become Catholic. Because it's so much like the Protestant environment that I left. I was looking for structure, and respect for the sacred, and love for the holy, and we didn't have it. And many parishes, I'm afraid, have become just like that "in the spirit of Vatican II" of making the church a "gathering space" -- even though it is still sacred space we don't act like it is. So I think some things have been very detrimental to the faith and have even caused tens of thousands of Catholics to walk out and lose their faith. And again, that's not the Council's fault but just the statistics. Of the thirty-three percent of Catholics who still attend mass regularly, sixty-six percent no longer believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This is the crisis in the church, not pedophilia. This loss of faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.."

Ding, ding, ding! Especially what he said: "If I had walked into a modern, updated, liberal Catholic parish I would never have become Catholic" - in contrast to the beautiful Catholic parish he walked into with the altar rails, marble, etc. (something that looked like a church and not a gymnasium). In some respects, his story is like mine. NYer, thanks for posting this!