Okay, I know that not everyone on The Couch is Catholic, and not all of us even believe in God (though He believes in you!), so this story may not appeal to everyone – but when I saw this story I wanted to share it with you. I know that after the FIRSTICUS! post the topic will turn to other things anyway.
His story reminds me of a book I read in my study of my faith – “Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic“. The journey of this couple sounds similar to the journey of David Currie and his wife.
A non-denominational megachurch pastor reportedly stunned his congregation this weekend when he announced that he and his wife are converting to Catholicism.
Image source: Word of Life
Pastor Ulf Ekman told his congregation Sunday that he and his wife are converting to Catholicism (Image source: Word of Life)
Ulf Ekman, pastor and founder of Word of Life Church in Uppsala, Sweden, told parishioners Sunday during his sermon that he and his wife, Birgitta, have experienced a theological change-of-heart, Charisma News reported.
On Ekman’s ministry website a statement titled, “Pastor Ulf Ekman to Be Accepted Into the Catholic Church” provides details on the preacher’s conversion, stating that “a process of many years of prayer and reflection” preceded the decision to embrace the Catholic faith.
“For Birgitta and me, this has been a slow process were we have gone from discovering new things, to appreciating what we have discovered, to approach and even learn from our fellow Christians,” Ekman is quoted in the release. “We have seen a great love for Jesus and a sound theology, founded on the Bible and classic dogma.”
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While his Protestant views had previously led to critiques of the Catholic Church, the pastor said that, after studying the faith, he realized that many of those criticisms simply weren’t valid. The release emphasized that the conversion was the result of “a personal journey.”
“This led us to the realize that it was actually Jesus Christ who led us to unite with the Catholic Church,” the pastor continued.
From anger to sadness and confusion, people are responding to Ekman’s theological switch in a variety of ways, according to the Alethia blog and think tank. …