Praise God!  A Baptized Catholic is set to cross the Tiber. Bryan Kemper a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is to begin the RCIA process in order to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. It was a difficult decision, and one that he fought against.  There were three main Catholic doctrines that finally convinced him. Excerpt:

Church authority: There are simply thousands and thousands of denominations and every time someone disagrees with another teaching of their church they simply start a new one. The Catholic Church has had it’s teaching since the beginning of the Church in the scriptures. There is no way God can be happy with thousands of denominations or so-called non-denominational churches. It seems that when people disagree on doctrine it often results in another break off church. The fact is that current Christian teaching can differ so much between two churches that it really constitutes different religions and different Gods. There must be one established truth that God gave us, one that has remained from the time of Christ.

Pro-life and Contraception: There is only one church that has been consistent from the time of Christ to today on the teaching of pro—life and contraception. Before 1930 there was never a single Christian church in history to accept any form of contraception and today there is only one that absolutely has kept this Christian teaching and truth.

Communion or the Eucharist: I have always believed that communion was more that just a symbol and in looking back at early church teaching it is crystal clear that this was taught from day one. St Ignatius of Antioch a student of John the Apostle taught on this and clarified it well.

These are just a few of the things that drew me back into the Catholic Church; however there is so much more. I was baptized Catholic as a child so the process is not as complicated for me. I will be starting RCIA classes and working towards confirmation.

I am asking my friends to pray for my family’s journey and me as I truly seek to be closer to Christ. My relationship with Christ is the most important thing in my life and I hope my friends will stand by me, as I grow closer to Him.

As for the work of Stand True; it will remain focused on educating, activating and equipping young to stand up for life and Christ. We have always been an organization that reaches out to and works with all Christians and we will remain true to that.

For Christ I stand,
Bryan Kemper

Read the whole post here.

Although I have been involved in RCIA for about two decades, I am still in awe of the courage that it takes active Protestants to leave their church home for Catholicism.  It is truly humbling. I have posted on this before.

But I must confess that I have been sitting on this story for several days. Stories of people coming home to Rome gives rise to great joy. But I do not want to descend into triumphalism.

It is too easy, especially with whole congregations of Anglicans and Lutherans converting, to treat it as a numbers game. People are treated as notches on a soldier for Christ’s trophy belt. The pain and struggle of those coming into the Church is often overlooked.

But then I noticed that Bryan Kemper was baptized Catholic, so I feel free to rejoice! Please keep Bryan and those involved with his church and ministry in your prayers.