A Southern Baptist Pastor Encouraged by Two Roman Catholic Women

This past week God used two incredible Roman Catholic women to encourage me. I would like to identify both women and how it was that God used each of them in my life. If you have a problem with either believing a Southern Baptist can learn from a Roman Catholic, or if you struggle with a pastor learing from a woman, then I would suggest that you skip this post. As for me, these two women epitomize the thrill of believing the church of Jesus Christ extends far beyond the walls of the Southern Baptist Convention.

A Woman Named L's

The first woman who is one has commented often on this blog. I know her as L's or Christiane, her blog name. Last Friday a Nashville Southern Baptist named Robert, a man who often takes L's to task, asked L's a question about why she, a Roman Catholic, read and commented on Grace and Truth to You. Robert asked L's:

L's, an honest question to you. Why do you as a Roman Catholic remain around here? It just seems odd to me. Like me hanging around the Vatican.

L's answered Robert with the following comment, one of the finest this blog has received in nearly three and one half million hits and tens of thousands of comments:

Hi ROBERT,

It's me, L's.

There is a saying in the Hebrew tradition:

'God is in this place
and I did not know it.'

Have you ever heard that?

Long ago, my grandmother read the Bible to me and played the old hymns of her faith on her piano. So long ago, and I was so little, yet I remember, I remember . .


And one day, I turn on the TV and I see a Baptist Church protesting a soldier's funeral, screaming at the dead hero's family.

It was the Westboro Baptist Church.

I was horrified.

I knew that wasn't my Grandmother's faith. I knew it. But I was worried. So I called a cousin who is Protestant and she said that Grandmother had been a Southern Baptist. So I came looking to find out the truth.And here, I found that Westboro Baptist Church is NOT the same as my Grandmother's faith, thank God.

As for staying, as I said,

'God is in this place,
and I did not know it.'

I like your question. It makes me think.

I answer this: I care what becomes of my Grandmother's church. Some very bad things have happened and innocent people have been hurt. I hope that things will get better and people will stop harming others and that they will return to the Lord. So there is much to care about, much to pray for. Much to hope for. As Wade said in this post, "Nothing evil in God's world survives forever."

I am a Catholic and a woman of my Family. There is NO conflict in praying for the health of the Southern Baptist Church of my Grandmother, of blessed memory: that it should no longer be persecuted by those within it who seek to harm others. In truth, my faith calls me to care.

Christians must pray for one another, Robert, that's what we are called to do.

Love, L's

A Woman Named Anne Rice

One of my church members brought me a book this past week entiteld Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession. The book was written by Anne Rice. Anne is the famous author of The Vampire Chronicles, including the famous book which became a major hollywood motion picture, starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, entitled Interview With the Vampire.

For years Anne Rice was an atheist. She made millions of dollars writing about vampires. But in 1998 Ann Rice came to faith in Jesus Christ. The account of her conversion, and her decision in 2002 to lay aside writing about vampires who take blood to the Creator who gave His blood is one of the most encouraging testimonies I have read in a long time. Anne's two newest bestsellers are entitled Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt and Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana.

Anne's vibrant, personal and biblically faithful portrayal of Jesus Christ is the result of her determination to write for God. I personally invited Anne to come to Emmanuel and share her testimony and spiritual journey, an invitation that she regretfully declined due to her recent health issues associated with severe diabetes. Yet, my reading of her autobiography, my personal conversations with her, and the incredible and powerful manner in which she communicated to me her vibrant faith in Jesus Christ encouraged me mightily this past week.

Anne and L's represent to me the truth that the kingdom of Jesus Christ includes people from all denominations. This Southern Baptist pastor unashamedly admits he has been taught this past week through the writings and life of two Roman Catholic women.

Isn't God good?

In His Grace,


Wade Burleson