To FCFC:

I found your website link on another website. I've enjoyed reading your Letters to the Editor from your July/August 1997 issue. My husband, Mike, is a graduate of Bob Jones University ('76) and I am a former student (we were married after my junior year). Mike knew Dr. Ruckman before attending BJU and still appreciates his ministry and stand on God's preserved Word. Your letter to Mr. Belcher was excellent! I am also a former Catholic, who by God's mercy and grace was saved when I was almost six years old. My family is from Massachusetts, and in our neighborhood, the Catholic priest and nuns ruled. They made regular visits to our house, keeping pretty good tabs on their parishoners. However, my mother was searching for the truth, and finally, after much inner struggle, agreed to go to a Bible-preaching church with a neighbor, risking committing a mortal sin. The Lord was actually answering the cry of my own heart at that time. Though I knew nothing of church except what I experienced attending our Latin mass, I knew I was a sinner, and was scared to death of having to go to my first confession. The cry of my heart (I can't say that I knew what prayer was) was that we wouldn't be going to church, or even that we wouldn't be Catholics when that time came------ why that thought even entered my head, I don't know. But it was shortly after that, that my mother was saved, and we all attended the Bible-preaching church. I no longer had that fear and dread in my heart, and the Lord dealt with me about my own need to be saved. You don't know how thankful I have been all these years, even from the time I was a young child, that salvation is so simple, and the Lord is so good and gracious, to answer the cry of the heart of a child. He snatched me from the clutches of the Roman Catholic church and hell. I have recently found a third cousin of mine. She and her family are all Catholic. They live in Mass. and we communicate by email and phone. I am praying that the Lord will use me to lead her to know the Lord as her Saviour. God bless you.

B.B.

Cottage Grove, OR

Dear B.B.,

Thank you for your letter of encouragement. We also appreciate the ministry of Dr. Ruckman. His books are an invaluable sourse of information that we highly recommend to our readers.

I understand totally your fear of the confessional. My brother forgot his “Act of Contrition” and the priest threw him out of the confessional until he “memorized his prayers”. I always dreaded that I might also forget my prayers and be humiliated like my brother was. Praise Jesus, He delivered you before you had to face that!

We will keep your family in our prayers. God bless you and yours.

Rebecca A. Sexton

Dear Ms. Sexton,

I just wanted you to know that I found your article "Worshipping Mary - The Sin of Superstition" very informative. I grew up in the Baptist church, married a Catholic and decided to join the Catholic church about 2 years ago, because our children were going to be going to a Catholic school, and I thought it would provide a unity for our family if we were all the same religion. I have never really felt comfortable with the church's view on Mary and the saints; incidentally, everyone I talk to in the church says "we do not worship or pray to Mary or the saints", which is especially true of my in-laws. (ex. My mother-in-law just got out of the hospital from having a liver transplant and is doing great, and the family gives the credit to Mary instead of God). It just amazes me and really leaves me speechless. I haven't felt confident enough with my knowledge of scripture to share what I know is the truth. Now that I've read your article I will study the scriptures you have provided and hopefully be able to share what I learn with my husband's family when the opportunity arises. Thank you so much for sharing your beliefs over the internet. You have inspired me to share my beliefs as well.

Your friend in Christ,

P.E.