Book Description

Steps of Grace is the story of former Evangelical Protestant Pastor Doug Gonzales, whose faith journey led him from the most extreme and militant anti-Catholic views in American society today to becoming one of the Church's newest champions. Doug's conversion, like that of St. Paul, did not come from any desire on his part for something more than what he already believed was true. Instead, it was purely an initiative of divine grace. While Steps of Grace describes the theological and intellectual wrestling common to conversion stories, it does so in the most uncommon of ways. Besides witnessing to what are perhaps some of the most remarkable mystical experiences in a modern conversion story, Doug shares with the reader his own struggles, fears, pain, and loss. With brutal honesty, Steps of Grace is one of the most human and emotionally raw of conversion stories. Steps of Grace describes the beauty and truth of the Catholic faith with such clarity that those on their own journey of conversion will be led to ask the same question Doug did, "Why didn't I see it before?" Cradle Catholics may ask this same question as the story helps them to see and experience the wonder and beauty of their faith in a fresh way. More than anything else, Steps of Grace is about following and fulfilling our deepest of human longings-finding the Presence of God. This makes Steps of Grace perhaps less a conversion story and more a love story that illustrates how a person's love and need for the Presence of God led him to the last place he thought he would ever find it-the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. This is not a walk in the park, but a walk of faith, led by grace, step-by-step. Doug Gonzales is a former Church of the Nazarene Pastor whose testimony of conversion to Catholicism has moved and challenged audiences across the world. A graduate of The Divinity School at Duke University, Doug spent nearly ten years as an Evangelical pastor and prison chaplain until his miraculous and amazing conversion to the Roman Catholic Church. Besides being a guest twice on EWTN's The Journey Home show, Doug has traveled the U.S., Canada, and Latin America sharing his conversion story to large conferences, seminarians, parishes, and even small prayer groups captivating audiences about the wonder and grace he has found in the Catholic faith. Doug's story continues to impact those who hear it in a way that few other modern conversion stories can do. Doug is also the proud father of three wonderful children.