Meisha Johnson said she was raised with zero religion, being neither atheist nor agnostic.
“If anyone talked about religion or if they talked about God to me when I was young, it just would have been a foreign language,” she said. “I wouldn’t have paid any attention.”
Meisha Johnson. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
But back in 2008, while vacuuming her living room, she had “a massive conversion experience” where she was given a vision. With no context to draw from, she said it was a “point of confusion,” but she gleaned it was connected to Christianity. Being a journalist, she started pursuing answers, including reading the Bible cover to cover.
And again. And a third time.
Johnson, coordinator of mission at St. Joseph of the Lakes in Lino Lakes, eventually entered the Catholic Church. She recently joined “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley to discuss her conversion and describe what Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults candidates may be feeling as they prepare to enter the Church.
Those entering the Church through RCIA have been on a journey of at least six months of devoting their entire lives to Jesus Christ and his Church, Johnson said.
“So this is the biggest, most important decision of anybody’s life,” she said. “And what happens when anyone professes their faith? They’re going to be thinking about their whole life, top to bottom.”
Faith is so personal, Johnson said. “(They’ll) be experiencing all these emotions as (they) are pushing toward the Easter vigil.”
Asked what the faithful can do to support those newly received into the Church, Johnson said “wrap your arms around them with love and really share with them your personal experience of why you love the Catholic Church.”
Other Catholics can help them remain interested in and committed to the sacraments, she said. “Tell them your love for Scripture. Remind them that it is alive and that they have to stay rooted in it, and also talk to them about prayer,” Johnson said. “How has prayer helped your own life? Tell them that you are praying for them and then really do so.”
To hear more details of Johnson’s conversion story, and to hear the full interview, listen to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” show. It debuts at 9 p.m. April 8 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and also airs at 1 p.m. April 9 and 2 p.m. April 10.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Alicia Hartle from Pentecost Today USA, who describes how to use praise and worship to strengthen one’s relationship with the Holy Spirit; and Father Tom Margevicius, director of worship for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who describes how to fully engage in Holy Week.
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired at:
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