The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert

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An English Professor's Journey into a Christian Faith
Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
View her testimony on Youtube by clicking here.

Readability - 9
Challengeability - 8
Agreeablity - 7 - You will disagree with some of the Reformed doctrine which comes across loudly in places - like the joy of baptizing one of the infants in their church planting ministry. 

This is a wonderful little biography.  The first pages of the book Rosaria is an outspoken feminist, lesbian activist and works as a tenured research professor at Syracuse University.  In the final pages of the book she is a Classical Christian Home Schooling mom of three... In between there is a plethora of life lessons for ministering to the homosexual community, the higher ed. community, the postmodern mind, as well as the home school community and adoption/foster families.

The first couple chapters walk through Rosaria's conversion from a lesbian lifestyle to a believing family through the loving ministry of a Reformed Presbyterian Church pastor and wife.  This journey begins with her devouring the Bible hours a day in a research project (working on a book against the Religious Right). 

The next two chapters detail Rosaria adjusting to some of the particularities of Christian life in general.  Fresh eyes from someone that is not raised in Christian culture (especially those of a Research professor) give special insight.  Her candid record of thoughts especially valuable for pastors and church leaders to read.  As an aside, Chapter 3 gives an interesting (and it seemed a bit out of place) apology for singing only Psalms in church.  Their denomination sings only Psalms and that without instruments.  I agree with some of her arguments and agree with some of the conclusions too.  Although, I'll be honest, I probably just enjoy hearing someone else reasoning for conservative, congregational singing in church instead of the ridiculous way music is used in our contemporary church culture.

The final two chapters are on Rosaria's marriage and family.  I especially enjoyed chapter five because of their family worked to plant a church in Virginia.  The final chapter delves into her and Kent's work in adopting and serving as foster parents.  These unique challenges and "acts of mercy" are beautiful. 

"I wondered about this God who died for the sins of his people.  It sounded too good to be true."

"Sin is not a mistake.  A mistake is taking the wrong exit on the highway.  A sin is treason against a Holy God."

"There is no finer resolution to a faith test than genuine Christian ministry."

"How in the world does a single ex-lesbian pull off 'family devotions' with a satanically suicidal student?"

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