Confessions of a Mega Church Pastor: How I Discovered the Hidden Treasures of the Catholic Church Hardcover – April 30, 2010

Very insightful and well written in a style that is easy to understand. This book touched my heart and mind, in a good way.

As a convert this book really spoke to my heart. It paralleled my story so much I could have written certain sections myself. If you are searching spiritually read this book.

This book contained some very interesting insights, but I was slightly disappinted that there was very little about the writers time as a mega church pastor in the book. Having already seen his interview with Marcus Grodi on the Journey Home programme I was looking for more depth to the story. Any new edition should have more story to balance out the very good teaching portions of the book. For those looking for a book to give someone who is showing glimmers of interest in the Catholic Church, this would be a good one to give.

In "Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor," former Methodist pastor and author, Allen Hunt outlines the six key treasures he found along a fifteen year journey that ended with his coming into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church on the Feast of the Epiphany, 2008.Allen was not an ambivalent protestant. He grew up Methodist, having descended from five generations of Methodist pastors and received a Masters in Divinity from Emory University and a Ph.D in New Testament and Ancient Christian Origins from Yale University. He served twenty years as a United Methodist pastor with his most recent years as senior pastor of a mega-church in Georgia that serves 15,000 people weekly.As a pastor, Allen became increasingly frustrated with the Methodist Church's inability to agree on what they were or believed. They were not bound together by any common authority or teaching - it is every pastor for him/herself. And as they tried to be inclusive, not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, they lacked a moral compass and failed to stake out important moral positions as "formal beliefs" were formed in a political process through popular vote.Over time, seeded by a nun's comment early in his career on the "True Presence in the Holy Eucharist," Allen began to look at what he had overlooked, misunderstood, or taken for granted about the Catholic Church. His journey led to the discovery of six treasures which brought him to the Truth (Jesus Christ) and the guardian of the Truth (the Catholic Church).The six treasures which he likens to rooms in an old house (knew more about its blemishes than what it housed) include the power of the Eucharist, holiness, being loved by the saints, being awestruck by mystery, the authority of the Church, and the power of being one. The book closes with "Real Life Helps" to explore and experience each."Confessions" is a powerfully written book for those wanting to learn more about the Catholic Church, and for those cradle Catholics who have taken the Church for granted. Allen, as many others who have come into full communion with the Church, describes his discoveries better than most Catholics can. He, like the others, had to overcome years of misinformation, convincing himself of the Truth, before he could share it with others.

I enjoyed this book so much! An inspiring story of one man’s faith journey. He found a new Church without actively searching for one! The Lord truly had a hand in Dr. Hunt’s life!

This book was an easy read. I enjoyed it and got alot out of it.

The focus on the Sacraments and the Eucharist beckoned me to the Church many years ago. As a convert from Methodism, I recall a two or three times a year memorial. I don't recall a blessing or a feeling that this was Jesus present. Allen Hunt defines that attraction to the Body of Christmas present to us. His simple explanations are accessible for anyone interested in seeing how we find our way back.

The tital of this book gave me the impression it would be a tell-alland quite titillating regarding the inside functioning of the Protestant church.It was not. It was a thoughtful and personal experience of one man as he movedtowards Catholicism. While provocative for some, no doubt, it seemed honest andfair. I would have liked to have known "more" about his journey as itseemed somewhat cursory. Despite that, it is a worthwhile read for CAtholicswho may take their church for granted and for non-Catholics whohave questions about their own faith or about Catholicism. I will recommendit to friends and family.

This book was somewhat of a disappointment considering what the title suggests. It's a light read in a style typical of a GospelBookstore variety; to be expected of a former person in that culture. Heavy emphasis on what he found right with Catholicism,light on the failures he found in Evangelicalism. Would recommend as a light read for someone interested in the broader strokedifferences between Roman Catholicism and Evangelicalism.

I am a cradle catholic. But reading this and renewed in me a new excitement love and longing for Christ.I hope to pray more earnestly for universal unity of all Christians.