r/OrthodoxChristianity Reddit yesterday

Leaving a Baptist church for Orthodoxy: a wife's update on her husband's conversion

A woman shares an update on her family's journey toward Orthodoxy. A month earlier she posted about her husband considering the Orthodox church; now they have formally told their pastor that they will no longer participate at their current (Baptist-style) church, and they messaged the Bible study group he had led for two years. She herself is not yet convinced by Orthodox teaching, but she feels drawn to attend with her husband out of trust in him and out of respect for his role as spiritual head of their household.

Her post is an honest expression of grief and fear rather than a declaration of conviction: she and her husband were deeply embedded in their old congregation—she sang in the worship band, he played drums—and she treasures the friendships there, especially with other mothers as a new mom. She admits to worrying what church members will think, though the pastor and his wife were supportive, as are both families.

Commenters respond with warmth and reassurance. Several note that becoming Orthodox does not require cutting off old friendships; one Orthodox reader describes attending Protestant Bible studies while remaining Orthodox. Others share their own painful but ultimately fruitful departures from Catholic or Protestant churches, encouraging her to let each spouse's journey unfold at its own pace.

One recalls a priest's image of husband and wife as gas and brakes—complementary, so long as it does not become a wedge. Mothers emphasize how welcoming Orthodox parishes are to babies and new mothers, and others describe how the meaning of the Divine Liturgy gradually unfolds for those coming from contemporary worship. The overall tone is pastoral: grief at leaving is normal, time and prayer matter, and the unknown can become home.

Main points

The couple formally told their pastor and Bible study group they are leaving their church as the husband moves toward Orthodoxy.
The wife is not yet convinced Orthodox teaching is true but trusts her husband and will attend with him.
She grieves leaving close friendships, worship ministry, and fears others' judgment.
Commenters reassure her: old friendships can continue, and each spouse's journey can proceed at its own pace.
Many share similar experiences of leaving Catholic or Protestant churches and finding a home in Orthodoxy.

20 comments at the source Original on Reddit

Discussion · 12

Opinions are anonymous retellings of real comments from the original discussion. The same colour marks the same participant.

opinion#577 20 likes at the source

Honestly, this sounds wonderful to me. And Orthodoxy isn't some cult either — you don't have to cut people off, so you can keep your friends. I do get why it feels scary though.
opinion#579 7 likes at the source

I felt sad leaving my old church, which was Catholic. I was deeply involved there — I read at Mass, was a Knight of Columbus, ushered, joined the men's group, went to Bible study regularly, volunteered on Saturdays praying outside the local abortion clinic, and I even brought my mom back to the church after decades of her being lapsed. I loved the priest and the liturgy too. But now, nearly four years later, I'm completely certain it was the right choice. I found the true faith!
opinion#578 6 likes at the source

Plenty of people who convert to Orthodoxy don't have to sacrifice as much as you two. In our case, my wife and I were never able to commit to any church, so we had no ties of that kind to lose. Coming from a similar denominational background, I found that many things I'd taken for granted — and I considered myself a real theology buff — turned out to be false. But once I let them go, I finally felt a kind of sanity in my relationship with God, and an enormous weight I hadn't even known I was carrying was lifted. This all happened gradually over about two years. So I just want to say I think what you're doing is great, and God sees your hearts. I love hearing updates like this.
opinion#580 2 likes at the source
You can absolutely stay friends with people from the other church. I'm Orthodox myself, but I still attend Bible studies and events at a Protestant church, and most of my Christian friends are Protestant. Only one person has ever made an odd remark about my faith — real friends will get it and support you.
- opinion#587 3 likes at the source
  Have you checked with your priest about whether this is wise? Protestants read the Bible differently than we do.
  - opinion#588 3 likes at the source
    
    Yes, honestly I just attend to hang out socially rather than to take in their teaching. Sadly, there aren't many Orthodox young adult groups around.
opinion#581 2 likes at the source

My parish is full of couples in your exact situation. It sounds like you're both approaching this thoughtfully, and that's admirable. One thing my priest taught me that might help: if one of you is the gas and the other the brakes, that can actually serve you both well long-term — just don't let it turn into a source of division. Pray. It's fine if one of you needs more time. Roots take time to grow deep. Prayer is what matters most. Expect some people not to understand, and expect to second-guess yourselves for a while even as you discover the fullness of the faith. God bless.
opinion#582 1 likes at the source

My wife and I went through almost the same thing three years ago. It's frightening, but most people turned out to be very understanding, and I'm so thankful we made the change. What really mattered for us was giving each other space for our own separate journeys into the church. Hers was drawn by the beauty, the icons, and particular saints' lives; mine by the theology, the sacraments, and honestly the atmosphere. :) Would absolutely recommend, 10/10. There will be bumps along the way, but extend grace all around. May it be blessed!
opinion#583 1 likes at the source

I'm a Protestant who became Catholic, so I know it's a major change — but also a thrilling one. You'll gain a whole new depth of understanding and a much closer walk with Christ. I'm sure your parish will have a wonderful community; the Orthodox people I've met have been great, and we can even have respectful theological discussions across our traditions. There will be plenty of ways for both of you to get involved, and in my experience Catholic and Orthodox churches tend to have far more children than Protestant ones, so you might make a lot of new friends too. The unknown is scary, I know, but I can promise it's worth it. Best wishes on your journey.
opinion#584 1 likes at the source

Orthodox churches adore babies and new mothers!! Truly, in my 43 years as a Christian woman I always felt like a second-class citizen, an outsider. But throughout my pregnancy and the early years with my child in Orthodoxy, I felt welcomed, loved, and supported.
opinion#585 1 likes at the source

The unknown is just that — unknown. The Divine Liturgy is a massive jump from a church with a band on stage, but the more you attend, the more you'll realize everything in it carries meaning. Open yourself to our Lord and Savior, and the Holy Spirit will fill a void you could sense but never put into words. There are many ways to get involved in the Orthodox church and grow your faith — youth groups, senior groups, activities, charities. And since you sing, there's the choir; even if services are in English mixed with another language, there are music sheets with phonetic pronunciation. The hymns and their words are genuinely beautiful. Nothing in the church stops you from keeping friends of other denominations, though for future reference: if you do convert, actively participating in your former denomination's services is considered "Heterodox" and isn't taken lightly. You may attend a special service if necessary, just not participate actively. I'm cradle Orthodox myself, but our parish has seen a huge wave of converts whose stories show how everything came together in their lives. May your journey be blessed. ♥️☦️
opinion#586 1 likes at the source

Look into the history and origins of the Orthodox Church, and you'll see why it makes more sense to be Orthodox than Baptist. Every Baptist pastor has his own theology and no one holds any of them accountable from above. Orthodoxy is a firmer, safer foundation for your faith. I also noticed that the way Orthodoxy honors women is on another level. As a Baptist, I heard plenty of praise for every man in Scripture, but never once a good word about how much Christ's mother sacrificed, that women funded His ministry, or that the women who witnessed His resurrection were the apostles to the apostles. It's remarkable how much credit women get there — as much as or more than men — for their role in Christian history! Blessings ✌️