The Steadmans Discover The Peace Faith Brings

Steve and Cheryl Steadman have been happily married for thirty-four years, but it’s within this past year that they have experienced tremendous spiritual growth together as a couple. Cheryl, a cradle Catholic, and Steve, a Protestant, raised their sons Ethan and Dillion in the Baptist faith. They lived life together making the most of their spiritual similarities without making too much of a fuss over their differences.
 
However, there was something that always bothered Steve about the Mass. He just couldn’t understand why Catholics didn’t have the Baptist’s traditional “altar call” to invite all those in attendance to give their hearts to Jesus and surrender their lives to Him. Steve also had a difficult time understanding Confession. He often thought, “Why go to a priest when you can just tell Jesus you’re sorry on your own?”
 
To Steve and Cheryl’s surprise, it was their son Ethan who would lead Steve to discover the answers to these questions and many more. After graduating from Baylor University, Ethan heard the call to become a pastor and attended a Protestant seminary in Dallas. As Ethan began to study the Christian faith, his research led him to the Catholic Church. It wasn’t just Ethan who found answers in Catholicism, many of his classmates and even some of his professors came to the same conclusion. Ethan was so convicted about the truth found in the teachings of the Catholic Church that after he graduated from seminary, he began exploring the Catholic faith by attending the Mass. This lead to joining an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) class.
 
Of course, his parents had some thoughts and questions about this change in direction. Ethan’s decisions led to many fruitful discussions. It was because of Ethan’s evangelistic heart and in-depth research that Steve began to see the beauty of the Catholic faith for himself.
 
Inspired by his son’s passion for God, Steve decided that it was time to take RCIA classes of his own. With Cheryl by his side and Ethan as his sponsor, the family came together spiritually in a way that they had never experienced before. Cheryl enjoyed learning in the RCIA classes just as much as Steve. After Mass the three of them would discuss, share, and reflect on all that they were learning.


 
There were so many aspects of the Catholic faith that Steve had misunderstood for years as a Baptist. Once he learned that Peter was the first Pope and every Pope thereafter is Peter’s successor, there was no turning back. Steve realized that the Catholic Church is the true church founded by Christ Our Lord.
 
Steve officially became a Catholic in 2018 at the Easter Vigil Mass. His relationship with God is stronger than ever before. As a couple, Steve and Cheryl find joy in serving the Lord through many of the ministries at St. Faustina’s. Together they are a part of the HANDE Ministry, the Bereavement Ministry, and the Guardian Angels. As retired police officers, they share their expertise and knowledge by serving on the Safety and Security Committee. Steve is also involved in the Knights of Columbus.
 
Steve has found great joy in the sacrament of Confession. What he was once skeptical of, now provides him great peace. He will never forget the emotions he experienced when he first received this sacrament. Steve shared, “There is this spectacular release. It’s incredible to realize that this is true. My sins are forgiven. There is peace in that.”
 
And the Altar Call that Steve once believed to be essential?
 
“As Catholics, an ‘altar call is a part of every Mass. I never realized it before I went through my RCIA classes. The Nicene Creed that we say at every Mass affirms our faith in Jesus as Our Lord and Savior. This was truly a revelation to me.”