Shalom Media: Protestant Introvert turns Catholic evangelist

Born Protestant, Nancy Ward was an introverted bookworm. At age 15, her prayer under a tree during a retreat in New Mexico changed her life! A “thunderbolt of love” when she met her Catholic husband-to-be led her even deeper into God’s embrace. See how Nancy shed her shyness, chose conversion, and stepped out to proclaim God’s graces, in this episode of Jesus My Savior.

WATCH; Protestant Introvert turns Catholic evangelist

“Do you know anyone who has a testimony they could share?” I overheard a woman ask my friend, Mary Ann Harman, as I walked toward her after Mass.

Mary Ann gestured my way and said, “Here’s who you want to talk to—Nancy has a testimony that she shares at parish workshops. She’s written a book on how to share your faith story.”

She introduced me to Nisha Bins, a parishioner at St. Michael the Archangel in Garland, Texas. I had seen Nisha at Mass and Shalom World events around the Dallas area but never met her.

Shalom World was familiar to me, as Mary Job, the first editor of Shalom Tidings, had contacted me in 2016 when they launched the magazine. She wanted permission to repost several of my JoyAlive.net blogs, which she did for several years. The Holy Spirit was at work here, as Nisha was not aware of my contributions to Shalom Tidings.

Shalom World’s international Catholic ministry includes broadcasting a variety of shows to a worldwide audience of millions. Their show Jesus My Savior presents testimonires. Reconnecting with Shalom through Nisha began my next adventure in evangelizing through my Catholic faith story.

The excitement begins

During the next few months, Mesmin Pulloykunnel, a Shalom producer, arranged for a television crew to come to my home and video my testimony.

On the appointed day, she met my husband and me at Mass, intending to shoot some shots of us St. Michael’s Parish, but the photographer, Zac Martinez, was running late. He joined us later at our home, along with a third crew member.

After looking around our home the crew determined that the family room was the best place to set up the equipment—cameras and lights and all sorts of recording gear.

Grandmother’s chair

Where would I sit for the best lighting and camera angle? They removed two recliners from the family room and looked around for a smaller chair.

I suggested my grandmother’s dark wicker sewing chair, complete with an open arm where she stored her knitting or handwork almost 100 years ago. I had recovered the cushions to match the décor in our bedroom, set the chair by the window looking out on the lake, and claimed it for my prayer chair. The Shalom crew carefully brought it in and set it up in just the right spot. How special to sit in her chair while I shared my testimony with the world and how proud she would be of me.

The recording went well, with only two or three glitches for the editor to fix.

But the filming wasn’t over. Zac wanted some shots to intersperse in the program. He photographed me as I sat at the kitchen table reading the Bible and on the couch with Phil, reading to him. We went outside for shots of me writing in my journal. I took this opportunity to record the events of the day to remember this irreplaceable experience.

Mesmin asked for some photos from my childhood, and we selected some from my Photos app.

What a memorable day.  We all had so much fun! And what a joy to share with a worldwide audience how God brought me into the Catholic Church.

WATCH; Protestant Introvert turns Catholic evangelist

Quotes from the interview

At home, school or church, I strived to fulfill everyone’s expectations, doing whatever they needed and enjoying their affirmation. I earned their love, and for many years. I thought I needed to earn God’s love. 

My encounter with Jesus at 15 prepared me to survive the sudden death of my Father three years later in my first semester of college. Jesus alone was available to comfort me as I cried out to him each night. I knew he would always be there for me.

Sometimes God gives us what we need and wraps it in what we want. 

God wanted a godly man and family for me – in the Catholic Church!

The only way God could entice me to become Catholic was to fall in love with one.

Our marriage began going downhill– we were deep into self-centeredness, materialism, and competition for family resources – time, money and attention. I cried out to God to rescue us and heal our family.

The priest anointed me, and praying people surrounded me. I closed my eyes and surrendered myself to the Lord. When they came to “Amen,” I opened my eyes and like Dorothy in the Wizard of Ox, everything is brilliant. She experiences a new life she never imagined. That’s what happened to me.

The Lord Jesus showed me that my story was given to me to glorify God and to encourage others. He put me out in public to give my testimony and teach Catholics to evangelize in this way. Me! The shy introvert who couldn’t share my secret treasure at that retreat was now sought out to empower Catholics to tell their stories to the world! 

Like me, each of you watching were anointed at your Baptism to be an evangelist.

You were given the gifts of the Holy Spirit you need to fulfill this high calling. All of you have a faith story that needs telling. Someone is waiting to hear your story, and you alone can connect with that particular person that the Holy Spirit will put in your path. 

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asked you a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence. (1 Peter 3:15)