John Bergsma, a former Calvinist pastor who once believed the Catholic Mass was “abominable idolatry,” has recounted the powerful journey that led him from Protestant ministry to full communion with the Catholic Church.
Speaking on January 2 to thousands of college students and young adults at the SEEK 2026 conference in Columbus, Ohio, Bergsma reflected on his conversion during a talk titled “Mass Conversion: How I Discovered the Eucharist and the Catholic Church.” The SEEK 2026 conference, organized by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), has drawn about 26,000 participants across venues in Columbus, Denver, and Fort Worth.
Raised in a Dutch Calvinist tradition deeply shaped by the theology of John Calvin, Bergsma explained that he was taught from childhood to reject Catholic beliefs—particularly the Mass, which he believed involved the worship of bread and wine. Following his father’s path into ministry, he became a Protestant pastor in his early twenties.
However, while serving in western Michigan, Bergsma began to question the Reformation doctrine of sola fide—salvation by faith alone. A pivotal moment came during an evangelization visit when a woman expressed doubt that someone could commit serious crimes and still be saved. While his mentor insisted that salvation could not be lost, Bergsma found himself agreeing with the woman, recalling Scripture passages that stressed obedience, repentance, and perseverance.
This experience sparked years of theological reflection. Bergsma studied Scripture, Protestant confessions, and Catholic teachings, eventually concluding that sola fide was either flawed or indistinguishable from the Catholic understanding of salvation when fully explained. His doubts expanded to sola scriptura as well, as he observed deep divisions among Protestant communities all claiming the Bible as their sole authority.
A decisive turning point came when he read the writings of the early Church Fathers, particularly St. Ignatius of Antioch, whose clear teachings on episcopal authority and the Eucharist as the true Body of Christ challenged Bergsma’s long-held assumptions.
“There was no symbolic way around that,” he said.
After months of inner struggle, Bergsma was received into the Catholic Church in February 2001. Today, he serves as a senior biblical scholar at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and is a prominent Catholic speaker.
Addressing young adults at SEEK, Bergsma said his story resonates with a generation searching for stability amid cultural and moral uncertainty. He noted a growing revival of interest in tradition, commitment, and enduring truth among young people.
“They’re looking for something solid to build their future on,” he said, adding that for him, and for many others, that foundation is the Catholic Church.
Credit: CNA
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