Jim Cate, Ex-Christian, USA

I was raised as a Christian and went to a fundamentalist Bible believing church. I made a profession of faith to Jesus in 1969. In all of my years as growing up Christian, I read and studied the Bible regularly. Later on, I enlisted in the US Marines and led Bible studies with my troops. In 1988, I started my own church reaching out with a special Spanish ministry to the Hispanics. In 1990, I got out of the Marines and joined the US Navy reserves.

In 1991, I was ordered to active duty for operation Desert Storm. I remember being impressed with the Arabs worshipping 5 times a day and I never forgot about hearing the Athan (call to prayer) 5 times a day over the many loud speakers in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. I purchased several prayer rugs while I was there.

As I continued in my Christian faith, when I got home, I started to become unsettled regarding it. I went to several different churches and faiths over the years and studied their doctrines. I studied and read the book of Mormon quite a bit and became fascinated with the Mormons. However, I eventually found many conflicts between the Bible and the book of Mormon.

I later joined a 7th Adventist Church and thought this was the true path. I studied and read several of Ellen G. White’s books concerning the 4th commandment of keeping the Saturday Sabbath. However, I eventually saw some conflicts between the Bible and one of Ellen G. White’s vision of heaven.

I stayed home from all churches after that and got a job working for the Kansas City Star newspaper. I came across a couple of Muslims at work and observed them daily, becoming impressed with their humble and pious character. One day, I went to my favorite used book store and saw an English translation of the Noble Quran in Jan of 2008. I took it home and began reading it. I started to feel a drawing to the Islamic faith after about 4 weeks of reading it daily.

One January early morning, I was looking up on the internet on how to convert to Islam. I found and repeated the Shahada very prayerfully and did this 2 or 3 times while meditating on it and with a prayerful attitude. I suddenly felt a great weight lifted from my shoulders as I discovered that God had forgiven me of all my past sins. This website (www.IslamReligion.com) then sent me several books on Islam from Saudi Arabia. Since saying the Shahada, I immediately began performing wudu (ablution) and salah (prayer) 5 times daily. It has now been 9 weeks since I converted to Islam and I am reading the Quran and studying the Islamic books daily.

On a side note, my wife has become upset with me over my conversion and has been trying to get me to renounce Islam. I tell her I can never turn my back on God and continue to lead a humble Muslim life before her and being patient with her in the hopes of her one day embracing Islam. I am now mentally, spiritually and physically feeling my best since converting to Islam.

User Comments

Muslim Brother From Texas, USA

United States 21 Apr 2008 03:48 PM

Welcome my new brother in Islam you are not the only brother or sister who converted to Islam that I know !!! I know around 20 brothers and sisters who converted to Islam in USA and other countries. may Allah give you his light ( the holy Quran and the sunnah of prophet Muhammad ) and if you want to see videos about people who converted to Islam you can search in youtube.com then with convert to Islam and there are around 8000 videos and i looked to is before around six months and they were around 4000 videos !!! Please bro Jim feel free to contact me at hy0015@gmail.com your brother in Islam from Texas, USA

Celine

Malaysia 22 Apr 2008 10:17 PM

salam brother, welcome you to the true religion of humankind. May Islam reach every corners of the world. As human being we may experiance ups and down of our life, but as long as our faith strong, Im sure we will go through it. Hopefully one day Allah swt. will open your wife heart to embrace Islam.Ameen

Huda

India 23 Apr 2008 05:39 AM

As Salamu Alaikum (peace be upon you) This is a great story Jim. I was really happy to have read it. I am also a revert to islam. But I reverted when I was 19 now I am 27.:D There are live lectures with question and answers at the end if you are interested. They are on Thursday Saturday and Sunday. Just visit www.chatislam.com and follow the sign in steps. There will be alot of Monitors there also who may beable to help you. This can be a change from just reading books. Also by playing live lectures with your wife by your side she may be interested in asking questions. There are sisters who will be more then willing to befriend your wife and answer any questions she may have. Welcome to islam brother. May Allah bless you and guide your family You sister in islam Huda

Mogamad

South Africa 17 May 2011 09:15 AM

Salaam brother, Congratulations on your reversion to Islam.My duahs are with you and your wife.

Rhaman

United States 11 May 2019 05:45 AM

Salam Brother, Desert Storm was a blessing in disguise. That is where I first got a good look at Islam. I converted in October of 1991. Looks like Islam made an impact on both of us through the war. Although I have since fallen away from Islam, I am making my way back. Like you, I will have difficulties with my Christian wife because I was not practicing Islam at the time. I keep asking Allah to changer her heart. The best way to change her heart is to let her see the changes in me. I hope you and your wife are doing well.