How Reading the Bible Changed a Catholic's Life | Liberato Vitale

What is it like to grow up Catholic in Italy, attend Mass, and yet never really understand the gospel? For Liberato Vitale, everything changed when a teammate encouraged him to read the Gospel of John.

In this episode of Certainty4Eternity, Mark Gilbert speaks with Liberato about growing up in southern Italy in a Catholic family, how he understood God as distant, and how reading the Bible helped him discover that he could come directly to Jesus Christ.

Liberato shares how a difficult season in his life, the care of an evangelical church, and the words of Jesus in John's Gospel changed his understanding of God. He also explains what it was like to become an evangelical Christian in a predominantly Catholic culture, and how his family responded to his decision to be baptised.

Today, Liberato seeks to share the gospel with Catholic friends and family in a way that is loving, patient and consistent with his faith. He explains why listening, building genuine relationships and living out the gospel matter - and why helping someone come to faith can take years of prayer and commitment.

Timestamps
00:00 — Meet Liberato: Growing Up Catholic in Italy
03:08 — What Was God Like to Him as a Child?
06:08 — Why Were Religious Objects Considered Sacred?
09:10 — Growing Up Without Reading the Bible
12:30 — A Distant God Who Felt Like a Policeman
18:02 — Catholic Tradition and Everyday Life
22:19 — From Catholic Upbringing to Evangelical Christianity
23:45 — A Teammate Introduces Him to Jesus
24:56 — How the Gospel of John Changed His Life
28:20 — Experiencing the Love of an Evangelical Church
30:48 — Why He Chose to Be Baptised
33:26 — Sharing the Gospel with Catholic Friends and Family
35:00 — Three Principles for Sharing Your Faith
39:12 — A Friendship That Led to Faith in Jesus
40:48 — Why Discipleship Takes Time

If you want to understand Catholicism from a Bible-centred evangelical perspective and learn how to talk with Catholic friends about Jesus, subscribe to Certainty4Eternity for more personal testimonies and thoughtful conversations about Catholicism, Christianity and the gospel.

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🔔 If this video raised questions for you about Roman Catholicism or talking with Catholic friends about Jesus, check out Mark's published resources, including "Stepping Out in Faith", a collection of 11 stories from former Catholics.
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