I remember on one occasion working in a hayfield from morning until evening under a burning sun, and then, weary and with my skin seeming on fire, going off to a clear blue pool in a shaded woodland to throw off my sweaty clothes and to bathe in the refreshing waters, which were like a miracle of healing and made me feel a new man. That is how I have felt after leaving the Roman Catholic Church, after working like a slave for her and sweating in her service.

One can well understand the hold that the Roman Catholic Church has over the soul of the Spanish people, particularly over the candidates for the priesthood, being brought up since early boyhood in such an atmosphere and with such ideas. That may explain the reason why in past centuries Protestants were burned at the stake and at present they are being persecuted in my native Spain.

Christ became my “only” Savior, for none other had died on the Cross for me. He also became my “sufficient Savior” because His blood is all-powerful to wash my sins from my soul. How miserably the rites, ceremonies, and human traditions of Romanism had failed to cleanse my soul for God.

God in His love and mercy and being full of forgiveness came into my life and a miracle happened. A Roman Catholic priest in his late fifties would never have naturally begun a conversation with a Reformed missionary. The priest that I was would surely not! I had never seen a Reformed missionary, had never spoken to one, and yet I somehow did talk to one. An invisible Hand intervened.

For the rest of the afternoon I entreated God on my knees, in the name of His dear Son, to show me the way to go to Him. I opened my New Testament and read, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Suddenly I saw that salvation was a gift from God, and I looked to the Lord Jesus Christ, and God saved me.

I observed, with qualms of conscience, countless rules and laws; I received sacraments and practiced ceremonies, all without knowing Christ as my Savior, or even wishing to read the Word of God. Besides, I could not teach what I was ignoring. Of course, it had never occurred to me to think that I was practicing a ministry contrary to the Holy Scriptures.

The questions I am always asked are, “How did it happen that you have turned to the Lord and become a Bible believer, after having been a Roman Catholic priest for many years? Did you read any Protestant books? Did you approach a Protestant pastor to seek his guidance? Or was it that you went to a Protestant meeting during which you became converted?”