Baptist Press article & Midwestern Baptist

Marcia · Sep 29, 2004

I was not sure where to post this but since it has to do with Midwestern Baptist Seminary, this seemed the best place. I just got this link today -- did not even know the article was being written. Apparently the writer heard me give my testimony at Midwestern Baptist Seminary on Sept 1st and wrote it up.

I do need to point out that there are 2 mistakes in the article: 1) My encounter with non-Christian friends and decision to reject Christianity happened in high school (not college as the article says).
2) I decided to stop astrology before I was saved, not afterwards as the article states.

Otherwise, a pretty good article. I left out some parts as I don't think I can post the whole article.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19228
Former astrologer now testifies to truth of Gospel of Christ
Sep 29, 2004
By Cory Miller
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)--For former astrologer Marcia Montenegro, darkening the doors of a church was the last thing she wanted to do. But when she finally did go, the personal God of the Bible blessed her with what she called a waterfall of love.

"I was very hostile to Christianity and to Christians," said Montenegro, giving her testimony at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in early September.

It was in the early 1990s that she began to feel a continual compulsion to attend a church service. When she finally relented, Montenegro said she sat nervously in the back row near the door. Then at the start of the service, she said, a young boy came in carrying a cross.

It was then that she felt God's overwhelming love.

"I felt God was telling me, 'I love you,'" said Montenegro. Afterward she began reading the Bible slowly, starting in Matthew. Before Christmas, she got to Matthew 8:22-27 which tells the story of the disciples in the midst of a terrible storm at sea and how Jesus calmed the storm.

Montenegro said she kept reading that passage over and over again.

"As I was reading it, it was like the fog just lifted and I saw Jesus Christ clearly for the first time in my life," Montenegro said.

It was then that Montenegro knew who Jesus was and why He died on the cross.

"I turned my life over to Christ at that moment," she said. "And I knew right away that I was a new creature. There was a complete change."

As a practicing astrologer in Atlanta, the change was radical indeed.

"I would have been voted the least likely person to become a Christian," said Montenegro, who now ministers to New Age followers as director of Christian Answers for the New Age. "I would have voted for myself."

According to Montenegro, her journey into astrology, Buddhism and other New Age beliefs and practices began in college.

. . . "From that point on, I began a spiritual journey," Montenegro said. Her explorations took her into meditation, dream journals and eastern religions, among other New Age beliefs, eventually focusing on astrology. She became so knowledgeable about astrology that her friends started coming to her for astrological advice.

In 1983, she sat for a seven-hour intensive exam to become certified through the City of Atlanta as an astrologer.

. . .As a certified astrologer, some of her clients and associates included witches/pagans, New Age healers, psychics, palm readers and card readers, Sufis, followers of Rajneesh, Sai Baba, Muktananda, Maharaji and other gurus, Hare Krishna devotees, Silva Mind trainees and other New Age followers.

At the time of her conversion, she was working in a client's office, giving astrological advice about her coworkers to him, unbeknownst to her coworkers.

"I found out later that one of my coworkers had been praying for me," said Montenegro, who practiced astrology for more than eight years, five of which she also taught astrology to others.

. . . Montenegro said her conversion "is a testimony that nobody is beyond the reach of God. No matter how hardened and hostile they may seem. I know I seemed that way."

She added that although she was hardened and hostile toward Christ and Christianity, "God in His mercy reached down and intervened in my life."

Uniquely qualified to speak on New Age issues, Montenegro will return to the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary campus Oct. 14-16 as a contributor to the "New Age an Old Lie" seminar. The seminar will feature MBTS President R. Philip Roberts, an expert in interfaith evangelism; MBTS Vice President N.S.R.K. Ravi, a former Hindu; and Ted Cabal, professor of ethics and philosophy at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The seminar is designed to help Christians understand New Age followers' beliefs and practices. Participants will be certified as interfaith evangelism associates in New Age through the North American Mission Board.

The seminar will be from 7-9 p.m. Central time, Thursday, Oct. 14; 9 a.m-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 15; and 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16.

Cost for attending the seminar is $20. For those desiring to earn credit, the cost is $120 per credit hour. Two credit hours may be earned.
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gb93433 · Sep 29, 2004

You mean they never contacted you before they decided to publish the article?

Marcia · Sep 29, 2004

Originally posted by gb93433:
You mean they never contacted you before they decided to publish the article?
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I realized after I posted the above that I did speak to the writer, but I thought it was for the seminary campus paper. I misunderstood -- didn't realize it was for the Baptist Press. That's what I meant to say. Sorry!

mark · Oct 17, 2004

How cool is this article? Great Marcia!

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