A hearty “Deacon’s Bench” welcome to another deacon blogger: Deacon Tom Stonecipher (do you love that name, or what?) who dropped me a line the other day, along with a link to his website and his blog.

Deacon Tom, ordained this past February for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, comes to us with a remarkable backstory:

In April of 1996, Tom Stonecipher and his wife Beckey became members of the Catholic Church. Tom, a Baptist minister for 13 years, was born in Chicago and raised in Detroit. Tom graduated from Arlington Baptist College with a Bachelor of Divinity Degree. During his time as a Baptist minister, Tom was pastor of three churches, two in Florida and one in Puerto Rico.

To say that Tom’s journey HOME has been a long and winding one would be to understate the obvious. Tom was baptized Catholic on the day of his birth, but was raised in a Baptist home.

While attending seminary, Tom continually questioned the truths that were being taught.

Tom’s testimony about his spiritual journey is challenging and encouraging to all who hear him speak. Tom issues a challenge to all Catholics: “Stop apologizing for being Catholic and learn how to evangelize!”

Tom and his wife are members of St. John’s in Hapeville, Georgia.

Deacon Tom does a lot of public speaking, as well. Check out his website. And tell him hello for me!