Jack Hampton
So first off — and this may surprise some people given how passionate I am about Jesus and the Catholic Church — I am a Catholic revert.
I grew up Catholic and received the Sacraments at a young age. But like most kids, I didn’t really grasp what it meant to be Catholic or truly understand who Jesus was. I learned about the faith in Religious Ed classes, but it never really stuck or fully clicked for me.
At the same time, athletics were a huge part of my life. My parents identified as Catholic, but we barely went to Mass. We were mostly “Easter and Christmas Catholics,” and faith was never truly a priority in our home. Of course, I wish I had known Jesus more personally at a younger age, but as I — and all believers — now know, God always has a plan and purpose for our lives.
Fast forward to 2020, during my 8th grade year and the height of COVID. At the time, I believed in the idea of God or some sort of creator, but I was much more fascinated by space and the stars. Not in a pagan or spiritualistic way, but because it was the first spark within me that made me seriously ponder God and creation.
At the same time, my dad was becoming much more serious about his faith. He decided to read the Bible cover to cover to figure out whether it was actually true or not. Long story short… he discovered that it was.
Wanting to help me grow in faith too, he gave me a copy of The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. The clearest memory I have from reading that book was thinking, “There’s no way God knows everything happening in my life — when, where, and how.” I was skeptical. I didn’t want to believe it. But deep down, I think part of me did.
By the time I entered freshman year of high school, my dad and I were regularly having conversations about God, Scripture, and faith. At this point, I firmly believed in God, but I didn’t yet hunger for Him.
Thankfully, some of my friends at my new high school were preparing for Confirmation. My dad encouraged me to go too. I was reluctant, but at the same time, I genuinely wanted to be there — probably because my friends were going as well.
During Confirmation classes, I took the opportunity to ask every question I had about Jesus and Christianity to my catechist, Brother Marvin. He truly helped set my heart ablaze and played a huge role in helping me believe in Jesus personally. Still, I didn’t yet understand the importance of Christ’s Church.
Around that same time, some of my friends who were attending Confirmation also started going to a non-denominational church called Calvary Chapel. I would occasionally go on Thursdays for worship nights and Bible studies. In many ways, it was a good introduction to taking faith more seriously. I got my first Bible, learned more about Jesus, found a younger Christian community, and experienced the emotional side of worship. It felt comforting and easy. Even so, I still attended Mass most Sundays with my dad, and deep down, I preferred it.
Then came the winter of 2022. Midway through my sophomore year, I transferred to a Catholic high school. I mainly transferred for lacrosse, academics, and the opportunity for a private Catholic education.
But the transition brought a lot of fear and uncertainty. I didn’t know anyone. Everything was new — the environment, the teachers, the schedule, the friendships. Like any teenager wanting to fit in, I slowly started conforming to things I had never done before and never truly wanted to do.
For a while, I lived for the world.
Even during that period, I still read my Bible occasionally, prayed at times, and went to Mass here and there. But living that double life slowly pulled me farther from God and made Him less and less of a priority.
Then one day during my junior year, I attended a Bible study where the leader read aloud Galatians 5:19–21:
“…those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
That moment changed everything.
It was my conversion moment — the moment the scales fell from my eyes. I suddenly realized that I had been living a life of sin. Looking back on it now, I’m still amazed at how beautifully God works.
From that moment on, I stopped living for the world.
Cold turkey.