Grace for the Goats: How Jesus preached a Gospel bigger than Christianity

By Christopher M. Ward

Father Christopher was an enthusiastic Catholic priest. He woke up early to pray every morning. He started a youth group and organized a youth Mass. He celebrated weddings and funerals and visited a local nursing home. He tumbled into bed in the evening tired but hopeful he had made a positive difference. He approached this work with the urgency of a man who believes he can change the world, or at least, transform a small part of it.
The reality of ministry, however, fell short of his expectations. The Catholic faith has many rules about who can participate. Only practicing Catholics in a valid marriage are welcome to Holy Communion. Lutheran and Evangelical Christians are not welcome to communion, and neither are couples in same-sex relationships or those divorced and remarried without an annulment. This means the grace offered in the Catholic Church is only for the faithful sheep; the Church has little to offer the unfaithful "goats."
After seven years in priesthood, Father Christopher got involved in an affair with a woman and was ultimately removed from the priesthood. The Catholic scandal might have ended when he left ministry, but the inner drama of faith was only starting. As a priest outside the priesthood, Christopher found himself outside those very same rules he had promoted while in ministry.
Catholic religion offers grace for the faithful sheep, but what will become of the unfaithful goats?
Christopher looked to the life of Jesus to see what grace is offered to sinners and unbelievers. Through a process of faith deconstruction and religious renovation he found what he needed most: forgiveness for his sins, healing from religious trauma, and hints of a wild, unpredictable grace which is willing to work outside religious walls and organized spiritual systems. This book is not about rejecting traditional religion, but opening your eyes to see organized, sacramental grace is part of a much larger plan.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FGVJJSTR
• ISBN13: 9798317329549
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"