If you had told me in my twenties that at fifty-three I would be a devout Catholic mother-of-five and the creator and Executive Producer of a nationally touring musical of Christ’s Passion to Pentecost, I would have laughed in your face!
You see, I wasn’t always a Christian, and The Cross and the Light (TCTL) isn’t just a musical.
TCTL is an authentic encounter with Jesus so that you may know who Jesus is, what He’s done for you, and how he calls you to live. This deeply moving musical production is the direct result of my crazy conversion experience.
You see…I spent 35 years wanting absolutely nothing to do with God. I didn’t believe in Jesus, and I hated His church. I made fun of every Christian I knew. I was fascinated with the occult. I believed in reincarnation and was very involved in the New Age, holding séances in my home on a regular basis.
I had no idea that I was the one who was lost. You see I had bought in to the lies of Satan; lies that tell you if you can acquire stuff, the things of this world, you can find happiness and fulfillment. You can find peace and purpose! It is the greatest lie there is, and it only causes despair.
The only answer to Satan’s lie is the crucifix, because that is true love. That is how much you are loved!
I had no idea.
From the outside, it looked like I had it all. As a former Miss America runner up and talent winner. I was on the road as a performer making a fortune as a fiddle player and comedienne. I married a handsome college hockey player. We had two beautiful children, and built a house five times bigger than the house I grew up in. From the outside, it looked as if I had it all, and yet I was sinking into a deep depression. The emptiness was swallowing me alive.
To make matters worse…I was told my mother was going to die.
It was at that moment I found myself on my hands and knees on a bathroom floor at the University of Michigan hospital crying out to a God I had rejected my entire life! I said “I don’t know who you are or what you are, but I will give you my life if you keep her alive.”
Can you imagine the cheers in heaven! The Archangel Gabriel singin’ “O happy day!” and St. Peter doing the moon walk. Ha!
People from all walks of life started sharing their testimony. Six months later I gave my life to Christ and became a born again Baptist. After researching the first 300 years of the church, I decided I had to become a Catholic. To hear the whole story, go to www.crossandlight.com/story-behind-show-kelly-nieto
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On Good Friday, the day before entering the Catholic Church, I prayed The Stations of the Cross for the very first time. During the Second Station as Jesus is being flogged, I was overwhelmed with horrific grief and pain. I could hardly breathe! When I looked over the altar I saw TCTL, not with my eyes, but with the eyes of my soul. And I heard God say, “This is why you are here!” For the first time in my life, I understood the depth of Jesus’ love and sacrifice, and I was inspired to write and produce TCTL to give millions of other people that same understanding–to know his love, his mercy, and his forgiveness. In addition to raising my five children, this is my life’s mission.
And I’m asking for your help!
I want each of you to think about one person in your life who needs to know how much Jesus loves them. Someone who is suffering from an illness or loss of work. Maybe someone who is angry with God and has left the church. Picture that person in your mind. Now I’m asking you to go online to www.crossandlight.com/tickets and purchase one extra ticket this year and invite that person to go with you to TCTL. This could be the most important moment of their life, but they won’t come, if you don’t ask.
With TCTL, Evangelization is as easy as an invitation!
Can I count on you?
Your sister in Christ,
Kelly Nieto