Changing Lives - One man's quest for the truth he knew in his heart
My name is Wayne McCleaft. I am married and have seven children and ten grandchildren. I was born and raised in the suburbs of South Philadelphia. My mom and dad didn’t attend church, but starting at about the age of seven I walked down the hill to the local church alone. I attended Protestant churches as a child and developed a love and reverence for the character of Jesus Christ.
I continued to study His life searching for truth wherever I could find it. I searched throughout a long military career. I spent many adult years as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons). I graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s in Social Work. I even became a high priest in the LDS church. Yet some things in their doctrines did not seem to ring true, so eventually I left Mormonism.
One evening while living in Chester County, PA, I was talking to my wife about how Divine truth had to be “out there somewhere, but I just don’t know where to find it.” She responded to my frustration, “well honey, maybe we aren’t supposed to have the answers until the next life.” I explained to her my belief that these Divine truths had been revealed, but I just didn’t know where to find them. I’m sure she doubted my opinion.
One morning about two weeks later, while working as a nurse in a local nursing home, I went in to give morning medications to one of my patients. This lady was 100 years old and a Quaker. While giving her all of her medications I noticed a book on her nightstand. The book’s title was Window to Eternity by Bruce Henderson. I asked this little lady if it was a theology book and explained how much I loved theology. She replied that it was indeed a theology book and that a friend had given it to her before she died. She told me that I could borrow it and to give it back to her when I was finished.
I took this book home, read it, and became obsessed with what I had learned. In the back of the book was a newspaper clipping with a picture of the Bryn Athyn Cathedral. I told my wife that I had found God’s truths and she looked at me with a look like, “What are you into now?” As I explained the basic tenants of the New Church to her, she exclaimed, “Well, this is a religion that makes sense.”
After explaining that there was a church that actually taught these truths, Karin and I took off to find Brigadoon, Bryn Athyn, Shangri La, or whatever this magical place was. Arriving at the Cathedral, I burst through the door, scaring the poor receptionist to death by questioning, “Do you know what you have here?” She replied, “Ah, ah, let me have you talk to someone.” Reverend Jeremy Simons was kind enough to come to the Cathedral where, in the bookroom, he introduced me to the Writings for the New Church. I felt like a “kid in a candy store.” I deliriously read the Writings exclaiming out loud, “Wow, wow!!” constantly.
It was too far for us to drive to the cathedral for services, so we briefly attended Temenos, not realizing that there were different denominations in the New Church. During this time, I was communicating with Reverend Mike Gladish online, taking his Heaven and Hell course.
Eventually, due to a death in the family, we moved back to my wife’s home state of Arizona. When we arrived there I was hired as a hospice nurse. This was a job that I loved and was well suited for. I had the opportunity not only to serve but to teach people about the spiritual life they could experience after death. We looked up the New Church of Phoenix society and attended as often as my job would allow. We made some wonderful friends there.
I am very thankful to my wife Karin, who was willing to get rid of all of our material belongings, sell our home, and move from Phoenix, AZ, to undertake an adventure in Bryn Athyn, PA. We will be returning to Phoenix soon, where I will continue to serve as a hospice nurse. I will continue to tell people in my care the good news about heaven. I thank the Lord for calling me to this sacred work and Emanuel Swedenborg for being such a worthy servant of the Lord, enlightening us about this modern revelation, the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
