Dcn. Adam Cox

Episode 3: Deacon Adam Cox — From Black Magic to the Altar

"When I was living a life of debauchery, the devil didn't bother me. But when I get close to God, he is on me like you wouldn't believe."

In Episode 3 of the Deacon Life Podcast, my formation classmate Deacon Adam Cox shares one of the most radical conversion stories you'll ever hear.

Adam grew up in a home with no Christian faith. His mother practiced black magic, kept the Satanic Bible and a witch's Bible, and taught him that Catholics "wanted your little boys and your money." There was abuse, instability, and darkness.

Through a guitar teacher who invited him on a church float trip, Adam was eventually introduced to Christianity. He gave his life to Christ at 25 in a Baptist church, where he learned to love Scripture—a love that remains his primary devotion to this day.

But it was a series of vivid dreams that pointed him toward the Catholic Church. In one dream, he felt an overwhelming peace about "going into the ministry." In another, he experienced a cold darkness that compelled him to seek out a Catholic shrine. And in another, his deceased mother—who had hated the Church—appeared and told him: "The path you're on is the path you need to stay on."

Adam entered RCIA and was received into the Catholic Church. Just a few years later, he entered diaconate formation—and he and I were ordained together.

Now he serves his parish through the Knights of Columbus CORE men's group, pro-life ministry, and wherever else he's needed. He's also 604 days sober—a journey he shares with remarkable honesty in this episode.

"I am not strong enough to do it," Adam says of his sobriety. "I'm going to lose to alcohol every single time. So it forced me to put myself at the foot of that cross and to rely on Jesus in a way that I hadn't before." This episode is a testament to the transforming power of grace. No background is too dark. No past is too broken. God can redeem it all.

In this episode:

• Growing up in a home with black magic and no faith
• Finding Christ through a Baptist Bible study
• The dreams that led to Catholicism—including a message from his deceased mother
• The reality of spiritual warfare after ordination
• 604 days sober: hitting bottom and being held by God
• Sitting with Frances as she died
• Leading men through the CORE program
• Advice for men in formation: "Stay the course"