ChristLife: Catholic Ministry Of Evangelization
February 2005
God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Psalm 46:1-3, 7
Dear Friend,
There are significant times when events touch and challenge us to do something about the realities we hear and learn about. The recent tsunami, an inconceivable cataclysmic event, has elicited an enormous compassionate response by nations and individuals. Some people, seeing what is occurring, literally drop everything they are doing personally to travel thousands of miles to offer help.
"God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble."
It is not an exaggeration to say we are experiencing a spiritual tsunami among the Christian people. For us as Catholics consider these realities:
- As many as 40 million Catholics in the United States alone, no longer attend church.
- The sexual abuse scandals continue to impact the faithful as well as those outside the Church.
- These scandals have caused mistrust, anger and rebellion among many who think that the bishops have not addressed the root causes.
- The Church here in the United States is distracted from her primary mission, the duty "to lead all people to encounter Christ." Pope John Paul II,
Ecclesia in America, 68
The troubles within the Church have contributed to a climate of inertia, irrelevance, frustration and discouragement among the faithful.
In the same way that individuals responded to the recent natural catastrophe, the Holy Spirit is urging Catholics to respond to Jesus' call to action in his Church today.
What can I do? Lord, how do you want me to respond in 2005?
ChristLife was formed as a Catholic ministry of evangelization in 1995 in direct response to the call of Christ to each of us "to go and make disciples." Pope John Paul II has called every believer to "proclaim Christ to all peoples." He also said that the time we live in could be "a spring time of Christianity if we respond with generosity and holiness." We personally feel compelled to do what the Lord has commanded.
What has always motivated God's people is knowing that "he loved me and gave himself for me"(Gal.2:20) The love of Christ (see 2 Cor. 5:14) continues to be our motivation despite resistance and seeming disinterest in evangelization within many parts of the Catholic Church. Most essentially, the driving factor for you and me at this time in history must be the Lord's command to us to proclaim his love to others.
Who is going to tell them this good news?
Each of us can contribute to the mission and renewal of the Church by sharing Jesus Christ with others! It is truly life changing good news! When you are involved personally in the transformation that occurs in people who have heard the good news and embraced Jesus as Lord of their lives, it is the most awesome life event to be privileged to witness!
A woman named Helene recently attended a retreat during which she embraced a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! Here is part of her testimony.
I went to Malvern in November after being on a personal journey to get my life back. The years had taken its toll on me. I always thought that God had been with me in dark days. I was just worn out from those dark days. Stress and sadness had invaded my life. There didn't seem like there was room for me in my life. I was so absorbed in the pressures of the present and the hurts of the past that looking forward to tomorrow was not a happy thought. I had so much "baggage" in my life that I wasn't able to move forward because the load I was carrying was too heavy. I didn't know how to let go of the hurts.
On Friday night, we were asked to put our troubles up on the shelf in the meeting room. I[was able to] let go of all those hurts and forgave everybody. I didn't realize how long the list was of the people I forgave. I went to confession and asked God to forgive me. And He said YES. Such a rush of grace was unknown to me. For the first time in years, I picked up the Bible and started reading. The peace of mind I was experiencing was so pleasant that I didn't want to miss a minute.
I prayed for a New Life with Christ. And He said, "Yes." I have been healed of the memories of abuse from my past. Anger and resentment have been removed from my heart. I find that I have my smile back. Happiness has now invaded my life!
A fresh encounter with Jesus Christ will make all the members of the Church in America aware that they are called to continue the Redeemer's mission.
Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia in America, 7
Helene experienced new life because some people were willing to share the Lord Jesus with others!
If it is genuine, the personal encounter with the Lord will bring a renewal of the Church. Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia in America, 7
ChristLife's mission is to help Catholics to share Christ! Why? Because God loves all people and wants them to know his love through what Jesus has done for us! Millions of people live without the knowledge of God's love for them. They are ignorant of the truth that forgiveness is a possibility for them in virtue of the dying and rising of the Lord Jesus for us!
Let's join together in commitment to our Redeemer's missionary command and help to serve the Church in leading many to know him as Lord and Savior!
Sincerely,
Dave Nodar
Dates to remember. Please pray for these events and if in the area, join us!
March 12 Sharing Christ Video production. Please pray for this!
May 14. Sharing Christ leaders training workshop. Ellicott City, MD
May 20-21 Alpha Conference for Catholics, Graymoor Retreat Center, NY
June 17-18 Sharing Christ leaders training workshop, Olympia, WA
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ChristLife Catholic Ministry of Evangelization
12990 A Folly Quarter Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042, USA.
Who We Are
ChristLife is an apostolate of the Archdiocese of Baltimore that is responding to Jesus' call to, "Go and make disciples of all nations," and to the Church's call to a new evangelization
"It appears that there are only a few Catholic ministries actually developing the means for Catholics to respond to the urgent call for a new evangelization and mission to the nations, and so I am especially grateful for this service."
William Cardinal Keeler
Archbishop of Baltimore
What We Do
ChristLife provides vision, training, and resources needed for small groups,parishes, and ministries to do the work of evangelization.
Host a ChristLife training event in your diocese or parish!
Contact us for more information.
Call toll free 1 888-498- 8474
info@christlife.org
12290-A Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD, 21042, USA
ChristLife is a tax-exempt ministry dedicated to equipping Catholics for the work of evangelization.
To continue in this work, we depend entirely on the donations of fellow Christians like you.
We appreciate your support!
Copyright (c) 2005 ChristLife Catholic Mission of Evangelization
Permission is hereby granted to copy or reprint ChristLife newsletters for personal use, research files, internal circulation, and bulletin inserts. Please include "Copyright (c)2005 ChristLife: Catholic Mission of Evangelization" and our web address: www.christlife.org. Written permission is required if the article is to be included in a book, or in newspapers or magazines with paid subscriptions.
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