We thank our God in our remembrance of you, always in every prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:3-6

As we enter the Advent of the Great Jubilee 2000, a year that Pope John Paul II says, "is meant to be a great prayer of praise and thanksgiving"'(TMA #32), I want to begin this newsletter by expressing our gratitude to God and each of you for your partnership in the gospel and mission of CHRISTLIFE.

When CHRISTLIFE began 4 years ago, we believed that if we followed Jesus, doing what he called us to do, depending on him to supply what is needed to fulfill his purposes, he would do far more than we could ask or believe (Ephesians 3:20). Again and again we have seen divine providence open doors of service and provision. When we look back on these four years, years of preparation for entering the Third Millennium, and see what the Lord has done, we are filled with wonder and thanksgiving - for the Lord has done great things and holy is his name!

Let me share with you some of the goodness of the Lord and generosity of his people! One year ago, December '98, there was only full time worker in the office. We were receiving dozens of inquiries each week related to the various means of practical evangelization that we offer: our web site, Alpha for Catholics, conferences and schools of evangelization, video teaching series, etc. In January, Leo Rudegeair, associate Director of CHRISTLIFE, began to work full time (even though he is retired). What a blessing! Then, as we prepared for the North American Alpha for Catholics Conference last April, there were two wonderful developments. First, we established a planning committee to oversee the conference and support the ongoing development of Catholic evangelization and formation, locally and throughout North America. Second, we had tremendous volunteer support preparing for and serving at the conference itself. Since the conference many men and women have continued to serve at our center. Because of your service we are able to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine! Thank you for saying yes to our Lord's call. Our office staff now consists of 2 full time workers and many volunteers (some working close to full time)! Rich Cronin, also theoretically retired, is overseeing the development and operation of our Resource Distribution Center.

We have been graced with the service and support of many other wonderful people: Intercessors (prayer is the basis of evangelization and mission, we are indebted to you!); marketing and graphics designers; accounting & legal servants; photographers, computer, video and audio experts. Our Board of Directors. Our generous financial benefactors! Praise and worship leaders. The Alpha North America Office. Cardinal Keeler's ongoing, personal support and encouragement. The Franciscan Friars and their generosity in provising us office space. And so many, more! Thank you to each and every one of you!

We give thanks for the following areas of our mission:

I. Catholic Evangelization Services and Resources:
With the encouragement of our Archbishop and other hierarchy and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we continue to develop a process of evangelization and basic Christian teaching to help equip Catholic dioceses, parishes, and small faith communities with practical tools for the work of evangelization in the new millennium.
During this year:
o We produced, in partnership with the Catholic Alpha Office in England, 2 video series, Touching Jesus Through The Church, with Dr.Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and, Drink From The Wells of The Church, with Fr.Raniero Cantalamessa, the Papal Preacher at a total cost of over $32,000. We believe it is well worth the cost in order to have excellent teaching materials that are inspiring, practical, and faithful to the magesterium!
o We have launched a Resource Distribution Center to send out CHRISTLIFE and Alpha materials. Please let all of your friends and contacts know that CHRISTLIFE is now distributing the Alpha resources. You can help support our ministry by purchasing your Alpha materials directly from us.
o Each week we respond to dozens of inquiries for our resources for evangelization and discipleship. We have sent out hundreds of introductory packages of Alpha for Catholics materials to help support dioceses, parishes, and other ministries in responding to the call of evangelization.

II. Equipping Conferences, Schools and events:
o We had our first Alpha for Catholics Conference, 580 people attended. There has been a great increase in the number of Catholic parishes using Alpha and the other programs since then. Here in the Archdiocese of Baltimore there are over 20 parishes using it and nationally approximately 100!
o We sponsored our fourth annual conference on the themes of preparing for the Third Millennium. This November's conference was entitled, Touching The Father's Heart: Preparing for the Great Jubilee.
o CHRISTLIFE had the privilege of serving in central and eastern Europe in schools of evangelization and conferences promoting the themes of preparation for the Great Jubilee. This year we spoke to over 12,000 people! Since our brothers and sisters in these countries are economically disadvantaged, CHRISTLIFE funds our work there as part of our mission to the nations.
o We held a meeting of local friends of CHRISTLIFE to appeal to them to join with us in prayer, service, and giving to fulfill the work of the mission. As noted above, many people are volunteering their service. "The nets are breaking come join us!"(Lk.5:7)
o We hosted 2 Alpha Introductory Evenings here in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for those who would like to find out what Alpha is and how to use it in their parishes. We will also begin hosting them in other regions as support for them develops. Call us for information.

III. Web site.
o Alabanza Internet Services offered to host CHRISTLIFE's web site for free! Thank you, Lord, Alabanza! We have continued to see the traffic to our site increase monthly. Last month, over 46, 000 people from over 50 countries visited our site to download over 35,000 files.

There are many other things to thank the Lord for. Together with you we thank him that we have seen:
o Unchurched people coming to know the love of God the Father in Jesus Christ. We have seen some literally rescued from death and transferred into the kingdom of God, receiving the sacraments and entering Catholic parishes:
o Faithful Catholics, clergy, religious, and laity strengthened in their faith and confidently sharing the good news with others.
o Opportunities to serve with Christians of other traditions to advance the Gospel.
Praise to you Father almighty through Jesus Christ, your Son, in the love of your Holy Spirit. Amen!

We are indebted to each of you who have helped to support the work of this ministry with your financial gifts. Since our beginning, CHRISTLIFE has been funded from your donations supplemented with with money from a large one-time grant we received. At our current rate of expenditures, we will exhaust the grant within the next 10 months. Would you please ask the Lord to continue to send us benefactors who value the work of evangelization and mission and could help us to continue to respond to the opportunities that are before us? We are currently working on fund raising. As an apostolate, we want to respond with generosity and holiness to the Lord Jesus' call to make disciples and to our Holy Father's call to a new evangelization. And, we sense an urgency to this calling. Not one of anxiety, but of conviction that we have an opportunity to serve the Church and the world, by helping others to know more fully the love of God the Father in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a season where the Lord is calling his people to make him known to the nations, starting right in our families, neighborhoods and parishes. Together with each of you we want to respond to his call!

May this advent of the third millennium since Jesus was born be a time of great joy and peace for each one of you and your families as you seek to follow him!

In his love,

Dave Nodar

Director

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