A highlight of the conference for many was connecting with others passionate about evangelization.

"I liked meeting many people who feel like me about Jesus," one woman from a parish in Washington, D.C. shared.

Discovering Christ is a seven-week evangelizing process, consisting of seven sessions and a retreat day. At each session, participants gather for a meal, worship, teaching about the Gospel and small group discussion.

As a reslt of the conference, Deacon Dean Lopata from St. John's in Severna Park, Md. wrote, "I received encouragement, wisdom, divine perspective and renewed zeal for proclaiming Christ."

On Thursday night of the conference, participants learned about the importance of the Holy Spirit and had the opportunity to receive prayer to be empowered to evangelize.

"After attending the conference I know how the Apostles felt before and after Pentecost. We may have just experienced a new Pentecost," wrote Stephen from Catonsville, Md. in an email after the conference.

Conference presenters included Dave Nodar, Pete Ascosi, Leo Rudegeair, Fr. Erik Arnold, Fr. Marc Drouin, Dianne Martin and two young adults who gave testimonies about the impact Discovering Christ has had on their lives.

"Having young people at the conference sharing how the course touched them and urging us to use it blew me away!" Fr. Saporito from St. Joseph Church in Maplewood, N.J. wrote. "People will respond when the message is delivered clearly and in an inviting way! Discovering Christ aims to do that! I left the conference eager to begin the preparation."

ChristLife offered the Discovering Christ DVD package for purchase for the first time at the conference. The package, which sells for $100, includes both the DVDs and an electronic license to use and print the small group, participant and how-to manuals.

Dave Nodar, director of ChristLife, emphasized that the conference was a step forward in the mission of the new evangelization.

"The enthusiasm and commitment among the participants to evangelization was particularly encouraging to our team," Nodar said. "We hope to continue to support those who will begin using Discovering Christ and together learn how to effectively build processes of making Catholic disciples in the context of our parishes, campus ministries and small faith communities."