Chris has donated a couple times already this month. When I asked him why, this is what he shared:
I’m a youth minister in Winston-Salem, NC and I want to tell you why my family is giving to Life Teen’s Annual Appeal.
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We’re giving to Life Teen because we believe so strongly in its mission and in its direction as a ministry and a movement of the Holy Spirit. When I was in High School I was blessed to be involved in Life Teen at St. Timothy’s. I truly can say that it altered the course of my life forever. I look back at those people I surrounded myself with before Life Teen and even some of those people I was friends with the rest of high school and I see where they are today. I am so grateful that Life Teen acted as Christ’s hand pulling me out of despair and faithlessness. In 1995 our Life Teen group took a pilgrimage to Rome. It was on that trip that I met John Paul II when our group was presented to him. Meeting John Paul II still has an impact on my life up to this day. It was meeting him that inspired me to share his message of hope with young people and I feel it is his prayers that have brought me back into youth ministry again.
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I am forever indebted to Life Teen and to those core members and everyone involved in reaching out to me. The work of youth ministry in our Church has never been more important or necessary. I believe that all of us with a heart for this ministry need to seriously consider what sacrifice we can make to help Life Teen continue to flourish and grow. If you are unsure I ask you to ponder a few things:
…1. Think of the countless vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life due to the work that Life Teen has done over the years. I personally can think of 15 priests who are Priests because of being involved in Life Teen.
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2. Think of the countless young people who have entered lives of service of the Church, the poor, the unborn, the infirmed, and youth ministry instead of choosing a career path that would be more financially rewarding.
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3. Think of the thousands of families who have grown closer together and closer to Christ through this ministry at your parish and parishes all over the world.
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4. Think of the young families like mine who are striving to raise Holy Catholic families.
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5. Think about the teens and young adults you know who have lived lives of faith rather than losing their faith in a secular world.
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Life Teen has done and will continue to do great things with all that they are given. I have faith that LT will be good stewards of your donation large or small. Know that no matter what the amount, be it $10 or be it $10,000 it will mean the world to thousands of young people who are ministered to by a Life Teen Event or parish ministry.
