ChristLife celebrates our 20th Anniversary this year. You're invited to join ChristLife as we celebrate on November 21, 2015! We hope you enjoy these memories and reflections from ChristLife staff as we approach our 20th Anniversary Celebration.

Today Leo Rudegeair shares how the Lord called him to ChristLife.

I remember being at our third or fourth ChristLife National Training Conference. I looked around the room and found myself filled with awe and wonder witnessing a tremendous energy I saw as a move of the Holy Spirit.  People were excited about evangelization. They were anxious to have their parishes actively engaged in sharing the Good News. I asked the Lord, "How did this happen? How did I get involved in all of this?" His response took me back to the beginning.

From 1959 through 1993 I was happy working as an engineer. My job was extremely satisfying--the pay was good, I had time for family, for God, and a nice social life. My employer suddenly offered a bonus for anyone who agreed to retire early. I had no interest in retiring until my daughter suggested I at least look at the offer. It wasn't especially attractive, but I realized—with prayer and my wife’s agreement—that it was sufficient to meet our family’s needs. More than that, a seed was planted. I realized that if I retired, I could serve the Lord in Christian ministry. My wife, Vera, and I prayed. There was no loud trumpet call from the Lord, just a whisper that said, "I can use you."  I retired and told the Lord I was available.

Two years later, I ran into Dave Nodar at a National Catholic Renewal Leaders' Meeting. He invited me to go to Poland with him to teach in a school of evangelization. I wanted to say yes, but there were a number of obstacles to be resolved before it could happen. To my surprise the obstacles were removed and I was free to go. As I was preparing, reality hit me—I was not an evangelist. I had no training and no experience. I asked the Lord, "What do I have to offer them?" His response came quickly and clearly, "Nothing, but I have everything.  If you allow me, I will use you." The trip to Poland was life-changing and the Lord used me powerfully in ways I never expected.

From the very first days of ChristLife, the hand of the Lord has guided us. Dave has taught me how to hear the Lord and surrender to His will. Often we would plan the next step for this ministry, only to have the Lord show up with a better plan. He provided everything from the routine to the sublime.

When we told Cardinal Keeler of our desire to start a ministry of evangelization, we were made an Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. When we were looking to buy a horse farm for the ChristLife headquarters, He gave us space at the Franciscan Friary. When we needed more staff and began to ask people we thought would be good for the job, out of the blue He sent Rich Cronin. When our bookkeeper left, Rich’s wife, Maureen, was available. When we were struggling to meet expenses and were forced to go without salaries, a wealthy man who was touched by one of our programs called to give us a significant donation.

It has been like that since the very beginning.

Prayer and attentive, obedient hearts have become our mode of operation. “What do we ourselves have?”  Nothing, but in Him we have all we need.  And in Him we can bear much fruit.

 Leo Rudegeair co-founded ChristLife with Dave Nodar in 1995. He is a lifelong Catholic who came to know Jesus in a deep and personal way in 1973. He lives in Clarksville with his wife, Vera, and they have five daughters, 18 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.