Winter 2025 Founder’s Letter

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Thirty years ago, following several years of growing conviction in prayer, discernment with others, mission work in Poland and Slovakia, and studying at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family Life, I was convinced the Lord and His Church were calling me to practically respond to the mission of evangelization by helping Catholics know and make known the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In response, Leo Rudegeair and I met with Cardinal Keeler to propose establishing a Catholic ministry of evangelization. He was so encouraged that any Catholics—clergy, religious, or laity—were actually evangelizing and wanted to teach others how to share their faith in the Lord, that he established us as an Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Because Leo and I had personally encountered the joy of knowing Jesus as Lord, and knew that the Gospel was truly life-changing good news, we wanted everybody to have the opportunity to turn to the Lord—whether they were in the pews, dropped out, or unbaptized. Initially we taught about evangelization at conferences in dioceses and parishes, but came to a point where we realized we needed to be more focused. Specifically, we wanted to give parishes practical training and resources to help their parishioners personally know the Lord, and to tell anyone and everyone this Good News.

And so, the ChristLife Process of Discovering Christ, Following Christ, and Sharing Christ was developed. It is a way to equip parishes to establish an ongoing process of inviting people to hear the Gospel and provide an opportunity to personally respond to it in a relational context. In addition, participants learn the basics of becoming 24/7 disciples and hopefully embrace the essential mission of all baptized Christians—to share Christ in word and witness of life.

We are amazed by God’s grace at work in over a quarter of a million people who have participated in the ChristLife Process. We continue to hear testimonies of changed lives by the Lord Jesus. Join us in giving praise to the Lord! It’s very humbling to know what the Lord can do when each one of us says yes to Him.

A word of encouragement for all of us:

In the Gospel of Mark 5:19-20, we read about a man who had been delivered from many demons. As Jesus is departing, the man begs to go with Him, but the Lord refuses and says:

‘Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”

What a timely word for us. The Lord calls us to go to our family, friends, and those around us to tell them how much the Lord has done for us! The Lord Jesus wants you and me to be His messengers of the Good News to those right where we live.

God’s love, forgiveness, peace, purpose, and power, that we have received and enjoy, are not only for us but for those we relate to. Jesus wants others to personally know Him, and guess what? By the Holy Spirit, He wants to give us timely opportunities to share with others the remarkable news that we know is true.

Now is a critical time in the nations when people desperately need to hear the love of Jesus Christ. And you and I carry His presence and word in us for their sake.

Jesus has changed our lives and He wants to use us to help others know He can change them, too! Let’s be praying for opportunities to share the Lord with others. Please pray for us as we sincerely pray for you.

With love in Christ, I remain your brother,

Dave Nodar
ChristLife Founder and Senior Leader