Let's Just Do It!  by Arlene Apone
Arlene Apone is the Director of the Detroit Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center, a frequent speaker at retreats, conferences, and days of prayer, as well as an author and/or co-author of many books
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"In our day, what has happened to that hidden energy of the Good News, which is able to have a powerful effect on man's conscience?"  (Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope Paul VI, #4) 

"I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God."  Luke 4:43

You will do the works I do and even greater.  cf. John 14:12.

In a "Declaration of the Synod Fathers" in October 1974, and repeated by Pope Paul VI in his apostolic exhortation, "Evangelii Nuntiandi," #14, we hear, "We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all peoples constitutes the essential mission of the church."  This is the church's deepest identity; she exists in order to evangelize.  The church is born of the evangelizing activity of Jesus and the twelve. (#15)  "Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved."  Acts 2:47.   

For the church, evangelizing means bringing the Good News into all the strata of humanity and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new. (#18)  "Now I am making the whole of creation new."  Rev. 21:5. 

Above all the gospel must be proclaimed by witness. (#21)  Love, which is caring for the other, exemplifies the Christian life and love can be irresistible to anyone living in darkness. 

There was a significant time in my life when, by grace, I realized I had been a Christian spectator, looking and loving the drama, but not involved in a real way as a participant whose sleeves are rolled up, steeped in the living-out of this call.  Visiting a neighborhood Bible study brought about the grace of conversion in my life.

We are strongly hearing the Holy Spirit encouraging us to provide opportunities for our family members, neighbors, friends, and/or coworkers to discover their identity as sons and daughters of God through sharing in God's word.  We have a new tool, a book called Paul's Letter to the Romans, which we are offering as a bible study opportunity.  We suggest "Bible Coffees" as a way to evangelize and bring the good news to people right where we live and work.  For an hour or so a week, these "Bible Coffees" will be doing the very work of evangelizing referred to above.  

The DCCR will be presenting a one-day facilitator class on August 27, 2005, from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., at the Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, for those who hear this call to facilitate a bible study, and we will continue to provide opportunities for training for future facilitators as the need arises.

 We believe in keeping it simple; aware of our busy schedules, we can carve out a time and place for sharing Scripture with our family, neighbors, coworkers and/or friends.  We hold a treasure that needs to be shared.

 We will provide you with invitations to send to prospective participants, and we have the book, Paul's Letter to the Romans, available at the Center for $5.00 each, to get started on the "Bible Coffees."  Call the DCCR Center for more information and to register for the training class.

 "Never give in then, my dear brothers, never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord's work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be laboring in vain."  1 Cor. 15:58.