My first encounter with God as Abba, my Father, was in adoration at a Gethsemane Youth Retreat. I was in a defeated place in my life as a teenager. As the reflection was led, I began to cry profusely. I experienced this love I had never felt before that melted me.

It was at that moment that I felt Jesus’ calm, yet extremely proud, presence around me. He wrapped me in a big bear hug, so happy to have me with Him.

It was in the quiet of the adoration chapel that I encountered Jesus as a person for the first time and I realized just how much Jesus truly loved me.

Matthew Leonard is an international speaker, author, podcaster, and founder of the Science of Sainthood, a powerful online teaching platform focused on spiritual formation for individuals and group study materials.

It was his example of hope, compassion, accompaniment, that moved me so deeply and that began to soften my heart and paved the way for reengaging with a new faith.

Jamie Baxter is the Founder & CEO of Exodus (Makers of Exodus 90). Our mission is to share the uncommon freedom of Jesus Christ with men so that they may love more fully.

If you’re reading this and perhaps you too feel like half of your life is in the world and half of your life is in for Jesus, I want to gently invite you, give it all to Him! Dare. Take the risk. Go all in for Jesus! He will take care of you.

The mission to see food as a gift from God to nourish your family and to strengthen relationships is making this world a better place one meal at a time.

Jesus is the best and most interesting thing about me. My relationship with Him in prayer is everything to me and receiving Him daily in the Eucharist is the source of my life.

We are living in a time and age where God is raising up new saints to preach the gospel in ways that the saints before us have never seen. That sounds like an adventure to me!

He would respond, “Live for me and my Church.” My response led me to four years in the seminary, which I will always remain incredibly grateful for.

I ended up fully returning to Catholic practice in 2018. During that time, I was deeply struck by Catholic social doctrine which explained a Gospel-oriented perspective on issues ranging from the family to politics to economics and more.

My heart couldn’t keep it in anymore. I needed to share the vibrant Catholic experience with them. I quit my job at the parish, started taking Catholic freelance gigs to pay the bills, and started Truth Charting. Its mission is to show young people that being Catholic is not boring. 

Dr. Lombardi is an award-winning author, educator, and documentary film maker who has worked as a parish minister, university campus minister, high school chaplaincy leader, teacher educator through O.E.C.T.A., professor of Religious Education, Brock University, retreat facilitator, faith formation consultant, and program coordinator in the Diocese of Hamilton.

Since early 2022, I've been running Social Thomist, a Catholic social media agency. We work with priests, faith speakers, and apostolates that are impacting the Church and culture.

Crystalina Evert is the founder of Women Made New and co-founder of the Chastity Project. She is originally from Denver, CO, and lives in Scottsdale, AZ. She has been married to Jason Evert for twenty-two years, and they have eleven children.

Fr. Reehil is also the exorcist for the Diocese of Nashville, and the National Director of Radio Maria USA where he has a daily radio program called “Battle Ready with Fr. Dan Reehil”.

The wildest thing of all? All of these recent jobs and ministries happened within 3 years. I was in awe, witnessing how God wove everything I loved to do into a profession where I could serve Him and His people. I am forever grateful for every opportunity He gave me.