About a year ago, I received an unexpected email from the Diocesan Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno with an invitation. He said my name was mentioned as a potential speaker for their 23rd annual Diocesan Congress Confirmed in Faith, Committed to Justice to be held in the fall of 2011. He then invited me to be a presenter for one of the breakout sessions on the first day of the weekend conference. It was the first invitation I have ever received to speak at such an event. Needless to say, I was humbled, honored and totally excited for the opportunity.

This past Saturday, October 15 at the Visalia Convention Center, I presented my very first conference workshop at the 2011 Fresno Diocesan Congress. As much as I was excited, I was just as nervous! There are ministry experts and great speakers who are invited to speak at these events and who am I? I’m just a newbie! I would think to myself at times, do I really have anything of value to say and would people really take me seriously? You may be wondering what I ended up speaking about. Since my passion and focus this past year has been young adults and the Church, my topic was initially inspired by a blog article written by John Rinaldo titled Cultural vs. Engaged Catholics and I decided to expand on his thoughts and focus on Re-Engaging Our Disengaged Catholics. Young adults are becoming increasingly disconnected with their faith and the Church. We, as Church, not only need to pay attention but listen and respond.

I’ve been so immersed in young adult ministry and continue to discover new challenges we face as Church with our young and strayed-away Catholics that I’ve become a strong proponent for this particular ministry. Even though I am a newbie and I don’t necessarily have all the answers to our current concerns, I do have something to say to the people of God. And it’s not just about youth and young adults but also my passion for Jesus Christ, discipleship, prayer, Scripture, spirituality, dreams, relational ministry and most especially, our steps of faith – our faith journey. It’s one of those mysterious ways in which God calls his servants. You see, I grew up with a severe case of Glossophobia (fear of public speaking). But through my conversion as a leader in youth ministry thirteen years ago, God graced me with the gift and courage to speak His message when it needed to be spoken. What once was a task that brought me nightmares has become a passionate dream and purpose in my life.

The past thirteen years of ministry I’ve had many opportunities to speak to different groups and audiences. But this particular Saturday at Visalia Convention Center was totally something else. Speaking at a diocesan faith formation conference for the first time was definitely a big step forward for me! In a small but powerful way, the purpose and dream God placed in my heart had become much clearer to me when I saw this:

I was reminded that God does not choose the qualified. He qualifies the chosen. I’m just a messenger sent on a mission. I hope and pray that I can glorify God in all that I say and do. And so the journey continues…

Buen Camino!