Don's Blog

Here's what we are working on...

1/2/2021

Hello Everyone! And Happy New Year!
So have you made some new year's resolutions or have you given up on those things because they never seem to work? I hope you haven't, because we are called to change, to convert, to become better human beings, to become living saints. Granted, a date on a calendar doesn't mean something is going to magically different, but I do want to invite you to make a change in this new year. As you all know, and as you have all experienced, this past year has been incredibly trying. But, we have a promise from our Father that He uses ALL THINGS for our good, even 2020, even covid, even depression, even marital strife, and financial difficulties.. ALL THINGS.
These last few months have been incredibly challenging for Hollis and I. Huge changes in our careers, finances, marriage and understanding of ourselves. It has been challenging on every level, our relationship with God, each other, and our understanding of ourselves and calling. And then...covid came along like frosting on the cake of 2020. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for all the prayers, messages, love, support and finances that have flooded our way these last two weeks. Even with no income for over three weeks, all our December bills are paid and January's mortgage is paid. And, no one in the family came down with covid in spite of having been exposed through me and Hollis' symptoms were minimal. Thank you. From what I have read and been told, low energy levels, shortness of breath and coughing will continue for 4 to 6 weeks.
I am happy to announce that I have launched a podcast. Everything I do on the podcast will be on the YouTube channel so hopefully this will just expand the number of people we can connect with. The first episode has to do with the times we live and preparing for the times ahead ( you'll notice I experience some shortness of breath, especially during the intro to the podcast...thank you covid!). Please feel free to share.
Love you all. I pray that the Lord blesses you with a greater awareness of his presences with you every moment of every day. Don
Podcast: Podcast on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0iaxd2bEfIVBwsMJlu9WEA

Paul, the apostle, that great evangelizer, spent a good deal of his time - making tents. The use of tents was extensive in those days, and tent making was an important trade. Without modern sewing machines, the work was labor intensive, with every cut and stitch being done by hand. I don’t recall ever seeing any great works of art showcasing St. Paul the Tentmaker. Hopefully there are some out there, because this was an important part of Paul’s approach to life and ministry that we are sometimes called to follow.

In the first few verses of Acts chapter 18, we find the story of Paul coming to Corinth during his second missionary journey:
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers.
St. Paul in this instance is shedding light on what it means to live as a missionary disciple. His top priority is to preach the Gospel; that is the whole reason he is in Corinth. He engages in this trade while there in order to pay his bills, and in his words, “to proclaim God's good news to them free of charge” (2 Corinthians 11:7). And in a letter to the Thessalonians he writes, “You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:9). He did not see his work to pay his bills as the goal but the means to accomplish his goal, which was to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. This priority placement is significant. It is very easy for us to become mainly focused on our careers and income to such a degree that we have no time or energy left for evangelization, even if we were inclined to do it.

Paul’s tent making work in Corinth continued for some time, until his friends and fellow missionaries, Silas and Timothy, arrived from Macedonia with a financial gift from the church in Philippi. After this, Paul was able to devote more time to ministry because of this gift of financial support (2 Corinthians 11:9 and Philippians 4:15).
This “tent-making” model is an example for all of us, helping us to consider how we see our own lives and work. We are first and foremost “ambassadors for Christ,” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Our time, treasure and talents are to be used to bring the message of hope to this world which is in such desperate need, more so now than ever. Our jobs and careers are meant to be a means to that end.

With the support and encouragement of the board of Evangelize Me, this model is the one that I have chosen to follow. Our plan is to provide classes, small group leader training and support, and to create opportunities for evangelization and discipleship to parishes. Our desire is to do so at no cost to the parishes. In light of this, we believe God has provided us with a means of paying our bills through carpentry work with my son’s business, “The Red Bearded Builder,” and through our little perennial nursery, Our Funny Farm. We are incredibly thankful for His provision! Our ultimate goal is to be able to increase time spent in ministry, and gradually reduce the number of days doing carpentry. Hollis will be focusing on developing the garden business, and joining me as able.

We are very thankful for our friends and benefactors who have been faithfully supporting Evangelize Me even during this uncertain time. Because of this support, Evangelize Me is able to contribute to our health insurance costs, making this transition possible. We are truly very grateful.
We humbly ask that if any of you are able to contribute any amount on a monthly basis, you would consider it. We would be deeply grateful. In this way, you will, as Paul declares to the Philippians, be “partners with me in grace.” (Philippians 1:7). Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
http://www.evangelizeme.org/donate.html

Dear friends and supporters,

I am writing to inform you that June 30 will be my last day of employment at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Auburn. It was a difficult decision to come to but with the pandemic, uncertain parish finances, and declining numbers of parishioners and families in our programs, it was painfully obvious that something needed to change. I am thankful for my time there as I have befriended so many wonderful, love-filled people. So, after being employed by religious institutions, both protestant and Catholic, my entire adult life, I am embarking a whole new adventure.

As many of you know, I started Evangelize Me! because I wanted to be able to devote more time to evangelization and disciple making. That was just a little over a year ago. Since then I have presented and worked with eight parishes in Maine and Massachusetts. In fact, my Lenten schedule was full and I had to turn down other invitations. My goal for this past year was to get to the point where I could dedicate more time to Evangelize Me and reduce my hours at the parish. God has a funny way of answering our prayers sometimes!

This is all happening very fast and I am not sure what it all means yet. Fortunately, our nursery business did well this spring and I can work with my son, Isaiah, in his contracting business to pay the bills. I believe the Spirit is calling me to be a full time missionary with Evangelize Me. Please pray for Hollis and me. These last few months have been difficult as I know it has been for many of you. I am open to the Lord’s leading, but feel a bit like Abraham, being called to go into the unknown, a “place that I will show you.”

I look forward to the fall, somehow we will figure out ways to gather for classes and prayer. I know that as difficult as this season has been for both individuals and parishes, God is doing a good and powerful work in his people. As he promises to work all things for good, so with this, He will accomplish his redemptive plan for us and His Church. He does His best work "in the dark night of the soul."

I will keep you posted with plans and changes!

Don

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What is God doing?

4/3/2020

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Hello everyone,

How are you surviving in this unprecedented time? I pray you are staying healthy! I just wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts with you. First of all, I wanted to remind us all that we were "born for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14), or as St. Joan of Arc said it, "I am not afraid because God is with me. I was born for this!" This pandemic is not a surprise to God, he is not scared or anxious, indeed, he is orchestrating every detail to accomplish something good out of all this evil. Which brings me to the second thing I wanted to remind us all about; The Catechism states that God will not allow an evil that he cannot bring a greater good out of (CCC 311); he will somehow use this world-wide pestilence for the ultimate good of humanity. Even in this, he would have us trust his plan and his purpose. I pray you will be able to soon see the good he is doing in your lives through this.

I was in a meeting this week where someone asked what God was doing in the midst of this great trial. I know what the Father is doing. It is the same thing he is always and constantly doing, he is searching for you! He knows this period of global strife will reach parts of your heart that he could never reach in any other way. Calling you to healing at the very roots of any shame and fear that still holds you in bondage.

Funny thing about God, He is doing that in my life too. Exposing my insecurities, my deepest motivations, and my heart felt (and believed) lies that keep me from actually knowing and trusting in his love. Even funnier…that is what he is doing with every person on the planet, in every life, every individual, in every time and culture and calamity, in the deepest, most cosmic, passionate, intimate, and personal way. Calling and drawing each person, using a global pandemic, no doubt caused ultimately of sin and human selfishness, but using it nevertheless, for truth and beauty and goodness.

And so in the midst of this ordeal, the question we really need to ask is not, “What is God doing?” But “What is God doing in you, through this?” This is an opportunity, when the people of the entire planet are faced with their own mortality, their own frailness and helplessness to introduce them to Love, Himself.

Let us join in prayer for each other that we are able to find God's peace and healing now and for the world, that there will be a new openness to faith as a result of this situation.

God bless you all!

Don

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Do you want a healthier marriage?

2/12/2020

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God’s Plan for Healthier Relationships
We were created by Love and for love! Relationships are the most satisfying, meaningful, fulfilling things we have in life but we all know that they can also be the most difficult and painful things in our life as well. In this six part series we will explore God’s desire for relationships and the opportunity they provide for us to change and grow into more healthy, balanced human beings. We will explore boundaries, communication, conflict resolution and more in very practical lessons so that our families can become closer to God’s intention for them.

Sundays During Lent in Auburn

2:00 PM at St. Philip
6:00 PM at the Village Inn

To register for any of these Abundant Life Classes please email Donald.smith@portlanddiocese.org
Or call
207-872-8096

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Spend Time with Jesus this Lent!

2/12/2020

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In Lewiston

Come Experience
The Real Presence of Jesus!

The Adoration Chapel at Holy Cross Church is a beautiful, peaceful place to encounter God’s love in a special way. This Lent we are inviting you on a Lenten adventure - come and spend time focusing on our God’s passionate, personal love for YOU! Even if you have never experienced adoration before, make a Lenten commitment, and come visit each week during Lent. Those participating will gather as a group before Lent begins to start the journey off together. We will be receiving a set of meditations - one for each week of Lent - each focusing on some aspect of God’s love for us as individuals. At the end of Lent, we will come together again and share with each other how the Lord met us in our times of adoration!

Kick Off Gathering 1:00 PM, Sunday, February 23 at the Adoration Chapel with a meeting at the church hall afterward

Wrap Up Sharing Time 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 18 at the Adoration Chapel with a meeting at the church hall afterward

Presenter: Don Smith
To Register, please call:
Peg Bissonette at 207-577-2439 or Doris Belanger 207-577-1005

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"Entering the Abundant Life" Classes Offered in Three Locations!

2/12/2020

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Waterville, Brunswick and Auburn!

Entering The Abundant Life

“I came so that they might have life
and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Jesus has offered to lead us into peace, joy and abundant life, yet so few of us have peace and joy these days. Are His promises true? Even in this crazy, modern age we live in? Are they true for you?
This Lent, we invite you to focus on God’s plan for your life and discover the truth about who God is and who you are, truths that can lead to greater peace and joy in your life.

God Has a Plan
God Loves You
If God loves Me, why does my life Stink?
Renewing your Mind
Surrendering to the Plan
The Most Powerful Prayer

Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville
Thursdays during Lent (February 27 – April 2)
6::30-8:00 PM
Notre Dame Church Hall

All Saints Parish in Brunswick
Wednesdays during Lent (March 4 - April 8)
6:30-8:00 PM
St. Charles Hall

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Auburn
Saturdays during Lent (February 29 - April 4)
5:30-7:00 PM

To register for any of these Abundant Life Classes please email don@evangelizeme.com
Or call
207-649-4700

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Ministry Update!

1/30/2020

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Hello Everyone,

I'm so excited to bring you all up to date! Our fall and Advent seasons were very busy; I traveled nearly 1,400 miles, attending over 20 meetings in nine locations, reaching around 400 people, speaking and training small group leaders. This doesn't include the classes I taught in Auburn as faith formation director for that parish!

As I travel across the state and interact with parishes and individuals, I see the hunger in God's people to learn the faith, and to be able share it effectively. The need for the type of ministry Evangelize Me does is obvious. This has helped my board of directors and I to clarify the vision of Evangelize Me and led to an update of our mission statement. It now reads as follows:

Our vision is to raise up a grassroots army of missionary disciples who are formed, trained, and supported to do the work of evangelization in their homes, parishes, and communities. We will accomplish this mission by making our formation and training classes as widely available as possible and by providing ongoing support for the work of evangelization.

We are gearing up for a busy and blessed Lent! We will be working with parishes in Waterville, Brunswick and Lewiston. I'll be sending out those details soon.

I want to thank all of you who have prayed for and contributed to Evangelize Me. None of this would be possible without your help. We offer our trainings, classes, and retreats as inexpensively as possible, relying entirely on the generosity and prayers of God's people to support the ministry. If you would like to help, here's the link!
http://www.evangelizeme.org/donate.html

I'll be in touch soon with the schedule for Lenten events! In the meantime, I am praying for God to richly lavish His grace upon you so that you can know the depth of the riches that are yours in Christ Jesus!

Don Smith
Executive Director
Evangelize Me!

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With great Thanksgiving...

12/3/2019

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I write to you this morning with great thanksgiving to the Lord for all of the grace He bestows on us, moment by moment. This fall has certainly been a busy and memorable. Our daughter, husband and three children moved back to Maine from Indiana and our son and his wife announced that they are expecting their firstborn and are enrolled in RCIA and will be received into the Church at Easter!

In addition to that, I have had the chance to speak at events, meet some wonderful people and to be encouraged by the work the Lord is doing in his Church. There is a hunger amongst his followers to learn the faith more deeply and to learn the skills of sharing their faith with others. I believe that gathering, training, supporting and encouraging these disciples will lead to a renewal of faith for our parishes.

In addition to special events, I taught a Small Group Leadership class for the parishes in Jay and Farmington this fall. This seven week training teaches lay people the the basics of evangelization and small group formation and leadership. The goal is to empower lay people to begin small groups in their homes or workplaces for pastoral care or evangelization. Small groups provide the personal, intimate, community setting where people can build relationships that lead to conversion and growth.

I also taught a class based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the sacraments. What amazing grace God bestows through these wondrous mysteries! Most of these classes have already been added to our youtube channel, you can check them out here.

Finally, I want to express a special thanks for all of you who have helped support Evangelize Me! As we slowly grow our base of support, we will be able to offer more and more services and programs to parishes and begin a movement of well trained, knowledgable believers equipped to share the light of faith in this dark age.

Upcoming Events!

December 1-2 Advent Retreat at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Jackman

December 6 Fireside Advent Meditations at Sky-Hy in Topsham
First in a Series! More info here!

December 8 Taizé Prayer Service with Fr. Bob Vaillancourt at 7:15PM at Holy Cross Church in Lewiston

December 11 Parish Advent Evening of Reflection at St. Joseph Church in Farmington

December 13 & 20 Fireside Advent Meditations at Sky-Hy in Topsham
More info here!

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Here's what we are working on...

Happy New Year?

The Call to “Tent Making”

Big changes...

What is God doing?

Do you want a healthier marriage?

Spend Time with Jesus this Lent!

"Entering the Abundant Life" Classes Offered in Three Locations!

Ministry Update!

With great Thanksgiving...

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