The founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students implored nearly 10,000 young adults to put Christ first in their lives so they can help change the world. "You were willed into existence because you were meant to be amazing. The invitation Christ is extending is to choose him first and become the man or woman you were meant to be," Curtis Martin said during his keynote address Jan. 4 at the SEEK 2015 conference. "If you allow Christ to be the principle and foundation of your life, you will be a world changer," he said. Sponsored by FOCUS and held Jan. 1-5 at the Opryland Hotel and Resort in Nashville, the conference drew young people from college and university campuses across the country. Martin told attendees, "The great truth of the Christian Gospel is not that we love God, but that God loves us. ... We need to respond with a full, all-in effort. If you become who you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire," he added. "Go set the world on fire." Attendees felt inspired to do just that. "It moves my heart to tears to see people encountering Christ," said Gage Shirley, one of more than 75 students from the University of Kansas in attendance.
Kurt Hilgefort, is a Catholic father of six who publishes his thoughts on his blog Shadows of Augustine . He responded to my seven question survey with the following answers. Kurt is the first layperson to respond to the seven question survey and I think that his experience is extremely relevant to me personally and I hope that you are inspired by his thoughts as well. If you would like to respond, please send an email to fellmananthony@gmail.com with your thoughts and I will be happy to publish them as well. 1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far? The biggest challenge for me has been the whole dying to self thing. On an intellectual level, there are no barriers. It comes down to a matter of accepting the authority of the Church that Christ founded upon Peter. My challenge is not in the intellect, but rather in the will. The challenge for me has always been to continually seek conversion. I want to be transformed, but I want it to be over all ...