It truly astounds me to realize how much Live WTL has grown in a year. From a silly rec room read-the-Bible-video to a full blown ministry, Live WTL has exploded as a ministry in a year.
“You have no idea how much listening to this has changed me. Being surrounded with something encouraging and having someone to email back and forth with about positive things, it has given me a complete perspective change on so many things.”
-Anne, 17, Ohio
It started with a cheap webcam I found in the closet. It started with three listeners, my mom, dad, and sister. It started with a searching in my heart.
“Live Out Loud has changed the way that I think about my iPod and the internet. It motivates me to be pure in what I do online and to grow closer to Christ by sharing Him with others.”
-Jake, 13, Alabama
I also am amazed at how much I, as a person and as a believer, have changed. When I began, I knew a whole lot about God. But really, I didn’t honestly GET it. Not just know it all but LOVE it all. I’m still working on it. But I don’t think we realize how far we really are away from God until we see how far we’ve come.
“Listening to the show has taught me not to be ashamed of the Gospel. Live WTL is an incredible ministry that I will be telling my friends about. I no longer dread conversations about faith- I’ve learned to share my faith unhindered.”
-Marissa, 15, Florida
So what’s happened in a year? We’ve officially been on iTunes for 9 months. Wow. A lot has happened since then.
- We started with 3 listeners. Now we have over 7,000 listeners.
- It started with just a little town in the South. Most people have never heard of it. Now there’s listeners in 50 countries globally.
- The ministry team once had one person: me. Not much of a team. Now we have an awesome team with Jared in the Philippines, Anna in the U.K, and me in the U.S. (and still looking!)
“I look forward to the time when a new show or blog post comes out. Here we do not have much good Catholic people and sometimes Live Out Loud and your blog are all that can keep me living for Christ. And for this I am so thankful”
-Peter, 14, Guam
1 Billion people in this world claim to be of the Catholic faith. 7000 of them listen to Live Out Loud every other week. Think about it: If 7000 of us commit ourselves to Christ, to REALLY building up his kingdom, how much of a difference that would make. What about just 700? If only 10% of our Live WTL family really, really dedicated their lives to God? What about just 70? That’s only 1%. One percent. That’s pretty small. 70 people dedicated themselves to building up the kingdom of Christ and changing the world.
Guys, it’s so possible. Changing the world begins with changing our hearts. If only 1% of us in this ministry family does that, it’s going to be incredible. Think about it. Only 2000 years ago, only 12 did. You’ve read about them. Yeah, THOSE 12.
Think about it.
“I was really going through a hard time when one of my friends told me about the show. I totally blew it off, thinking, ‘What the heck? Why would I want to listen to some crap about the church and all?’ Gosh. Way to give me a wake up call. Being the cool guy crying like a little kid on the bus ride to school, thats always a good way to start my day. It’s given me a complete perspective change. I’m really not who I used to be. God entered my life that day I listened for the first time. For once, it wasn’t an adult telling me what to do and how to do it, and what the rules were to be Catholic. It was a freshman girl I’ve never heard of in my life, relating to me and telling me not what all the Bible facts are, but why she loves them and how they keep her going. Keep it up. Amazing things are gonna happen. So thanks.”
-Matt, 16, Illinois