News April 25, 2024

News from Good News Ministries:

• How we keep driving forward despite hardships
• Plus great links to great content!

How we keep driving forward despite hardships

Recently, a GNM member named Elizabeth wrote to me and said, “I would like to send condolences for the loss of Ralph. I didn’t realise when it happened because you never failed to continue with your words despite your pain. Just like the time when you were so ill and couldn’t find the answer, you kept us with you every part of the journey. I send God’s love to you; may His loving arms surround you. You have often provided hope for me when I thought all was lost. I treasure you and thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us.”

Her words ministered to me. I’m still shocked that God took Ralph away from me so young. Some days when I start crying, I can’t stop. But God had made sure to surround us with Christ-centered friends before Ralph’s time was finished — local friends who got to know him, who loved him, and who now comfort me.

Being part of a faith community is totally necessary in today’s world. Not just for times of grieving but also to run to when the world persecutes us and when other hardships require the Christian perspective so we can endure, solve, and keep moving forward.

Good News Ministries is a faith community. The only reason why, as Elizabeth said, my words continued when I was ill and now during my grief is because of the wonderful staff that generous donors have enabled me to hire. Graciela Ramos, for example, does a lot of administrative tasks. Her full time work is like the wheels of a car: God is the fuel and the engine that keeps the car running, but without wheels, the car would go nowhere.

One of her responsibilities is volunteer coordination. Currently Karen Mayhew, Viola Bermudez, and Ricardo Arango are important helpers — a SHOUT OUT to them with big thanks!

And there’s Lily Johana Cañon Valverde; when she and her family moved to Florida from Columbia nearly 10 years ago, they drove 5 hours to the GNM office just to say hello and then drive 5 hours back. That sure impressed me! Then three years ago she became our excellent Social Media Manager. If you’ve seen posts by GNM on any social media site, it’s thanks to her, not me.

Our wonderful staff is rounded out by Kathy Taylor, a long-time part-timer who does invisible-but-important work. She is also our Donor Relations Assistant; if you’ve ever made a donation, you’ve received her prayerful thank-you letters.

We also have an awesome Board of Directors. Ralph and I had met Bill Snyder at a Charismatic Conference several years ago. Bill helped me get started in podcasting. Now he is working on a very special video project (watch for news about this!) and he is preparing our newest addition to the team, Michael Snellen, to become our future media partner. Michael is a very enthusiastic, entrepreneurial young adult who is going to take GNM’s video ministry (which has been practically stalled ever since my illness, Ralph’s illness and his passing) to the next level. I hope to hire him this summer.

With Ralph gone, we needed to add a new member to the board. Happily, Beth Solis has said yes to this! She and her deacon husband, Javier, were the first to host a group that used my study guide on the Eucharist, My Soul Shall Be Healed. (Find out more about this book @ gnm.org/terry-modica-author/my-soul-shall-be-healed.) She will be an excellent asset as the board discerns and strategizes how to keep driving Good News Ministries forward in the years to come.

Good News Prayer Room:

Use our collection of Catholic prayers designed with your needs in mind. They will give you hope and a stronger connection to God’s love and support. What do you need prayers for today?

Visit gnm.org/prayers.

Post your prayer requests @ gnm.org/post-a-prayer.

Explore our Catholic Video Library for Faith Growth

Give yourself a personal retreat day; watch videos from our library of faith-builders:

• Footsteps to Heaven
• Guest Spots
• Terry & Ralph’s Good News for Today
• Quick Faith-builders with Terry Modica
• God’s Amazing Word for Miracles
• God’s Radical Love for Marriage
• Come Holy Spirit!
• Praying with Power
• How to Pray in the Power of the Holy Spirit
• Go Deeper into Holy Mass
• Take, Eat, Drink: Understanding the Catholic Mass
• How to Turn Your Crosses Into Resurrections
• The Apostolate of the Laity in the Church Crisis
• Personal Testimonies
• Prayer Meditations
• Meditations without Words

God bless you!

Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.

How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.

Thank you for reading this newsletter.

Your servant in Christ,
Terry Modica, Executive Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org

Find this and past issues at gnm.org/newsletter. Please share what will minister to others.