GREATER VARIETY:
DVDs: Just recently I watched my first Catholic movie. It was fantastic. I learned so much about St. Rita, a saint who I knew nothing about until I watched her story on DVD. Since then, I've started asking some of my Catholic friends about great movies they have seen and I am shocked at what I've been missing. They are giving me raving reviews and sharing lists of their favorite 'must-see' picks. The only problem is that they aren't cheap and I want to buy them all. And so the idea was born of swapping titles with friends. The Exchange Club is set up so that each person can watch lots movies for the price of one.
CDs: When I was about 22 my older brother handed me my first CD with a recorded talk by a great Catholic speaker. This was life-changing for me. A whole world opened up to me that I never knew existed. And for the first time I started to really learn what it meant to be Catholic. CDs are great for busy people - I listen while driving, exercising, and even doing dishes. Also, CDs are very affordable through organizations like Lighthouse Catholic Media. I'm still listening today and passing them on to others to share our great Catholic Faith. As a member of a Catholic Exchange Club, you have an amazing evangelization tool at your fingertips. Just listen and then pass it on to someone who needs to hear the message (just be sure to tell them you need it back in a month for your exchange meeting). I could share countless stories of people who said a CD changed their life and brought them home to the Catholic Faith.
BOOKs: I've always loved to read but in the past few years my appetite for great Catholic books has grown ravenous. I need those 1o minutes at the end of the day to unwind and fill my mind with messages that are good for my soul. But I've learned one thing about myself - I only like to read great books. As a working-from-home wife and mother of 4, I only have time for the best of the best, the ones with a 5 star rating. I'm sure you feel the same so I've only selected books and media that are my favorites. As a member of a Catholic Exchange Club, you can test out lots of great books and then decide if you want them for your own personal collection.
LEARNING STYLES
We all have different learning styles - some like to read books, some like DVDs, some prefer audios CDs, and some of us like them all. What's great about taking home a variety of Catholic materials is that different people in your family may have different learning styles. You might want to read the book, but your husband might enjoy a CD while driving to work, and your teenager might like the movie.
LOW COST
With most book clubs, members are expected to buy a $10-$15 book each and every month. In contrast, for about $1 a week every member of your Exchange Club will have an opportunity to read a 5-star book, listen to an amazing message on CD, and watch an inspiring DVD each month.
STAY COMMITTED
Joining an Exchange Club to grow in your Catholic Faith is like joining a gym to get and stay in shape. Let's face it, we have all made New Year's Resolutions or promises to ourselves to do more in our walk with the Lord. But we're human. We can't always do it alone. It helps to be part of a bigger group with a similar goal.
Whether we are talking about getting in shape or growing in Faith, the old saying is so true, "A body in motion stays in motion; A body at rest stays at rest." Today is the day to get started. A Catholic Exchange Club is an inexpensive way to build learning communities where we can encourage each other to grow in our great Catholic Faith..
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