An Easter Story

Writing this column in the beginning of April, it is our fervent prayer that this issue greets you as the world is coming out of the global challenge of COVID-19, and as we are experiencing the Easter blessing of healing and health. 

As we have traveled through this worldwide time of trial, I am reflecting on the verse: 
“Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.  Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”~~John 19:41-42

The tomb is in the garden. The garden, the place we cultivate new life and growth, the tomb, the place we memorialize death and mourning.  The Easter moment is when the light and truth of the resurrection burst forth from dark and cold stone of the tomb.  Hopefully, our moments of fear and doubt, as we face down this pandemic, have given way to the real story of Easter life beyond the grave.

I have been inviting you into the garden at CCL—where the work happens as we labor to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.  I’ve talked about the years of faithful service of our volunteers and donors that have resulted in a rich soil for the growth of faith through this ministry.  What, perhaps, was the most surprising component of this recent growth?  Technology. 

Being an engineer, I am tempted to think of technology as rather soulless—bits and bytes, hardware and logic.  Not much poetry there!  However, in the same interesting juxtaposition of the tomb being in the garden, it turns out that our embrace of technology is enabling us to carry out our mission of teaching NFP.  Those bits and bytes, phones and computers, when used in the right way, can be an amazing tool! If we had any doubts, we just witnessed our talented staff assist our wonderful teachers to switch to online training in just 48 hours! Glory Be to God!  We have now moved nearly 400 couples, who could no longer be trained in-person to virtual or online classes.  This will continue throughout the quarantine so that no couple goes without their NFP training.

Is technology by itself the answer?  No, of course not.  However, technology can facilitate learning and, as it turns out, human relationships.  It is interesting to reflect that in the time of the Gutenberg Bible, printing presses were the “new technology.”  Those printing press allowed more people to read and know the Good News.  In the same way, virtual classes, online training, and fertility apps are powerful ways to enable CCL to reach a greater audience and to be of better service to our members.

This issue explores the use of technology in NFP.  Technology is simply a tool.  We at CCL can witness to the success of couples teaching other couples virtually, of assistance being given by reviewing charts online, and of the truth of Jesus Christ shining out of the tomb of the world’s fear and ignorance to foster New Life in His Garden. 

The staff and I send you our love and prayers.  Thank you to all to help us to make this happen.

Katie Zulanas, Executive Director