Catholic Evangelist and Youth Minister Brings 'The Sainthood Project' to Life

Todd Lemieux Shows Unconditional Love by Donating Kidney to His Brother

LONG ISLAND, NY, Aug. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- "What if God asks for something so big that it changes your life and causes a lot of pain?" This is a question posted on Todd Lemieux's blog after his decision to donate his perfectly-matched kidney to his brother. His answer? "God only asks us to give what we have; not any more. My brother needed a kidney and I have two," replied Lemieux. "In the end, He is the surgeon. We just have to let Him work."

Lemieux is a Catholic author, youth minister, missionary and evangelist who recently underwent successful kidney transplant surgery, giving his brother new hope for a normal life. The transplant is one of the concrete decisions Lemieux made as a participant in The Sainthood Project.

Lemieux believes that the world needs more saints-- people whose lives are completely dedicated to the will of God. In founding The Sainthood Project, Lemieux set out to find people who would change the culture. "I want to find 1,000 people who would care more about others than themselves; who would be open to doing mission work if that is God's call; who would pray at every moment as if their lives depended on it, because it does," said Lemieux.

According to Lemieux, The Sainthood Project is choosing to live like a saint for one month, convinced that only when individuals allow the grace of God to transform their lives, the world will truly change. The Sainthood Challenge is the companion piece where, according to Lemieux, participants keep track of their daily struggles, experiences and prayers to "see what happens when we choose sainthood."

A kidney transplant is no laughing matter, but Lemieux kept his sense of humor during the process, even making jokes on his web site about what questions to ask the doctor who is about to remove your kidney. Lemieux said it was helpful for him to approach Christianity, Catholicism and kidney donation the same exact way. "Do the best that you can at every single moment," stressed Lemieux. "God told us that His grace is sufficient. Do we believe it? Let His will be done and let Him guide your path. In the end, we just have to let Him work."

Now as a full time missionary and evangelist, Lemieux speaks to groups around the United States about living a life filled with prayer, virtue, Scripture readings and the Holy Spirit. Lemieux will be a featured speaker and workshop leader for the EQUIPP Catholic Youth Ministry Conference at St. Mary's in Littleton, Colorado, on August 22, 2009 in the Archdiocese of Denver. Appropriately, the theme of the event is Equipping the Saints for Ministry. The conference is open to all youth ministry leaders and is sponsored by Ascension Press, Impact Center and Sounds Good Ministries.

The first Sainthood Project parish mission will be at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Pierre, South Dakota from August 23-25, 2009. For more information please email Lisa Fahey at lisaStJohn@pie.midco.net or call her at 605-222- 2838.

For more information about The Sainthood Project or to schedule an interview with Lemieux, please contact Christine Schicker with The Maximus Group at 404- 610-8871.

To book Lemieux for a conference or event please contact Tina Remmert of The Maximus Group at 678- 990-9032 ext. 107 or Speakers@MaximusMG.com.