NET Ministries: Young Adult Missionaries in Canada

Matt Fradd, NET Ministries

Hey, everyone, this is Matt Smith. I recently chatted with Matt Fradd of the ever-awesome N.E.T. Ministries to learn more about all the good things happening in Catholic Churches across Canada.

Matt Fradd: NET stands for National Evangelization Teams. For the past 16 years, N.E.T. Canada has commissioned young Catholic missionaries to travel throughout Canada in order to challenge other young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church.

We have traveling teams who travel the entire length of Canada proclaiming the Gospel in a dynamic retreat format, and parish teams which spend the full year within a parish community implementing a youth ministry. In the last 9 years we’ve established over 15 Life Teen parishes across Canada.

MS: It’s good to work together, isn’t it? Teamwork makes dreams work!

MF: Amen.

MS: Tell me what’s happening right now with N.E.T. Canada.

MF: Right now we are in the midst of training around 60 missionaries who’ll be commissioned in October! We have 7 teams of enthusiastic, spirit filled, Jesus loving missionaries who are ready to bring the Gospel to the teens of Canada. We also have a “Massive Worship” team, which is a team of musicians who travel Canada teaching equipping musicians for worship. You can learn more about that at massiveworship.com.

MS: Can you share any powerful stories of God moving?

MF: N.E.T. Ministries of Canada is now the largest Catholic youth ministry in Canada. By the grace of God we reach out personally to over 20,000 teenagers every year! Each and every month we receive literally hundreds of letters from teens and young adults who were encouraged in their faith. It’s not uncommon to hear of those who have had conversions from Protestant denominations or even atheism to the Catholic faith. You can read more at www.netcanada.ca.

MS: Wow, I didn’t realize you all have grown so much. Now, you’re originally from Australia, right? And your wife is from America. You’ve both spent the past 3 years in Ireland and now you live in Canada. What do you see that teenagers have in common regardless of where they live?

MF: The temperaments, humor, fads, and fashions differ but in every single teen I’ve ever met there’s a hunger for truth, a desire to love and to be loved, and a longing to be accepted and respected.

MS: How can a high school graduate get involved with N.E.T.?

MF: We are always looking for men and women who are between the ages of 18-30 who have a love for Christ and His Church, and a desire to share that faith with the teens of Canada. I’d encourage anyone who’s even mildly interested to contact me at [email protected] so we can discuss the possibility of applying to NET Ministries of Canada.

MS: How can all the people in Life Teen pray for you all in Canada?

MF: I’d love to ask each person reading this interview to offer up one Hail Mary for N.E.T. Ministries of Canada, that we may do His will with humility, faithfulness, and passion!

MS: Alright Matt, thanks for your time. The next time you’re in Arizona, let me know.

MF: That goes the same with you. We’d love to have you up here in Canada.

MS: I might see you in November. We’re hosting a Life Teen Conference up there later this year.