EvangelizationDefining the Mission

Jason SimonThe Evangelical Catholic

Activities of U.S. Catholic Churches

% of Parishes having Program

93% Youth RE

78% Parish Council

72% Liturgy Planning Group

71% Care of Sick

52% Social Needs

49% Music and Cultural Needs

32% Evangelization

The ESSENTIAL mission of The Church

Evangelization

What is Evangelization?

Evangel = Good News ization = suffix meaning…

memorization, mischaracterization, authorization

The act, process, or result of doing/making something.

GoodNewsization

Good News!

The urgency of missionary activity derives from the radical newness of life brought by Christ and lived by his followers. (7, JP II’s italics)

- Mission of the Redeemer, Pope John Paul II, 12/7/1990

Newness of Life!

Newness of life in him is the "Good News" for men and women of every age: all are called to it and destined for it. Indeed, all people are searching for it, albeit at times in a confused way…(11).

The Church, and every individual Christian within her, may not keep hidden or monopolize this newness and richness which has been received from God's bounty in order to be communicated to all mankind (11).

What is Evangelization?

Evangel = Good News ization = suffix meaning… GoodNewsization Evangelization calls people to conversion

and faith (GDC 53-55). Arouses the beginnings of faith (National

Directory for Catechesis)

The ESSENTIAL mission of The Church

Evangelization

“Evangelizing is in fact the graceand vocation proper to the Church,

her deepest identity.She exists in order to evangelize.”

-Pope Paul VI

Adults

“Let us strengthen our commitment and intensify our efforts to help the adults in our communities be touched and transformed by the life-giving message of Jesus, to explore its meaning, experience its power, and live in its light as faithful adult disciples today.”

-USCCB, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us

Youth

In general it is observed that the first victims of the spiritual and cultural crisis gripping the world are the young. It is also true that any commitment to the betterment of society finds its hopes in them. This should stimulate the Church all the more to proclaim the Gospel to the world of youth with courage and creativity (181).

-General Directory for Catechesis, 1997

“We talk about evangelization

but in fact do very little to empower people

in the exercise of this ministry.”

~Bishop Samuel Jacobs, Chairman of the US Bishops Committee

for Evangelization

So How DO we evangelize?

Guadium et SpesThe Church in the Modern World

1. The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts.

How do we do this?

Through Relationships

Through Love

Through non-threatening explanations of your faith in Christ.

The Importance of the Echoes

“Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts” (GS 1).

Kerygma – the announcement – needs to address felt needs (the echoes)

Research

Barna Research Study- 9 out of 10 adults surveyed feel accepted

by God

2004 UCLA Study of 112,000 undergrad students

- 74% Feel a sense of connection with a higher being that transcends self

- 63% Disagree with the notion that “people who don’t believe in God will be punished”

UCLA Results

75% Searching for meaning/purpose in life

56% Perceive God as “love” or “creator”

49% Perceive God as “protector”

<50% Feel “secure” in their religious views

Christian SmithU. of Notre Dame Sociology Prof. and Dir. of the Study of Religion

Extensive research into the interaction between youth and religion.

Sees youth responding to religion because of its ability to deal with their angst.

 

 

Good News that addresses angst

Religious Practices bring relief (e.g. prayer)

Religious maxims lived out and taught in a community.

Conclusion: Often offers more effective lenses through which to handle life’s experiences than secular solutions

Boundary Experiences

Death, suffering, saying goodbye, accepting new opportunities, moving away from home to college, or changing grades

Limit QuestionsArise out of our normal, everyday lives (unlike boundary experiences). Where is my life going, what is my purpose, do my friends really like me, etc.

Break?

5 Stages of Post-modern Conversion Trust

*Adapted by the Evangelical Catholic and the Catherine of Siena Institute from Five Thresholds of Post-Modern Conversion, Doug Schaupp, 1998

Evangelization in the Modern World

Through this wordless witness these Christians stir up irresistible questions in the hearts of those who see how they live:

Why are they like this?

Why do they live in this way?

What or who is it that inspires them?

Why are they in our midst?

Such a witness is already a silent proclamation of the Good News and a very powerful and effective one. Here we have an initial act of evangelization.

5 Stages of Pre-discipleship

Trust Curiosity Openness Seeking Intentional Discipleship

*Adapted by the Evangelical Catholic and the Catherine of Siena Institute from Five Thresholds of Post-Modern Conversion, Doug Schaupp, 1998

Pope Benedict XVI, Inaugural Homily

“If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom?”

Pre-Discipleship Stage 1: Trust Do not believe in God Are not even curious about God Are not seeking God But they may trust someone who does

believe in God and is following Him.

Trust

Most practicing Christians have initial trust

Many non-practicing Christians or unchurched people DO NOT have a trusting relationship with either a disciple or the Church.

Building Trust

Trust can be difficult to build or restore. Trust takes time In a post-modern culture, Christians

must deliberately earn trust We earn trust through PERSONAL,

AUTHENTIC, CARING RELATIONSHIPS

How do you build trust?

Consciously living your life as an intentional disciple

Authentic friendship Genuine interest in their life (thoughts,

past, worldview) “Care” Time and prayer

Pre-Discipleship Stage 2: Curiosity Implies trust, but does not involve a real

openness to change (not yet) People need a very safe, non-

threatening way to express their curiosity without overreaction, pressure or criticism

We can intentionally foster curiosity

Fostering Curiosity

“Show me the money!” A lived out faith in Jesus.

Experiencing genuine Christian community Sharing our struggles and how Christ has

responded Asking good questions and raising spiritual

topics Telling stories of Christ’s action in your life

and the lives of others

Pre-Discipleship Stage 3: Openness Moving from curiosity to openness is one of

the hardest movements to make Involves lowering defenses (cynicism,

antagonism), and acknowledging to God and yourself that you are in need of change.

Many internal and external fears and obstacles must be overcome to reach openness.

Openness is not discipleship. It involves a tentative openness to God, but does not mean that one has made a decision to follow Christ.

Some may never make this transition.

Pope Benedict XVI, Inaugural Homily

“If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom?”

Fostering Openness

Gentle nudges: “What is hindering you from opening yourself to God/Christ?”

Remind them of how God has been working in their life.

Conscious discussions about our need for change.

Apologetics (for questions they are actually asking about Christ!)

Pre-Discipleship Stage 4: Seeking “Dating with a purpose”. “This could be

the ONE!” Seeking is active. It involves

intentionally exploring a relationship with Christ and his Church and the possibility of discipleship (openness is still an essentially passive stage).

Most begin to pray at this stage, become aware of sin.

Fostering Seeking

Small group Bible study Retreat Mass Participate in “good works” Help them to see their own spiritual gifts

and potential. Help them understand there is a decision

that needs to be made (many Catholics don’t know this!)

Our End Goal

“The acceptance of a personal relationship with Christ, a sincere adherence to him, and a willingness to conform one’s life to his. Conversion to Christ involves making a genuine commitment to him and a personal decision to follow him as his disciple.”

National Directory of Catechesis, pp.47,48

Pre-discipleship Stages

Trust Curiosity Openness Seeking Intentional Discipleship

Intentional Evangelization

Front Porch

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

•Need Bases

•Need Baselines

•Need Movement

•Need Hand-offs

Evangelize

Establish

Initiatory Catechesis

Permanent Catechesis

Equip

Engage

Pre-evangelization

Front Porch

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Front Porch

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Front Porch

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Front Porch

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Example: Small Group Ministry

Equips Leaders who have “adhered their lives to the Word”

Urges and empowers them to reach out to their friends, neighbors, and parishioners in order to form groups

Accomplish Evangelization and Catechesis at the same time according to individual needs

Continual emphasis on multiplication and leadership development

Your Discipleship Process should have four important features:Clarity (what is your parish’s vision?)

Movement (where are the hand-offs?)

Alignment (is your parish on-board?)

Focus (Say no)

Discussion

What are the challenges you’ve found in having clarity, movement, alignment, and focus?

What area of the house is the strongest in a typical Catholic Church? Your Church or ministry?

What often goes wrong in helping people from the street into the Kitchen?