Best Ways to Evangelize?

[AndyF]

1) educating our people about what Catholicism truly teaches and bring them home. 2) Teach the world about who we are, We need to be ourselves. Whenever we witness, always pray to god so that his words will become our words. The experiences I've had are amazing but so often it requires stepping out of your comfort zone and seeing where God is leading.

Yes, but I don't think it goes far enough. In this age of varied religions and non religions, we need to introduce ourselves with the good news first, that they are fortunate to have in their midst a true religion that is meant to replace every. To the community of this century, the Catholic faith has become simply another of a long list of faiths that are optional, a yellow page list of clubs to join if one feels up to it. We are not presenting an option, but a real gift of salvation. If Christ laid the corner stone with Peter, all other religions are redundant, period. Too much concern is placed on the potential for failure.

In my view the community of this age, not to paint all with the same brush, has become accustomed to optional selection based on comfort or stimulus. The Catholic faith is not an easy Church to follow, calling for observations,obligations and indoctrination into the family institution has an intrinsic part of it. These actions are for the most part to effect change in us or to mature Faith, something that may not become evident through the empirical. One must "live" being a Catholic, and not just show up at the "club" doors one day of week for the weekly dose of entertainment.

In such an environment openers such has this should not be alien to us. "I am now going to tell you some good news. Your search is ended. God has established one true Church that replaces all and that is the Catholic church." Prepare for a long silence, then eagerness and drilling, or, as Christ experienced in the synagogue, ill received. Either way you will have their attention.

[AndyF]

Just one last mention comes to mind.

In social situations where conflict of interest is the reality, determine the audience and take advantage of opportunity. These arrangements are prone to elicit enlistment to one sided viewpoints. You will be viewed has a person who is doing his part to roll up his sleeves and get in there to "give one for the gipper" so to speak. In conclusion of your talk, the pat on the back in the form of honor from one opponent group for a job well done is common. The final summary is that "we" including you, have done a good job in persuading "them" of the errors of their ways. This is what you are trying to avoid.

In this example as in many, instead of this approach, set up two sessions, one for each opposing group. For prisoners instill hope and a new start. Suggest prayer and a the opportunity that such a cloister like environment presents. Refer to scripture for ideas.

For the other group, remind them of limitations imposed by God. Speak of closure and reconciliation that involves victims AND offenders, a right established by God. Examples of what constitutes non condign punishment. Speak of the sins of inaction when observing immoral treatment beyond proclaimed sentencing. etc.

(As pertains to power situations, you may find that you are discriminated from coming back for a second talk. Don't be discouraged by this. Many will fall away and not want to detach from the delectable high it gives them, just move on to another task. The atmosphere will exude hatred. Unrestrained power is so much ingrained in such groups it has become a fix, aided by society's "black box" interest in what goes on in such places, which in itself is a fallout of severance from Mother Church.)