What does it mean to Evangelize?
Everybody evangelizes about something. Some people evangelize about their favorite restaurant or vacation destination, others about music or a movie, some about their new iPhone, and still others about a politician or political agenda.
Right now there are 2.5 billion iPhones on the planet. That didn’t happen without some serious evangelization. When you hear people speak with great passion about their new iPhone, it’s hard not to think, “Imagine if Catholics were this passionate about sharing the Gospel!”
For those who have had a deeply personal encounter with Jesus, there’s nothing more powerful than sharing that good news. When you’ve had your breath taken away by the genius of Catholicism, it’s life-changing to help others discover it too. That’s evangelization.
Why Evangelize?
Catholics are called to evangelize by Jesus, who entrusted us, his disciples, with a mission.
Our mission as Catholics is not merely to move through the world, leaving it unchanged. It’s our mission to collaborate with God and his plan to get as many people as possible to live the Gospel.
If every member of your parish did one thing each week to share the faith with others, how different would your parish be a year from now? If every Catholic in America did just one small act of evangelization each week, how would the Church grow over the next decade?
Who can you Evangelize to?
Try to do one thing each week to share the faith with someone who crosses your path:
Family
Strengthen your family by praying together, talking through confusion and questions about the faith, reading books to your children, and going to Mass together.
Friends
Friendship is the most natural and effective way to share the faith with others. Friendship isn’t just about common interests–it’s about helping each other become the-best-version-of-yourself. Share a book that fed your soul, invite them to a Holy Hour, tell them you’re praying for them, support them through every moment, and be patient!
Coworkers
In most cases, there won’t be many opportunities to speak explicitly about your faith in the workplace, but that doesn’t mean you can’t evangelize! We are called to evangelize through our generosity at work–with our time, talent, and treasure, but also with our love and compassion, going out of our way to generously serve the people we work with. Your coworkers will start to wonder where you get your light!
Youth
The future of the Catholic Church is in the hands of young people. Is there a young person in your life that could benefit from you sharing the faith? Invite young people to try praying in a church for 15 minutes, give them an amazing book, and teach them how to find answers to the questions they have.
Fallen Away Catholics
30 million Americans have left the Catholic Church in the last 20 years. That’s 4,109 every day, 171 every hour, or 3 every minute. We think it’s time someone did something about it, don’t you? It’s time to meet them where they are and help them take the first step back toward God. Roughly 50% of baptized Catholics have fallen away from their faith–it’s time we did something to get them back!
Strangers
You never know who God might put in your path. When you’re speaking to someone new, simply open yourself up to collaborating with him, and do what you prayerfully believe he is calling you to do. This might mean taking a genuine interest in their life, starting a conversation, asking a question, or offering your prayers for their needs.
Other Religions
Everyone is searching for meaning, whether they follow a different religion or no religion at all. Don’t be afraid to enter into conversation about faith and values, even if you disagree.
How can you Evangelize?
Have Meaningful Conversations
Have meaningful conversations with friends, family, and colleagues about the Catholic faith. Ask questions, listen, offer your perspective, and most importantly, answer their questions. This form of evangelization drives straight at the obstacles holding a person back from surrendering his or her life to God. Fulton Sheen wrote, “There are only one hundred people in the world who disagree with what the Church teaches. The rest disagree with what they think the Church teaches.” People deserve to know the truth, and that will help them return to their faith!
Offer Resources
Share a resource that helped you understand and grow in your faith.
Invite Others to Church and Catholic Events
Invite family members, friends, neighbors, or coworkers to attend Mass and other church activities. Offer to accompany them if they feel more comfortable going with someone they know.
Live What You Preach
Live out your faith and strive to be a positive example in your words and actions. Allow others to see the joy and love that comes from your relationship with God.
Share Personal Stories
Share your personal testimony of how your faith has made a difference in your life. Be open about the challenges you have faced and how your faith helped you overcome them.
Pray
Pray for others, particularly those who may be struggling or searching for meaning in their lives.
Ways to Evangelize with Dynamic Catholic
Parish Book Program
Be the reason someone returns to the Catholic Church. With the Dynamic Catholic Parish Book Program, you can purchase select books for only $1! You can’t put a price on a soul, but you can invest in it.
Welcome Retreat
Most of the people you see every day feel like something is missing in their lives. Welcome is a retreat weekend with one goal: to transform parishes through fellowship, faith sharing, hospitality, music, Mass, and engaging activities.
More resources for your Parish
There are 10 key moments in the life of a Catholic. Some of these moments happen only once in a lifetime. Others happen every year, every week, or even every day. The Catholic Moments programs have impacted millions of hearts and continue to make a difference to this day!
Resources for Addressing Common Catholic Questions
Evangelization Bible Verses
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
—Matthew 28:19-20
“Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.”
—2 Timothy 4:2
“He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”
—Mark 16:15
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, saying to Zion, “Your God is King!”
—Isaiah 52:7
“Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his marvelous deeds.”
—Psalm 96:3
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek.”
—Romans 1:16
“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.”
—1 Peter 3:15
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.”
—1 Corinthians 1:17
Evangelization Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I open myself up today to collaborate with you. Fill me with a desire to help others rediscover Jesus.
Mary, Mother of Jesus, intercede for me and accompany me on this journey of evangelization. Show me the power of trusting God’s plan for my life and inspire me to share my faith with others.
Dear Jesus, I pray that you will open up the hearts of the people I encounter, inviting them to rediscover a life with you.
Amen.