September's discussion recap- New Evangelization

Hi Connect!

Here is the summary of the topic I led last September, better late than never. =)

New Evangelization:

‘Pope Francis’s mission prayer intention for June 2013 is “That where secularization is strongest, Christian communities may effectively promote a new evangelization.” The term new evangelization has been used so much that I’m beginning to sense a backlash against it. As more than one person has said to me, “What was wrong with the old evangelization?” But here in Pope Francis’s mission prayer intention we can see what the new evangelization really entails- evangelizing once again those who were once Christian but have lost the Faith. In that sense, the mission field of the new evangelization is all around us, as family, friends, and neighbors slip away from Christ and His Church.’
http://catholicism.about.com/b/2013/06/07/pope-francis-prayer-intentions-for-june-2013.htm

Ways to be effective evangelizers starts with us.
1. Personal relationship with Christ
2. Personal relationship with the Church
3. A way of living morally
4. Prayer
5. Spiritual reading
6. Charitable works
7. Knowledge of Scripture
8. Traditions and customs

Remember:
1. Know your role
2. Put aside the notion that you'll ever see the fruits of anything you say to someone else in the hope of converting their mind and heart to Christ
3. Use social media to effectively evangelize
4. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know the answer to that."
5. Narrow down broad questions
6. Meet people where they are at

Let's start the conversation. Let's reach out especially to those who are close to us. I know it's hard from experience, you don't want to push close ones away. Just remember, you'll never know when you'll plant that little seed, everything we do and say does have an affect on someone's life. Let's be ready when they're ready, in God's time.

God Bless!
Reggie