In today’s increasingly secular world, the call to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who have not yet encountered Him has never been more urgent. The “new evangelization” refers to the Church’s efforts to re-propose the Gospel to those who have drifted away from the faith or have never truly heard it proclaimed.
Effectively sharing the Gospel requires more than simply reciting doctrine or dispensing information. It demands a comprehensive approach that embodies the compassion, patience, and accompaniment that Jesus Himself modeled.
As we seek to bring the transformative love of Christ into the lives of others, offering them the same peace, joy, and purpose that we have found in Him, we must be guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the example of the early Christians, who spread the faith not through force or coercion, but through the power of their witness and the authenticity of their love.
The following steps provide a practical framework for how to bring someone to Christ.
- Pray:
- For Guidance: Pray for wisdom and guidance on how to approach the person and for the Holy Spirit to work in their heart.
- For the Person: Pray for the individual’s openness to the message of Christ and for their needs and concerns.
- Show Love:
- Genuine Care: Demonstrate Christ’s love through your actions. Be genuinely interested in their life and struggles.
- Acts of Kindness: Perform acts of kindness and service, showing the love of Christ in practical ways.
- Build a Relationship:
- Spend Time Together: Develop a genuine friendship. Trust and openness often come through time and shared experiences.
- Listen: Listen to their thoughts, doubts, and questions without judgment.
- Share Your Testimony:
- Personal Story: Share your own story of faith and how Jesus has impacted your life.
- Be Honest: Be open about your struggles and how your faith helps you through them.
- Give a New Testament or Bible:
- A Gift of Scripture: Offer a New Testament as a gift, tell people they are loved by God, highlighting passages that have been meaningful to you.
- Explain Its Importance: Explain why the Bible is important in your life and how it can be a source of guidance and comfort.
- Discuss the Gospel:
- Simple Explanation: Share the basic message of the Gospel: God’s love, sin and its consequences, Jesus’ sacrifice, and the gift of salvation through faith.
- Answer Questions: Be prepared to answer questions they might have about Christianity and the teachings of Jesus.
- Invite to Church:
- Attend Together: Invite them to attend church with you. Offer to pick them up or meet them there to make the experience more comfortable.
- Introduce to Community: Help them connect with other believers and get involved in church activities.
- Be Patient and Persistent:
- Respect Their Pace: Understand that everyone’s spiritual journey is different. Be patient and give them space to explore faith at their own pace.
- Consistent Support: Continue to be a supportive and loving presence in their life, regardless of their immediate response.
- Encourage Small Group or Bible Study:
- Community Learning: Suggest joining a small group or Bible study where they can learn more about Christianity in a supportive environment.
- Safe Space for Questions: These settings can provide a safe space for asking questions and exploring faith more deeply.
- Follow Up:
- Ongoing Support: Check in regularly and offer ongoing support and encouragement.
- Celebrate Milestones: Celebrate any steps they take towards faith, no matter how small.
In the end, our goal is not merely to impart information or convince others intellectually, but to facilitate a personal encounter with the living Christ, who alone can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. We should also remember that bringing someone to Christ is not primarily about techniques or methods, it is certainly not about imposing beliefs, entering into arguments or forcing conversion. It is about genuinely loving people and sharing the best of our lives – Jesus Christ the Savior. May our lives be a continuous invitation to others to experience the love, mercy, and salvation that we have found in Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work
Articles on evangelization and parish revitalization:
- The Ultimate Purpose of Human Life – Glorifying God
- From Near-Death to New Life: A Rural Church’s Revitalization Journey
- Evangelization simply: “Taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
- Revitalization of Rural Churches
- Attracting Converts to the Catholic Faith
- Addressing Low Attendance in Churches
- Fostering a Sacred Atmosphere during the Sunday Mass
- Prayer to be baptized in the Holy Spirit
- Jesus is Thirsty for Souls
- Praying And Sharing The Good News With God’s Redemptive Names
- Embracing the Call to Evangelize
- What is Most Pleasing to God? Bringing Souls to Christ
- The Growth of the Church of the Nativity (Fr. Michael White)
- Deliverance Prayer, by Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti (AUDIO – mp3)
- The Growth of Saint Benedict Parish (Fr. James Mallon)
- Five Pillars of the Christian Life
- Encountering Christ: The Path to Transformation
- What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus?
- Unleashing The Evangelization Potential of Your Parish
- The Ultimate Goal of Evangelization
- God’s Longing for Love and our Mission to Make it Known
- A prayer for those whom we wish to encounter Christ
- Memorable Sundays
- Fr. Bedard’s Three-Step Blueprint for Evangelisation
- Guide for The Missionary Transformation of Parishes
- Divine Encounters: A Practical Guide for Small Evangelization Groups
- The Missionary Transformation of Sant’Eustorgio Parish
- Creating Vibrant Faith Communities: Insights from ‘Excellent Catholic Parishes’
- Sharing The Gospel According to People’s Needs And Receptivity
- A Prayer for Inviting Others to Evangelization Meetings and Services
- Welcoming Church Guests and Visitors: Dos and Don’ts
- Various Dimensions of Evangelization
- The True Measure of Success
- Pope Francis on Evangelization
- Revitalizing the Rural Parish for Mission
- Factors Leading to Christian Conversion
- Evangelizing Through Random Acts of Kindness
- Questions To Start Spiritual Conversations
- Three Feet From Gold
- Spreading the Gospel One Act at a Time
- Gather, Witness and Invite
- Prayer to Receive the Spiritual Gifts of The Holy Spirit
- The Language of Evangelization
- Key Factors for Parish Growth According to Rich Birch
- How to defeat Satan?
- Bringing Love, Hope and Healing Through the Gospel
- Love: Our Fundamental Vocation
- Touched by the Master
- A Man, a Dog, and the Ultimate Love
- The essence of evangelization: Loving God and our neighbours
- Loving Our Enemies and Reconciling with Others
- A Powerful Prayer for Healing: You Are The LORD Who Heals Me
- Living a Life of Love: Mother Teresa’s Legacy
- Living a Life of Love: Lessons from the New Testament
- In The Shadows Of Darkness, A Powerful Force Is At Work
- 19 Pastoral Orientations for Parish Renewal and Growth
- The Missionary Renewal of Catechesis
- Characteristics of missionary parishes
- Powerful healing prayer attributed to St. Padre Pio
- We are called to share our faith with others
- Should we seek to grow the Church?
- Find a Need and Fill It – Revealing God’s Heart in the Community
- 15 Habits to Evangelize on a Daily Basis
- The Church’s Mission
- Three Barriers to Building An Invitational Culture In Your Parish
- The Relational Evangelizer
- Doing Church at Home
- The Blind Girl
- A Group of Frogs
- The Elephant Rope
- A Shared Faith is a Growing Faith
- In The Shoes Of The Unchurched
- Parish Evangelizing Cells
- Six Unique Features of Missional Parishes
- Steps Towards Becoming A Missional Parish
- What Is Evangelization, And How Should It Be Carried Out?
- Discussion And Self-Assessment Questions For Parish Evangelization
- A Missional Church Is A Church That Prays
- The Jesus Prayer: A Method To Pray At All Times
- What can help children raised Catholic continue practicing the faith as adults?
- An Example of a Missionary Parish: Phoenix First Assembly of God
- Satan’s Tactics
- Learning to Be a Missionary
- When we cry out to God, he answers
- Presence and Proclamation
- Saving those who are lost
- Saint-Nazaire Parish: The story of a missionary transformation
- Small Groups and Evangelization
- Evangelizing By Inviting People To Receive Jesus As Lord And Saviour
- You Will Receive Power…
- Have You Heard About the Law of Three Hearings and Seven Touches?
- Three Habits of a Fruitful Christian Life