Case report of a "failed" evangelical conversation

  • Thread starter Thread starter fnr
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
F

fnr

Guest
Last night, at a public festival put on by my city, I saw a young woman, probably in her early 20s (she was in the beer garden, so at least 21) with a tattoo of a cross on one of her fingers. She was standing with two other young women.

I approached her and asked her about her cross tattoo. She replied that she had gotten it when a cousin of hers died young. I mentioned that I was Catholic, and she said that she had been raised Catholic, but had left the Church as soon as she had the freedom to do so.

She said that her parents took her to church growing up, and that she’d attended a Catholic school when she was younger. In high school, she still attended mass, but when she went to college she left it behind. She said that the Church taught too many things that she disagreed with. She said that as a woman, she was totally turned off by so many things that the Church stands for.

I asked her for the chance to convince her to come back to Church. She told me that since she has that cross on her finger, that she was OK with my going ahead. I told her that I had also left the Church for several years, but that I’d come back. My “pitch” was oriented toward the issues she raised about being a woman.

I asked her and her friends what “Christ” means, and when no one knew, told them that it means “the anointed one.” I asked them what it means to be anointed, and noted that Jesus being crucified under a sign that read “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (INRI) meant that his accusers leveled the charge of him as having made a claim to the kingdom of David (whose own kingship was signified by anointing by Samuel). Lastly, I asked them who anointed Jesus, but none of them knew. I told them that in all four Gospels, it’s a woman who anoints Jesus. I mentioned that in two of the Gospels (Matthew and Mark), Jesus says that the woman’s act of anointing him “would be remembered wherever the Gospel is proclaimed throughout the world.” With that, I said that if Jesus recognized a woman as being worthy of recalling every time the Gospel is proclaimed, doesn’t that mean that the Church values women pretty highly?

This conversation took place between me and this woman, who was with two other women (one other lapsed Catholic and a Presbyterian, both of whom walked off during parts of the conversation). The woman with whom I primarily spoke seemed to listen, and was interested, but she obviously had come out to drink with her friends and have fun. She politely thanked me and turned back to talking with her friends, and I wished them well and said good night.

I don’t know if I made a difference at all, but last night, I didn’t win her back to the Church. But I hope and pray that my conversation with her made her more open to the action of the Holy Spirit in her heart.

I wanted to share my experience, and see if anyone had any feedback or observations. In particular, what do you think of my appealing to this woman using the story of Jesus’ anointing (Mt 26:6-13; Mk 14:1-8; Lk 7:36-50; Jn 12:1-8)? To me, this story of Jesus is a potentially powerful way to reach out to women who need a way to see how the Church values women. Maybe I should have tried to invite her to come to mass (I didn’t think of it at the time), but it seems to me that that might not be welcome… still, maybe I’ll try next time. Any thoughts?
 
It sounds like you had a positive conversation with the woman and that’s good. Who knows where it may lead?

If you were talking to me your quotes about what Jesus said or did wouldn’t have an effect. I have a lot of issues with the way the Church treats women. I don’t have issues with how Jesus treated women. Jesus and the Church are not the same thing and if I talked about the Church while you talked about Jesus, I would think you weren’t really listening to what I had said.

Out of curiosity, are you male or female?
 
I thought so but didn’t want to assume.

I hope your conversation will have good results down the line. Blessings for spreading the word – it’s not easy!
 
fnr said:
Last night, at a public festival put on by my city, I saw a young woman, probably in her early 20s (she was in the beer garden, so at least 21) with a tattoo of a cross on one of her fingers. She was standing with two other young women.

I approached her and asked her about her cross tattoo. She replied that she had gotten it when a cousin of hers died young. I mentioned that I was Catholic, and she said that she had been raised Catholic, but had left the Church as soon as she had the freedom to do so.

She said that her parents took her to church growing up, and that she’d attended a Catholic school when she was younger. In high school, she still attended mass, but when she went to college she left it behind. She said that the Church taught too many things that she disagreed with. She said that as a woman, she was totally turned off by so many things that the Church stands for.

I asked her for the chance to convince her to come back to Church. She told me that since she has that cross on her finger, that she was OK with my going ahead. I told her that I had also left the Church for several years, but that I’d come back. My “pitch” was oriented toward the issues she raised about being a woman.

I asked her and her friends what “Christ” means, and when no one knew, told them that it means “the anointed one.” I asked them what it means to be anointed, and noted that Jesus being crucified under a sign that read “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (INRI) meant that his accusers leveled the charge of him as having made a claim to the kingdom of David (whose own kingship was signified by anointing by Samuel). Lastly, I asked them who anointed Jesus, but none of them knew. I told them that in all four Gospels, it’s a woman who anoints Jesus. I mentioned that in two of the Gospels (Matthew and Mark), Jesus says that the woman’s act of anointing him “would be remembered wherever the Gospel is proclaimed throughout the world.” With that, I said that if Jesus recognized a woman as being worthy of recalling every time the Gospel is proclaimed, doesn’t that mean that the Church values women pretty highly?

This conversation took place between me and this woman, who was with two other women (one other lapsed Catholic and a Presbyterian, both of whom walked off during parts of the conversation). The woman with whom I primarily spoke seemed to listen, and was interested, but she obviously had come out to drink with her friends and have fun. She politely thanked me and turned back to talking with her friends, and I wished them well and said good night.

I don’t know if I made a difference at all, but last night, I didn’t win her back to the Church. But I hope and pray that my conversation with her made her more open to the action of the Holy Spirit in her heart.

I wanted to share my experience, and see if anyone had any feedback or observations. In particular, what do you think of my appealing to this woman using the story of Jesus’ anointing (Mt 26:6-13; Mk 14:1-8; Lk 7:36-50; Jn 12:1-8)? To me, this story of Jesus is a potentially powerful way to reach out to women who need a way to see how the Church values women. Maybe I should have tried to invite her to come to mass (I didn’t think of it at the time), but it seems to me that that might not be welcome… still, maybe I’ll try next time. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
I like the way you approached it. You asked nicely and it turned into a positive discussion with the women. Your instincts were most likely on target by not pushing anything. While you don’t if you yourself learned anything, I bet you learned quite a bit as did the women in the discussion.

Peace.
 
I am so impressed with your guts- what a great way to evangelize. You would have to assume that most people are going to blow you off in front of friends but you never know what spoke to her heart and what she thought about later that evening and into the following days.
 
Why did you call it failed? First of all you ain’t gonna convert her or convince her to come Home. The Holy Spirit will do that. But what happened was the Holy Spirit used you to plant a seed. Christ wants all in His Church, in fact Jesus Christ and His Church are One and the Same.
 
fnr said:
Last night, at a public festival put on by my city, I saw a young woman, probably in her early 20s (she was in the beer garden, so at least 21) with a tattoo of a cross on one of her fingers. She was standing with two other young women.

I approached her and asked her about her cross tattoo. She replied that she had gotten it when a cousin of hers died young. I mentioned that I was Catholic, and she said that she had been raised Catholic, but had left the Church as soon as she had the freedom to do so.

She said that her parents took her to church growing up, and that she’d attended a Catholic school when she was younger. In high school, she still attended mass, but when she went to college she left it behind. She said that the Church taught too many things that she disagreed with. She said that as a woman, she was totally turned off by so many things that the Church stands for.

I asked her for the chance to convince her to come back to Church. She told me that since she has that cross on her finger, that she was OK with my going ahead. I told her that I had also left the Church for several years, but that I’d come back. My “pitch” was oriented toward the issues she raised about being a woman.

I asked her and her friends what “Christ” means, and when no one knew, told them that it means “the anointed one.” I asked them what it means to be anointed, and noted that Jesus being crucified under a sign that read “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (INRI) meant that his accusers leveled the charge of him as having made a claim to the kingdom of David (whose own kingship was signified by anointing by Samuel). Lastly, I asked them who anointed Jesus, but none of them knew. I told them that in all four Gospels, it’s a woman who anoints Jesus. I mentioned that in two of the Gospels (Matthew and Mark), Jesus says that the woman’s act of anointing him “would be remembered wherever the Gospel is proclaimed throughout the world.” With that, I said that if Jesus recognized a woman as being worthy of recalling every time the Gospel is proclaimed, doesn’t that mean that the Church values women pretty highly?

This conversation took place between me and this woman, who was with two other women (one other lapsed Catholic and a Presbyterian, both of whom walked off during parts of the conversation). The woman with whom I primarily spoke seemed to listen, and was interested, but she obviously had come out to drink with her friends and have fun. She politely thanked me and turned back to talking with her friends, and I wished them well and said good night.

I don’t know if I made a difference at all, but last night, I didn’t win her back to the Church. But I hope and pray that my conversation with her made her more open to the action of the Holy Spirit in her heart.

I wanted to share my experience, and see if anyone had any feedback or observations. In particular, what do you think of my appealing to this woman using the story of Jesus’ anointing (Mt 26:6-13; Mk 14:1-8; Lk 7:36-50; Jn 12:1-8)? To me, this story of Jesus is a potentially powerful way to reach out to women who need a way to see how the Church values women. Maybe I should have tried to invite her to come to mass (I didn’t think of it at the time), but it seems to me that that might not be welcome… still, maybe I’ll try next time. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
I had the opportunity to talk with Patrick Madrid when he went to my church to give a talk. This was years ago. He said not to expect an instant conversion. Our job as evangelists is to plant the seed. Anyone who has done a bit of gardening will know that it takes time for the seed to grow.
 
Hello FNR.
fnr said:
Last night, at a public festival put on by my city, I saw a young woman, probably in her early 20s (she was in the beer garden, so at least 21) with a tattoo of a cross on one of her fingers. She was standing with two other young women.

I approached her and asked her about her cross tattoo. She replied that she had gotten it when a cousin of hers died young. I mentioned that I was Catholic, and she said that she had been raised Catholic, but had left the Church as soon as she had the freedom to do so.

She said that her parents took her to church growing up, and that she’d attended a Catholic school when she was younger. In high school, she still attended mass, but when she went to college she left it behind. She said that the Church taught too many things that she disagreed with. She said that as a woman, she was totally turned off by so many things that the Church stands for.

I asked her for the chance to convince her to come back to Church. She told me that since she has that cross on her finger, that she was OK with my going ahead. I told her that I had also left the Church for several years, but that I’d come back. My “pitch” was oriented toward the issues she raised about being a woman.

I asked her and her friends what “Christ” means, and when no one knew, told them that it means “the anointed one.” I asked them what it means to be anointed, and noted that Jesus being crucified under a sign that read “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (INRI) meant that his accusers leveled the charge of him as having made a claim to the kingdom of David (whose own kingship was signified by anointing by Samuel). Lastly, I asked them who anointed Jesus, but none of them knew. I told them that in all four Gospels, it’s a woman who anoints Jesus. I mentioned that in two of the Gospels (Matthew and Mark), Jesus says that the woman’s act of anointing him “would be remembered wherever the Gospel is proclaimed throughout the world.” With that, I said that if Jesus recognized a woman as being worthy of recalling every time the Gospel is proclaimed, doesn’t that mean that the Church values women pretty highly?

This conversation took place between me and this woman, who was with two other women (one other lapsed Catholic and a Presbyterian, both of whom walked off during parts of the conversation). The woman with whom I primarily spoke seemed to listen, and was interested, but she obviously had come out to drink with her friends and have fun. She politely thanked me and turned back to talking with her friends, and I wished them well and said good night.

I don’t know if I made a difference at all, but last night, I didn’t win her back to the Church. But I hope and pray that my conversation with her made her more open to the action of the Holy Spirit in her heart.

I wanted to share my experience, and see if anyone had any feedback or observations. In particular, what do you think of my appealing to this woman using the story of Jesus’ anointing (Mt 26:6-13; Mk 14:1-8; Lk 7:36-50; Jn 12:1-8)? To me, this story of Jesus is a potentially powerful way to reach out to women who need a way to see how the Church values women. Maybe I should have tried to invite her to come to mass (I didn’t think of it at the time), but it seems to me that that might not be welcome… still, maybe I’ll try next time. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
When evangelizing don’t always expect the miracle of conversion to happen right there in front of your eyes. That almost never happens. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet or a Rosary for every person you talk to face to face like that and trust God with the outcome. Ever since He sent the Holy Spirit upon the Church, He’s been walking beside us everywhere we go. I’ve handed out quite a few Rosaries over these years and engaged in more than one evangelical conversion with all types of folks over the years in many public places. I usually pray the DMC for them as soon as I get done because it is short and I can get back to whatever it was I was doing before the opportunity came up and because it works. I do not think of myself as an evangelist in any way shape or form, but I have worked the Vineyard. I love sharing my faith with others face to face. Some day when I’m in Heaven I’m going to bump into some one who turned either back to God or to Him for the first time because of something I did and I’ll recognize them and they’ll know me. I could tell you some tales, but they’d get boring. Keep up the GOOD WORKS and never be ashamed of the Gospel. God works with what little we do in the marketplace.

Glenda
 
Sounds like you did a wonderful job. I don’t think you needed to invite her to attend Mass with you. She knows the doors are open and frankly if I were a young woman and a man approached me and invited me to Mass…I would think he might have other motives. (just sayin)

Also, is sounds as if she was quite receptive and respectful! Especially considering the location.

A few months ago, in a grocery store there was a man, clearly on fire for his faith. He had taken up residence in the produce section and was trying to get people engaged in discussing his faith and whatever issues they may or may not have with it.

As is understandable, many people did not care to engage with him and he kept walking about saying “Isn’t it funny that people are afraid of the name of God”

And my thought was that perhaps people were not afraid of the name of God, but were afraid of his behavior, his confrontational manner, him engaging others in long conversations when they did not have the time, patience or state of mind to do so at the time, etc. Sometimes people do just want to get their vegetables and get home, with no disrespect to God or his faith.

So the fact that she spoke with you, it sounds as if she spoke at length, was a great thing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top