Does anyone here do any Witnessing?

[3boyzmom]

Della:

Well, I’m a bit of a hermit, living and working at home most of the time. But, I was involved in a writers’ group for several months in which 2 of us were Catholics and 2 of us were not. One of the gals who was not Catholic was a young wife and mother who had been brought up ECUSA, been involved with the Baptists during her college years, and then married a guy who had been brought up in some very strict and abusive form of “Old Catholic.” They are now members of an independent Pentecostal sect.

One day the topic of the Catholic faith came up, I can’t even remember how, but both non-Catholic gals were there, but not my fellow Catholic gentleman. They had a lot of questions and we spent about an hour talking about a wide range of issues. The young wife and mother had the most questions–good ones, respectfully asked with a sincere desire to understand (which is really the best way to “witness” to anyone, IMHO).

She had sometimes driven me home from our meetings and had asked questions then, too. It’s such a joy to see “the lights come on” as you explain the teachings and some of the spirituality of the Catholic faith. For her sake alone I wish we were still meeting because I feel certain that in time and with much prayer and perseverance she and her husband might come home to the Church. I am hoping to keep up an email correspondence with her, if she wants, not only to share more of the faith with her, but because I would hate to lose my new friend.

 

[3boyzmom]

I too am a converted Baptist. Baptists are brought up learning to witness; (I remember being a little kid, passing out “tracts” door to door, with my friend the preacher’s kid!). I agree that it’s important to witness with our actions, but I think that verbal witnessing is important too. I don’t always agree with some of the more aggressive forms of witnessing, which in my experience tends to turn people off and then they go deaf to what the person has to say, but it’s important to share Christ’s love, and be sure that people realize you’re a Christian, and very often people will approach you to ask questions, seek information, etc. Also, it’s great when people ask about the Catholic church- there are so many misconceptions about it and it is very helpful to people tp clarify these things. (“no, we don’t worship statues…:”. etc.)

 

[the_phoenix]

Church Militant:

As the saying goes…“Talk is cheap.”

Please allow me to politely disagree. From the examples I gave above, let me take just one, though I’m prepared to answer for the others as well. The reason why I spoke out against birth control in college health class was because I had the feeling that had I not opposed the professor, it might well have turned out that not a single one of the other 200 or so students would have spoken a word of disagreement either. As it was, certainly nobody was willing to publicly take my side. In good conscience, I could not remain silent, even if the professor decided to give me a lower grade in retaliation for proclaiming an alternative viewpoint. (To her credit, she dealt with me fairly.)

Here’s a different illustration:

In New York State, where I used to live, a pro-life voter can most comfortably register with the Republican or the Right to Life Party. I’d always felt called, as a pro-lifer, to join the Republican Party. And one experience … where talk was anything but cheap … showed me exactly why.

A potential Republican candidate seeking an endorsement from the Right to Life Party knocked on my door and asked were there any Republicans in the house? Turns out he was collecting signatures on a petition – that only Republicans could sign – so that he could run for office. When I asked him what was his stance on abortion, he replied that he was “Personally opposed, but would not let that affect his public policy.” He then made the mistake of saying, “By the way, the Right to Life Party is holding a meeting next Tuesday at the County Courthouse. I’ll be there, to see whether they’ll grant me their endorsement.” I politely … and quietly … refused to sign his petition based on his response to my question. But “TUESDAY” kept ringing in my head like a summons, though being a young college student, I was nervous about what I felt called to do and wouldn’t entirely 100% commit myself to it. Tuesday came and found me eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant not far from the County Courthouse, wanting to be lazy and just chicken out of going to the Courthouse to witness. So I got in my car, determined to just go home.

However, when I turned on the car radio, the classic song “THE SOUND OF SILENCE” was playing these lyrics just then: “Fools” said I, “You do not know / Silence like a cancer grows.” So I surrendered to what I felt was God’s Will and drove to the Courthouse.

There were two Republican candidates vying for the Right to Life Party nod who spoke before the panel, with the public (including me) welcome. The woman went first. I just listened and remained silent during her whole time of presenting herself and then opening it up to question and answer. Then came the man who had knocked on my door several days before. He gave a very nice presentation, and then asked for questions. Well, I had a mouthful for him. "You showed up at my door a few nights ago. I asked your stance on abortion, and you stated that you were "personally opposed but … “. Would you care to clarify?” He was left speechless, and the woman candidate won the endorsement from the Right to Life Party.

Talk isn’t always cheap.

~~ the phoenix

 

[Eric_Hyom]

Greetings and peace,

Just before Easter this year I went out door knocking in the style of the Jehovah Witness followers, this is totally against my nature as I am normally very shy. There were ten of us going out in pairs for the afternoon and we sat and prayed together first.
As we walked up to the house we prayed for the spirit to guide us, we prayed for each other and we prayed for a blessing on all the people in the house.

We asked at the door if they would like to answer some questions on the Easter story and I was surprised at the friendliness of the majority of people. Many of them were actively engaging us in conversation about Christ even though they did not go to any church.

I think we caused some confusion and astonishment which helped to open people’s minds and hearts; I introduced myself as a Catholic, and my partner whom I had met for the first time only an hour or so earlier introduced himself as an Anglican.

This was an inter church shared mission and people seemed genuinely surprised that we could work together in mission. We had five questions to ask, which provoked answers and conversation, both John and I had to show the love of Christ working in the way we replied and supported each other.

This had a profound affect on me later and the more I thought about what we had shared together the more it brought to mind Christ’s last commandment: love one another as I have loved you, by this all men will know that you are my disciples.

The more that I share with other Christians, the more I feel the spirit is working through our combined efforts, and the more I feel the presence of Christ amongst us.

I feel it is not our differences that cause division, it is more our lack of love for each other and a lack of sharing things together that separates us.

In the spirit striving to share Christ together

Eric

 

[Lillith]

At work, when things are slow…religon is brought up often, and the majority of people I work are cradle Catholics, We talk often…and I actually have found myself teaching them what they believe.

I bring whatever book I’m reading, and it gets discussed. I was reading Catholic for a reason, and one of my co-workers asked to borrow it. She was reading in the family room, and her dad got a hold of it…she brought it back months later and reported that her entire family was now on fire…

I also bring in my Church bulletin often and “accidently” leave it

 

[gusano]

Liberian:

Gusano,

It is my experience that people (especially my kids) learn more from me by what I do when I am not trying to teach them anything than they would (or have) from anything I have said to them. That said, people around me know that I am not just Catholic, but aggressively Catholic.

• Liberian

I try to be more “casual” about witnessing…but more often than not, I am propelled to;
"…stay with this task whether convenient or inconvenient…" (2 Tim. 4: 2)

Besides, my “example” is not that hot, that I can do it without words.
and on top of that,
**“The Word of Life” ** , after all, requires words
that proceed from THE LIFE that dwells in us.

God Bless

gusano