Door to door evangelization

[RebeccaJ]

LOL, my Catholic school used to send use 1st-6th graders knocking on doors, unsupervised, selling chocolate door to door.

Is dropping literature any worse than selling candy?

Different times, people used to trust their kids were safe, and did things like allow children go door to door, or never lock their doors. I haven’t had a kid selling anything at my door for a few years, but I used to get them…I wouldn’t let my daughter do any such thing when she was growing up. Too many creepy creepers out there.

 

[CopticChristian]

LOL, my Catholic school used to send use 1st-6th graders knocking on doors, unsupervised, selling chocolate door to door.

Is dropping literature any worse than selling candy?

Literature will not contribute to Diabetes, Obesity or tooth decay.

Literature will contribute to truth decay.

 

[CopticChristian]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

I have lots of thoughts on this without much time. Will you reveal who published the booklet? Can you put forth the claims that are made so as to see them? More later.

 

[KathleenGee]

Christ instructed His apostles NOT to go door to door, and Christ never preached and bellowed at the market corners.

When I sold chocolate candy for my Catholic grade school, we did it as fundraisers, and were never ever taught to prosleytize.

This morning I returned to my Jewish hospice client. I asked the family what they do…call a rabbi?..do they have views on the next life?

The son began to talk to me…it essentially revolving about people treating people right, and that in his form of Judaism, the person is supposed to live a good, upright life, and leave his passing to the mystery of life.

Then he began telling me how the Mormons are coming to his neighborhood every so often. He lives in a very affluent neighborhood. I live in a nice, pretty neighborhood…and I cross over from here to there on my hospice cases. But I never see Mormons going door to door in the areas around me. I wondered if the neighborhood was targeted because the people appear to have money, and our state is one of those suffering from lack of employment. People are tight with the giving now.

I was involved with door to door ministry working on a parish census and asking if any Catholics were in the home, and if fallen away, to welcome them back, and go on our way.

My Jewish client was annoyed because when he got the calls, it would be at dinner time when people are at home. He put an intercom at the front door, and says no to all strangers who come knocking at the door.

About the lady with the anti-Catholic tracts…‘The Watchtower’ must not be able to survive itself if it does not have some anti-Catholic criticism in it or some report on difficulty or failures or closings…makes me think of Communist Russia, always reporting on any thing that happened in America during the Cold War – plane crashes, accidents, tornadoes and other forms of bad weather.

Ask the lady where she would be if her construct did not have its base as being superior to Catholics. My friends join, then left finding out the founder was some kind of numerologist.

Alot of these kinds are so ingrained with prejudice, it takes some real discussion to break away from that and on to dialogue and mutual learning.

 

[CopticChristian]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

I see that you are in Ireland. I will relay the summar of a series of conversations with an AOG missionary that returned from Ireland…Understand that these missionaries are not the sharpest tools in the shed.

I asked…do you know who the Apostle to the Gentiles is…uh Peter?..no Paul…and you know what tribe Paul was from…uh…Judah…no Benjamin…you know what the pilar and foundation of truth is…uh the Bible…no the Church…etc, etc…

Your response to these folks depends on how much time you want to spend with an understanding that if you make any headway…you will then find yourself meeting with someone more senior and finally even a pastor…

If you stump the missionary, then they send in the next guy, etc.

If you choose to engage these missionaries the best way is to do something that is learned in NLP…“he who frames the conversation, controls the conversation”…it is important to control the conversation with these people…what is a frame?

You have to know what you anticipate that they think and say things that cause them to respond in a way you want them to respond. You then create doubt. Creating doubt in their mind is the only way to make any headway…

Example…

In dialogue with these guys I often say as they pull out their Bible…after a little conversation…"Now, I suppose you expect me to believe that this Bible, you call Scripture is inspired…you have just tapped into the regurgitation of 2Timothy 3:16 and when they go there…let them show you…then take it and read it out loud…look surprised…take your time…then ask…you want me to believe that this sentence means that this entire book is inspired…the obvious answer is yes…that is when you wait a little longer, look at them and say…you know if you read just before this Paul says recall what you learned as a child…that only means Old Testament…how can you know that the NT is inspired…and then you ask…for instance…who wrote Hebrews…the answer will be Paul…OK…then you say…well you know Mark does not say Mark wrote it and Hebrews does not say Paul wrote it…I have some trouble here…and then abandon that thought…You can ask…what do you believe the pilar and foundation of truth to be…the answer will be The Bible…and you then point out that Timothy was told by Paul…1Tim3:15 that it is the Church…you then tell them that they do not understand the Bible…

You then say…next you’ll probably tell me that all I have to do is make some sort of confession and join you…you just triggered "confess with your lips and believe with your mouth…"Romans 10:9…Stop and ask…do you know who Romans’ was written to…? you must point out that it was written to Christians…you can find all this in my post on the revalation of the mystery…You then ask…do you know why Paul wrote this letter?..obedience of Faith…they won’t know that…tell them that Paul wrote to Judaizing Christians…then point out that if this letter was written to Christians, for the obedience of Faith…to solve a problem with Judaiaizing Christians that Romans 10:9 could never have meant some formula for conversion. You then tell them they don’t understand the Bible you read.

Once they have doubt about what they present you dismiss them…as not knowing what they are talking about…

 

[bz5]

Yes and this is one of my big reasons for wanting to leave the LDS church, they can’t tell you WHAT parts are corrupted. Once you start examining LDS claims from a non LDS (or better yet, a Catholic) perspective they really begin in crumble. Glad Im free of the brainwashing, if not ACTUALLY physically free from the church itself

You’ve probably said it already, but if you don’t mind me asking, why can’t you leave? Are you underage or married to LDS?

 

[bz5]

Haha that is brilliant. I have to say, all of the answers on this thread are great. Having reading material ready for them is a fantastic idea, I might just do that. They haven’t been back yet, I could grab some tomorrow to be ready. That’s a sure fire way for me to stay cool talking to them. Besides, I did read theirs (even though I burnt it to a crisp).

My village is around 80/90 % Catholic now, the vast majority just by birth and not well Catechised. The thought of them presenting these absolute lies to everyone in town where not many will be able to refute them, makes me sick to the stomach for the damage they could do. That’s the reason for my anger.

Indeed, I’ll pray for them, the town, and all of you. Thanks a lot for the answers.

I remembered something else. They might not take the literature, I don’t think they’re allowed to read it (though I may be thinking of another sect). But one JW convert to Catholicism I heard on the JourneyHome once told what made a huge impression on him. When the JW asked something like, “Wouldn’t you love to be forever in an earthly paradise?” the man answered, “No, I want to see God as He really is and be with Him forever.” The JW didn’t change his facial expression or comment at the time, but that simple exchange led to his questioning, studying, and eventually out the JW door to the Catholic church.

 

[JustaServant]

Haha that is brilliant. I have to say, all of the answers on this thread are great. Having reading material ready for them is a fantastic idea, I might just do that. They haven’t been back yet, I could grab some tomorrow to be ready. That’s a sure fire way for me to stay cool talking to them. Besides, I did read theirs (even though I burnt it to a crisp).

My village is around 80/90 % Catholic now, the vast majority just by birth and not well Catechised. The thought of them presenting these absolute lies to everyone in town where not many will be able to refute them, makes me sick to the stomach for the damage they could do. That’s the reason for my anger.

Indeed, I’ll pray for them, the town, and all of you. Thanks a lot for the answers.

Your village anywhere near Westport County Mayo?

 

[Darran]

I see that you are in Ireland. I will relay the summar of a series of conversations with an AOG missionary that returned from Ireland…Understand that these missionaries are not the sharpest tools in the shed.

That’s fantastic. Even though they are Jehova’s witnesses (their booklets, although mentioning Jehova didn’t specifically mention what they are or their lack of belief in Jesus as Messiah, just some “feel good” things and Catholic bashing). I’ll dissect all of this and learn it, thank you very much for taking the time to write all that. I’m often around protestants so that will be great.

One of the booklets was the “Watchtower”. There was another seperate one included with it, it was the one I destroyed. I can’t recall the name of it unfortunately.

Your village anywhere near Westport County Mayo?

Unfortunately not! Just very near to Belfast. We almost have a natural instinct to detect protestants here (or protestant blood I should say, which that woman was). It’s actually a little bit strange.

–Just to clarify, I don’t mean that in an offensive way towards protestants, it is just a seperate case concerning Irish history–

 

[adf417]

That’s fantastic. Even though they are Jehova’s witnesses (their booklets, although mentioning Jehova didn’t specifically mention what they are or their lack of belief in Jesus as Messiah, just some “feel good” things and Catholic bashing). I’ll dissect all of this and learn it, thank you very much for taking the time to write all that. I’m often around protestants so that will be great.

One of the booklets was the “Watchtower”. There was another seperate one included with it, it was the one I destroyed. I can’t recall the name of it unfortunately.

Unfortunately not! Just very near to Belfast. We almost have a natural instinct to detect protestants here (or protestant blood I should say, which that woman was). It’s actually a little bit strange.

–Just to clarify, I don’t mean that in an offensive way towards protestants, it is just a seperate case concerning Irish history–

Darran if she was handing out the Watchtower then she is a Jehovah’s Witness which is NOT a Protestant. All the Protestant denominations I know of believe in the Trinity and JW’s do not.

Careful we don’t insult our fellow Trinitarians.

Blessings!!!

 

[CopticChristian]

That’s fantastic. Even though they are Jehova’s witnesses (their booklets, although mentioning Jehova didn’t specifically mention what they are or their lack of belief in Jesus as Messiah, just some “feel good” things and Catholic bashing). I’ll dissect all of this and learn it, thank you very much for taking the time to write all that. I’m often around protestants so that will be great.

One of the booklets was the “Watchtower”. There was another seperate one included with it, it was the one I destroyed. I can’t recall the name of it unfortunately.

Unfortunately not! Just very near to Belfast. We almost have a natural instinct to detect protestants here (or protestant blood I should say, which that woman was). It’s actually a little bit strange.

–Just to clarify, I don’t mean that in an offensive way towards protestants, it is just a seperate case concerning Irish history–

JW still go right to 2Tim3:16:thumbsup:

Get hold of the Movie Witnesses of Jehovah…

Good News Defenders
The 56-minute video Witnesses of Jehovah is available in PAL and NTSC from Good News Defenders, Box 8007, La Jolla, CA 92038. Price: $22.00 each, including U.S. postage and handling. Quantity discounts available.

I cannot find their phone number or website. Write them a letter…
order a few copies…watch it…ask them if they would like to watch it with you …

You will be labeled by them as a goat once you reject them…

 

[KathleenGee]

Some of my family came from County Cavan…and we saw a movie a year or so regarding the Catholic graffiti and political paintings on walls vs the themes done by protestants…

Yes, I can understand how the Catholics there can pick up on a Protestant…it is very sad…

 

[Darran]

Not necessarily. It’s just one of those things. Time was when you would be stopped in the street and asked to spell something, the reason being that Catholics tend to pronounce H as “heich”. We never really needed that formality. Fair enough, there isn’t “protestant” blood, just what I would call it.

 

[KathleenGee]

I personally would not use such a term as ‘protestant blood’…but I can sense when someone is a Christian…Christ’s blood.

 

[Darran]

Nor did I imply they were, on the contrary given my explaination a line down from where I have said it. Straying quite far off topic here.

 

[Tony888]

Christ instructed His apostles NOT to go door to door, and Christ never preached and bellowed at the market corners…

Kathleen, I’d love to see your source for such claim. My understanding is Christ was explicit in asking the opposite. If the early Christians did not visit homes or speak in public spaces, how did they do it?

Matt 24:14 And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.

Acts 20:20-21 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

No bible scholar I’ve seen teaches Luke 10 is against evangelizing ‘door to door’

Matthew Henry’s Commentary
The charge given them was, Whatsoever house they entered into, they must say, Peace be to this house. Here, [1.] They are supposed to enter into private houses; for, being not admitted into the synagogues, they were forced to preach where they could have liberty. And, as their public preaching was driven into houses, so thither they carried it. Like their Master, wherever they visited, they preached from house to house,

 

[Nicea325]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

Smells like a JW lurking in your neck of the woods. Ignore her and tell her you are not interested in revised history.

 

[Tony888]

Now for some humor
A pastor went out one Saturday to visit his church members. At one house it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the pastor had knocked several times. Finally, the pastor took out his card and wrote “Revelations 3:20” on the back of it, and stuck it in the door.

{Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with me.}

The next day, the card turned up in the collection plate. Below the pastor’s message was the notation “Genesis 3:10”.

{I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.}

 

[Tony888]

Smells like a JW lurking in your neck of the woods. Ignore her and tell her you are not interested in revised history.

I’m glad to see Catholics taking a greater interest in door to door evangelism
Denver Archdiocese
“’Understanding the Catholic Gospel’ is preliminary training for door-to-door work,” said Cooper who has a master’s in theology. “But people can use it as a stand-alone class. … It’s for Catholics ourselves; we need to be evangelized first.”
And that Catholics also use teens to help evanglize
Door-to-door effort brings home ‘lost sheep’
Following a training session Oct. 21, a group of Life Teen volunteers, armed with parish bulletins, prayer cards and maps, set out to greet residents in the historic district surrounding Queen of Peace Parish.

 

[ChrisB103]

Now for some humor
A pastor went out one Saturday to visit his church members. At one house it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the pastor had knocked several times. Finally, the pastor took out his card and wrote “Revelations 3:20” on the back of it, and stuck it in the door.

{Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with me.}

The next day, the card turned up in the collection plate. Below the pastor’s message was the notation “Genesis 3:10”.

{I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.}

I haven’t followed this thread extensively, but I’m glad I clicked on the last page so I could read this joke!