Door-to-door proselytizing

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Indiana_Jones

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For Catholics and non-Catholics alike: how do you respond to people who are evangelizing in your neighborhood? Do you invite them in, hoping to be a positive witness to them? Or do you avoid getting involved? Does the group that they represent affect your decision?

And I mean common door-to-door groups like LDS missionaries, Evangelism Explosion, etc. There was a scary new UFO cult hanging around my street earlier, and they don’t count. 😃 But it got me thinking about this topic. So, under ordinary circumstances, what do you do?
 
Tell them that if I wanted to hear a lie I’d watch the presidential debates.
ZING!
 
Indiana_Jones said:
For Catholics and non-Catholics alike: how do you respond to people who are evangelizing in your neighborhood? Do you invite them in, hoping to be a positive witness to them? Or do you avoid getting involved? Does the group that they represent affect your decision?

And I mean common door-to-door groups like LDS missionaries, Evangelism Explosion, etc. There was a scary new UFO cult hanging around my street earlier, and they don’t count. 😃 But it got me thinking about this topic. So, under ordinary circumstances, what do you do?
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Well realize that door to door ministry isn’t a bad thing, there are many Catholic groups who do it and draw people into the Church. It can be very good method of evangelization. Having said that I would probably explain to them that I already am part of a Church that I love, and I would certainly be interested in attempting to talk to them about why I am Catholic and witness to my faith. Remember we all have the call to witness to the faith, they may look a little different for you then me. Lastly, if you feel uncomfortable inviting them in, you could always do it on the porch.
 
Unfortunately, they don’t stay long after I answer the door.

I tell them that I am the Lay Director of RCIA for our parish, explain what that means, and for some reason, they start to leave. 🤷

I usually try walking them down the walk, to be cordial, but I usually can’t keep up with them.

Haven’t had any knock on the door for quite a while. Hmmmmmm 😃
 
twopekinguys,

LOL! I like your response. We should always be prepared to have a ready reason to defend our faith and you sure got a handle on it! (1 Peter 3:15) 👍
 
I have a statue of St. Francis in my front yard. Keeps them away.
 
svid2 said:
I have a statue of St. Francis in my front yard. Keeps them away.
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I used to go door to door when I was an Evangelical, and if I saw a Catholic statue I would move on!

If somebody told me they were Catholic, I would ask them if they had a bible and if they did I would encourage them to read it and if you have questions about what it says, talk to your parish priest!

I don’t remember any Catholics trying to argue or even ask many questions, besides one! The Question was “Where did the bible come from?”, in which my reply was the Old Testament was compiled by the Jews at “the council of Jamnia” Oops :banghead:and the New Testament was compiled by the Catholic Church in a later council…He said “Oh, good, every time I ask people that, they can never give me a straight answer, thanks!”

I will discuss, if they have an interest, but I let them lead the conversation and listen intently! If they are inviting me to Church I just tell them I’m Catholic and already go to Church! Usually the people in my neck of the woods out “street witnessing” are Ex-Catholics, now fundamentalist, or JW’s. I would say there are a disproportionate number of Hispanics that are ex-catholics and now JW’s or some sort of Pentecostal/ Fundamentalist ! But then again I live in L.A so 🤷
 
Do Islamic clerics/imams practise door-to-door proselytizing in US or Canada?
 
I once saw some JWs going door-to-door in my neighborhood. I’m not sure but I think they encountered or at least saw my sister. I think they even passed her some material (I’ll have to ask her later to be sure).

One thing I am sure though was they didn’t even walk past the gate. And to think, my family doesn’t even have anything religious up front… I wonder why they just passed by? 🤷

Was it the ton of tanks, purifying equipment, and gallon-sized containers of mineral water?

Was it my sister, cute as she is, dressed like a busy sari-sari store owner on a hot day?

Was it because they somehow sensed the nerdiness/coolness going inside as her boyfriend was surfing on his Macbook, while our other friends were playing PSPs and Magic: The Gathering? 😛
 
StephenEstes said:
Well realize that door to door ministry isn’t a bad thing, there are many Catholic groups who do it and draw people into the Church. It can be very good method of evangelization. Having said that I would probably explain to them that I already am part of a Church that I love, and I would certainly be interested in attempting to talk to them about why I am Catholic and witness to my faith. Remember we all have the call to witness to the faith, they may look a little different for you then me. Lastly, if you feel uncomfortable inviting them in, you could always do it on the porch.
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This is a great post. I have found that since my conversion to the Catholic faith, sharing my faith with others has only become easier. I think because, number one, I love this faith, number two, I no longer feel like I am supposed to come from the approach of shoving it down people’s throats, I can just present it as it is, clear up misconceptions, and defend it when it is attacked (and I am perfectly secure with Church teaching, so I don’t have to get defensive) and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. The funny thing is, I never have to invite people to mass, they tend to come to me and ask me if they can go along.
 
The last time someone came to my door I told them to hang out for just a second while I got my bible, when I got back they were at my neighbors. Before that I had two very nice JW girls who wanted to talk to me about the pamphlet, when I told them they couldn’t come inside because I didn’t allow women in my house when my wife wasn’t home, they asked if I had ever read the bible and then started talking about scripture. At one point she said something about a verse, and said to give her a few minutes and she would find it; so I tried to be helpful and tell her it was in Acts chapter 9. She blinked at me, turned to the page and then quietly read it to me and asked where I went to church. I told her at the Catholic parish over there, she said thanks and left.

I’m just honest with them. I try to be polite and kind. I don’t often let them in my home, as I have small children and you never know who is at your door. I do try to stand outside with them and discuss whatever it is they have to talk about. Often they promise to come back later but so far none have.
 
Its always helpful to have your own little booklets on your mantle. When they come to your door, just say: “I’ll take your literature if you take mine”.
I had one guy refuse. I told him “I don’t get it. I’ll take what you have, I’ll even do you the curtousy of READING it. I’m not afraid of what you have…why are you afraid of what I have?”
Never got an answer, or an exchance of booklets.
 
Indiana_Jones said:
For Catholics and non-Catholics alike: how do you respond to people who are evangelizing in your neighborhood? Do you invite them in, hoping to be a positive witness to them? Or do you avoid getting involved? Does the group that they represent affect your decision?

And I mean common door-to-door groups like LDS missionaries, Evangelism Explosion, etc. There was a scary new UFO cult hanging around my street earlier, and they don’t count. 😃 But it got me thinking about this topic. So, under ordinary circumstances, what do you do?
Click to expand...
I am courteous and polite…As soon as they ask me if I read the Bible or would I like to learn more(usually JW’s)…I explain that I read the scriptures every day and usually have a Bible study book to read along with private devotional material. I have my own faith that has revealed Christ to me…I am not interested to change or study with them as neither of us is going to change the other’s mind…AND that IS the point of the visit…isn’t it?

When Mormons call…it depends on what I am doing…in the summer times when the Elders visit and I’m working in the yard or engaged in a project…they ask “Can we help you with anything?” I put them to work…then I fix them a lunch and lemonade and we have a very polite discussion of how Christ has brought joy to our lives…and they leave happy with a nice lunch.🙂

If they come to my door…I pretty much offer the same response as I would give the JW’s…polite, courteous and gentle.
 
Indiana_Jones said:
For Catholics and non-Catholics alike: how do you respond to people who are evangelizing in your neighborhood? Do you invite them in, hoping to be a positive witness to them? Or do you avoid getting involved? Does the group that they represent affect your decision?

And I mean common door-to-door groups like LDS missionaries, Evangelism Explosion, etc. There was a scary new UFO cult hanging around my street earlier, and they don’t count. 😃 But it got me thinking about this topic. So, under ordinary circumstances, what do you do?
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JL: I think I have a good knowlege of my Catholic faith and scripture to defend against any group. I would invite them in. For some reason they never come to my door I have lived at the this address for about ten years. The preivious occupants must have scared them away.
 
In my life I have never actually had anyone come to the door proselytizing. But I would probably just say no thank you and close the door.
 
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