Evangalizing a Prisoner...Who Happens to be My Brother

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As the title suggests, my brother is currently serving a 6 month sentence. He has expressed to my mom that he has been thinking about me (his only sister), God, and becoming religious. My brother has been in and out of juvenile hall, group homes, jail, etc, for a really good portion of my life. Every time he has been locked up he has “found God”. We were raised in a very secular household, I would have classified myself as Christian, though we were never baptized. My parents instilled the best morals that they could given their situation in life, but still lacking in any Faith formation. I became a Catholic about 2 1/2 years ago after a long search/struggle.I am not only the only Catholic, I am the only person in my immediate family that attends ANY church. I try to live my Faith, but am not around my family very much and there is a stark contrast between my religiosity compared with my family’s lives, that I worry makes me come off as “preachy”.

That being said, I desperately want this to be the time that my brother is sincere. I am praying SO hard that it is real. I want to encourage him to come to Christ, but I also want him to take responsibility for his life and his actions and I want him to know that this hurts our Lord. I want him to contemplate the Passion and realize that He did that for us, for my brother. I really want to send him a letter with a book, but I’m at a loss. I want it to be uplifting without being “soft” and certainly not protestant; I want it to be Catholic without it bringing to mind difficult dogmas (i.e., Purgatory, Marian Dogmas. This is just not the time to attempt those arguments). Right now I want to bring him to Christ, and not scare him off. My husband and I have thought through some books but can’t come up with anything that “fits” this situation, or close to it.

I guess after all that lengthy explanation, what I’m asking for is book suggestions. :o Please.
 
the best guide I ever saw to evangelizing family members is still Search and Rescue by Patrick Madrid, as you already know, what not to say is as important as what to say and how to say it
 
I feel inclined to recommend Jean Vanier’s Jesus: the Gift of Love, but it’s a tough call not knowing the person.

It may appear “soft” to some people because of what it says about radical vulnerability, but in reality, that kind of vulnerability requires more fortitude than any tough bluster ever could.
 
garyr said:
Assuming he already has a good Catholic bible,

then maybe get him the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’.

If that is too tough/dry for him, then maybe get/print out the ‘Family Catechism’, Free- link here: familyland.org/content/Content.aspx?CategoryID=709
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He does not, I am the only Catholic in the family. I think that both the Bible and the Catechism would bring about arguments right now that I think he doesn’t need at this point.
puzzleannie said:
the best guide I ever saw to evangelizing family members is still Search and Rescue by Patrick Madrid, as you already know, what not to say is as important as what to say and how to say it
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You know, I really enjoy Patrick Madrid, I think I’ll have to check this one out. Thanks puzzleannie! 😃
aspirant said:
I feel inclined to recommend Jean Vanier’s Jesus: the Gift of Love, but it’s a tough call not knowing the person.

It may appear “soft” to some people because of what it says about radical vulnerability, but in reality, that kind of vulnerability requires more fortitude than any tough bluster ever could.
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I haven’t heard of this one, I’ll check it out too! I know that it’s tough to make suggestions not knowing the person, heck, I KNOW him and it’s tough for me!

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
Jea9 said:
I haven’t heard of this one, I’ll check it out too! I know that it’s tough to make suggestions not knowing the person, heck, I KNOW him and it’s tough for me!
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I know what you mean! 🙂

The Jean Vanier book I recommended is a presentation of and meditation on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, deeply rooted in the scriptures as understood through the eyes of Catholic faith. At the same time, it will not overtly bring up the controversial doctrines you currently want to avoid arguments about. It is simple, it is disarming and welcoming, but it is also personally challenging without being preachy.

Going back to your first post, I think it can, if he reads it, both encourage your brother to come to Christ and to take responsibility for his life and his actions. It will involve meditation on the incarnation, ministry, passion, and victory of Jesus, and it personalizes these things for the reader. It is uplifting and inspiring but, as I say, personally challenging on a profound level without being preachy. It is not Protestant, but it’s not going to directly talk about “Catholicky” things in a way that provokes arguments or scares someone away.

I do encourage you to check it out for yourself. 🙂
 
Jea9 said:
As the title suggests, my brother is currently serving a 6 month sentence. He has expressed to my mom that he has been thinking about me (his only sister), God, and becoming religious. My brother has been in and out of juvenile hall, group homes, jail, etc, for a really good portion of my life. Every time he has been locked up he has “found God”. We were raised in a very secular household, I would have classified myself as Christian, though we were never baptized. My parents instilled the best morals that they could given their situation in life, but still lacking in any Faith formation. I became a Catholic about 2 1/2 years ago after a long search/struggle.I am not only the only Catholic, I am the only person in my immediate family that attends ANY church. I try to live my Faith, but am not around my family very much and there is a stark contrast between my religiosity compared with my family’s lives, that I worry makes me come off as “preachy”.

That being said, I desperately want this to be the time that my brother is sincere. I am praying SO hard that it is real. I want to encourage him to come to Christ, but I also want him to take responsibility for his life and his actions and I want him to know that this hurts our Lord. I want him to contemplate the Passion and realize that He did that for us, for my brother. I really want to send him a letter with a book, but I’m at a loss. I want it to be uplifting without being “soft” and certainly not protestant; I want it to be Catholic without it bringing to mind difficult dogmas (i.e., Purgatory, Marian Dogmas. This is just not the time to attempt those arguments). Right now I want to bring him to Christ, and not scare him off. My husband and I have thought through some books but can’t come up with anything that “fits” this situation, or close to it.

I guess after all that lengthy explanation, what I’m asking for is book suggestions. :o Please.
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Call the Diocese and ask if they have a prison ministry. If they do, have your brother sign up to meet with them the next time they come. The prison ministers are trained to work with inmates, and it might help him more now to interact with a person than to read a book. You could send him a biography of one of the saints, like John Bosco or “The Confessions of St. Augustine”. I have given inmates “This is the Faith” by Canon Francis Ripley. It is a catechism but very easy to read and understand; I think Tan Books stills publishes it, or you can check out “The Sinner’s Guide” by Venerable Louis of Granada; Tan publishes that also. Keep praying, the Holy Spirit is calling your brother home.
 
Catholic1954 said:
Call the Diocese and ask if they have a prison ministry. If they do, have your brother sign up to meet with them the next time they come. The prison ministers are trained to work with inmates, and it might help him more now to interact with a person than to read a book. You could send him a biography of one of the saints, like John Bosco or “The Confessions of St. Augustine”. I have given inmates “This is the Faith” by Canon Francis Ripley. It is a catechism but very easy to read and understand; I think Tan Books stills publishes it, or you can check out “The Sinner’s Guide” by Venerable Louis of Granada; Tan publishes that also. Keep praying, the Holy Spirit is calling your brother home.
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Ah thank you for this, I really hadn’t thought about doing this. I think “Confessions” would be too heady for him, but maybe not. I think I actually have a copy of that one…I might send it to him!

Thank you again! 🙂
 
I have a really good book called ‘Question and Answer Catholic Catechism’. It’s based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church but done in a Q-A format. I originally bought it for my sister (who I’ve spent two years trying to convert) and it’s a really good book. It’s not hard to read and explains things simply and clearly. It’s by Fr. M. Guzman. I found it in my church bookshop but you can probably find it online or something.
 
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