Evangelizing

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Kendy

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So, I have been sharing my faith with my roomates in the most non-threating way possible— This is my story type stuff. Well, she has really opened up and has even started parying and suddenly I feel pressure. What started out as sharing now feels like work. I feel like I need to close the deal, get her to RCIA or something. But I am afraid of pushing her. She has responded well to my talks with her but I think it’s most because she didn’t feel like I was trying to sell her anything. I am afraid if I start with “Wanna go to mass? Wanna join RICIA?” she will no longer trust me.

BTW, I should mention that she was raised buddhist and doesn’t really feel like she knows who she’s talking to when she prays. This is a woman who smokes and is currently havin g sex outside of marriage. I just don’t want to give her more than she’s ready for.

Lastly, I want to find some non-threating book I could give her. I was thinking “Mere Christianity.”

Kendy
 
Kendy said:
Not to sound ungrateful, but Scott Hahn, James Akin, and Tim Staples are all a little intense. I think I might need something a little less threatening. This woman is not sure there is a God.
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Kendy, “Surprised by Truth” is about as non-intimidating as it gets. There are actually (at least) 3 books in the series, and they’re simply the stories of people who converted to Catholicism from other faiths. I believe Jimmy Akin’s story is even in one of them.

Dan
 
I think inviting her to Mass is not pushy at all. If she seems to be interested, that is the next logical step. If she says “no,” graciously back off and let the Spirit lead her at His own speed.

If she has never been in a Catholic Church before, you can give her a little tour, which will give her an opportunity to ask questions. Only if she continues to be interested after this should you offer her reading material (if you do take her to Mass and give the tour, you might want to choose a parish that has some traditional aesthetic beauty to it. Sad to say, a tour of most modern parishes is like taking a tour of a warehouse with pews – if you’re lucky.)
 
Fidelis said:
I think inviting her to Mass is not pushy at all. If she seems to be interested, that is the next logical step. If she says “no,” graciously back off and let the Spirit lead her at His own speed.

If she has never been in a Catholic Church before, you can give her a little tour, which will give her an opportunity to ask questions. Only if she continues to be interested after this should you offer her reading material (if you do take her to Mass and give the tour, you might want to choose a parish that has some traditional aesthetic beauty to it. Sad to say, a tour of most modern parishes is like taking a tour of a warehouse with pews – if you’re lucky.)
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Probably not, but I am really sacred. I think the only reason she listens to me is because she thinks I am different. I just don’t want her to start thinking I am just one of those pushy evangelicals. I would have no luck if I had used that you’re a sinner, you need a savior approach. In fact, I would have had no luck if I had thought of myself as “evangelizing” to her. Whenever I do that, I fail miserably. But now, I feel all this pressure… I feel like a sales person who is getting clear buying signals and I am thinking…“close the deal! close the deal!”

Kendy
 
Kendy said:
Probably not, but I am really sacred. I think the only reason she listens to me is because she thinks I am different. I just don’t want her to start thinking I am just one of those pushy evangelicals. I would have no luck if I had used that you’re a sinner, you need a savior approach. In fact, I would have had no luck if I had thought of myself as “evangelizing” to her. Whenever I do that, I fail miserably. But now, I feel all this pressure… I feel like a sales person who is getting clear buying signals and I am thinking…“close the deal! close the deal!”

Kendy
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Don’t worry about closing the deal. One day at a time. No pressure. The deal might not close for 30 years. Just BE there for her. Be READY for her. Be her FRIEND. Ask God to guide you, to show you how best to SERVE her. You can open the door a little wider by saying something like, “Feel free to ask me anything you want about this, any time you want.”
 
Kendy said:
Probably not, but I am really scared. I think the only reason she listens to me is because she thinks I am different. I just don’t want her to start thinking I am just one of those pushy evangelicals. I would have no luck if I had used that you’re a sinner, you need a savior approach. In fact, I would have had no luck if I had thought of myself as “evangelizing” to her. Whenever I do that, I fail miserably. But now, I feel all this pressure… I feel like a sales person who is getting clear buying signals and I am thinking…“close the deal! close the deal!”

Kendy
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mercygate said:
Don’t worry about closing the deal. One day at a time. No pressure. The deal might not close for 30 years. Just BE there for her. Be READY for her. Be her FRIEND. Ask God to guide you, to show you how best to SERVE her. You can open the door a little wider by saying something like, “Feel free to ask me anything you want about this, any time you want.”
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Oops, I meant scared, not sacred:)
 
I’ve found just living the Gospel works wonders. If it comes up (like a friend wants to meet me on a Sunday) I’ll always say I’m going to Mass and you’re welcome to come with me. I thin the no pressure thing is great and the book thing works too!
 
Kendy said:
Probably not, but I am really sacred. I think the only reason she listens to me is because she thinks I am different. I just don’t want her to start thinking I am just one of those pushy evangelicals. I would have no luck if I had used that you’re a sinner, you need a savior approach. In fact, I would have had no luck if I had thought of myself as “evangelizing” to her. Whenever I do that, I fail miserably. But now, I feel all this pressure… I feel like a sales person who is getting clear buying signals and I am thinking…“close the deal! close the deal!”

Kendy
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Inviting someone to Mass is the least pushy thing you can do – next to doing nothing, of course. How many times have you heard “I was interested in Jesus, but I have never had a Catholic invite me to Mass, so I ended up going to [fill in the blank]”?

If she declines, continue to be her friend, live your faith, and answer her questions. It’s not up to you anyway, it’s up to her and God. Openess, sincerity and availability are the key. And don’t forget to pray for her. The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life as we say in the Creed, is the prime mover of Grace.
 
Well i am more or less a buddhist before i accepted Christ, it took my frez 10 over years to move me in steping into a protestant church. Therefore take it slowly, asking them to go Mass is not like inviting them for party ,so pray about it. So far i never have a Catholic invite me to a RC before so what i can suggest is be her frez, meet her practical needs, care for her…etc
 
happygal said:
Well i am more or less a buddhist before i accepted Christ, it took my frez 10 over years to move me in steping into a protestant church. Therefore take it slowly, asking them to go Mass is not like inviting them for party ,so pray about it. So far i never have a Catholic invite me to a RC before so what i can suggest is be her frez, meet her practical needs, care for her…etc
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So, consider yourself invited! Hope you find it inspiring!
 
Invite her to Mass and if she declines ask if she wants to grab a bite to eat or meet you for coffee after. If she can see how normal you are after Mass and it might be persuasive. As someone upthread said be her friend so she doesn’t become a project.

And if down the road she takes a path different than the Church take care not to take it personally. Too often those who would evangelize others would sort of turn on the “friend”. It makes those efforts seem insincere and not about bring a person to Christ but making like making a person in their own image: “be like me”. Sometimes we have an idea of how we want things to go and when they don’t we’re disappointed. God wants their conversion more than we do and most of the time it takes several people to bring a person Home. Pray that God puts other faithful Catholics in her path.
 
Could you possibly invite her to a “special” Mass; e.g, a Children’ Mass on Christmas Eve? That’s a lot less threatening.
 
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