How are you supposed to evangelize to people?

[TeenageConvert]

All anyone ever really says is to live by example…But I feel like my one (normally)good example as a Catholic is outweighed by the rest of the Catholics who go to my school. (I’m in a public high school with about 200 kids in each class, and out of everyone in my school I’m the only practicing Catholic. There are around 5 other Catholics in my school, and they might go to Mass on Ash Wednesday. I know I shouldn’t judge but one is in my health class, and I heard him talking about how if his girlfriend got pregnant he would be getting her some Plan B.
Even the evengelical Christians at my school who are “soo in love with Jesus” get wasted, high, and have sex every weekend.
There are some people about whom I really do care…and I pray every day that they will convert…or at least find God, be led to him, something. But I feel like just praying isn’t going to do anything, but if I try to reach out I might be labelled “holier than thou”. Even if I invited them to Mass I don’t think they would go, there is no youth group, and the parish is small unlike the huge Baptist church which has a seperate building 3x as big as my whole church for thier youth group alone. No one wants anything to do with my “outdated oppressive” religion because “they have a relationship with Jesus they don’t need religion”.
I just don’t see how my example could change their mindset towards Catholicism, there has to be something more I can do.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I think that you have probably guessed that many “evangelicals” as well as many so-called Catholics aren’t really Christian at all. Many Americans call themselves Christian for cultural reasons but have no faith.

You could:

Start a Bible study group. You don’t have to call it Catholic Bible study. The Bible is Catholic.

Show and discuss Father Barron’s Catholicism series.

Work with adults on developing non-alcoholic, non-sexualized youth activities.

 

[Joe_5859]

All anyone ever really says is to live by example…But I feel like my one (normally)good example as a Catholic is outweighed by the rest of the Catholics who go to my school. (I’m in a public high school with about 200 kids in each class, and out of everyone in my school I’m the only practicing Catholic. There are around 5 other Catholics in my school, and they might go to Mass on Ash Wednesday. I know I shouldn’t judge but one is in my health class, and I heard him talking about how if his girlfriend got pregnant he would be getting her some Plan B.
Even the evengelical Christians at my school who are “soo in love with Jesus” get wasted, high, and have sex every weekend.
There are some people about whom I really do care…and I pray every day that they will convert…or at least find God, be led to him, something. But I feel like just praying isn’t going to do anything, but if I try to reach out I might be labelled “holier than thou”. Even if I invited them to Mass I don’t think they would go, there is no youth group, and the parish is small unlike the huge Baptist church which has a seperate building 3x as big as my whole church for thier youth group alone. No one wants anything to do with my “outdated oppressive” religion because “they have a relationship with Jesus they don’t need religion”.
I just don’t see how my example could change their mindset towards Catholicism, there has to be something more I can do.

It’s tough. Remember, though, that it is God who does the heavy lifting. We plant the seeds. Do not underestimate the power of prayer. We may not ever see the impact it has on other people, but that is our primary weapon. Prayer is never wasted. Satan would like to convince us that it is fruitless so that we don’t bother. Don’t listen to him.

High school can certainly be quite difficult. But hang in there. Even if it seems no one notices, they do. When I was in college, I felt the same way many times. Does anyone even notice? But I’ll never forget the day I was walking by a guys’s dorm room (a guy who did the whole “party thing” every weekend) and I overheard him telling someone else how my brother and I were the only Christians he knew who actually practiced what they preached. And I could hear the tone of respect and semi-admiration in his voice. It was very humbling as I know all too well the times I fail to practice what I preach. But it was affirming to know that, even when others were giving me a hard time and constantly trying to “corrupt” me, they did notice and respect my convictions.

It really takes time to earn that respect. You may never encounter a situation where you say or do one solitary thing and someone else will immediately and drastically convert and change their life forever. Conversion usually takes more time than that. Maybe it will be five years down the road when that one guy is going through a tough time in college that he remembers the joyful kid in high school who seemed to have it all together. And he’ll give God a chance. Or maybe it will be ten years down the road and that girl will think back to that really sweet thing she saw you do for someone else when you didn’t even realize she was watching. And that will be enough for her to leave her abusive relationship because she knows there are better men out there. You just never know.

Living your life according to our faith is indispensible to evangelization. We need to be strong enough to maintain our convictions in the face of outside pressure. There are also times where we may need to call a friend out on something they are doing, even if it’s hard to do. We don’t have to stand on the street thumping a Bible and spewing forth judgment and condemnation. But we cannot be afraid to speak the truth in charity.

Keep praying. God will get you through. And maybe he’ll use you to help others through as well.

 

[Edward_H]

The best, most long lasting, and natural way to evangelize is through real sincere friendship. Have that as a basis, and live your faith well, heroically at times, confident that the Holy Spirit will help you.

 

[wiggbuggie]

I feel that way too sometimes everyone around me at work or the world in general seems deticated catholics are growing small. But look what scripture says:

And after these things the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come.
And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest.
Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves.
Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way.
Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house.
And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you.
And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house.
And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say:
Even the very dust of your city that cleaveth to us, we wipe off against you. Yet know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand.

The lord is telling to move on when someone won’t listen or accept us we can’t force anyone. I think the best thing we can do it live by example and pray. And like others stated starting a catholic youth group sounds like a good idea

 

[Chrish1975]

All anyone ever really says is to live by example…But I feel like my one (normally)good example as a Catholic is outweighed by the rest of the Catholics who go to my school. (I’m in a public high school with about 200 kids in each class, and out of everyone in my school I’m the only practicing Catholic. There are around 5 other Catholics in my school, and they might go to Mass on Ash Wednesday. I know I shouldn’t judge but one is in my health class, and I heard him talking about how if his girlfriend got pregnant he would be getting her some Plan B.

The important thing is for you to live your faith and be an example to others.

 

[domNoah]

All anyone ever really says is to live by example…But I feel like my one (normally)good example as a Catholic is outweighed by the rest of the Catholics who go to my school. (I’m in a public high school with about 200 kids in each class, and out of everyone in my school I’m the only practicing Catholic. There are around 5 other Catholics in my school, and they might go to Mass on Ash Wednesday. I know I shouldn’t judge but one is in my health class, and I heard him talking about how if his girlfriend got pregnant he would be getting her some Plan B.
Even the evengelical Christians at my school who are “soo in love with Jesus” get wasted, high, and have sex every weekend.
There are some people about whom I really do care…and I pray every day that they will convert…or at least find God, be led to him, something. But I feel like just praying isn’t going to do anything, but if I try to reach out I might be labelled “holier than thou”. Even if I invited them to Mass I don’t think they would go, there is no youth group, and the parish is small unlike the huge Baptist church which has a seperate building 3x as big as my whole church for thier youth group alone. No one wants anything to do with my “outdated oppressive” religion because “they have a relationship with Jesus they don’t need religion”.
I just don’t see how my example could change their mindset towards Catholicism, there has to be something more I can do.

If you think your praying will not do anything then it will not. have confidence in your prayers.

I like to give out Catholic stuff in a friendly way. Movies, books (even fiction books), given as gifts with Catholic stuff in them is a great way to get people talking. Another thing is to throw a party in honor of your Saints name and invite your friends over.

“Woe to you when men shall bless you: for according to these things did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6: 26

“We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.” 1 Cor 4:10

Not everyone will like you if spread our Holy Faith, but you can have confidence when you approach someone about our Holy Faith that God is on your side and he desires that person to become Catholic and to live a good life.

Remember we are called to spread the Gospel, our duty is to spread the faith, it is up to God to convert hearts.

May God Bless you!

 

[domNoah]

All anyone ever really says is to live by example…But I feel like my one (normally)good example as a Catholic is outweighed by the rest of the Catholics who go to my school. (I’m in a public high school with about 200 kids in each class, and out of everyone in my school I’m the only practicing Catholic. There are around 5 other Catholics in my school, and they might go to Mass on Ash Wednesday. I know I shouldn’t judge but one is in my health class, and I heard him talking about how if his girlfriend got pregnant he would be getting her some Plan B.
Even the evengelical Christians at my school who are “soo in love with Jesus” get wasted, high, and have sex every weekend.
There are some people about whom I really do care…and I pray every day that they will convert…or at least find God, be led to him, something. But I feel like just praying isn’t going to do anything, but if I try to reach out I might be labelled “holier than thou”. Even if I invited them to Mass I don’t think they would go, there is no youth group, and the parish is small unlike the huge Baptist church which has a seperate building 3x as big as my whole church for thier youth group alone. No one wants anything to do with my “outdated oppressive” religion because “they have a relationship with Jesus they don’t need religion”.
I just don’t see how my example could change their mindset towards Catholicism, there has to be something more I can do.

You might also like the story of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha she was about High School Age when she converted amongst Pagans and definitely was persecuted.

 

[jmcrae]

No one wants anything to do with my “outdated oppressive” religion because “they have a relationship with Jesus they don’t need religion”.
I just don’t see how my example could change their mindset towards Catholicism, there has to be something more I can do.

Yes; live your Catholic life joyfully. You can’t have any idea what a powerful witness it is to see a teenager excited to go to Mass on Sunday, and smiling when he comes out of the Confessional. This kind of thing has an amazing ripple effect on the whole community. Non-Catholics are attracted to come to Mass; Catholics become more zealous in their faith.

You won’t always see these people, but I see them, and I know that it’s the faith-filled teenagers in my parish who are providing the encouragement to the adults who see them at Mass every Sunday, and to their friends who wonder what’s going on, and want to know more.

 

[Edward_H]

Yes; live your Catholic life joyfully. You can’t have any idea what a powerful witness it is to see a teenager excited to go to Mass on Sunday, and smiling when he comes out of the Confessional. This kind of thing has an amazing ripple effect on the whole community. Non-Catholics are attracted to come to Mass; Catholics become more zealous in their faith.

You won’t always see these people, but I see them, and I know that it’s the faith-filled teenagers in my parish who are providing the encouragement to the adults who see them at Mass every Sunday, and to their friends who wonder what’s going on, and want to know more.

Amen. Amen.

It’s the same with joyfully sacrificing parenting. If all Catholic parents joyfully abandoned themselves to the task of parenthood, daily, hourly, there’d be little need for most prolife outreach, efforts. The world would be convinced by our sincere heroic example.

 

[poptown]

For those who do not believe in God: morality, love and meaning of life are always the three killer questions.

For those who believe in God but not Christ: show them the picture of Christian salvation. If they don’t accept, that’s okay. Still, try to let them see the goodness of Christ’s Commandments given mainly during the Sermon on the Mount, so that they can obey them in their life regardless of what they believe in (this means that they have a chance to be saved even as non-Christians).

For those who believe in Christ but not Catholic faith: show them their theological errors and impress them with the greatness of Catholicism. Once they realize that their theology and interpretation of Holy Scriptures are wrong, where other than Catholic Church can they go?