New Catholics evangelizing Protestants

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quiet52

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I have no doubt this has been discussed in this forum, but since it’s Easter season once again, I thought I would seek fresh thoughts. RCIA leaders, how do you answer your newly-received Catholics when they ask if they are “allowed” to evangelize to Protestants, including their friends and extended families? And how? I’ve given this new Catholic an answer, but also told her that we’ll discuss it again next time we meet. I want a hundred new tips please for this eager evangelist. 🙂
 
Not an RCIA person, but

I’d begin with a quote of St Francis - “Preach the Gospel Always. When necessary use words”. Example is the best evangelizer. Show them your joy and your peace in your new faith.

I’d also caution them not to be afraid to say “I don’t know” rather than to try and give an answer that might not be correct. Then followup with - But I’ll find out!!. Then do it and get back to the questioner.

One further thing is that I would try to encourage them to discuss their new faith with family and friends because by doing so and receiving questions/concerns/ even attacks from others, they will be spurred to learn more and thus become stronger in their faith and better and better apologists/evangelists.

Hope this helps

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
Not an RCIA person, but

I’d begin with a quote of St Francis - “Preach the Gospel Always. When necessary use words”. Example is the best evangelizer. Show them your joy and your peace in your new faith.

I’d also caution them not to be afraid to say “I don’t know” rather than to try and give an answer that might not be correct. Then followup with - But I’ll find out!!. Then do it and get back to the questioner.

One further thing is that I would try to encourage them to discuss their new faith with family and friends because by doing so and receiving questions/concerns/ even attacks from others, they will be spurred to learn more and thus become stronger in their faith and better and better apologists/evangelists.

Hope this helps

Peace
James
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👍👍👍

Yes!

I would add to this that the best way to evangelize is prayer, especially prayer to Mary. When we go to her, she goes to her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, and He is the only one with the power to act on the heart. All we can do with our efforts is bounce our arguments off people’s minds, but they have to already be open to receiving them with their hearts or no progress can be made. That’s where prayer comes in.

It’s also good to do some research on one’s faith so that one knows one’s stuff!
 
I would encourge everyone and anyone to evangelize, but first one must solidly know the faith. It is always best to start where the other person is, so I usually ask “What is the one thing about the Catholic Church you would like to know more about?” That can usually start a basic discussion that will (hopefully) lead to more questions and conversation. I also carry an assortment of basic Catholic tracts and phamplets with me to give away, in case someone wants more information to take with them. (Catholic Answers has an excellent selection!) If you are really brave, you can carry around a copy of a Catholic book (any title, but obviously Catholic and be sure to read it) or wear a large Miraculous Medal or Crucifix on the outside of your clothes. My husband likes to make the sign of the cross and (silently) pray grace before meals, when we eat out. If you are bringing this topic up at the next RCIA class, ask for suggestions from your group, as usual they will amaze you!
 
I’m with Catholic 1954. Be solid in the faith first. I was actually doing Catholic apologetics before I became Catholic and wanted everyone to learn what I was. We share what we love. I felt like I could take on the world but I kept my becoming Catholic secret to most of my family for awhile because I wanted to make sure I could give good scriptural and logical defense and back it up with the early church fathers. I have numerous blogs that are focused on evangelization of protestants where I walk the reader through logical reasoning which ends up pointing to the Catholic Church. Two examples would be “Apostolic Succession: Jesus’ investment in our past, present, and future” and “Finding Jesus’ Church through 9 dimensions of Truth”. My blog is www.catholicevangelism.blogspot.com. Other than that go for it. I found that I learn so much more about the faith when the other person is challenging it, forcing me to look more stuff up.
 
quiet52 said:
I have no doubt this has been discussed in this forum, but since it’s Easter season once again, I thought I would seek fresh thoughts. RCIA leaders, how do you answer your newly-received Catholics when they ask if they are “allowed” to evangelize to Protestants, including their friends and extended families? And how? I’ve given this new Catholic an answer, but also told her that we’ll discuss it again next time we meet. I want a hundred new tips please for this eager evangelist. 🙂
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WHAT!?! Catholics can’t evangelize??? :eek: (just kidding!)

As a convert, I remember my first experience with “explaining my faith”. My Mother who is Protestant, asked me about purgatory. I had only been Catholic for about 6 months or so and I was woefully under-prepared to answer THAT question! lol! My advice is that they continue to learn about the faith (Mystagogy) and teach by example. Because we are converts, people are naturally going to want to know why we converted. This is an excellent time to “witness” to others about our conversion story and share the “truth”.

1 Peter3:15 *“Always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within you, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear.” *

And from Vatican II’s Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (no. 6)
*“This sacred Synod earnestly exhorts laymen, each according to his natural gifts and learning, to be more diligent in doing their part to explain and defend Christian principles.” *

There are literally hundreds of books and tapes on how to explain and defend the faith and how to evangelize…here are just a few…

How NOT to Share Your Faith by Mark Brumley

Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating

Beginning Apologetics series by San Juan Catholic Seminars catholicapologetics.com

biblechristiansociety.com

Search and Rescue:How to bring your Family and friends into or back into the Catholic Church by Patrick Madrid.

The list goes on…😃
CC
 
=quiet52;6556781]I have no doubt this has been discussed in this forum, but since it’s Easter season once again, I thought I would seek fresh thoughts. RCIA leaders, how do you answer your newly-received Catholics when they ask if they are “allowed” to evangelize to Protestants, including their friends and extended families? And how? I’ve given this new Catholic an answer, but also told her that we’ll discuss it again next time we meet. I want a hundred new tips please for this eager evangelist. 🙂
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Father John A. Hardon S.J. [may he rest in peace]. Taught us with regularity: "you can’t share what you don’t know."👍

One can do FAR more harm than good in trying to expalin what they don’t themselves understand; both to those they are seeking to share with and to there own Spiritual Formation.

LEARN what we believe, why we belive it and HOW to explain it before setting off on this at some point, necessary journey:)

An NO; what one needs to know is at best just intorduced and touched on in RCIA.

Love and prayers,
Pat
 
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