Weirdest attempt at evangelization that you've ever seen

[Robyn_p]

I had one happen to me that was pretty weird once. I think the guy was trying to evangelize me, but he went about it so strangely.

I was fifteen or sixteen I think, and I was at the Huntington beach pier. I was just leaning over the rail looking at the water, minding my own business, when this guy a couple of years older than me suddenly came up and started making small chat. I was always a really shy, withdrawn person, and I had never actually talked to a boy before, so I admit, I kind of got excited. Wow, a guy actually noticed me and wants to talk to me!!! (Yep. I was that girl.) We talked for a while, and then…things suddenly got weird. Out of the blue he asked:

“Do you know where the Hilton is?”

Me: “Uhh yeah it’s right over there. See that big building?”

Him: “Do you know how to get to it?”

I’m a little creeped out at this point. Why is a guy I just met asking if I know how to get to a hotel???

Me: “Uhhh yeah. Why?”

He hands me a card, “We’re having a tent revival tomorrow if you want to come. Hope you can make it.” And then he walked off to talk to someone else.

You can probably imagine how I felt right then. The guy wasn’t even interested in me as a person at all. Turns out I was just a number to him. Way to share the love of God there dude. :aok:

I guess technically this doesn’t really qualify as evangelism, since he didn’t mention Jesus at all while we talked. It was just the weirdest experience I’d ever had. Why start out acting like you are genuinely interested in someone and then cut off the conversation so abruptly like that? How is that going to make me want to come to your church?

So, needless to say, I’ve added that to my long list of ways not to evangelize someone.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

A guy standing between Starbucks customers and their venti skinny chai lattes and mocha frappuccinos? Seems like he’s seeking martyrdom!

False! Only ISIS types consider martyrdom synonymous with suicide… which is what I’d call any attempt to get between and my Starbucks coffee.

 

[ajaxbogs]

I’m always happy to be evangelized. It’s the easiest way for me to evangelize someone.

Waaay too many Catholics can’t (or are incapable to) stand up for their own faith & get EXTREMELY uncomfortable when “evangelized”. Perhaps if we respond in love we won’t have to make ourselves “feel good” by making fun of those who are devoted to their faith (however misguided). I can’t imagine Our Lord joining in on the finger-pointing.

 

[Tuxedo_Mark]

Oh, and your username made me lol, as I can tell it’s probably based off of Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon. You’d think with a username like yours, you’d have Tuxedo Mask as your avatar, but u have Sailor Mars instead, lol.

Hehe, yeah, well, I tend to have more interest in the female characters in whatever I watch/read. I went with a Mars avatar because of the religious theme: she’s chanting while holding an omamori in order to exorcise a demon/youma/whatever.

Actually, I think Jupiter is my favorite Inner Senshi, and Uranus/Neptune are my favorite overall.

Oh, I remember another evangelization (funny how the spell-checker at this forum flagged this word) attempt: a customer with a religious tract that came through my line. When I refused it, he said “I’ll be prayin’ for you” as he walked out. I thought that was incredibly presumptuous - as if my not accepting his tract was proof that I didn’t believe.

It’s people like these that make me understand the bumper sticker: “I have nothing against God. It’s his fan club that I can’t stand.”

 

[UnumCorpus]

Fortunately, my run-ins with door-to-door missionaries have been few and far between. I don’t even like answering the door in general to be honest.

But there is one bizarre incident that stands out to me. It happened when I was working as a cashier at a department store back in my high school years.

An elderly gentleman and his wife had paid for their items and were about to leave. Despite there being a line-up forming behind him, he stops and turns to me again. The conversation went something like this:

Man: Is it your birthday today?
Me: Umm…no?
Man: Well, you’re wrong. It IS your birthday!
Me: Sorry, what?
Man: This will be your second birthday! You will be reborn in Christ Jesus!
he then hands me a card for his house church
Me: Well, thank you but I already know Christ. Have a good day, sir.
Man: But do you KNOW Christ? As in, really KNOW Him?
Me: Ok, thank you but I need to get back to work.

By this point, people were getting impatient and the person behind approached me, which fortunately discouraged this man from continuing the conversation.

I felt confused and bewildered all day after that! What a bizarre conversation. The “birthday” start really threw me off, and then him claiming that I didn’t know Christ enough for his taste was too much.

That was way too aggressive!

 

[Della]

Waaay too many Catholics can’t (or are incapable to) stand up for their own faith & get EXTREMELY uncomfortable when “evangelized”. Perhaps if we respond in love we won’t have to make ourselves “feel good” by making fun of those who are devoted to their faith (however misguided). I can’t imagine Our Lord joining in on the finger-pointing.

Unfortunately for those earnest souls who use very questionable methods to evangelize, they make themselves look foolish by accosting people cold, pretending interest in their souls and then forcing their religious views on them. Sorry, I used to be one of those people and I can tell you I was more motivated by fear than by love of souls–fear that God would hold me accountable for everyone with whom I didn’t “share the Gospel” as we understood it. Sure, there are people who are motived by love, but in their misplaced zeal they put people off rather than attract them. True evangelization is being a witness in one’s daily life not grabbing strangers off the street and forcing oneself on them. It’s their methods we find funny/odd not their zeal–whether that zeal is motivated by love or fear.

 

[Miserissima]

In high school, I was invited to a “small local concert.” It turned out to be a non-denominational church hosting its band in their hall, complete with powerpoint projector lyrics and the Jesus Prayer. I was duped!

 

[ajaxbogs]

Unfortunately for those earnest souls who use very questionable methods to evangelize, they make themselves look foolish by accosting people cold, pretending interest in their souls and then forcing their religious views on them. Sorry, I used to be one of those people and I can tell you I was more motivated by fear than by love of souls–fear that God would hold me accountable for everyone with whom I didn’t “share the Gospel” as we understood it. Sure, there are people who are motived by love, but in their misplaced zeal they put people off rather than attract them. True evangelization is being a witness in one’s daily life not grabbing strangers off the street and forcing oneself on them. It’s their methods we find funny/odd not their zeal–whether that zeal is motivated by love or fear.

You missed my point. We’re wasting energy by belittling these “evangelists” & their misguided efforts. How about joining Our Lord & about saying a prayer for them?

 

[ajaxbogs]

In high school, I was invited to a “small local concert.” It turned out to be a non-denominational church hosting its band in their hall, complete with powerpoint projector lyrics and the Jesus Prayer. I was duped!

You were deceived into a place where there was worship music and they talked about Jesus. OMG! The nerve of those Protestants!

As a non-Catholic growing up in a heavily Catholic area (18 years), I was NEVER invited to a function at the Catholic Church. But there were plenty of parties put on by “Catholics” were there was under-age drinking & drug use.

I’d take my chances with the former for my kids rather than the latter, thank you!

 

[Della]

You missed my point. We’re wasting energy by belittling these “evangelists” & their misguided efforts. How about joining Our Lord & about saying a prayer for them?

First of all, no one is “belittling” anyone. Secondly, how do you know we aren’t praying for them? As someone who used to be one of them they are always in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Della]

You were deceived into a place where there was worship music and they talked about Jesus. OMG! The nerve of those Protestants!

The point is he was deceived into going. How does deceiving people put them in the mood for receiving the Gospel? It’s the method used not the intention that is in question.

As a non-Catholic growing up in a heavily Catholic area (18 years), I was NEVER invited to a function at the Catholic Church. But there were plenty of parties put on by “Catholics” were there was under-age drinking & drug use.

I’d take my chances with the former for my kids rather than the latter, thank you!

If there are no activities for young people in your parish and you have a real desire to have them, then you should do something about it, yes? No doubt you are teaching your children that drinking parties are not how a Christian should be passing his free time or enjoying entertaining. You can take that sensibility with you into helping other young people.

 

[Miserissima]

You were deceived into a place where there was worship music and they talked about Jesus. OMG! The nerve of those Protestants!

As a non-Catholic growing up in a heavily Catholic area (18 years), I was NEVER invited to a function at the Catholic Church. But there were plenty of parties put on by “Catholics” were there was under-age drinking & drug use.

I’d take my chances with the former for my kids rather than the latter, thank you!

It was not “worship” music, as there were no hymns.

I had brought friends to Mass and told them it was Mass. I explained what we were doing and why. I’d bring them to holiday parties in the church hall. We’d go to hayrides sponsored by both churches. I told them specifically it was at my church. And they didn’t think it was a “real church” because there may have been beer at the annual festivals and there were certainly no altar calls.

I had gone to their VBS with my own Bible and said, “Well, Catholics believe a little differently because…” at almost every session. It was no secret I was a Catholic. Because I shared my faith rather than “proof-texted,” folks would ask for clarification on things. I got to be pretty good at explaining concepts without implying anyone else’s theology was less…developed.

When I went on my bird-walk out of the Church, I had to correct people’s misperceptions about the Church and that, ironically, is what helped me back to the faith – because I had to research even more challenging questions.

This was an invitation where it was specifically kept from me that it had a religious theme. This particular person and I had never discussed religion in school and she brought me to have the chance to be “saved.” I was shocked that she didn’t know I was Christian, and she said, “I heard you were Catholic.” So, I explained what a Catholic was. She said something like, “But Pastor X says Catholics aren’t Christians, and I only brought you so you because you’re *nice *and I want you to have a chance to be saved.”

I think I sulked for a while until we went home. I couldn’t even explain to her the boundaries she crossed. I could have handled it better, I know. But again, we were teens.

It was not the best way to evangelize me. I was more upset that she felt the need to spring a praise concert on me rather than invite me outright, or even talk to me about my beliefs.

But here’s a question for you: Now that you identify as Catholic in your profile, what have you done to bring CYO or CYO-like programs to your parish?

 

[ajaxbogs]

First of all, no one is “belittling” anyone. Secondly, how do you know we aren’t praying for them? As someone who used to be one of them they are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Are you reading the same thread as I? I’m not saying everyone is derogatory, but the underlying tone appears so to me. Glad you’re praying for our misguided, separated brothers & sisters.

 

[Della]

Are you reading the same thread as I? I’m not saying everyone is derogatory, but the underlying tone appears so to me. Glad you’re praying for our misguided, separated brothers & sisters.

Yes, I’m reading the same thread. If we get a bit of a laugh from misguided attempts at evangelization it isn’t because we feel efforts should not be made to reach out to those who need to hear about Jesus nor to denigrate anyone. Rather, relating instances in which it was badly done is a lesson for us all to be careful how we approach others–that we are doing so for the right reasons and in ways that will help them understand our faith instead of catching people off guard with catch phrases and Bible verses taken out of context. Our eternal destiny is far too important to put people off like that. Their botched attempts make it that much harder for those who truly do want to evangelize when their listeners only experience has been of intolerant poeple telling them they are damned unless they recite a particular prayer or believe just what the proselytizers believe. I see myself in some of these instances and cringe at the memory. uch:

 

[ajaxbogs]

It was not “worship” music, as there were no hymns.

I had brought friends to Mass and told them it was Mass. I explained what we were doing and why. I’d bring them to holiday parties in the church hall. We’d go to hayrides sponsored by both churches. I told them specifically it was at my church. And they didn’t think it was a “real church” because there may have been beer at the annual festivals and there were certainly no altar calls.

I had gone to their VBS with my own Bible and said, “Well, Catholics believe a little differently because…” at almost every session. It was no secret I was a Catholic. Because I shared my faith rather than “proof-texted,” folks would ask for clarification on things. I got to be pretty good at explaining concepts without implying anyone else’s theology was less…developed.

When I went on my bird-walk out of the Church, I had to correct people’s misperceptions about the Church and that, ironically, is what helped me back to the faith – because I had to research even more challenging questions.

This was an invitation where it was specifically kept from me that it had a religious theme. This particular person and I had never discussed religion in school and she brought me to have the chance to be “saved.” I was shocked that she didn’t know I was Christian, and she said, “I heard you were Catholic.” So, I explained what a Catholic was. She said something like, “But Pastor X says Catholics aren’t Christians, and I only brought you so you because you’re *nice *and I want you to have a chance to be saved.”

I think I sulked for a while until we went home. I couldn’t even explain to her the boundaries she crossed. I could have handled it better, I know. But again, we were teens.

It was not the best way to evangelize me. I was more upset that she felt the need to spring a praise concert on me rather than invite me outright, or even talk to me about my beliefs.

But here’s a question for you: Now that you identify as Catholic in your profile, what have you done to bring CYO or CYO-like programs to your parish?

Not gonna argue your definition of worship music.

Before I converted to Catholicism (at age 50) the two things myself or anyone in my family were invited to, was a Catholic family Bible study, which was pretty good. The only other thing was some Pro-Life activities and marches which the Catholic Churches in our area sponsored. You have to understand when I was younger I heard some Catholics say that all Protestants were going to hell. They got that teaching somewhere, but thank Our Lord that tripe has generally stopped.

Now that you explained what happened, I agree it was deceitful, uncharitable, & the Protestant churches I belonged to, would have frowned on those tactics & the anti-Catholic talk. Sorry it happened to you.

Frankly I don’t need to justify my right to comment by saying I’m doing something about the perceived problem. BUT what I will say when I entered the Church I was astonished at how many of my Catholic friend’s grown children were away fm the Church (the great majority). The Church has a HUGE field to evangelize among their own baptized & I’ve expended countless hours helping catechize the next generation to diminish that field size.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

kkollwitz;12399362:

I’m always happy to be evangelized. It’s the easiest way for me to evangelize someone.

Waaay too many Catholics can’t (or are incapable to) stand up for their own faith & get EXTREMELY uncomfortable when “evangelized”. Perhaps if we respond in love we won’t have to make ourselves “feel good” by making fun of those who are devoted to their faith (however misguided). I can’t imagine Our Lord joining in on the finger-pointing.

I’m so happy to see these posts.

The Good Shepherd leaves the flock to find the “lost sheep.” To me that means if I want to be like a Good Shepherd I can take off the “I’m in church (… and why aren’t you)” hat, and just listen to him without disrupting him by telling him how wrong he is.

God said about Jesus, “listen to Him.” And whatever I do to the least of His brothers, I do to Him. So when I listen to a lost sheep tell us its story, I am listening to Jesus.

That can be hard to do, if I start with the basic presumption and attitude that “I know Jesus” and the other person does not and therefore need me to fix them. How can I possibly compare listening to Jesus to someone who seems to be in error? Sometimes I find that they aren’t as lost as they looked, and maybe I was a bit more lost than I had realized myself. They may have strengths they can teach me, outside of the way they describe them theologically.

If others tell me what they think is important and I consider myself against their standards rather than judging their standards to see if they match the ones I would suggest them taking on, I learn things about them that shows me where they are and what is important to them plus I think of myself with new questions and might learn as much about myself as the other person, that I wouldn’t have learned asking myself the same questions I always have.

Once I have listened to them and let them tell me their point of view, then if I point toward some aspect of the beauty of Christ, I will know which direction to point. If I don’t know where someone is, it’s hard to tell them which compass direction to head in order to get home.

 

[Iheartcoffee]

There was a guy on my college campus that would wear a sandwich board with something about repenting and ride around campus on a bike every so often. He didn’t really harm anyone, but I also don’t think he was terribly effective because he kind of attained almost an urban legend status because he was more of a novelty rather than an evangelist. He was relegated to essentially the same status as a mutant squirrel had on another college campus I attended. People liked to see him just to say they had seen him.

 

[Jerremy]

I’m basically just trying to troll people, but I keep arriving at more and more inexplicable spiritual experiences, balanced against traumatic lthings in life which prevent me from getting too crazy. I’m really myself the weirdest attempt at evangelization I’ve ever seen, and really feel like I’m being puppeteered or else used as a divining rod.

See my fb: facebook.com/jerry.namesertag

 

[adawgj]

A few weeks ago at the college I attend, they were handing out free bibles in VHS sleeves.
I went just for the bible because I’m a book collector. I got stuck being in a long conversation of advertising the bible version. Fortunately I made the guy laugh a bit and was able to leave.

 

[BrokenWing]

I’ve got one.

I was at a local tabletop gaming convention for Warhammer 40,000. It was lunch break so I left the tournament and went to go eat. On the way to White Castle I passed another fast food place with a bunch of people from some sort of religious gathering that was also near the convention center. Anyway, there was a group of them outside eating and they suddenly called out to me “Jesus loves you!” I was so surprised and more than a little confused that my response was “I’m aware.”

I’d never really experienced anything so seemingly random before, at least not related to religion. My theory is they were aware of the gaming convention going on and felt that we needed their help on some level. I know Catholics don’t generally care about such things, but these were Protestants of some form (of which I too am one) and some groups of Protestants can be very narrow minded on the subject of gaming.

They didn’t say anything after my reply, either because I was too far away to carry on a conversation or because they didn’t know what to make of “I’m aware.”