Year of Evangelization: How the JWs do it

[graceandglory]

Is there something wrong about door-to-door evangelisation? Why don’t Catholics invite their neighbors to church, or share the gospel with strangers?

 

[Rock7]

I have wondered why this was. My dad and I encountered a JW at our gate once. They werent trying to evangelize at the time but I suspect now that had we been more open to them they would have tried to proselytize us.

 

[dmar198]

Is there something wrong about door-to-door evangelisation? Why don’t Catholics invite their neighbors to church, or share the gospel with strangers?

There are a few Catholic door-to-door movements and Catholic street evangelization efforts. An example of the latter is St. Paul Street Evangelization, which is endorsed by several bishops. (See streetevangelization.com.) In regard to door-to-door ministries, my own parish once tried to get that going. The idea was to go to the doors of all the registered Catholic households who had stopped contributing to the Mass and offer them a friendly invitation to return, or leave a written invitation if no one answered. Hardly anybody volunteered to be part of the effort, but it’s not unknown for parishes to do things like that.

 

[captainrick]

I think that 100 door-to-door contacts would result in 5 people listening to you politely, and 95 people forever associating your religion with annoying unwanted visits, and pushiness. I think many people dislike JW’s for just that reason.

BUT, inviting a friend to church is a nice idea…

 

[tjones80]

Is there something wrong about door-to-door evangelisation? Why don’t Catholics invite their neighbors to church, or share the gospel with strangers?

Yes, people don’t like strangers knocking on their door with a bible and/or tracts to tell them if you don’t believe what I believe you’re gonna burn in hell.

There are numerous instances experienced by people that go door to door of being screamed & cussed at and/or attacked by people that don’t care to be disturbed about their religion.

There was incident recorded then put on youtube where the Christian doing the knocking actually attacked and beat up a person during an argument about the resurrection.

 

[Cartesian]

In my humble opinion, there is a lack of more Charisma in WE Catholics, including me. Forgive me who might feel offended.

The St. Paul Street Evangelization case

Firstly, the St. Paul Street Evangelization proved that evangelization can be done on a friendly and non-confrontational way. They just had the courage and the inspiration to try it. Imagine if there was no St. Paul Street Evangelization today, we would say that going to the street is dangerous or intrusive.

For what I could see from the SPSE, people get mostly surprised in a positive way, in finding Catholics preaching the Gospel in the streets. Imagine how many people could be waiting for the True Good News in their homes. The few that we could reach would be enough.

The Cross

Now we can’t ignore outliers, when the worse case scenario will be like the previous user said, people screaming at us. Now, isn’t this our cross? I often find a bit incomplete when people think the Cross is just our private struggles. I think part of the Cross is that we need to suffer because of Christ. Fortunately, the Bible has clear instructions on rejection of the gospel, and Jesus said to simply leave if the peace we take is not welcomed. The mission was accomplished regardless of the results.

Charisma

Now this is a controversial or offending statement to make, so I apologize to who will be offended. However, my simply and humble opinion is that we are not enjoying fully the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. I think if we asked more and acted more based on Charismatic gifts, we would go happy and confident to take the Good News to every household we could.
No judging here, these are things I have realised in myself as well. And as soon as I am free of some duties I want to go to the streets and door-to-door when possible.

 

[dmar198]

In my humble opinion, there is a lack of more Charisma in WE Catholics, including me. Forgive me who might feel offended.

The St. Paul Street Evangelization case

Firstly, the St. Paul Street Evangelization proved that evangelization can be done on a friendly and non-confrontational way. They just had the courage and the inspiration to try it. Imagine if there was no St. Paul Street Evangelization today, we would say that going to the street is dangerous or intrusive.

For what I could see from the SPSE, people get mostly surprised in a positive way, in finding Catholics preaching the Gospel in the streets. Imagine how many people could be waiting for the True Good News in their homes. The few that we could reach would be enough.

The Cross

Now we can’t ignore outliers, when the worse case scenario will be like the previous user said, people screaming at us. Now, isn’t this our cross? I often find a bit incomplete when people think the Cross is just our private struggles. I think part of the Cross is that we need to suffer because of Christ. Fortunately, the Bible has clear instructions on rejection of the gospel, and Jesus said to simply leave if the peace we take is not welcomed. The mission was accomplished regardless of the results.

Charisma

Now this is a controversial or offending statement to make, so I apologize to who will be offended. However, my simply and humble opinion is that we are not enjoying fully the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. I think if we asked more and acted more based on Charismatic gifts, we would go happy and confident to take the Good News to every household we could.
No judging here, these are things I have realised in myself as well. And as soon as I am free of some duties I want to go to the streets and door-to-door when possible.

I feel similarly to how you feel about this. Doing door-to-door ministry doesn’t have to be pushy or leave a negative impression. Door-to-door salesmen sell sweepers at successful rates by going door-to-door and being friendly; I feel like, if we’re willing to sell sweepers and cosmetics door-to-door, why can’t we put that skill to use toward evangelism? Are material products more important than spiritual salvation, that we’re willing to undergo some slammed doors for the one but not the other? We ought to find out how Mary Kay does it so successfully, and apply those principles to talk about the faith charitably and invitingly in a door-to-door context. At last that’s how I feel.

 

[graceandglory]

Charisma
. However, my simply and humble opinion is that we are not enjoying fully the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. I think if we asked more and acted more based on Charismatic gifts, we would go happy and confident to take the Good News to every household we could.
No judging here, these are things I have realised in myself as well. And as soon as I am free of some duties I want to go to the streets and door-to-door when possible.

Seriously, me too. My main charism/ (spiritual gift) is evangelization, and I get most excited when I get to share my faith.

 

[graceandglory]

There are a few Catholic door-to-door movements and Catholic street evangelization efforts. An example of the latter is St. Paul Street Evangelization, which is endorsed by several bishops

I am already hooked up with these folks.
I think they started in my city, and it is so cool that they are out there pounding the pavement, the very same pavement that I used to walk and evangelize strangers when I was an evangelical protestant.

I actually think it was my charism of evangelism that made me so drawn to the evangelicals in high school, and my leaving the Catholic Church as a young, fiery, nothing’s gonna stop me now adult. I didn’t know that I could have found a home for me within the Catholic Church. I had never heard the word evangelize as a Catholic.

 

[Iheartcoffee]

I think we need to spend a lot of time inviting people to forums like this one. If I were not Catholic, and especially if I were skeptical of the Catholic Church I would be more likely to ask questions and discuss or debate behind a computer screen. The idea that I can talk to a lot of Catholics, rather than one that is “prepared to talk to me” would be interesting. It can be done 24/7 even if I am bored and sitting around the house. I don’t have to fear that I asked a dumb question because no one would actually know me too personally. Some will respond well to face to face evangelization, but we shouldn’t forget the shy ones that are going to be turned off by face to face conversations and instead might be more likely to accept a card or an invite to discuss and debate online.

 

[ccmcmg]

I recently used Vista Print’s ‘offer’ of cheap business cards (but I somehow upgraded…as they know you will) and had some information printed on them:
“Is God calling you to be Catholic?”
Since 33 AD.
One Holy Catholic Apostolic
Psalm 86* (although I can’t recall why I chose that psalm!!)*

I then have this website (catholic.com), my blog address and my email address.

On the back, I have the corporal and spiritual works of mercy listed. I thought of having the information about the Rosary, or the Creed, or something else, but I listed the works of mercy instead. Perhaps I should have done something different, because I always forget the faith vs works argument of Protestants against Catholics.

I plan to hand them to people who might be interested, or that I’m called to give them to; I might also leave them in books that I’ve read as well. I just got them! I could also leave them in people’s doors. We’ll see where the Spirit leads me.