If your friend circles include folks who are Protestant, chances are that you have had the privilege of listening to them share their testimony—a personal accounting of how they committed their lives to Christ by accepting Jesus into their hearts. Perhaps you’ve even been invited to tell your story. I know I have! And truly, this is a fantastic practice, albeit often less practiced for Catholics.
Always be ready to give a reason for your hope.
-1 Peter 3:15
Articulating the most meaningful and inexplicable relationship in our lives is bound to require a few renderings before we might have anything coherent to share with another, lest we find ourselves tongue-tie, sobbing, or both.
The point is, naming how we have come to know and love Jesus as God in the way that we do is one of the most compelling ways of sharing the Good News with the world. Being able to share this message of hope is undoubtedly important in our own faith lives, and it is the first step toward evangelization.
Model Evangelists
Scripture is chalk-full of individuals whose lives were changed by Christ, and their first impulse is to share the good news: Mary Magdalene, Saul/Paul, the leper who was healed, or the deaf and mute man in Mark’s Gospel, the Gerasene demoniac, the Apostles; not to mention the Gospel writers.
We can also look to the Saints, and Pope Saint John Paul II who coined the phrase, “the new evangelization,” as folks who have taken to heart what it meant to proclaim the Good News.
Yet, how often do we hear these accountings of evangelists and feel our own palms sweat at the thought of our own call to the same? Gratefully, we are not called to be JPII or Mary Magdalene—those roles have already been fulfilled. The invitation offered us is to confidently use our own circumstances to be heralders of the Good News.
Such a Time as This
More than likely, we will not be struck off a horse and called by name to serve the Lord, though God’s very intricate knowledge of who you are, and who I am, means that we have very particular work to do in this time and place. In the words of Queen Esther:
“Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.”-Esther 4:14
Looking at it this way bolsters my confidence by acknowledging that I am the only one given this particular work to do, so I had better do it as best as I’m able.
WRITE + PRAY
We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story.
Discover your story within His.
Everyday Evangelization // 5 Small Ways to Begin
If you are reading this with a desire to incorporate more opportunities for sharing the Good News in your sphere, here are a couple of subtle ideas worth trying as you learn to flex your evangelical muscles.
1. Pray when you go out to eat/before lunch at work.
This simple gesture is a perfect way to not only remind ourselves, but to give witness to our posture of gratitude for the gifts we have been given.
2. Bless strangers when they sneeze.
For some this is instinctual, for others it is a step outside our comfort zones. Generously shouting blessing for good health takes no premeditated effort and has a lingering effect—particularly to those upon whom blessings are not often verbally spoken.
3. Suggest faith resources for purchase by the public library.
In general, public libraries are a wealth of resources on all subjects but faith. This is a terrific way to both support Catholic authors and to provide resources for evangelization for those who might not otherwise have access.
4. Offer to pray for/with a friend who is struggling (or celebrating).
This can be a bit of a new leaf for those unpracticed in doing so. If so, perhaps begin by writing a prayer in a note and mailing it, or speaking words of prayer to a friend over coffee.
5. Wear a crucifix.
I heard a story once about a devout man whose life was a model of service and love to those around him. He had earned the deep esteem and respect of a co-worker as a role model worth imitating. However, the devout man never spoke about God or acknowledged to co-workers that his life choices had been informed by his faith.
Imagine the surprise of his co-workers who, upon his death, learned that he was a faith-filled man. He had lived his life in a way that was admirable, but not in a way that led those around him to the Lord. Meanwhile, those who stood to benefit from his influence missed an opportunity to open themselves to the same nourishment by which the devout man had been nourished for years.
Whatever methods we choose for evangelization, would that the devout man serve as a reminder that being kind may not be enough to introduce those in our lives to the love of God.
Just Begin
Clearly this list is just the beginning. The sky's the limit when it comes to the ways we can share our love for Christ, and to begin to do it in ways that don’t cause anxiety.
Be creative, be brave.
“Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.”
What creative ways have you found incorporate evangelization into your current circumstances?
Everyday Evangelization: Subtle Ways to Preach the Gospel #BISblog //Click to tweet
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Katie Cassady is a regular contributor to the BIS blog. She is a wife and mom to three little girls in Denver, CO. Steeped in theological reflection, beekeeping and motherhood, she is appreciative of any and all wisdom she can glean from those living intentional lives of faith. Find out more about her here. Read all of Katie's posts here.
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