Content matters – Part II

In a previous post I wrote how “content matters” in your ministry.  This week I would like to expand our thinking to how evangelism matters.  Evangelisation is something that all Christians are called to do, yet how often do we associate evangelism with the “Evangelical Churches”?

Evangelisation is a role for every Christian, not a select group.  Sometimes we have an image in our head that evangelisation is for a select group in our ministry, a bit like a Special Forces Unit.  Just like the Special Forces we allocate evangelisation to this group within our ministry and hope they do a good job, but we don’t want to get involved in the dirty work ourselves.

So how can you help everyone in your ministry to see that “evangelisation matters”?  Here are three tips for developing evangelisation in your ministry

1. Evangelisation is about Jesus – “There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed.” (yes it’s Catholic, its from Evangelii Nuntiandi 22)

Evangelisation is not a form of recruiting or marketing.  When we want to grow the size of our ministry we have to ask people to join us, this is recruiting.  Evangelisation is about sharing Jesus with others so that they can enter into a deeper relationship with God.  We need to equip the people in our ministry to recruit new members but also teach them that evangelisation matters even if people never join the ministry.

2. Evangelisation is a witness – “The fruits of evangelization are changed lives and a changed world—holiness and justice, spirituality and peace. The validity of our having accepted the Gospel does not only come from what we feel or what we know; it comes also from the way we serve others.” (Go and Make Disciples, n18) Young people are very good a spotting the difference between what you say and what you do.  When we evangelise we share God’s love with people and others need to see that our love is genuine.  Many people these days are looking for a belief system that works, something that real people are actually living.  We are to share the Good News of Jesus by the way we live our lives more than by the words we speak.

3. Evangelisation is not optional – “An evangelization that stays inside ourselves is not an evangelisation into the Good News of Jesus Christ.” (Go and Make Disciples, n18) Evangelisation is core to who we are as Christians, if we don’t evangelise we are not being disciples.  Evangelisation is not a phase or a program; you can never predict when someone will ask you about God or why you go to church.  When people ask you about your involvement the church, rather than trying to recruit them, how about sharing a thought about Jesus with them.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15

As a practical step after reading this blog, could you prepare your testimony to help you when you evangelise?  It is helpful to know why you believe in God and why you are involved in church so that when people ask you can tell them.  Reflect on these simple questions:

1. How did you come to know God in a deeper way?
2. What was you life like before you got involved in ministry?
3. How is your life better because you know God?
4. Share something that will encourage the person you are talking to.

Next week we will look at why Catechesis matters.