The word evangelize means to preach the gospel; to convert to Christianity. Evangelization is a key part of the Catholic Church and of charismatic renewal. In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope Paul VI reminds us that “evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity.
She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ’s sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of his death and glorious resurrection.” Evangelization can come in many forms. We evangelize with our actions and our service to others. We evangelize with our words of witness, preaching, teaching and our prayers. We evangelize with our invitations to Mass, prayer meetings and conferences.
Over the years WWCCR has tried to offer encouragement to individuals through its conferences and teaching days as well as offering opportunities to evangelize. At conferences we have had speakers like Fr. Mike Manning, Marilyn Kramar and Charlie Osborn to name a few, as general session speakers. Each one has a prominent evangelization ministry and it is teaching like theirs and others that has been a great source of encouragement.
One year when our annual conference was in Tacoma, WA, we were sharing the Tacoma Dome facilities with a rock concert by the band Boston. During a point in the conference someone from the stage announced that the concert was letting out. Dozens of people left their seats to go out and witness to the concertgoers the love of Jesus that they had experienced at the conference.
The office has sponsored teaching days on evangelization. We have used the program Bringing Christ to My Everyday World by John Boucher. The resources of the Born of the Spirit Seminar and Alive in the Spirit Seminar by Ron Ryan help prayer groups and parishes evangelize through the power of the Holy Spirit
In the past WWCCR has been invited to work with other Christian organizations to minister to the Catholics who attend their events. Billy Graham came to Seattle in 1991 and we organized the Catholic resources that were used as follow up. For several years, we worked with the March for Jesus organization that proclaims love for Jesus by walking the streets of cities around the world with music and banners as a visual witness for Christ. More recently we have been offering resources to local parishes for the Alpha Program. Alpha was designed to help unchurched people come to a friendly place that offers a basic gospel message.
Pope John Paul II said “For the disciple of Christ, the duty to evangelize is an obligation of love. ‘The love of Christ impels us.’ 2 Cor. 5:14” Our youth ministry team evangelizes every time that they do a retreat. Young people come to have a good time and get away for a while. Through their witness, fellowship and teaching, the youth team gives them a chance to hear the gospel in a format that’s fun and prayerful.
Many of you are evangelists when you share the story of a healing after attending a conference or Healing Mass. You are evangelists every time you invite or offer to give a ride to someone who wants to attend a local prayer group. In your prayers for your family and your prayers for WWCCR you are sharing the gospel. It was St. Francis Assisi who said, “Proclaim the gospel and use words if you have to.”
Many local prayer groups take the task of evangelization to heart when they invite special speakers or sponsor a Holy Spirit seminar. Through their ministry of hospitality and fellowship, many can come to a deeper relationship with Jesus and the Church.
Every generation needs to hear the saving message of Jesus Christ. The church encourages us to be bold in our witness. There are people hungry to have purpose and meaning in their lives. Together, we are called through our Baptism and Confirmation to share the Good News. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us. We have a community of faith to support us and the communion of saints to pray for us. Let us go with holy boldness to share the Good News.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always until the end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20
Written by Sharon Fox