More ways to evangelize and build up the church:
- Get a basic book on apologetics in order to explain and defend the Catholic faith; and then share it with others.
- Purchase ad space to place ads on buses, cars, billboards etc.
- Build a parade float displaying your churches information and evangelization message. Place the float in as many parades as you can. Hand out evangelization leaflets, stickers and cards at the parade as well.
- Start an evangelization youth group.
- These days, Christmas concerts in public schools have become “Holiday concerts.” Plan a Christmas concert at your church and email invitations to everybody. You could also rent a community hall and have the Christmas concert there.
- Talk openly about Christ to your children.
- Set up a prayer and evangelization phone line.
- Start a support group for divorced fathers with the main goal of teaching these fathers how important they are to their children. Separation and divorce is one of societies most critical issues. The Victims (the children) of separation and divorce refrain from calling upon God as a source of consolation and strength in their lives. Since they could not depend on the adult authority figures in their lives, they presumed that an all loving God, the ultimate authority figure, wouldn't be there for them? We have to teach them otherwise!
- Write articles on the Faith and submit them to magazines, newspapers, internet sites etc.
- If you hear or read any false information about our faith, write, call, blog or show up and calmly and respectfully correct them.
- These days mainstream advertising uses sexual connotations to sell products and ideas. I've even heard government agencies using sexual connotations to sell ideas! When you hear or see this, write or call them to express your disapproval. Give them a Christian alternative to taking the low road.
- If legislation is running counter to Christian beliefs, contact your: city counsellor, legislative assembly member, member of parliament, or member of congress, and voice your strong opposition. Get other Christians to do it as well and tell your government representatives that you will all be voting in the next election.
- If you hear foul language or see sexually inappropriate behaviour in the media, contact the station manager and express your disapproval. Respectfully correct through the teachings of our faith.
- Ask the local bishop for evangelization ideas.
- Unceasingly pray to the Father, Son & Holy Spirit for guidance, and to Blessed Mary, and the Angels and Saints for intercession.
- Have daily Petitions to the Lord to increase the faithful.
- Hold evangelization prayer groups, vigils, novenas and litanies.
- Have parishioners pray the rosary everyday and to fast on specified days. Patronize Catholic gift shops and book stores. Selling Catholic products is helping to spread our faith.
- Wear Christian jewellery. Put up a cross or pictures of our Lord Jesus and or Blessed Mary on walls in your home and place of work.
- Talk about your faith to everyone you meet. Click here and place a link to this website.
- Make use of Catholic and secular social media and networking sites.
- Conduct yourself appropriately in all situations. We are to live our faith. This is the best form of evangelization.
- Let us greet new parishioners with warmth and kindness. It is good that some have been members of a particular parish for many years and/or that some are involved in council or choir etc. Keep in mind however, there is no seniority, we must all humble ourselves in the house of God at all times. "More and more, humble your pride; what awaits man is worms." Sirach 7:17
- Create an online or regular newsletter about your church.
- Regular or “snail mail” newsletters could be added to existing flyers that are sent out.
- Include a gospel message in your email signature. That way, every time you send an email, you will be evangelizing.
- For weekly church bulletins; include specific information on how to evangelize and instructions on how to carry them out as well as information for new or potential parishioners.
- Start a prayer group at your university.
- Post information on bulletin boards and university websites.
- Start an online chat room or blog. Select and chat/write about gospel passages each day or week.
- Go door to door in POORER neighbourhoods. Salvation is not supposed to be the best kept secret for the most affluent in our society.
- Set up a prison ministry.
- Set up a hospital ministry.
- It's sad to think that most people who live in earshot to the church, don't even go to church. Talk to them and invite them.
- At Christmas and Easter, place cards in pews which asks individuals who come only once or twice a year, to fill in their name, phone number and email, and place in the collection.
- Also at Christmas and Easter, leave information packets (about the parish) in pews for individuals or families who rarely come to church. At the end of Mass, have the person who makes the announcements, to ask all visitors, non-Catholics, and those who rarely attend, to hold up the packet and to get them to put it in their pockets to take with them.
- Remember: We are all called to discipleship. Evangelization takes time, effort and sometimes pain. It is often necessary to point out that we may share in Christ's suffering and, paradoxically, find comfort and redemption.
- Faith bus campaign slogan: “Be not afraid”
Prayer for Evangelization:
Lord Jesus, You have sent us to proclaim the Gospel to all nations, and have promised to always remain with us.
Pour out the abundance of your Spirit upon each one of our brothers and sisters, especially on those who are called to ponder upon the journey made, so that we may offer a more authentic service to mission.
Grant that we may ever be faithful to the Gospel and to give an answer to the hopes which the world places before your church today.
Stay with us, Lord, when we celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass, and when we walk the paths of the world side by side with our brothers and sisters.
Grant that we all find ourselves in heaven, our homeland, after having been members of the same family on earth. Amen.
Saint Francis Xavier