In our men’s ministry work, one of the ongoing challenges we see faced by many Christian, and especially Catholic men, is the art of evangelizing the faith. They struggle with how to go about it without sounding overly preachy or judgmental. At out weekly discussion tables, we hear the genuine concern from three generations of grandfathers, fathers, uncles and brothers who have gradually watched the legacy of faith and family they have tried to pass on to their young adult children and other relatives gradually slip away. There is a myriad of religious and cultural reasons for this, which is another topic for discussion all together. That said, there is a new book that can help if you are interested but struggle with trying to invite others to faith.
Christianity as a Evangelical Faith
What I enjoyed most about this book is its focus on the family and relationship building as the starting point for inviting others to discuss faith. When you get down to basics, there is no way around it, Christianity is an evangelical and a missionary faith. Catholic means Universal or World-wide. In other words, everyone is invited and we are commissioned at baptism to spread The Word.
People need to find their own approach, and this book removes some of “sting” or intimidation many people experience when they hear the word “evangelize”. The author creatively introduces the Holy Family as a foundational model for evangelization. This was a creative element that gave new context to the origins and purpose of spreading the faith. There are many stories, practical examples, models, and exercises designed to help us reflect on and develop a personal language and style for evangelizing others.
Follow these links to learn more about author and speaker Jose Pulido.
If you’re interested in joining a discussion group with the author of this book, please contact Jose through the survey link below.
