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I practiced the kerygma, and it was surprisingly more natural than I thought it would be. He told me it made sense, and that it was clear. It made both of us realize that with the kerygma, there are so many little things that will be barriers to people understanding or taking the leap of faith. The hard part is using language that each person can understand of all ages and walks of life. For example, saying, “God loves you” obviously doesn’t resonate with everyone especially if they don’t believe in God in the first place. I am starting to realize how I need to prepare for different perspectives. These perspectives would include people who believe in God but who don’t believe Jesus was the Son of God or people who don’t believe in God at all.

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Dennis, I also have gone to an abortion clinic. That is so beautiful that you prayed over that woman, and you are fulfilling God’s purpose for you there. At my clinic, there is such a need for strong, compassionate men out there praying and counseling. We have many who can scare off women, and it breaks my heart that they actually may be turning people away. As sad as it is, it’s helped me to see how NOT to evangelize. The staff and volunteers who work there don’t make eye contact with us. It’s such a dark and scary place to be, and just really shows us the evil in this world.

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I think that is so important to remember the kerygma is based on where the individual is. It’s important to know if people believe that Scripture is God-breathed and/or if they think Jesus was just a prophet. I have to adjust my words when I find those things out. I find it much easier to explain the kerygma to atheists rather than Protestants, since many of them know Scripture so well and I find it much more intimidating.

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I love seeing how people can totally fall in love with Scripture. Being a campus minister, I once took someone to church (who hadn’t been to mass in years) who literally brought her Bible with her to mass. She wanted to immerse herself and make sure she took in every reading and the words of Christ. It touched me and encouraged me how reverently we should treat Scripture.

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I have been intentionally praying for my 2 cousins who I grew up with. I always used to invite them to church, and they would never say yes despite being raised in the church. More recently, I’ve been asking them questions about if their faith view has changed. They seem to have the same views they did in high school unfortunately (both atheists). I pray for them every day, and whenever they come to town, I make sure I am extremely intentional in hanging out with them. Not just because I want them to know Jesus, but because I love them AND want them to know Jesus.

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Becca, The Lord speaks through Scripture through me as well. I HAVE to start my day with it. I think it’s more important now than ever to read our Bibles before checking our phones in the morning. I have been working to be detached from my phone (using a digital alarm clock instead, turning off my phone at night). I do it so that the easiest/most accessible thing for me to do in the morning is to grab my Bible or grab Scripture readings in a devotional. It’s changed my life!

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I began doing an Examination of Conscience at night since Matthew Kelly states it is such a crucial part for even the most devout of people. I found that it really allowed me to check how I was doing-how I was glorifying God and how I wasn’t. I was thinking of ways I could improve in certain situations and which situations I handled well. I used to have a negative connotation on the Examen, but I realize that gratitude is a big part of the practice. An examen reminds you where God was at work in your life that day.

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Sujey, I feel the same way and have such a heart for young people, being in college ministry myself. It seems as though there are people on fire and searching desperately for God, or very content without Him in their life. How do you find yourself growing closer to our Blessed Mother? We need her the fight for souls! Do you have any devotion ideas for me to start with? I try to pray my rosary daily, and want something else to supplement it. Thank you!

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I spent last week in adoration asking for the Holy Spirit, especially in the area of the virtue of patience. I have been experiencing waiting periods recently quite a bit in my own life as well as my significant other’s life. I heard the Lord saying “Wait, and you have permission to be joyful in the waiting too.” I had a deeper understanding for what it means to rest in Christ. My prayers have been answered abundantly, and I have been given a new life and our relationship has rejuvenated. I acted on that inspiration by volunteering with my SO, in thanksgiving for the liveliness of this virtue again (sharing companionship).

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I love what you said on how they were with God before mass rather than talking amongst themselves. I have a similar experience at my church where once you walk in, you’re meant to be reverent and the time is now for God. It’s ironic that some people turn away from the church because they don’t feel welcomed or “at home” enough; interacting with Jesus is where our hearts feel MOST welcomed and “at home”!

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The differences I noticed right away was how you could grab a cup of coffee before the service and also bring it in to the service. It was so usual to me especially because we are meant to fast before hand. It also felt unusual to me because it didn’t feel “set apart” from my life, as I am used to mass being. It felt like it was overlapping with the comfortable pleasures of life. The similarities I saw were the use of Scripture, and music that honors God. I also noticed that they take a approach of asking anyone at the end of the service if they are ready to accept Jesus into their lives, similar to how we might end an evangelization encounter. The difference is that they don’t believe salvation is an ongoing process. I have asked a Protestant before if they believe that once you “accept Jesus” verbally that no matter what you do after that point, you are guaranteed heaven. They have responded with something like, it’s a change of heart more than a verbal statement, and God truly knows their heart and if they will get to heaven. I also challenge them and ask if they live a sinful life after that one moment in church, do they believe they still will be saved. And again, they say when you do have a change of heart, your response should be obedience to Christ. And I then use that opportunity to say that we have more similarities than you think if you believe that, because we believe salvation comes from faith AND works, and that your tradition doesn’t use the word “works.” I have also said that I don’t believe that “works” is defined as helping the poor, reading the Bible (although those are are a reflection of obedience), but “works” is as simple as breathing. It’s honoring God with each breath you take, and “works” looks different for everyone. We are called to stay connected to the sacraments, but the “works” in the letter of James is referring to something deeper.

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When evangelizing with my team, I one time asked a man who was working on a moving truck and moving furniture, I said ” Would you like a rosary?.” He agreed to take one, and then he said he grew up catholic and that his mom prays the rosary frequently. He admitted how much he needed prayer and how he needed to go back to church, especially with so many deaths this past year. It was a nice reminder that no matter how busy someone may look, we have to trust the Holy Spirit to guide the encounter. We should be prudent and not scrupulous, however, but sometimes we are meant to interrupt what people are doing. Jesus is the King of Interruption 🙂

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I also have this experience of needing to change my testimony based on the audience. I have had to give my testimony to 1st graders, 5th graders, college students, and adults in both group and individual settings. I find it so cool how the Lord helps us find a way to be relatable to all those ages. Which age group do you feel most comfortable sharing your testimony with? Do you like group or individual settings more?

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Sharing my testimony can be difficult for me because although I am usually concise with my stories, I never feel like I finish my testimony without feeling like I missed some key parts I wanted people to hear. I had the opportunity to share my testimony with a FOCUS missionary, and she commented how I kept her attention and really gave a clear distinct time that I had my “God moment.” I think it’s important to remind myself that even if I don’t hit on the points I always want to, simply for the sake of being “to the point,” one of the most important parts of a testimony is being intentionally available for follow up questions if people have them. It’s also not about what I want people to know about me, but how God wants to use my story to reach others.

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