[Ray Smith]

Team,

I read that very comprehensive response and I wondered “what would have been the question that preceded this and who would it have come from?” Perhaps a Muslim, asking about your understanding of God…that they’ve heard our communion is different than other Christians…what is confession?
Or, it might have come from someone who was unchurched in any sort of way.

Well, everyone is going to give you a different answer, so here’s mine. At the table, it’s going to be different than at someone’s dining room table, where you can certainly do this the way you’ve outlined above. I might try and shorten it up for an evangelization table and an initial discussion. Just my two cents.

[Ray Smith]

Team,

I’m relatively new, but here’s my thoughts. I look at us as doing the healing work of Jesus. First, we have to diagnose, then we dispense spiritual prescriptions. Maybe handing out a rosary (the prescription) without knowing what they’re ailing from is instead something that should come after the diagnosis.

I might try a different conversation starter: “Friend, we are out here today blessing people with a quick prayer to help them grow in their faith. Can we bless you?”
They say “No, thank you, I’m spiritual but not religious.” Here’s what they mean: “I’m involved in a demonstration of faith not associated with my younger years. In other words, my parents brought me to a formal church of some denomination, but now I go to what feels like an uber-cool experience of Jesus, and I don’t want to go back. I didn’t know what I had before, but what I have now feels like more.”

I would respond with “Friend, the word ‘religion’ actually comes from a Latin word that means to bind together into a relationship. Religion actually ALLOWS that relationship to grow. If you don’t mind, where do you worship now?”

And, they will respond with some megachurch with a great coffee selection, casual clothes and a Pastor who’s uber-hip. I would think about “build on what they have, and offer them something more.”

I would say “That’s great that you go to Viacom Stadium Church of God. Wow, the crowds they on the weekend! We’re out here today, focused on Jesus, and if some Jesus is good and more Jesus is better, wouldn’t you like to get the most Jesus you could?”

They say “Well, sure.” You say “Now, although Jesus was a carpenter, when He gave us a Church, it wasn’t a BUILDING, but rather a set of BELIEFS, which are a matter of historical record. Are you aware of that?”

And, that’s when they’ll say no, and you’ll tread lightly so as not to make them feel shame, but rather keep Jesus out front, and “if they could experience the most Jesus they could get, would they be interested in that?” Behold, the crossroads: cool…or faithful to Jesus?

And, then I would give them a pamphlet that summarizes the beliefs of Jesus’ Church and ask them to meet for coffee in the next week, here’s my contact info, I’d like to answer the questions that will naturally come up. If they’re evangelicals, rosaries, medals and all that will trigger them. Keep the discussion on the most Jesus they can possibly get.

Your thoughts?

[Ray Smith]

It is critical to embrace the spiritual discipline of praying at the beginning and ending of a day, realizing that the devil never takes a break from fighting against us.

I start my day at 5:00 AM by watching Mass, the most powerful prayer in the world to me, then I say my Rosary, thinking of how Our Lady and all of heaven wants to come to our aid in this battle. Then, I bring in St. Joseph, with a novena, offering up prayers for the success of the SPSE ministry.

Praying in church for next steps, it seems that He was able to bring a lot of thoughts to my mind on what we could do for our group. I envisioned Jesus on one side and all the people He could reach on the other. Then, I realized that, although He could be here to do it, He chose us to do it.
He goes before us, He fights for us, He will still part the Red Sea, calm the storm, bring down the walls of Jericho, even today. He helped me map out a number of steps that our team can take to really get up and running well. I’m looking forward to what He has in store next for me and the SPSE ministry.

When I pray the rosary, I’m interceding for the whole world.

This course was fine, no criticisms or critiques.

[Ray Smith]

There is a book out there called “The Index of Watchtower Errors,” containing all the times their organization flip-flopped, including predictions on when the world would end.

[Ray Smith]

Team,

I practiced my testimony with a local friend who’s a Christian, although not Catholic. What I’m looking to do with my testimony is have it be related to something that someone we were able to engage in conversation shared about themselves first. I try and remember that it’s not about us, but it’s all about what Jesus can do in their lives. We’re third in this trio.

They said I was clear and to the point. I’m trying to keep in mind that the more I blather on about the details of my life, the more likely they are to disconnect from the conversation, but I want to be able to lead in with something like “what you described is similar to what happened with me…” and then go into something that the high points can be covered in what feels like it’s a lot longer, but it’s probably 30 seconds. I’m only trying to get them to feel that I was where they are, yet I made a decision to now make Jesus Lord of my life, and here’s what happened afterward. All we can say is what Jesus’ Mom said “do whatever He tells you.”

This exercise just takes time and repetition to get it where it feels comfortable, something that you could cover at a summer BBQ.

With the lesson, no criticisms or critiques. Thank you for doing what you do and for giving us an opportunity to be a part of this great and necessary ministry.

[Ray Smith]

Team,

I practiced the kerygma message (but I did not use the word “kerygma”) with a Christian friend of another denomination. I told him I was involved in street evangelization, which triggered the thoughts of bullhorns, bullying and judgment. I told him it wasn’t like that at all, but that we listen, befriend, proclaim and invite others to pray with us.

Then I shared my summary that we’re really sharing God’s plan for our lives, but how we mess it up every time we choose ourselves over God and sin, how Jesus came to forgive us for all our transgressions and giving people an opportunity to at least give Jesus a try. “Making a decision” sounds like walking an aisle, but it seems that when we’re encountering people, we have to communicate the message as simply as possible, in as relatable a way as possible. In a world where people can’t wait for an ad before a video to show “skip ad,” we have to be uber-short and uber to-the-point.

He said good luck with it, not because the message wasn’t right, but because the world was so wrong. I said we weren’t going to be confrontational, and when we experienced the symptoms of a person who needed Jesus, they might not be ready to consider Him yet, so you’ll get the blowback and inappropriate comments. Let the suffering go through you and set it at the foot of the cross, forgiving in the moment, wishing them well and being the love of Jesus throughout.

[Ray Smith]

Team,

I have a non-Catholic yet still Christian friend, who does not yet understand the Catholic Church. He hears misunderstandings from his non-Catholic colleagues, I am sure, and we’ve had a number of discussions about what Catholicism really is. In our last discussion, it centered around the Eucharist, and I even showed him pictures of Eucharistic Miracles, always with the same blood type, always human heart tissue and always an individual under extreme stress. He says he doesn’t believe the pictures.

Now, I’m giving him quotes from the early Church Fathers, who unequivocally support the Church’s position, and in my discussions, I’m trying to be more charitable, more Christ-like, shall we say, so that eventually with prayer and loving conversation, it will soften his heart. Keep him in your prayers.

[Author]

Replies