by Fr Simon Poh

Introduction: Mission is for ALL Catholics

Often when the word mission or evangelization is mentioned, Catholics tend to only associate it with missionaries, priests, religious and full-time catechists.  However, mission is the very reason for the existence of the Church.  The Church - made up of Bishops, Priests, religious and laity - exists to evangelize.  And more important, the laity has a unique vocation in bringing the Gospel to the secular world, in their families, neighbourhood and schools, offices and even the market place1  

In this last article of the series Our Mission Today, I would like to conclude with an article by Dr Susan Blum, outlining Six Steps to Effective Evangelization2  and Mission that each Catholic can easily carried out! 

First Step: Becoming Disciples

Before we can be effective messengers of the Good News, let us first become disciples.  We need to be people of prayer, faith rooted in the Word of God and belong to a worshipping community and are active in serving others.  (See the insert for some qualities of a disciple).

Second Step: Befriending People

In my earlier articles on Inter-Religious Dialogue3  and Ecumenism4  respectively, I have emphasized that all Catholics are called to practise Dialogue of Life and Action. Dialogue of Life is living as good neighbours to one another.  Dialogue of Action calls all Catholics to put aside all prejudices and work together with other races, religions to make the neighbourhood, town, city and world a better place.  It is in these areas that we witness out Faith by Christian living - being polite, hospitable, helpful, considerate and approachable.  This way we live in harmony and earn the good will of people.  Being a good neighbour is an important step in mission and evangelization!

Third Step: Sharing Our Faith Story

Most Catholics are pretty good at what Pope Paul VI calls "the silent witness of our lives".  We go to Mass regularly on Sundays, send our children to Sunday Schools.  We put up a crucifix on our houseís main door.  We have an altar in our sitting room and Holy Pictures on the wall.  We gather regularly for house-to-house Rosary prayer.  We even wear our crucifix to the offices and around town.  In our cars, we hang Rosary and have Christian stickers on our cars like Pray the Rosary daily, Jesus is Lord, etc.

However, we Catholics are not as comfortable with "verbal witnessing." We are not used to "giving testimonies" of our experience of God, telling others about our personal and prayer experiences of Jesus (as at the Charismatic Prayer Meetings).   I believe that it is important for every Catholics to spend some time to reflect on his or her religious experiences. I am sure some of these wonderful experiences can be shared with others, to encourage them to grow in faith.  For a start, I find it helpful to write down my sharing as this helps to clarify my flow of thoughts and keep my testimony focus on what God has done for us.  When the opportunity arises, these can be shared with our colleagues, friends, etc.  

Fourth Step: Sharing the Christ Story - Proclaiming the Gospel

Having shared with someone what God has done for us (eg, how Jesus has helped my family through a time of trial), the next step is to share with them who this wonderful Jesus is.  We need to know our belief and especially the life story and events of Jesus.  I find that the gospel stories of Jesus like the Christmas Event, Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, Christ the Way, Truth and Life who left us first so as to prepare a place in the Fatherís Mansion, Last Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Emmaus Walk, etc are very good starting point for sharing the Life Story of Christ.  Tell our friends who this Jesus is so they too can come to know him and to find faith in Jesus (Rom 10:14).

Fifth Step: Inviting Others to Conversion

A person who has heard our Faith Story and the Christ Story may then be invited to our Sunday Mass, a Prayer Meeting, Cell Group or Rosary Group, Healing Seminar or Retreat, Gospel Rally, Pilgrimage to Mt. Singai, a CHOICE Weekend, etc.  Such spiritual and prayer experiences will eventually lead a person to make a commitment and conversion to Jesus as Healer, Lord and Saviour.  

The invitation to conversion might mean asking a simple question, extended through a polite invitation for prayer.  Susan Blum gives a practical approach "Would you like us to pray with you, or for you and your family?"   And if they answer yes, then tell them exactly what you are going to do, eg. "What Iím going to do is say a short prayer, just to quiet us down a bit.  Do you mind if we hold hands in a circle? And then Iím going to lead a prayer for your family.  Is there anybody special youíd like to pray for? Ö And if you are comfortable with this, maybe at the end, if youíd like, to offer a prayer, fine.  And we can close by saying the Our Father together."   This way, they will know what to expect, worrying about whatís coming next.  They can thus relax and really enjoy prayer as a communication with God, inviting God more fully into their lives and into their families. Try it out! And see the power of prayer in leading people to Christ!

Sixth Step: Integrating Converts into Community

At this last step, a person joins catechesis on the Christian Faith (eg, RCIA) and later integration into the Catholic community through Baptism, First Communion (during Easter Vigil). Such new converts should then be invited to participate in Lay Organization and Ministries, Bible Sharing or Prayer Groups.  We pray that these converts will continue the work of mission and evangelization, (1) by becoming disciples, (2) who will go out to befriend people, (3) witness to the new found faith, proclaim Christís story, (4) inviting others into conversion and (5) integrating newcomers into community, (6) making new disciples who then will go out to continue the mission.

Conclusion

We are reminded of this mission at the end of every Mass, where the priest sends us forth with the following words: "The Mass is ended. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord."  This is a call to continue Jesusí mission in our family, neighbourhood, society and the world.  So then, let everyone "Go, make disciples, baptise and teach them"  (Mt 28:19-20)

Qualities of a true disciple

By putting God at the centre of their lives, Christians are able to continually strive for these goals:
_ Obedience - keeping the commandments in thought, word and deed
_ Inner Peace - realised through prayer and meditation
_ Love for all people, including the unloved, the oppressed and friendless
_ Faith in Godís infinite power and love
_ Giving of your resources to God
_ Joy - rejoicing in the gift of life
_ Humility - realising our sinfulness and our need for God 
_ Endurance - having courage, strength, patience in troubled times
_ Forgiveness - ridding yourself of resentment and all claim to revenge for an offence

"If any person would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23)

Extracted from Your Christian Mission, A Scriptographic booklet by Channing L.Bete, USA 1976.  

1 See October Issue of Todayís Catholic 10. Lay Christian & Mission -A secular vocation in the world, p.10
2 Susan Blum, Six Steps to Effective Evangelization, in Ralph Martin & Peter Williamson, eds., John Paul II and the New Evangelization, Ignatius Press, San Francisco 1995, Chapter 9, pp. 125-138.  
3 See July Issue of Todayís Catholic 7. Interreligious Dialogue & Mission on page 10.
4 See June Issue of Todayís Catholic 6. Mission & Inculturation on page 10.