www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Evangelism - Most effective methods?

Some time ago there was a very good thread on Envangelizing and what it takes to be most effective. I believe someone had the "manual" by the Antiachon Orthodox on mission building and a very good write up by a Ruthenian, maybe Dragini. Please help out with how each church goer can do their part and what the local church and eparchy should do. Please write links if anyone has the write-ups or links. God willing, may we missionize like never before!!

Personnally, I beleive that the best way to evengalize is through example. I believe many Christians (some RCs as well) are looking for Spiritual roots especially during this time of trial for the Holy Church. As Byzantines, we can show the glory of ancient praxis by living the Faith and practicing what we preach. Through that, we can illuminate the true beauty of the Universal Catholic Church for those who may have forgotten its luster.

Dmitri

Nwappleseed,

Check out the Evangelization Guide at the following link:

http://www.east2west.org/discus/messages/43/44.html?1009653901

I hope that you find it helpful.

Anthony

Christ is Born!!! Thank you. This is what I remembered and was looking for. Time to expand!!!

Dimitri -

With all due respect, and an acknowledgement that we are to be "living icons" before the world, the Scriptures record Jesus as telling us to go and TELL the world.

Coming into the Church has done me a WORLD OF GOOD, compared to the Protestantism I labored under for 25 years. But from time to time I have to wonder -- "what if......"

What if someone had shared their faith with me VERBALLY and had given me clear explanation of the history and biblical nature of the ancient faith....

Perhaps I would have converted YEARS AGO.

Perhaps I would have sooner learned to be more gentle and loving than I was as an anal retentive Fundamentalist (Yes, they do teach it...it's called AR 101 and is mandatory in the Fundamentalism I was in).

Perhaps I would be a lot farther along in my theosis, my walk with the Lord, than I am right now, which can be very frustrating for me.

Perhaps my children would have learned the truth and we would be worshipping as a family instead of my having to go to church alone because my kids still believe the horsecr*p religion which I taught them so faithfully. (I'm sorry I cannot be more tactful. I have neither time nor patience with heresy and the damage I have both experienced and seen it do to families).

No....I DO NOT believe in merely "living the life" in front of people. People do not come to UNDERSTAND the truth by osmosis. They must be TOLD, and it is more than high time that Catholics and Orthodox come out of their narrowly defined ethnic ghettoes and begin to SHARE THE FAITH in a real and substantial way. It is time that the Fundamentalists of the world begin to be afraid to go "door to door" to spread their errors because they keep meeting Catholics and Orthodox who are SKILLED APOLOGETICS MASTERS and who kindly, but firmly, put them in their place.

The next time some Bible thumper says "Are yew saaaaaaaved? Do yew know Jaaaaaaaaayzuz", it is time that the Catholics and Orthodox stop getting that foggy look in their eyes and say "Yes. And I know Him IN THE CHURCH He founded. Let me tell you about it."

And hopefully, offering a winsome and compelling witness to the truth, we will see a new generation of converts come into the Church, bringing with it many to the religious life and vocations, which we desparately need.

Brother Ed

And no, I am not that tart when I talk with people I meet on the street. I reserve that for my "family members" who understand that I am voicing my frustrations in an honest fashion.

Dearest Brother Ed,

Thank you for your correct and on-target post!

I know you said that you “have neither time nor patience with heresy.” From one person that has seen Protestant fundamentalism destroy the fabric of a family/ies to another I can completely sympathize with your sentiment. However, as humbly as I can ask, I request that you think twice about your choice of words when describing ethnic issues in the Apostolic Churches, they can eventually end up ruining your whole argument.

I would love, with your permission, to share your comments on this thread with others in the Ethiopian Orthodox community, especially those that are contemplating converting to Protestantism. Trust me, by your experience as a Protestant for 25 years, your words would carry weight. But I must confess, the average person would have been turned off by your choice of wording. “Ethnic ghetto?” I am sure that several people would have been so offended they would have stopped reading, even if they enjoyed everything that you said up to that point.

When I think of an ethnic ghetto, there are two images that come to my mind. One is the American impoverished ethnic ghetto occupied by people of color who have traditionally been marginalized in American society. The other is a ghetto in Warsaw occupied by Jews brutalized by Nazi thugs. "Ethnic ghetto' is a term way too strong to describe people who are simply serving following their traditions and maintaining their culture. This is not some attempt to enforce any dull political correctness either, it is simply to point out that choice of words can end up spoiling the whole mood.

Coming out of an ethnic enclave is not a one way street. It is not the responsibility of the old world "ethnics' to dump everything of their language, culture, history and heritage in order to be more appealing to the New World "non-ethnics'( ). There has to be a middle ground; and it is high time that the "non-ethnics' start to learn and appreciate elements of the Old World culture that has preserved the Church for millennia without resorting to complaints about it being a "little Italy,' "a little Ukraine,' "a little Greece,' or a "little Syria.'

When your culture has been Apostolic Christian for so long then your conception of faith is not going to be limited to a theological tract or a Sunday service. Everything you do, from the way you eat, talk, have a family picnic to the way you drive your sick grandmother to the tebel or Holy Water before you take her to the doctor--is informed by your faith. Church is not only a place you go to for Liturgy and Sermon; you and your friends also play soccer on the Church lawn, you walk home with Deacons and Altar boys who probably live next door to you. Culturally speaking, religion is in the conscious as well as sub-conscious. Things are not as simple as “coming out of narrowly defined ethnic ghettos.”

Brother Aklie,

Thank you indeed for your generous comments on the matter, and my strongest encouragements go to Brother Ed's admirable religious zeal.

However, I must strongly object Brother Aklie to your most brash choice of the word "soccer", which indirectly implicates you in the biggest hijacking and usurpation of a well-honored name in the history of sports.

You Ethiopians worship football too, am I right?

In IC XC
Samer

I think that this is a very multi-faceted issue. It is absolutely clear that the number one, primary issue of being living witnesses to the Gospel and its message of loving God and loving one's neighbor. But it is also true, that we need to gently talk with people about the faith, especially when those issues of ethics (not ethNics) and appropriate behavior become topics of discussion.

Last night at a bar, a bunch of guys were in discussion about what is most important in life. One guy said: first, one's spouse; second: one's family; third: one's job; fourth: one's social structure (friends, etc.) and fifth: one's religion. Another friend agreed and commented that John probably wouldn't agree since he's one of those "religious types". My question to them both was, "do you not think that my philosophy of life, i.e., my religion and its principles, makes me who I am and guides me in the way that I would treat spouse, family, job, and friends?". I suggested that I wouldn't be the "trusted" guy that folks can talk to without fear of my turning it into gossip, or being someone who would just make judgements and not listen to what their problems were. I told them that they probably really liked me because of what my religious beliefs were. And that they didn't like or trust others because of what THEIR beliefs (or lack thereof) were.

It kind of gave them something to think about. My suggestion to them was, perhaps it would be helpful once in a while to find a quite solitary place and think about what's going on in your life and then pray a bit about it. And then talk to someone you trust about these issues. (Probably me - oy veh! The 'soft shoulder') But going "in the side door", without being "religious", is a good way to evangelize because you meet people where they are in their lives and you apply your own "religious principles" as you discuss with them their issues. NO beating over the head.

Coming in with bible tracts is probably the best way to alienate a large number of folks, and perhaps to get your butt kicked. Although some folks think that it's a "liberal thing" to go to folks and talk about religion without laying down the law, I just think it's good PR and effective marketing. Unless the folks you're talking to are so insecure in their adulthood that they need the S+M approach to get them to do something, I would suggest St. Paul's "going in their door to bring them out my door". I've seen waaaaay too many fundamentalist/evangelical Christians who glom on to "religion" to give them an identity; their entire lives are caught up in this - - it not only gives them something to do, but it gives them an identity as well. (The same is true of all sorts of other organizations: ecological, political, ethno-cultural, social, etc. It gives rise to a class of folks for whom there is no other reality than that which they identify with.)

I kind of like the contemporary theme employed by a number of church communities: "Come home for Christmas". It promises that they'll be no ranting, raving, or heavy-handed tactics. Just a welcoming handshake, and a place in the church for Christmas services and all the "good stuff" like hymns and carols, and vestments, and a message of hope for humanity. They're telling people to come "home" to church without all the crap that is sometimes attendant to one's childhood and family celebrations. Just you, with God and the Church. [I hope these efforts succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams!!] And we'll see them again at Easter.

Blessings to All! Happy New Year!!

Brother Samer,

Yikerta (sorry/excuse me) but I meant no harm. If I said football I am certain that the first image most people on this board would conjure up would be that brutal, uncivilized, gladiator fest that North Americans call a sport, but which is also very addictive.

You Ethiopians worship football too, am I right?

Yes, worshiping is one thing, winning a game is another though. World Cup? Out of the question, Africa Cup? forget it; Ethiopian football players are the masters of getting the ball from one end of the field to the other and then the master of missing the goal every time. So finally last year they had to narrow down the competition and have the “East African cup” which Ethiopia finally qualified to play in and won!

"Rugby in spurts" (I prefer rugby since the chaotic play doesn't stop everytime the pigskin is fumbled), as I call it, is addictive. A Greek acquaintance of mine who is an immigrant to Canada, where American football isn't very popular, has become such a connosseur with keen insight into the game's strategy and tactics, that he would find it very addictive due to the edge his expertise gives him when placing bets.

Now if the change the game slightly to allow players to carry sawed off hockey sticks and put them to use, then I'll make sure never to let a game pass me by.

Oh we're not going anywhere, believe me. But we pride ourselves on being the masters of dismantling and wrecking stadiums and bringing the army on the field, at least when we play the Lebanese.

In IC XC
Samer