Net Resources for the Evangelist
Evangelizing
Theology by Avery Dulles S.J
ABSTRACT: It might seem paradoxical, to say the least, to describe the Catholic
Church as "evangelical"-a term that is commonly taken to be practically
synonymous with "Protestant" or with a particular kind of Protestant. In Germany
the word evangelisch rather than protestantisch is the preferred designation for
Protestant churches. In the English-speaking world, evangelicalism stems from the great
revivals of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It indicates an intense personal
faith in Jesus Christ as savior and an assured sense of being saved by that faith. The
term suggests an individualistic and biblically centered piety, such as that found in
churches stemming from, or deeply affected by, the great revivals-notably Methodist,
Baptist, and Pentecostal. (Most mainline Protestant churches have evangelical wings.) A
common characteristic of evangelical churches is their strong missionary spirit.
Catholicism, by contrast, has put the accent elsewhere, on the corporate and traditional features of Christianity. The Catholic Church has been the church of organization, dogma, and sacraments. While always sponsoring missionary activity, the Catholic Church has relied chiefly on religious orders to perform this task. They were expected not so much to spread the gospel as to plant the Church in countries where it had as yet no roots.
Catholic Internet TV And Radio Network
Catholic Evangelisation online RealAudio by Fr Novak located at Catholic Internet TV And Radio Network
Tape 1 Tape 2 Tape 3 Tape 4 Tape 5 Tape 6 Tape 7 Tape 8
The National Black Catholic Evangelization Forum
Many of you are already involved in evangelization activities and programs sponsored by your diocese, parish community, or religious community. The National Black Catholic Evangelization Forum offers additional ideas and suggestions - called promising practices - for those wishing to design a particular program or expand existing programs for evangelization and outreach in the Black Community. These promising practices have been designed in the context of pastoral committees:
Spiritual and Liturgical Celebrations
Education and Christian Formation
Evangelization and Outreach
Development and Collaboration.
This format is intended to facilitate the process and implementation of parish pastoral planning.
Catholic Evangelization Training
& Outreach
Newsletters by Catholic missionary-evangelist Greg Trainor
Holy Spirit Missionary Assoc. in Miami at
(305)252-5986.
PO Box 56-0910; Miami, FL 33256-0910; e-mail: mail@hsma.net
March/April
1999
Featured article: Overcoming the Fear of Man by Greg Trainor. Many
Christians would love to tell others about salvation and living in the kingdom of God.
But, somehow, they rarely ever talk about the Lord around other people. Allowing God to
make you bold and overcoming fear will make the difference between wanting to evangelize
and actually doing it! In His Word topical Bible study: Overcoming Fear.
Jan/Feb
1999
Featured article: Who, Me? An Evangelist? by Greg Trainor. All of us are
called to be witnesses to the Gospel. Even if you are not outgoing, or don't enjoy
speaking to crowds, God can use you just the way you are to reach others with the Gospel.
Will you give God permission to use you to bring others to Him? In
His Word topical Bible study: God Loves You Personally and Unconditionally.
Nov/Dec
1998
Featured article: Pentecost: Power for Witnessing by Greg Trainor. God never
intended for his people to spread the Gospel in their own power. The power of the Holy
Spirit, sent to empower the Church to evangelize, is available to you in a "personal
Pentecost." In His Word topical Bible study: The Holy Spirit in the Old
Testament.
Nov/Dec
1997
Featured article: Jesus, S&H Greenstamps, and Heaven by Greg
Trainor. Uses Biblical insight to bring a deeper understanding of what it means to know
God as our Redeemer. In His Word topical Bible study: The Holy Spirit in
the Life of Jesus.
Sept/Oct
1997
Featured article: The Kingdom of God is at Hand by Greg Trainor. In His
Word topical Bible study: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.
These brief Bible studies study a particular topic in the Bible. The are meant to be short and simple, giving you a sampling of Scriptures that are relevant to everyday life. Click on a topic below:
Overcoming Fear: The Word of God gives us many promises that God will deliver us from fear and protect us in difficult situations.
God Loves You Personally & Unconditionally: A knowledge of God's love is foundational to effectively living out your call in the Kingdom of God. This study drives home the scriptural basis of God's personal call on your life. It helps you to better realize that God desires to do good for you even more than you desire to do good for yourself.
The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus: A timely topic synthesizing the themes of the first two years of the Church's preparation for the new millennium.
The Holy Spirit in the Preaching of the Gospel: These scriptures show the power in which the Holy Spirit moves when the Word of God is proclaimed.
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament: Shows the tremendous difference between the action of the Holy Spirit in the figures of the Old Testament and the powerful way that the Holy Spirit will move in the life of a believer.
Office of Catholic Evangelization
The Office of Catholic Evangelization's role in the Diocesan community is to make disciples. Pope Paul VI wrote in Evangelii Nuntiandi, #14 (a document addressing the role of evangelization in the modern world) that "Evangelization is the essential mission of the Church." Jesus Christ commanded the church to go forth into the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). The motivation behind the work of Catholic Evangelization is to "... evangelize so that the salvation of Christ Jesus, which transforms our human lives even now, will bring as many as possible to the promised life of unending happiness in heaven" (National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States - National Conference of Catholic Bishops)