Everyday Evangelization: Living And Sharing Your Faith

The Great Commission

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (usccb.org) This is evangelization at its core.

Many people fear the word evangelization and what they think it stands for. People perceive it as knocking on some strangers’ doors as they hold a Bible in their hands to force Jesus upon them. Sure, that is one way, I guess, but it is not Jesus’ way. Evangelization is for everyone, not just clergy or missionaries. We are called by our Baptism to share the Gospel message. For me, it clicked one day that evangelization is just marketing! Evangelization is similar to marketing in the way that the product/service is Jesus and Christianity! We are quick to share our favorite product or service, but our faith seems to be kept secret.

What Evangelization Is and Isn’t

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (905) defines evangelization as, “…the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life.” It’s not preaching at people or imposing your beliefs on people, but rather living a Christian life. It is inviting, loving, witnessing, and living as Christ did. This occurs every day. It happens at home, at work, while shopping, while dining out and when driving in traffic.

People should know you are Christian by how you treat others. Evangelization is a lifelong calling, not a one-time event. If given the opportunity, you should most definitely talk about Jesus and the influence He has had in your life. You should quote scripture and invite people to church. Just do it in a welcoming way. After all, Romans 10:14-15 reads, “But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring [the] good news!” (usccb.org)

Living Your Faith: Evangelizing Through Your Life

There is power in quiet witness. Living your life with integrity, love, and compassion demonstrates Christianity which is a form of evangelization. Consider your everyday actions. Are you demonstrating kindness, patience, forgiveness? These are all tools of evangelization. St. Francis of Assisi is credited with saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary.” You evangelize through your vocation, family life, service, and authenticity. That doesn’t mean you don’t use words or you don’t preach, it just means that there is more. As 1 Peter 3:15 states, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” (usccb.org)

One of my recent articles, “Why Mealtime Prayer Matters: Faith Family & Evangelization” talks about this very topic. Also check out “Are You a Laborer for Christ?” This article talks about living as a disciple. That is true evangelization.

Intentional Evangelization: Be Bold and Personal

I gave a talk at a stewardship conference many years ago about personal evangelization. I had taken a workshop called “Empowerment to Personal Evangelization” many years prior and was given a blessing by the creators to give a brief talk. It is important to know and share your own faith story. We often feel self conscious and maybe unsure about how God has moved in our life. To be intentional, but not preachy, you must be aware and become comfortable with your story and sharing it as a story. Here are some tips:

Spend time in prayer thinking about how God has moved in your life.
Write it out. Read it. Edit it. It doesn’t need to be perfect or quote scripture. It needs to be authentic.
Ensure it highlights how God has impacted your life. It doesn’t have to be huge.
Rehearse it. Get comfortable sharing it. Practice sharing it with people you know.

Evangelization becomes meaningful when it’s real and relatable. We are all people. We have commonalities. You can be very intentional in your sharing. Choose to speak up when you feel the Holy Spirit is nudging you. Some examples are starting with a prayer at a restaurant, offering to pray for someone, posting faith-based content on social media. We are called to be His witness just as Acts 1:8 tells us, “But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you,g and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (usccb.org)

Meeting People Where They Are

Just as Jesus met people where they were, we need to do the same. Don’t judge the circumstances that a person may be in. Instead offer love, support and prayer. Evangelization is not about dragging people to your level of faith. It’s about walking with them where they are, building them up and showing them what true faith is. Always demonstrate empathy, listening and understanding before sharing your story of faith. Be relatable. 1 Corinthians 9:22, “To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some.” (usccb.org)

Baptized as Priest, Prophet, and King

We are baptized to be priest (spiritual life), prophet (truth speaker), and king (servant leader). Those three roles intertwine when we evangelize. We need to live and demonstrate a spiritual life so we can truthfully share it. Our actions as servant leaders teaches others what being a Christian means.

Each of us is an instrument of God’s message because of this shared identity. He created us in His image and to share His love. Remember 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (usccb.org)

Evangelization and Marketing: A Personal Realization

I mentioned in the beginning that I realized evangelization was just a form of marketing. I graduated college with a degree in marketing so I am very familiar with the concepts. Once I made the connection, it was easy to see how important evangelization was. According to the American Marketing Association (AMA), “Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.”

Evangelization and marketing both require:

Knowing your “why”
Understanding your “audience”
Delivering your “message” clearly and authentically

Remember that authentic faith is the best brand. Jesus is the best product. Evangelization is a call to use your gifts and secular skills to help bring people to Jesus.

We Are All Evangelists

Evangelization is a calling. It does look different for everyone, but it is still a calling. Reflect on your own life. Ask yourself the following questions:

Where is God calling you to share?
What has He done in your life that needs to be told?
Are you living as a light in the world?

What do you need to work on? What do you need to share more of? As Matthew 5:14-16 states, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, here it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”(usccb.org)

Let’s pray together:

“Lord, help me be Your witness today. Through my words, my actions, and my heart, may others see You in me. Amen”

Now, go and make disciples of all nations!