The Jesus Approach to Evangelization

Joe Paprocki Comings & Goings, Newsworthy

While at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, I had the pleasure of listening to a keynote delivered by Rev. Anthony Gittins, CSSp on the Urgency of Discipleship and Evangelization. In his talk, Fr. Gittins made some excellent points about evangelization. First, he identified 4 requirements for evangelization:

  • Proclamation
  • Witness (which he says is “proclamation with our mouths shut!” – I love it!)
  • Dialogue (with an emphasis on listening)
  • Liberation

He also went on to explain that our evangelization must imitate Jesus’ approach which he said can be characterized by the following:

  • ENCOUNTER – Jesus didn’t just talk at people from a distance. He encountered them. Jesus didn’t love “the poor.” Jesus encountered people who were poor and loved them.
  • TABLE FELLOWSHIP – Jesus practised a radical inclusion that was scandalous to many because table fellowship puts everyone at the same level.
  • FOOT WASHING – Whereas table fellowship places all of our heads at the same level, foot washing lowers our head beneath that of those we serve.
  • CROSSING BOUNDARIES – Jesus ventured beyond the established boundaries (e.g. into Samaritan territory) to minister to people unlike himself. We need to minister to people who are not like ourselves.

Very inspiring thoughts! Thanks Fr. Gittins!

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About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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7 Comments

  1. Hi Joe,

    Thanks for sharing the key points of Fr. Gittins’s talk on evangelization. May I request for additional details on the four requirements for evangelization (proclamation, witness, dialogue and liberation). I think these requirements would be very helpful for us in “recruiting” couples and families to our community.

    God bless and keep you always.

    Odet Tuazon
    Familia Community, Philippines

    Reply

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