Evangelization means bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation and trying to convert the individual and society itself by the divine power of the Gospel. In essence, it is the proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ and the response of a person in faith, both of which are works of God`s Spirit. He must always be directly related to the Lord Jesus Christ. “There is no true evangelization unless the name, doctrine, life, promises, kingdom and mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, are announced” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 22). We use the word `evangelism` because its fundamental meaning is `gospel` (good news) and because it calls us, even if it is unpleasant, to live more openly the faith of our baptism and to share it more freely.” Evangelism has different effects, depending on our relationship with Jesus and his Church. For those of us who practice and live our Catholic faith, it is a call for continued growth and renewed conversion. For those who have accepted it only in name, it is a call to the new evangelization. For those who have stopped practicing their faith, it is a call for reconciliation. For children, it is a call to be formed as disciples through the life of faith and the religious education of the family. For other Christians, it is an invitation to recognize the fullness of our message. For those who do not have faith, it is a call to conversion to know Christ Jesus and thus live a change towards a new life with Christ and his Church. The new evangelization calls each of us to deepen our faith, to believe in the message of the Gospel and to go out to proclaim the Gospel. The goal of the new evangelization calls all Catholics to be evangelized and then to go out for evangelization.
In a special way, the new evangelization focuses on proposing the Gospel to those who have experienced a crisis of faith. Pope Benedict XVI called for the Gospel to be re-proposed “in regions awaiting the first evangelization and in regions where the roots of Christianity run deep, but which have experienced a serious crisis of faith due to secularization.” “The message of Jesus Christ must be re-sown and watered for those who have already heard Christ`s call, but have not been fully evangelized or catechized.” Source: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 10. The easiest way to say what evangelism means is to ask Pope Paul VI. whose message Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World) has inspired so many recent thoughts and activities in the Church. We can rephrase his words to say that evangelizing means bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation and trying to convert individuals and society by the divine power of the Gospel itself. [6] Essentially, it is the proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ and the response of a person in faith, both of which are works of God`s Spirit.11 Evangelism must always be directly related to the Lord Jesus Christ. “There is no true evangelization if the name, doctrine, life, promises, kingdom and mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, are not proclaimed.” 7Conversion12.
Conversion is the change in our lives brought about by the power of the Holy Ghost. All who accept the gospel experience change as we constantly put on the spirit of Christ by rejecting sin and becoming more faithful disciples in His Church. If we are not converted, we have not truly accepted the gospel.13 We know that people experience conversion in many ways. Some experience a sudden, heartbreaking vision that involves rapid transformation. Some experience gradual growth over many years. Others convert when they participate in the rite of adult Christian initiation, the normal way adults become members of the Church today. Many experience conversion through ordinary relationships of family and friends. Others have experienced it through the education they have received from Catholic schools and religious education programs. Still others have experienced constant conversion through renewal, ecumenical meetings, retreats, parish missions, or some of the great spiritual movements that have blessed the life of the Church today.14 This is crucial: we must be converted – and we must continue to be converted! We must allow the Holy Spirit to change our lives! We must respond to Jesus Christ. And we must be open to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit who will continue to convert us by following Christ. When our faith is alive, it awakens again and again as we mature as disciples. 15.
We can only share what we have received; We can only hold on to our faith if it continues to grow. “But if salt loses its taste,” Jesus asked, “with what can it be seasoned?”8I Individuals and society16. The continuing story of salvation in Christ concerns each of us individually and society itself. How could it be otherwise? Conversion speaks of the change of heart that everyone must go through as a member of the Church. The gospel speaks through time and space to every person, to every mind, to every heart. He asks us what we think about our lives, how we hope, who we love and what we live for. If faith does not transform all hearts and all lives, it is dead.17 But faith is not something that happens to each of us individually or privately within ourselves. The gospel also speaks to society itself, with its values, goals, and systems. The gospel must flow from all hearts until God`s presence transforms all human existence. Sometimes this means that we, as believers, must face the world like the ancient prophets and emphasize God`s claims on God-blind societies.
More often than not, however, this means letting our faith shine on the world around us and radiating Jesus` love through the daily way we speak, think, and act.18 The fruits of evangelism are changed lives and a changed world – holiness and justice, spirituality and peace. The validity of our acceptance of the gospel comes not only from what we feel or know; It also comes from how we serve others, especially the poorest, the most marginalized, the most wounded, the most defenseless and the least loved.
