Part of being an evangelist is learning from your mistakes. Today, Dave “Carry Your Cross After Me” VanVickle and I share our top 5 evangelization mistakes we have made over year. These mistakes remind us that we are limited and God is ultimately in control.
Shownotes
Don’t take the place of God in a person’s life, there is only one Savior.
Shownotes
5 Failures of Evangelization
- Assuming others think like you and saying what you would like to hear
It can be very tempting to put yourself in someone else’s position and share what you would like to hear or what would help you the most. Every soul we encounter is unique. It’s important to identify the unique needs of the soul you are evangelizing.
- Seeing labels and not people
It’s easy to categorize people as soon as you hear their arguments or issues with the faith. It’s key to keep listening intentionally even if you’re very familiar with their arguments and just want to focus on your response. Strive to see the person in front of you first and understand their struggle.
- Providing a resource instead of building the relationship
It’s crucial to invest in the relationship first before giving others tools or resources. Providing resources in the very beginning of your encounter with someone can be ineffective. Take time to get to know them first and then provide the appropriate resources. Don’t treat people like projects.
- The Savior Complex
Don’t take the place of God in a person’s life. Make sure you lead people first to God so they can bring their questions or problems to him. Don’t try to solve every problem that they have. Help them establish a personal relationship with Jesus first, he is the only one who can solve all their problems.
- Getting too emotionally invested
If we get too emotionally invested in the lives of the people we are evangelizing, we can easily burn out and become exhausted.
Evangelization Boot Camp
We are launching an Evangelization Boot Camp to provide you with the principles and skills you need to excel in the art of evangelization. This boot camp empowers you to share the power of the Kerygma no matter where you are in life. The Evangelization Boot Camp will take place from Sunday April 25th to Thursday April 29th. We will meet each night beginning at 8:30pm EST for a presentation and Q/A session to follow. To register for the bootcamp visit www.evangelizationbootcamp.com
Here is the schedule for the series:
Sunday, April 25th
The Life, Prayer and Habits of An Evangelist (presented by Dave VanVickle)
Monday, April 26th
The Power of the Kerygma (presented by Michael Gormley)
Tuesday April 27th
Practical Tips, Strategies, and Pitfalls to avoid (presented by Dave VanVickle)
Wednesday April 28th
Evangelizing Moderns ( presented by Michael Gormley)
Thursday, April 29 th
The Great Commission and Q/A (presented by Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle)
Resources
- Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com
- Text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and be added to Gomer and Dave’s email list
- Visit Dave’s website www.thecatholictruthaboutangelsanddemons.com and www.artofevangelization.com
- Visit Mike’s website at www.layevangelist.com
- Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.
Meet Your Hosts
Michael “Gomer” Gormley
Michael spent 17 years in full-time parish ministry and is now the Mission Evangelist for That Man Is You!, a men’s apostolate for Paradisus Dei. Michael is a frequent speaker at conferences, retreats, and parish missions all over the US and Canada.
He is the founder and creative director of LayEvangelist.com, and hosts three Catholic podcasts: Every Knee Shall Bow, Catching Foxes, and Becoming God.
Michael is married to his college sweetheart, Shannon, and has four beautiful and hilarious children: Kateri, Cecilia, Noah, and Thomas.
Dave VanVickle
Dave VanVickle fell in love with the Lord at the age of fourteen and has since dedicated his life to bringing others into a radical relationship with Christ.
He is a speaker and retreat leader who focuses on proclaiming the universal call to holiness, authentic Catholic spirituality, spiritual warfare and deliverance. Additionally, Dave has over ten years of experience assisting priests with their ministries of exorcism and deliverance.
Dave married his late wife Amber in 2010. He now resides in Pittsburgh with his five children: Sam, Max, Judah, Josie and Louisa.
