The Role of Laity in Evangelization

Dave “Too Hot to Handle, Too Cold to Hold” VanVickle and I are focusing on the role of the laity in the Church when it comes to explicit word and deed evangelization. 

The Church needs the voice of the laity to speak up! Priests can’t go into your office and nuns can’t go into your friend’s house (probably). We are the ones that must carry the Gospel into our homes, schools, jobs, and public places. 

Click on the player above to listen to this episode, or scroll down for the shownotes.  

We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.

Snippet from the Show

“Catholics were attempting to be modest and self-critical instead of being triumphant … We went from being triumphant and engaging in apologetics to just being apologetic.”

SHOWNOTES

Scott Hahn in Evangelizing Catholics – “The Church’s greatest mystics are the men and women who fell most completely in love with God and note how that love didn’t lead them away from the Church’s sacramental and devotional life.” 

Catechism of the Catholic Church referencing Lumen Gentium“All baptized and confirmed Catholics are “strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”

Quote attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi “Preach the gospel at all times, when necessary, use words.”

St. Francis of Assisi “There is no use walking somewhere to preach, unless our walking is also our preaching.” 

St. Paul “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.”

Pope St. John Paul II“Faith is strengthened when it is given to others.”

Lumen Gentium, paragraph 6 – “A true apostle looks for opportunities to announce Christ by words addressed to non-believers with a view of leading them to faith.”

Pope Benedict XVI – “Leading men and women to God, to the God who speaks in the Bible: this is the supreme and fundamental priority of the Church.”

5 Practical Tips

  1. Go over the steps of the Kerygma 
  2. Text a family member saying you love them and that you’re praying for them
  3. Go into the book of Revelation and read one of the letters to the seven churches a day
  4. Visit a soup kitchen and volunteer
  5. Pray about what your life was like before you met the Lord, and proclaim your testimony on social media 

Meet Your Hosts


Michael “Gomer” Gormley

Michael “Gomer” Gormley

Michael has been leading evangelization and ministry efforts for the past ten years, both as a full-time parish staff member and as a speaker and consultant for parishes, dioceses, and Catholic campus ministries.

He is also the founder and creative director of LayEvangelist.com, and the producer and cohost of a Catholic young adult podcast Catching Foxes, which discusses the collision of Faith and Culture.

He is married to his college sweetheart, Shannon. Together they have about 1,000 children and get about 3 hours of sleep a night, which is alright by him.

David “Dave” VanVickle

David “Dave” VanVickle

Dave VanVickle fell in love with the Lord at the age of fourteen. Since then, he has dedicated his life to bringing others into a radical relationship with Christ.

He is a speaker and retreat leader. His programs 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 resides in Pittsburgh with his wife Amber and their five children: Sam, Max, Judah, Josie and Louisa.

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Never Miss an Episode!

Get show notes, exclusive bonus content, and more sent straight to your inbox.