"The Evangelizing mission of the church is an invitation for each of us to be a shining light of the presence of Jesus. Look into their eyes, show them the Living Lord!" |
Defining Evangelization
Evangelization means "Good News" or "Gospel." To evangelize means to proclaim or to share the "Good News of the Gospel" in a way that draws people to Jesus Christ. "For in its totality, evangelization – over and above the preaching of a message – consists in the implantation of the Church, which does not exist without the driving force which is the sacramental life culminating in the Eucharist." (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 28)
Evangelization has both an inward and an outward direction. Inwardly, it calls for our continued receiving of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our ongoing conversion both individually and as a Church. Evangelization nurtures us, makes us grow and renews us in holiness as God's people.
Outwardly, evangelization addresses those who have not heard the Gospel, or having heard it, have stopped practicing their faith, and those who seek the fullness of the faith. It calls us to work for full communion among all who confess Jesus as Lord, but do not yet realize the unity for which Christ prayed.
Pope John Paul II summed up three objectives of mission:
- To proclaim the Gospel to all people
- To help bring about the re-conversion of those who have received the Gospel but live it only nominally
- To deepen the Gospel in the lives of believers (Redemptoris Missio, 33)
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