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| John Paul II |
| "I sense the time has come to commit all the Church's energies to a new evangelization." |
Evangelization Process
ChristLife has developed a process of evangelization for small faith communities, parishes and dioceses called Building Evangelizing Eucharistic Communities (BEEC). BEEC offers the Church a clear vision and practical steps to respond to the call for a new evangelization. Both the BEEC process and the new evangelization find their completion in three actions:
Proclaim Him
“Evangelization will also always contain - as the foundation, center, and at the same time, summit of its dynamism - a clear proclamation that, in Jesus Christ … salvation is offered to all men, as a gift of God’s grace and mercy.”
Pope Paul VI, On Evangelization in the Modern World, #27
There is within each one of us an aching need for God. Every person has the right to hear the Good News of Jesus, the Christ who is Savior of all humanity and Redeemer of all that separates us from God. The Lord Jesus has mandated through his Word and his Church that we are the witnesses commissioned to give testimony to Him – who Jesus is; what Christ has accomplished; and, how we can participate.
“Before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in him; and before they can believe in him, they must hear about him; and for them to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them.”
Romans 10:14 (NCV)
Hearing the message is the beginning of conversion. The beginning of all true evangelization is the proclamation of Jesus Christ and the invitation to personal relationship with Him. If proclamation and conversion have not occurred, a person receiving catechesis is building on a faulty foundation.
Few Catholics are prepared to talk about their faith and personally share the Gospel with others. They lack the experience and formation necessary for proclaim the basic Gospel message (kerygma). Training in how to share about Jesus Christ must become a part of formation (catechesis) as well as a normal part of our world view as Catholics if we are to see Church become a vibrant evangelical witness in our world.
In response to this need, ChristLife has produced a seven-session video course entitled, Sharing Christ. The series is designed to equip Catholics with the practical skills to proclaim the Gospel, draw others into a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior, and to invite them to become his disciples and members of the Church.
Sharing Christ consists of seven talks:
Resources for Course Administrators and Facilitators as well as Study Guides for Participants provide a turnkey resource for basic training in evangelization. It is ideal for use in small groups, parishes, seminaries, and dioceses.
“Encounter with the Living Jesus Christ: The way to conversion, communion and solidarity in America. Put this way, the theme makes clear the centrality of the person of the Risen Christ, present in the life of the Church, calling people to conversion. The starting point of such a program of evangelization is in fact encounter with the Lord.”
Pope John Paul II, The Church in America, #3
Conversion requires a personal decision to accept the saving sovereignty of Christ (cf. Pope John Paul II, Mission of the Redeember, #46). This decision is not individualistic and can be life-changing when lived with brothers and sisters in a faith-filled community who help us to follow Christ.
Where can Catholics bring family members, friends, and acquaintances who are searching for meaning and purpose in life to encounter Christ our Lord? It is our responsibility as Catholics in small faith communities, parishes, and dioceses to provide doorways and points of access where men and women, especially those who are beyond the boundaries of a parish, have opportunities to examine the evidence for Christianity, discuss their unanswered questions, form lasting friendships, and be invited to know God in personal relationship as a disciple and member of the Church.
To meet the demand for evangelization in the current culture, ChristLife is currently developing and producing the third module of its Building Evangelizing Eucharistic Communities evangelization process entitled Discovering Christ. Discovering Christ focuses on the basic principles of Christianity according to Scripture, Tradition and the Teaching Church. The pattern and dynamics will include sharing a meal, video teaching, and small group discussion. As part of the development of the course, ChristLife is running pilot courses throughout 2008 in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Until Discovering Christ is available as a nationwide resource, ChristLife offers training and resources for the Alpha course, an ecumenical course presenting a basic introduction to the Christian faith. The Alpha course is a practical process used by dioceses, parishes, and small faith communities for evangelization outreach. The dynamics of the Alpha course afford participants opportunities to experience firsthand the benefits of Christian community while exploring the basic dimensions of the Christian faith. Each session includes sharing a meal, a video teaching, and small group discussion. There is also an opportunity for a weekend retreat during the course.
Make Disciples
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
Matthew 28:19
"Catechesis, 'distinct from the primary proclamation of the Gospel' promotes and matures initial conversion, educates the convert in the faith, and incorporates him into the Christian community."
General Directory for Catechesis, #61
Introduction to the principles for basic Christian maturity and ongoing formation are essential to the growth and development of a disciple. Apart from attending Mass on Sunday and receiving the sacraments, many parishes are lacking in processes and resources for ongoing adult formation.
Recognizing the essential need to help those persons who have experienced conversion and encountered the Lord Jesus in a personal relationship to continue to grow as a disciple, ChristLife plans to develop the fourth module of Building Evangelizing Eucharist Communities entitled Following Christ. Following Christ is a course in basic discipleship that includes such topics as Prayer, Reading Scripture as God's Word, Discerning God's Will; The Sacraments, Becoming Sons and Daughters of God, Growing in Our Personal Relationships, and so forth. This course is scheduled to be completed in 2010.
Until this course is completed, ChristLife uses some excellent resources for spiritual growth and formation that are taught by renowned scholars:
Building Evangelizing Eucharistic Communities
Recognizing the importance of the BEEC process of evangelization, ChristLife offers as a package, as well as individually, the following services:
1. BEEC Seminar. A dynamic, one-day seminar that lays the foundation for the call and challenge of evangelization. It is the cornerstone of the BEEC package and is designed to help churches implement a structure for evangelization and/or assist in their evangelization efforts. ChristLife staff present the seminar.
2. Sharing Christ Course. A seven-session video & audio series complete with study guide, facilitator’s guide, and Director’s Handbook. The course equips Catholics with practical skills to proclaim/communicate the Gospel in the context of personal relationships.
3. Alpha. (Discovering Christ course coming in 2009) A video training series that explores the basic foundations of the Christian faith.
The primary purpose of this course is to provide an opportunity to present the essence of Christianity in an environment where inner conversion is the ultimate goal and to mobilize Catholics for evangelization outreach.
4. Touching Jesus Through the Church. (Following Christ course coming in 2010) A video training series exploring the basics of Catholic teaching and practice. It also lays the foundation for living as a Catholic disciple. The goal is to help participants discover the importance of personal prayer, reading Scripture, and living a sacramental life.
Summary
The ministry of ChristLife is dedicated to serving the Church in the essential mission of evangelization. Our goal is to equip Catholics for their role in building evangelizing Eucharistic communities.
ChristLife is a tax-exempt ministry dedicated to equipping Catholics for the work of evangelization. To continue in this work, we depend entirely on the donations of fellow Christians like you.
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