Assume nothing on the faith journey

An important evangelization principle will help us be more fruitful in our outreach and invitation to deeper conversion:

Assume nothing of anyone.

We shouldn’t assume we know where someone is on their spiritual journey. Not everyone has a profound conversion experience or has fully committed their lives to Jesus — even if they spend time in and around our parishes or help lead our parishes.

There are times when our relationship with Jesus is strong and others when we struggle. Even Church leaders have ups and downs in their faith journeys.

The assume-nothing approach should start with prayer every day. At the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis said that one of the first things he told the Church was to wake up each day and assume nothing about our relationship with Jesus:

“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her…” (Evangelii Gaudium 3).

Pastors and parish leaders have said that understanding that spiritual journeys are complex has reshaped their approach to ministry and made their work more effective.

Here are a few ideas on how to adopt an assume-nothing approach:

Ask people to tell their stories

There are many reasons people don’t practice the faith. Rather than make an assumption and impose a label on someone, find out more about where they are on their spiritual journey and what might help them grow.

Proclaim the Gospel always

Even though people have been around the Church, they may not have wrestled with the most fundamental truths of the faith. Catholics who end up in other Christian churches frequently say things like, “I never knew I could have a personal relationship with Jesus in the Catholic Church.” We must speak about Jesus at all our parish events, not just the spiritual and liturgical events.

Invite

It’s easy to assume that if people want spiritual advice, they’ll ask for it. But the reality is that people need to know the Church loves them and God has a plan for their lives.

Understand the process of evangelization

When we identify where people are in their spiritual journeys, we can better know what might help them take the next step. Some people have radical conversion moments, and others take more time.

Be comfortable with the mess

Jesus said, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do” (Matthew 9:12). We need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. This means going out to those who aren’t engaged in their faith, meeting them where they are and walking with them daily, witnessing the love of Jesus.

Pray always

Make prayer the center of all of our parish functions — even social events. We need to make more room to help people develop their relationship with Jesus outside of Sunday Mass. Extended periods of praying with Scripture and praying for the lost should be at the heart of what we do.