tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924780874636602635.post876009632562581954..comments2023-12-28T21:12:54.923-08:00Comments on That They May Be One: Clearinghouse Catholicism: Why the Church Is Struggling to Evangelizemhavercamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571178772684591157noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924780874636602635.post-9076541966767016132014-05-06T08:26:30.209-07:002014-05-06T08:26:30.209-07:00There are some great points here, good to keep in ...There are some great points here, good to keep in mind. Please consider a follow-up post to outline ways in which a community might put these ideas into practice and bring about the kind of culture discussed here. In other words, what does this look like in practice?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924780874636602635.post-74139688035463531802014-05-05T08:14:37.057-07:002014-05-05T08:14:37.057-07:00And you're not alone Andre. The clearinghouse ...And you're not alone Andre. The clearinghouse default is nearly universal, not only in the Catholic world but in many Protestant communities as well. When I think about postmoderns today, I can't think of any who are just waiting to be invited to an event or a program. What they're waiting for is an authentic witness. What they're looking for is a meaningful relationship. They're yearning for genuine care, the kind that is willing to walk into the grit of their lives and not flinch. They're looking for a love that is unwavering yet dynamic, steadfast but not stale, personal and not programmed. Evangelization is about putting people over programs. It's about listening to the subtle voice of the Spirit calling us into the lives of others, inviting us into relationships through which we can live out the joy of the Gospel day in and day out. I wonder when we are going to start being who we really are again - (like you said) missionary disciples of Jesus Christ?mhavercamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00571178772684591157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3924780874636602635.post-42388430768250805472014-05-05T07:12:00.610-07:002014-05-05T07:12:00.610-07:00This is so painfully accurate Michael. The image ...This is so painfully accurate Michael. The image of a clearinghouse is a great way to summarize the common approach that mistakes a wealth of great resources (and many are indeed great) for the primary call to be "missionary disciples," to use a phrase from Pope Francis. I sat on an evangelization committee at my parish this past year, and with all due respect to the people and the parish, a clearinghouse mentality seemed like the default to which the group constantly gravitated. How can we get more and better information out to people - through websites, postcards, pamphlets, bulletins, videos, books, speakers, events? Instead of the much more personal and challenging: What individuals is the Lord putting on my heart to share the love of God with? How am I reaching out and loving them - not through programs but as a Christian, a missionary disciple, in the midst of my real life? Who are we praying incessantly for? How does the Lord want to move in and through us? It's much easier to do a little event planning and marketing and call it a night.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00416786578789218589noreply@blogger.com