Evangelization - component of youth ministry
Called to proclaim the good news

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
October 20, 2005

When the U.S. bishop's wrote their 1997 pastoral letter titled Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry they highlighted eight components that make for effective youth ministry.

The eight components include advocacy, catechism, evangelization, community, justice and service, prayer and worship, leadership development and ministry of pastoral care.

This article that is centered on evangelization is the second in a series of articles featuring the eight components.

"Evangelization is sharing the good news with other people," said Jessica La Fleur, diocesan director of youth ministry. "It is proclaiming, sharing the good news of the reign of God - his death and resurrection."

Within the context of youth ministry, she noted that adults are called to share the good news with youth. At the same time youth should be encouraged and empowered to share the good news with their peers.

This sharing of the good news could be done through words and actions.

"One of the best ways to evangelize is inviting other people to come with you to different events. For instance, the diocesan youth rally is coming up so the youth minister or other adults in the church would be evangelizing when they encourage youth to attend. It would also be evangelizing for one youth asking their friend to go to the rally," said La Fleur.

Other diocesan-sponsored events that teens could invite their peers to are Discover Retreat for freshmen and sophomores or the Search Weekend for juniors and seniors.

A more visible sign of evangelization is when teens or others are invited to talk to the youth group about their faith story - a witness talk.

"Discipleship is also a part of evangelization. Being a disciple is being Christ-like, Christ to someone else," she said.

This type of behavior not only sets a good example for others by role-modeling positive behavior, but when the teenagers are truly being Christ-like they are reaching out to others and inviting them to be active in their faith.

One easy way of reaching out to other teenagers is asking them to invite a friend to a youth group meeting. She suggested adding a twist to the bring a friend concept, such as asking the youth to bring a friend who likes the same music as they do.

The conversion experience - continually realizing Christ's call within you - can also tie into the evangelization component.

"We are constantly growing in our faith and conversion is a part of that," she said. "In the life of the Christian, conversion is deepening your faith."

When youth ministry programs incorporate the evangelization component, the witnessing of faith by some can inspire and help deepen the faith of others - aiding in the conversion process.

"As Catholics, evangelization is something that we are all called to do," noted La Fleur. "Evangelization is not just for youth ministry, it is part of the larger picture of faith."

She stressed the importance of offering effective catechesis to the teenagers - education about the faith - in order for them to feel confident to evangelize.

"We need to help them feel comfortable enough with their faith so that they can go out and share it with others," said La Fleur.

The diocesan director of youth ministry said that without evangelization youth ministry is stagnant; it doesn't move.

"Evangelization brings that life. With the cycle of conversion, it is constantly moving and breathing, bringing in new members," she explained. "We are called to build the kingdom of God and evangelization is a key element within that."

Parishes that are interested in organizing new or strengthening existing youth ministry programs can call La Fleur at (712) 233-7561 or they can e-mail her at jessical@scdiocese.org.