tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387272522323350808.post9186725111099689308..comments2023-09-26T00:30:43.205-07:00Comments on Urban Missionaries of the Heart of Christ: Where are the Catholic Street Evangelists?Scott Woltzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13112547391607836919noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387272522323350808.post-81984326311922296522015-01-23T07:26:26.135-08:002015-01-23T07:26:26.135-08:00I am eagerly anticipating your book Scott, and wil...I am eagerly anticipating your book Scott, and will happily pay full price for it...to support your work...take care...DavidDavid H. Lukenbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00180602208280066862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387272522323350808.post-21175136916918675872015-01-22T09:34:46.171-08:002015-01-22T09:34:46.171-08:00Hi David,
Thanks for all of the great thoughts. ...Hi David,<br /><br />Thanks for all of the great thoughts. I agree with your thoughts about the Mormons, I've seen several shallow, short-lived Mormon conversions. In Oregon, the Mormons have already changed tactics and no longer go door-to-door. Now they just walk the neighborhood streets and try to befriend people by doing chores and through conversation. <br /><br />You're right that most people would be scared and uncomfortable walking the streets I usually walk, and so would be ineffective evangelists (at least for a time). There are some streets in some cities that only ex-cons should evangelize (for the reasons you state). Ironically, God awakened me to this ministry while in the wealthiest part of town, and so there are very safe, comfortable streets to evangelize. But thanks for pointing out the fact that I've understated the grounds of fear.<br /><br />Obviously books, articles and online ministries are very valuable. Many Catholics can't find a deep historically-rooted presentation of the faith at their local parish, and so are greatly nourished by the written word or Catholic media. I was actually expecting someone to tease me for hypocrisy since I have a conversion blog, a street ministry blog, have done videos and am writing a book. Btw, when the books done in a few years, I'd be happy to mail you a copy. Pax Christi, ScottScott Woltzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13112547391607836919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387272522323350808.post-48934100100562461722015-01-22T07:50:50.007-08:002015-01-22T07:50:50.007-08:00Hello Scott:
I accept that you didn’t mean it to ...Hello Scott:<br /><br />I accept that you didn’t mean it to be either/or but that’s how it reads, and I was responding to that.<br /><br />I was a Mormon and headed up my ward’s missionary as ward mission leader for a couple years, so am well aware of the deep evangelical roots found there, but I also learned that the baptisms obtained this way were usually very shallow.<br /><br />Most devout Mormons come from Mormon families, as I did and the growth rate of Mormons generally reflects the large families typical of Mormons, more so than the evangelization.<br /><br />I agree that Catholics don’t do much evangelization in the United States, and I don’t think Jews do much either.<br /><br />Most street evangelizing is something that, in my opinion, cuts against the grain of Catholic culture as it is too high-pressure, too manipulative, too sales oriented.<br /><br />The type of street evangelization you are doing is different (actually it really isn’t evangelization as most would define it because you do not approach people but only are there if they want to approach you) only providing a visible presence on hard streets for those who need to hear and see, if they want to hear and see.<br /><br />You are not scared because you did time in a maximum security prison, and from that experience, the threats on the hard streets are virtually non-existent.<br /><br />The kind of non-verbal, unconscious body language and other cues you and I learned in our time within the nation’s maximum security prisons are what allow us to generally walk with safety on any hard streets.<br /><br />Most folks would be terrified to do what you do and therefore, be in great danger if they did, and completely ineffective on top of that because of their fear.<br /><br />This fear of working around criminals is why I wrote The Lampstand Prison Ministry: Constructed on Catholic Social Teaching & the History of the Catholic Church book which provides a way to do prison ministry and remain safe while doing it, knowing that most people in prison are dangerous and will often take advantage of the good folks trying to help them—exactly the reason people like you and I, former professional criminals—need to be doing prison ministry.<br /><br />So, I would agree with you that more Catholics should be evangelizing, but would continue to say, do so in the way that works for you.<br /><br />Take care.<br /><br />David<br />David H. Lukenbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00180602208280066862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387272522323350808.post-72034596097541485772015-01-21T11:43:20.546-08:002015-01-21T11:43:20.546-08:00Hi David,
I made pains to point out that it's...Hi David,<br /><br />I made pains to point out that it's not an either/or thing. In fact, public evangelization can actually improve/perfect one's writing ministry. The point is to discern God's will and do it.<br /><br />You wrote:<br />"for isn't all Catholic apostolate work the Lord's work, and isn't each first in the heart of those doing it"<br /><br />I think that's what St. Francis Xavier is challenging. His challenge is that some think they are working for God, but they are actually working too much for themselves. Georges Bernanos, author of "Diary of a Country Priest", actually wrote a book on this subject, "The Impostor". It's a spiritual disease that all of us must contend with: to do God's will, and not our own--even if what we desire instead is worthy. Before my daughter came along, I used to spend 3-4 hours at a time doing sidewalk counseling and prayerful witness outside Planned Parenthood. One day I had enough of the ugliness, and told God, "I can't do it today. I'm done. I'm going to go out into the mountains and I'll pray and sing Gregorian chant the whole time. Surely that's good enough." But that's not what God wanted, and he made it very clear to me that I blew it, even though prayer and chant are worthy things and we need more of them. Now when I die, I'm sure God will show me who I would have touched had I gone to Planned Parenthood as he asked.<br /><br />The other point that St. Francis Xavier is making, is that there was an imbalance between the surplus of priests in Europe (especially at university), and the few priests in mission in India, Asia and elsewhere. It was a scandal, and now in our day it is a scandal that so few Catholics evangelize in person. There is an imbalance today between Catholic publications and websites and bodies on the street. I don't believe for an instant that it's God's will. Just this morning I saw four young Jehovah's Witness women going door-to-door. They have a culture of evangelization (as do Mormons). We actually have an anti-evangelistic culture in the church in the West--in many parishes you're eccentric or socially tone-deaf or "come on too strong" if you publicly witness for the faith (even in a humble, welcoming way).<br /><br />The point of the post was to prick the consciences of those educated, motivated Catholics whom God is trying to push out of their comfort zones into public evangelization. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to say more on the subject. Pax Christi.Scott Woltzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13112547391607836919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387272522323350808.post-5934308634757100712015-01-21T10:39:31.038-08:002015-01-21T10:39:31.038-08:00Hello Scott:
I think all Catholic apostolate work...Hello Scott:<br /><br />I think all Catholic apostolate work is worthwhile, whether evangelizing by walking the streets, or evangelizing by sitting at a desk writing—that chosen will depend upon one’s situation in life—and it matters not how many are contacted, for isn't all Catholic apostolate work the Lord’s work, and isn't each first in the heart of those doing it.<br /><br />May God continue to bless you in your apostolate.<br /><br />Take care.<br /><br />David H. Lukenbill<br />David H. Lukenbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00180602208280066862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387272522323350808.post-87155805036599496502015-01-12T23:23:50.954-08:002015-01-12T23:23:50.954-08:00I'm a Catholic, and I don't share your und...I'm a Catholic, and I don't share your understanding. Have you read the biographies of St. Anthony Abbot, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Benedict Joseph Labre, St. Bernadette Soubirous, etc? If it makes you feel any better, I have the blessing and support of both my pastor and bishop.Scott Woltzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13112547391607836919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387272522323350808.post-84474251820194494142015-01-12T21:15:16.638-08:002015-01-12T21:15:16.638-08:00Among Catholics there is an understanding that all...Among Catholics there is an understanding that all initiatives must be begun by the parish pastor.Micha Elyihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13342792492539185940noreply@blogger.com