An encounter with Jesus Christ is life-changing, as we become more fully aware of God's love for us and know that He is actively present in our lives. His presence is felt powerfully when we are welcomed into a faith community, when we feel seen and know we belong. The gratitude and joy that follow inspires us to share our faith with others, encouraging them on their own spiritual journey or path of Christian discipleship - which we call the Discipleship Pathway.
I want others to see how great God is and how much peace He brings into your life … I don't always have the right answers, but I know that I have to have faith that He's working through me. - Andrea Alvarez, Evangelization Lead, Little Flower Parish, Waukegan
Making others feel welcome, giving them a sense of belonging, helps build trust. And building trust is a key component to sharing one’s faith and spiritual journey. Once you have established trust and are ready to tell your own faith story, remember that it’s not about persuasion, defending Church teaching, having all the answers, or winning the argument. It’s about sharing the treasure of your relationship with God and creating a space for someone to encounter God through you.
In our current moment, the Church is calling all of us to "accompany" others. But what does that mean? How do I do that? In this brief video, Julianne Stanz, Director of Outreach for Evangelization and Discipleship at Loyola Press, explains what this term means and how vital it is to sharing faith with others today. Our family members, friends and neighbors need us to accompany them, so listen to what Julianne has to say and reflect on how this can affect your interactions with others.
Above all, pray for the grace to be able to accompany others well. And pray for those facing obstacles that make it difficult to draw closer to Christ and his Church.
