CBB Review – Filling Our Father’s House: What Converts Can Teach Us about Evangelization

Last updated on: April 7, 2018 at 6:10 am by Pete Socks

CBB Review – Filling Our Father’s House: What Converts Can Teach Us about Evangelization 2018-04-07T06:10:36-05:00 Pete Socks

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Shaun McAfee is a former Evangelical Protestant that converted to the Catholic faith. The thing with converts is they can bring a particular energy to the faith that can renew and energize an entire parish. What are some of the things converts and everyone can do to breath new life into their parishes? Shaun provides readers with a few suggestions in his book Filling Our Father’s House: What Converts Can Teach Us about Evangelization.

If you haven’t taken notice lately there is a surge in Catholicism. It is evident in the growing number of Catholic books being published as well as the various study resources being offered at a rapid pace. As Shaun states it, “There is a growing enthusiasm in Catholicism. Young men and women are taking to the parish and to the Internet in an effort to evamgelize and teach their friends, families, and complete strangers about the Faith. They are proclaiming the gospel. Out of this effort many are coming into the Church with zeal, and others are rediscovering their love for the Church. New converts to the Church are excited about their new home – a healthy and active place where the fields are ripe for harvest.”

On the flip side we are also losing established parishioners at an alarming rate. “There is also a decline as the Catholic Church loses members to other persuasions and apathy. Catholics are leaving because they feel their faith is dead or no longer relevant, or they are convinced that faith and science are incompatible, or they concoct a different reason for their departure. Those who leave the Catholic Church for another Christian faith, albeit Protestant, are missing the fullness of the Faith.”

So what are we to do to balance this and at minimum maintain enrollment and at best increase enrollment? Shaun provides us with some great pointers with a chapter devoted to each of the suggestions. Firstly we must develop ourselves and strengthen our own faith. This can be done in a variety of ways. Shaun suggests regular reading and study of scripture. As St. Jerome says “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Fortifying ourselves with knowledge of scripture allows us to effectively proclaim our Faith. Secondly we need to deepen our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We do this via prayer. There are many styles and methods of prayer and Shaun provides a number of resources for further study. Another key point Shaun makes is for us to develop our personal story. This chapter I found to be particularly informative. The development and subsequent use of your own story of faith can be a very sound tool in drawing others to the faith. With a little practice, as Shaun suggests, you will soon be evangelizing at the water cooler at work or with those in your extended family.

Now that you have worked on your own personal growth it’s time to go out and evangelize. Shaun spends two chapters dealing with what may seem obvious but needs pointed out. Get involved. One suggestion is to either join an existing small group or start one. An ideal group size of three to twelve people can meet regularly to participate in a bible study, discuss the week’s homily and scripture readings or become an active prayer group. You can also find ways to help out with different parish projects. It all boils down to utilizing your talents to benefit the parish as a whole. Whatever your talent may be, keep in mind your parish priest cannot do everything. The laity must play a role in parish life. As The Council Fathers of Vatican II stated in the document Apostolicam Actuositatem states “The laity should accustom themselves to working in the parish in union with their priests.”

Another outlet is social media. Maybe you have some skills at building websites….does your parish have one? Perhaps you are pretty good with Facebook….create a parish Facebook page for easy communication. Do you use Twitter? Here is another outlet for communication. Shaun tells us, “Social media is the future of evangelization and cathechesis. It is popualr and easy to use and offers a good opportunity for parishioners themselves to promote their parish. If you’re adept at social media, speak with your pastor about setting up something for your parish and maintaining it, perhaps in collaboration with fellow parishioners.”

In short……you can do it. “Often we doubt our ability to serve, to proclaim the gospel, and to be servants of Christ. We think “I’m not equipped to do that!” Remember that God equips those whom He sends. Just as a general will not send an untrained soldier into battle, if God is calling you to do something, you can rest assured that He will provide you with the means and the ability to finish the mission.” There is no time like now to get involved. Perhaps you have considered it in the past but have never followed through. We have a choice. We can either sit on the sidelines as secularism continues to erode our society or we can take a chance, get involved and right the ship. Read Shaun’s book and use it as a stepping stone to a new life of evangelization. You won’t be sorry.

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Review

Filling Our Father's House

Shaun McAfee

Sophia Institute Press

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