Depth, Mystery and Authentic Friendships Keys to Evangelizing Young People

Last updated on: June 3, 2013 at 8:51 am by Tony Rossi

Depth, Mystery and Authentic Friendships Keys to Evangelizing Young People 2013-06-03T08:51:34-05:00 Tony Rossi

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This article was originally posted on Patheos in January 2011:

Chances are that the leaders in your parish have asked the question, “How can we get young people more involved in the church?” As part of a Catholic Young Adult group myself, I know that question doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. However, two guests I’ve interviewed on Christopher Closeup had suggestions they’ve seen work.

The first is Bob Lesnefsky, also known as the award-winning Christian rapper Righteous B. Though he enjoys making music, his real passion is a youth program he co-founded called Dirty Vagabond Ministries. Describing its approach as “incarnational ministry,” the program places missionaries in an urban area to live among the people and meet them wherever they are.

Lesnefsky said, “We show up at a park with a grill and start grilling hot dogs and feeding people. The first time, we just see them and get to know their name. Over weeks or years, it eventually builds relationships and develops into a friendship. It’s much more effective for me to share Christ with someone who considers me their friend than someone who I knock on their door and try to give them a five-minute plug. These are people we have an authentic relationship with. There’s an element of trust that happens before we even tell them about God. They begin to see we care for them outside of whether or not they ever come to the Church.”

One of Dirty Vagabond Ministries’ core principles is that “the greatest intimacy with Christ is found in the sacramental life of the Church.” Lesnefsky admits that many inner-city youth don’t have a foundation of faith, so exposure to Church and the sacraments can be “a little jarring” for them. But by sharing family-style meals and attending Mass together, these young people undergo “a beautiful awakening.”

Another person who’s had great success in this area is author and speaker Mark Hart, who’s also known as “The Bible Geek.” Through his work with the program Life Teen, he is helping young people “form their Catholic identity in authentic and joy-filled ways.”

Hart acknowledged that one of the challenges of getting young people to Mass is that they’re a screen-based culture that’s always texting or online. He told me, “We (shouldn’t) wonder why young people are bored at Mass when they’re constantly stimulated the other 167 hours a week.” Hart’s solution, however, isn’t to make Mass entertaining but to help our “individualistic culture . . . appreciate how communal God designed us to be.”

Hart has discovered that “Modern teenagers . . . want depth. They want deep relationships; they just don’t know how to have them. They’re really drawn to the mystical. When you start walking them into the mystical elements of the sacraments and the depth and breadth of the mysteries of the church, their hearts become enlivened.” Hart sees part of the problem in reaching youth to be adults who talk at them, not to them. He points out, “We should take a lesson from Christ on the road to Emmaus. He walked and listened before He taught.”

Despite the challenges of reaching teens, Hart concludes, “People talk about all the negatives of teenagers (but) . . . I am consistently amazed and blown away by the quality of our young people.”

It’s easy to lament the lack of young faces at Sunday Mass, but complaining doesn’t accomplish anything. Instead, consider the insights of Bob Lesnefsky and Mark Hart and try to build on what they’ve shown can work.

Previous Post

May 29, 2013

A Christopher Awards Video and Picturepalooza

Next Post

June 5, 2013 Choosing Your Words Wisely: Insights on Improving Communication Skills

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Act One American Idol Andy Griffith Show Audrey Assad Baseball Bible Books Catholic Charities Christmas Christopher Awards Christopher Closeup Christopher News Notes Current Events Down syndrome Education Father Jonathan Morris Father Keller Films Forgiveness Fringe Government Hallmark History Holidays Humor Inspiration Leadership Lost Marriage Media Medical Military Movies Music NY Med Once Upon a Time Once Upon a Time Parenting Patheos Movie Club Person of Interest Politics Pope Francis Prayer Pro Life Saints Senior Citizens Signed Sealed Delivered Special Needs Sports Three Minutes a Day TV Uncategorized Volunteering Women Youth

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group believes in baptism for the dead?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Presbyterians Latter-day Saints Pentecostals Anglicans