This resonates strongly with what I have discovered about what may be called the teqcher/student or parent/child, or employer/employee relationship dynamic. It is the foundation for the Montessori method of education, and through reading the writings of Maria Montessori, I have figured out what seems to be the real reason that we should/could all be so joyful, truly. It must be free of coerciveness...anything less is simply a fear that God will not fulfill his promises.
Well, as someone who has worked in evangelization professionally for the last 16 years, I'm thrilled that you've finally found the true nature of evangelization as promulgated by St. Paul VI in Evangelii Nuntiandi and Francis in Evangeli Gaudium.
Some Catholic organizations which say they're about evangelization are more interested in proselytizing, and often involve spiritually abusive practices. I'm very sad and upset that this colored (ruined) your understanding of evangelization for a time. Missionary discipleship in the way of accompaniment, guiding people into an encounter with Christ and trusting God to do the heavy lifting, is a lot harder for many people today than preaching or even debating because they want to control the outcome. Evangelization ain't that.
I think that if Alpha is run correctly--and I have seen it run incorrectly due to wrong, pushy attitudes of those working it--if it's run correctly, it is pure accompaniment, and I have loved that about it. It takes strong leadership in forming the workers, but to me it emphasizes in just the right way that it is all the work of the Holy Spirit, and we're just there to walk alongside. This takes great self-restraint and faith that God actually knows what he's doing with each individual whom he loves so much more than we do.
This resonates strongly with what I have discovered about what may be called the teqcher/student or parent/child, or employer/employee relationship dynamic. It is the foundation for the Montessori method of education, and through reading the writings of Maria Montessori, I have figured out what seems to be the real reason that we should/could all be so joyful, truly. It must be free of coerciveness...anything less is simply a fear that God will not fulfill his promises.
Well, as someone who has worked in evangelization professionally for the last 16 years, I'm thrilled that you've finally found the true nature of evangelization as promulgated by St. Paul VI in Evangelii Nuntiandi and Francis in Evangeli Gaudium.
Some Catholic organizations which say they're about evangelization are more interested in proselytizing, and often involve spiritually abusive practices. I'm very sad and upset that this colored (ruined) your understanding of evangelization for a time. Missionary discipleship in the way of accompaniment, guiding people into an encounter with Christ and trusting God to do the heavy lifting, is a lot harder for many people today than preaching or even debating because they want to control the outcome. Evangelization ain't that.
I think that if Alpha is run correctly--and I have seen it run incorrectly due to wrong, pushy attitudes of those working it--if it's run correctly, it is pure accompaniment, and I have loved that about it. It takes strong leadership in forming the workers, but to me it emphasizes in just the right way that it is all the work of the Holy Spirit, and we're just there to walk alongside. This takes great self-restraint and faith that God actually knows what he's doing with each individual whom he loves so much more than we do.
This gives me hope.
Amen, Paul. And thanks to Sarah.
Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing this, Paul! I’m grateful for you, my friend!