FOCUS has been evangelizing for decades (praise God!) and we’ve been blessed to witness many conversions. This is due, first and foremost, to God’s grace and will, and also to our tried-and-true approach to evangelization, missionary discipleship. In this blog post, we’ll share our method and offer ways to help you become the best evangelist you can be.
PRINTABLE GUIDE
- Win, Build, Send: The Method Modeled by St. Ignatius
- The Three Habits of Missionary Disciples
- Additional Resources
First, what is “missionary discipleship” and how does it fit into Catholic evangelization? Missionary discipleship involves guiding others through the stages of encountering Jesus, deepening their faith, and training them to evangelize, as modeled by St. Ignatius.
In the early 1500s, Peter and Francis were roommates at the University of Paris, avoiding the vices of student life more out of fear than piety. Francis pursued a luxurious lifestyle, while Peter was undecided about his future. Their lives shifted when Ignatius, a former soldier turned devout Christian, became their new roommate. Ignatius quickly influenced Peter, but Francis resisted for three years despite Ignatius’ persistent efforts. Eventually, Ignatius’ challenge about the value of one’s soul moved Francis to embrace a life in Christ. Together, they co-founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), with Ignatius, Peter, and Francis becoming key figures in Catholic evangelization.
Have you been on a pilgrimage? Pilgrimage is one of the best ways to encounter our faith, as well as others who are walking the same path as us. Learn about why we go on pilgrimages here!
Win, Build, Send: The Method Modeled by St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius exemplifies missionary discipleship, transforming Francis from a worldly man to a saint. The Church outlines three phases in forming missionary disciples: Win, Build, and Send, marked by key moments of accepting Jesus and committing to mission work. Each phase has specific goals.
Win
The first step is leading people to a life-changing encounter with Jesus, turning from sin and following him as disciples. This involves introducing them to Jesus and his Gospel through personal witness. As Pope St. Paul VI said, “Above all, the Gospel must be proclaimed by witness.” Our prayers, life example, and genuine friendship guide others closer to Christ. More than any program, the living witness of faithful Christians is crucial.
“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:8
The Gospel
Living witness is crucial but not enough. After building trust, we must share the Gospel with words. As Paul VI said, true evangelization involves proclaiming Jesus’ name, teachings, and life. Inviting others to accept Jesus is vital, as Jesus emphasized in John 17:3. Without this interior conversion, teaching about the Faith often fails to deeply impact hearts. Once someone accepts the Gospel, we move from the “Win” phase to the “Build” phase, deepening their commitment to Christ.
Build
After accepting Christ, it’s essential to “build” them in the Faith. This involves regular formation, fostering prayer, fellowship, sacraments, and teachings (Acts 2:42). These habits deepen their friendship with Christ, helping them become more like Him. We model the Christian life, praying, and serving together, gradually teaching them to lead others.
The High Call to Mission
As disciples grow, we invite them to embrace Christ’s mission. True discipleship involves bearing witness and proclaiming the Gospel. We identify leaders using the FACT criteria: Faithful, Available, Contagious, and Teachable. We invite these individuals to participate in evangelization, understanding its importance and their role in it.
Struggling to stay focused during Mass? Or just want to learn more about whats going on? Read our guide here!
Send
The final phase, “Send,” involves training disciples to live out Catholic evangelization and form others who will do the same. Successful missionary disciples create a ripple effect, continuing the cycle of winning, building, and sending. Preparation and training are essential for effective mission work. Like St. Ignatius, we must train disciples to raise new missionary disciples.
Ongoing Process
These stages are continuous and overlapping. We continually win hearts, build faith, and send disciples on missions, fostering growth as missionary disciples.
Reflection
Are you prepared to win, build, and send others? Who in your life needs each phase? Are you willing to make the sacrifices necessary to help others grow?
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The Three Habits of Missionary Disciples
FOCUS identifies three key habits for missionary disciples: Divine Intimacy, Authentic Friendship, and Clarity and Conviction about the Little Way of Evangelization.
Divine Intimacy
Our primary goal as missionary disciples is to cultivate a deep friendship with Jesus. Evangelization is God’s work, and our effectiveness depends on our union with Him. As the Gospel says, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). We grow in union with Christ through prayer, fellowship, the sacraments, and learning His teachings (Acts 2:42). These practices help us continually renew our encounter with Christ and deepen our divine intimacy.
“What you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” – 2 Timothy 2:2
Authentic Friendship
In forming missionary disciples, we must do more than share the Gospel and Church teachings. We must genuinely love and invest in those we serve through authentic friendship. Like Ignatius with Francis and Peter, we need to spend time with them and share their lives, excluding sin. As St. Ignatius demonstrated, and as 1 Thessalonians 2:8 highlights, we must share our lives deeply with those we serve. Pope Francis also emphasized that evangelizers should engage with people’s daily lives, becoming true friends and not just leaders.
How do we live out our vocation as disciples? One way is by giving back to others, and this guide to the Works of Mercy and how to live them out gives you ideas on how to do that!
Looking to connect deeper with your friends, family, or fellow parishioners? If you’re looking for Bible studies for Catholic evangelization, FOCUS offers an array of studies, as well as a comprehensive guide on how to lead your best Bible study.
Clarity and Conviction about the Little Way of Evangelization
St. Ignatius had a clear and convicted mission of evangelization, investing in Francis and Peter and training them to evangelize. Following 2 Timothy 2:2, we must teach others to teach the Christian life. True disciples are both faithful and fruitful. We should have clarity about Jesus’ method of evangelization, which focused on investing in a few to transform the world. There must also be conviction in prioritizing this mission, seeing it as central to our identity as disciples. We should believe that this is the best way to effectively spread the Gospel.
Now, the question to you is, how can you begin to live these three habits more effectively? The value of this, not only to Catholic evangelization but also to your personal life, is priceless. Now get out there and live it out!
Additional Resources
PRAYER AND ACCOMPANIMENT CHART
The “Prayer and Accompaniment Chart” is a simple tool to help you form faithful disciples of Jesus. It is divided into three categories: Win, Build, and Send. You can write names and next steps for those you are guiding.
Primarily a prayer tool, it helps you pray for and entrust your disciples to God, seeking His guidance for their next steps.
Making Missionary Disciples by Curtis Martin goes even deeper into this part of evangelization, with practical ways on how to build a vibrant culture of faithfulness and fruitfulness. Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus by Sherry Weddell also dives into the practice of forming disciples and maintaining a vibrant Church.
Watch more from Curtis Martin in the SLS18 talk “The Method Modeled by the Master.”
Check out our blog posts, 10 Ways to Evangelize (as a Catholic) and How To Share Your Testimony (for Catholics) for more on Catholic evangelization.
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