You Have 60 Minutes

[Brother Adam]

You have 35 teens. 15 of them are Catholic, of those 15 maybe 5 of them are truly committed and faithful. 20 of them are friends of the Catholic teens. They are at your parish for an over night new years lock in. Most of the night will be spent on capture the flag, glow in the dark toilet paper dodge ball, bowling, movies, games type stuff. For 60 minutes though, you have the opportunity to present the Gospel. For another 60 minutes later in the night they will be at Adoration. Some of these kids do not believe in God. There will even be a militant atheist who will argue that science disproves the need for God. Many will be open if the Gospel is presented in the right way.

How do you evangelize them. What do you say? What would you want a youth minister to say to you?

[Lisa]

One of the most important things that my youth minister said to me in high school right before adoration was just about how much God loves each one of us. That Jesus didn't have to die on a cross, he chose to. We might refuse that offer, but it was made anyway- so we can be with Him always.

[Brother Adam]

Thanks Lisa!

[add]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1293404268' post='2194514']
You have 35 teens. 15 of them are Catholic, of those 15 maybe 5 of them are truly committed and faithful. 20 of them are friends of the Catholic teens. They are at your parish for an over night new years lock in. Most of the night will be spent on capture the flag, glow in the dark toilet paper dodge ball, bowling, movies, games type stuff. For 60 minutes though, you have the opportunity to present the Gospel. For another 60 minutes later in the night they will be at Adoration. Some of these kids do not believe in God. There will even be a militant atheist who will argue that science disproves the need for God. Many will be open if the Gospel is presented in the right way.

How do you evangelize them. What do you say? What would you want a youth minister to say to you?
[/quote]

appreciate your family, even if you don't get along, send more time together, call your mom in times of trouble and in good times too
JMJ

[Lil Red]

do they want to go hard in their lives, or go home empty-handed? Christianity is not for the weak-willed or spineless.

[Brother Adam]

Right, there are a lot of slogans to use, but I am working on putting together a 60 minute presentation. This is what I have so far.

Part 1:

A) Beliefs have consequences. (The Matrix)
B) Are we going to be a thing centered society, or a person centered society? Christ is calling us to a great adventure, something greater than ourselves. He loves us.

Part 2:

A) The Ruler of the World: What are the fruits of what the world is selling us? disease, destruction, depression, & death. The instant gratification of moral evil is itself a lie.
B) Conspire with Christ: Rebel against the status quo. Refuse to be deceived. Join Christ in overthrowing the ruler of this world.

Bible Study: John 6:66

[CatherineM]

Reach the ones you can, and try to keep the militant atheist from derailing you.

[Lil Red]

i wasn't suggesting a slogan.

[tinytherese]

Pray to the Holy Spirit to touch souls and have Him work within you. One hour isn't likely though not impossible to change a militant atheist. That takes time. You can point the atheists to resources though if they are interested and open. Kevin Yost not that long ago wrote about his reversion to the Church after being an atheist and how philosophers and scientists brought him back home to Rome.

[Luigi]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1293408713' post='2194537']
Reach the ones you can, and try to keep the militant atheist from derailing you.
[/quote]

THIS! Throw out good seed, and pray that it falls on good soil. Remember about the weeds, and the ground that gets frequently trod, and that some of them are mighty rocky ground. Your job is to cast good seed. And it sounds like you've got a plan.

[Micah]

Awesome. I have a suggestion for part 2 B. C.S. Lewis wrote about Christ as a secret agent. He's come here, behind enemy lines, and he's saving and converting as many people undercover as possible until the army comes, because when the army (angels) come, they're gonna take out everything and everyone that isn't saved. That image was always exciting to me and injects the sort of tension that captures the imagination.

Good luck brother, I'm prayin for ya.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Ask them what they're living for, whether it's worth it, and what really matters in the end?

[MissyP89]

Hmmm...what do I wish someone had said to me...

When you're a teen there are insane amounts of pressure to make friends, be popular, dress right, hook up (and as the years go by this has gotten more extreme at younger ages)...be a good son/daughter, get good grades. Be in clubs. Be successful. Don't crack under the weight of it all.

I wish someone had told me that my identity is not what this crazy, screwed up world says I should be...that I am loved and cherished for all my personality quirks and loves and interests. And that no matter how far I fell, Jesus fell further, because He never wants me to be alone. And that if I had just opened myself up a little tiny bit, He really would have helped me.

[Sarah147]

How about you bring some videos, pictures and stories of miracles? And especially Saint stories.

You could set up your pc and play them from youtube.

[TeresaBenedicta]

There are a lot of different avenues. I think you've chosen a good approach. Moments like these are when I'm particularly blessed to share my conversion story (which was a powerful experience from atheism to Catholicism), one that many young people can really relate to.

For Adoration, I might suggest somehow incorporating Bl. Mother Teresa's quote: "When you look at the crucifix, you see how much He loved you then. When you look at the Eucharist, you see how much He loves you now."