Evangelization can be daunting—you want to share the message of Jesus, but you’re afraid of saying the wrong thing or not knowing where to start. Thankfully, there are resources designed to equip Catholics with the tools and confidence to spread the Gospel effectively. In this interview, Stephanie Parks, a missionary with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), shares her journey of faith, the inspiration behind the book Foundations for Discipleship, and practical insights on evangelization.
How To Evangelize For Catholics
A Missionary’s Testimony: Stephanie Parks’ Journey
Stephanie Parks grew up in a nominally Catholic household where faith wasn’t a frequent topic of conversation. Her first real encounter with Jesus occurred at a church camp in high school, but she lacked the support needed to grow spiritually. It wasn’t until college that she found a strong faith community through FOCUS.
After joining a Bible study led by a FOCUS missionary, Stephanie’s faith deepened, leading her to become a missionary herself. She initially planned to serve for two years but found herself continuing the mission six years later at FOCUS headquarters, where she now helps train new missionaries.
The Foundations for Discipleship Book: A Resource for Evangelization
While serving as a campus missionary, Stephanie learned about a project aimed at compiling FOCUS’s teachings into a comprehensive resource. The result was Foundations for Discipleship, a book designed to provide missionaries and students with clear, repeatable guidance on sharing the Gospel.
Instead of relying on scattered notes from training sessions, missionaries now have a structured tool to reinforce their evangelization efforts. The book offers a roadmap for building a strong faith foundation and equips readers with strategies for making disciples effectively.
The WIN, BUILD, SEND Model: FOCUS’s Evangelization Framework
FOCUS’s approach to evangelization follows a time-tested model used by the Church for centuries:
- WIN – Building relationships and winning people over to Jesus through authentic friendship, personal witness, and explicit Gospel sharing.
- BUILD – Forming disciples by strengthening their faith through prayer, community, and catechesis, modeled after Acts 2:42.
- SEND – Equipping disciples to become evangelists themselves, teaching them practical skills like leading Bible studies and sharing their testimony.
This cyclical process ensures that faith is not just received but also passed on to others, fostering a lifelong mission of evangelization.
Overcoming Barriers to Evangelization
One of the biggest challenges new missionaries face is transitioning from practicing their faith part-time to living it full-time. Many struggle with doubts, wondering if they are worthy or capable of sharing the Gospel.
FOCUS’s intensive training helps new missionaries surrender these fears to God and embrace their role with confidence. Evangelization isn’t about being perfect—it’s about allowing God to work through our weaknesses and inviting others to join us on the journey of faith.
Every Catholic is Called to Mission
Evangelization isn’t limited to full-time missionaries—every baptized and confirmed Catholic is anointed for mission. Whether in a formal ministry or within the family, each of us is called to share the Gospel and make disciples.
With resources like Foundations for Discipleship, Catholics can overcome fears and embrace their role in spreading the faith. As Stephanie’s story demonstrates, saying “yes” to God’s call, even in small ways, can lead to incredible transformation.
