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About Basic Evangelization Training™
“Now is the time to commit all of the Church’s energy to a New Evangelization.” St. John Paul II
Basic Evangelization Training is among the most hands-on, practical, and dynamic evangelization workshops available for Catholics today. It is also our most popular workshop. Participants will gain the courage they need to be enthusiastic and joyful evangelists as they overcome any fear they have to share their faith through a series of presentations, small group work, role playing, and prayer ministry.
We offer one and two-day workshops. Participants who complete the training will receive basic certification, membership on our online training site, and materials to engage their parishes and schools in the work of evangelization. Participants will learn through hands-on demonstrations as they practice using methods and tools that really work. This training is useful for all kinds of evangelization, not just street evangelization. Whether you want to evangelize family and friends, with a program at church, coworkers, or on the street, you’ll find a lot here to use.
“As a Church, we are called to evangelize and bring the good news to the world. Each one of us has a story to tell about how Christ has changed our lives. St. Paul Street Evangelization will give you the tools you need to articulate your relationship with Christ to a hungry, broken world. In the Twin Cities, SPSE taught over 150 Catholics to be evangelists. What a thrill to see them on the street talking to people who were looking for God.” Jeff Cavins
When so many of our efforts in promoting the New Evangelization are focused primarily on catechesis about evangelization, St. Paul Street Evangelization teaches Catholics, no matter their previous education or experience, how to share their faith effectively and enthusiastically with others.
Workshop Outline
These are some of the sessions that may be included in the Basic Evangelization Training workshop, depending on the schedule and time allotted. We need at least 6 hours of instructional time to complete all of the sessions and small groups. We need at least 8 hours to complete the full workshop and run a live lab. About 50% of our workshops include a live lab.
Part I – Evangelization in a Lost World
“Find Someone Who” Game
Session 1 – The Urgency of Evangelization
Exercise 1 – Conversation Starters
Session 2 – The Identity and Mission of the Evangelist
Exercise 2 – The Journey of Discipleship
Session 3 – Icebreakers and Etiquette of the Evangelist
Exercise 3 – Give Away a Miraculous Medal Role Play
Part II – The Evangelization Model
Session 4 – 10 Ways to Bring Fallen Away Children (and Others) Back to the Church
Exercise 4 – Small Group Discussion
Session 5 – How to Effectively Share Your Testimony
Exercise 5 – Write down and share your testimony
Session 6 – How to Effectively Share the Gospel
Exercise 6 – Small Groups or Exercise
Session 7 – The Role of Apologetics and One Good Reason
Exercise 7 – One Good Reason
Session 8 – The Role of Prayer & the Holy Spirit
Exercise 8 – Prayer Ministry
Part III – Live Lab
The best way to learn how to evangelize is to go and do it in a real-life setting. The optional live lab is a chance to take your faith to the streets, where we evangelize together for 1 hour using the simple, non-confrontational methods we learned during the workshop. It’s always an incredibly grace-filled time.
Endorsements
I heartily endorse St. Paul Street Evangelization. I attended their Basic Evangelization Training Workshop here in the Diocese of Pittsburgh in May and witnessed firsthand the contagious joy and enthusiasm of the presenter and the effect it had on the participants. They couldn’t wait to hit the streets and go share their faith!
The SPSE program is comprehensive and applies practically to the lives of people today. It is faithful to the teachings of the Church and the call to the New Evangelization. I am sure that their ministry will bear much fruit for evangelization in the years to come.
– Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid, Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh, Vicar for Evangelization (Full Text)
“Recently, my office hosted Saint Paul Street Evangelization’s Basic Evangelization Training (BET) workshop. It is an event that I recommend for a diocese or parish for a number of reasons. The workshop was genuinely “basic” in the sense that it did not presume prior formation in evangelization. This made the workshop accessible to anyone who wished to attend.
The workshop also gave attendees basic evangelization knowledge and skills that are applicable to all forms of evangelization, not just street evangelization. The skills that were developed can be used in the setting of parish, school, family, and door-to-door, as well as in the street.
Finally, the content of the workshop was authentically Catholic. The BET roots everyone in an understanding of Christ-centered evangelization that proceeds from the heart of the Church. Attendees came away with a stronger sense that evangelization relies on prayer as its source of efficacy and it showed them what gifts and tools are available to us in the Church to help us evangelize. Of particular importance was the instruction in the use of sacramentals for efficacious evangelizing.
I recommend the Basic Evangelization Training as a practical and genuinely effective aid in igniting the new evangelization in a diocese or parish.”
– Meghan Cokeley, Director, Office of the New Evangelization, Archdiocese of Philadelphia [ Full Text ]
“Yesterday’s Evangelization Training was beautiful, practical and inspirational. It lifted my heart to hear someone speak so passionately about relationship with Jesus Christ! I was also lifted up going around to the small groups and listening to some of your stories. May we all be salt of the earth and light to the world as we share the Good News of the Gospels!!”
In the Church, there are many worthwhile efforts being made to further the New Evangelization heralded by Pope Saint John Paul II. Among these, I enthusiastically recommend the work of St. Paul Street Evangelization. “SPSE” helps Catholics bring the gospel of Jesus Christ from our churches into our communities, where it meets people of all walks of life who in one way or another hunger for God. Lapsed Catholics, Protestants seeking more, non-Christians starving for truth – all of these are reached by the apostolate.
– Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez, Director of Diaconal Formation [ Read Full Text ]
Over forty people gathered at a parish in the diocese of Rochester, New York to be trained by Adam Janke of St. Paul Street Evangelization. The training provided a wonderful theological and practical foundation for evangelization. Those in attendance agreed that the training gave them not only an understanding of the necessity for evangelization today, but also the tools needed to engage in evangelization. Since the evangelization training in March we have established an SPSE Chapter in Rochester with a growing group of evangelists who are joyfully spreading the Gospel at public markets, parks and the local baseball stadium. My hope is that my diocese will continue to embrace this kind of practical training and encourage more people to be trained for street evangelization. I’m grateful for St. Paul Street Evangelization for their commitment and zeal for the Gospel.
– Fr. Mike Mayer, Rochester, NY
“The live training has proven to give Christ’s followers the confidence, the knowledge, and the experience to boldly proclaim the Good News of Salvation and to take the Catholic faith into the streets. The Church has been calling forth for a New Evangelization, and St. Paul Street Evangelization has taken the Wisdom of the Church and has placed it into the hands of Her disciples. I am proud to work with my brothers and sisters in the Lord to accomplish a task so desperately needed in the world today.”
– Chris Gawel, Director of Young Adult & Campus Ministry, Archdiocese of Detroit
“I am very impressed with your training and with the work of SPSE.”
– Kyle Neilson, Director of Adult Evangelization & Discipleship, Archdiocese of Vancouver
“The Office of Evangelization has sponsored several successful training events with the SPSE. And without hesitation, I give thanks and praise to God for their presence with us and for what the Lord will continue doing through this grassroots, Catholic evangelization ministry.” [ Full Text ] – Fr. Eduardo Montemayor, SOLT, STL, Associate Director, Evangelization and Hispanic Ministry, Archdiocese of Detroit
We answered what we think, and now know, was a sincere call from that same Holy Spirit, to attend an outreach program to train us to go out and proclaim the good news of salvation of Jesus Christ through the JOYFUL proclamation of the KERYGMA. As you guys so skillfully presented to us that, as you told us what Pope John Paul II said: “The moment has come and is here NOW!”, it is on us to go out and present what we have been enlisted to do by our commitment to the new evangelization. I personally hope that I am up to the challenge to go out and do what I suspect was very hard for you to do for the very first time. THANK YOU and all who helped put on the training program at Sacred Heart Seminary.”
– BET Participant
“A boost to my soul!”
– BET Participant
“Great information. Evangelization is not as frightening a topic as I thought it would be. You made this a very comfortable, intriguing presentation.”
– BET Participant
“Wonderful presentation! Faith filled, full of the Holy Spirit.”
– BET Participant
“Very practical tips on how to evangelize. Great group discussions among the attendees. Long live this ministry! God Bless You!”
– BET Participant
“This training provides guidance and courage for many who are not sure how to share their faith!”
– BET Participant
“Thank you for the inspiration to draw closer to Jesus.”
– BET Participant
“Wonderful, educational and inspiring workshop!”
– BET Participant
Costs
All of our workshops are heavily subsidized by St. Paul Street Evangelization. We do not have a set amount we charge (though we do provide guidelines); instead we ask that your team prays about what to give as a donation for our work.
Expenses include transportation and accommodations for the speaker, making copies of handouts, and the return shipping on any leftover items from a sales table.
Workshops that include the “live lab” may have additional costs for materials to use during evangelization.
Finally, you are also responsible for any hospitality or meals you offer your participants. You may recoup your costs by charging participants a fee to attend. Most groups charge $25-40 per person. We will provide online registration and deduct any money collected from your final invoice.
We provide a registration portal and marketing materials to our hosts.Â
Use the form below or email Adam Janke at adam@stpaulse.com with questions or to set up a workshop.Â
Host a Workshop
Please use the form below if you are interested in hosting a workshop or talk at your diocese, parish, retreat, or other event. If you are a team leader for St. Paul Street Evangelization and would like to host a kick off training, please use this form. If you would like to attend a workshop, please see this list of upcoming workshops, or register as a partner and take our online School of Evangelization.
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