...But how do I share Faith?
Have Faith Conversations; Witness to God's Presence in Your LifeYoung people are exploring their beliefs and values. They are searching for a worthy adventure on which to embark; and adventure that gospel living surely is. Her are some simple strategies that will help you initiate faith conversations.
1.Share stories with each other
Stories have tremendous impact. If all you do as a sponsor is share how God has been moving in and through your life, you have given your candidate a gift of tremendous value. Share with each other the significant religious celebrations of your lives - compare "notes" about first communion, etc. Help your candidate identify what is uniquely Catholic about his or her life.
2. Affirm the actions of your candidate which witness to the Good News
Make direct connections for your candidate between what you see him or her doing and how it is a value and action of Jesus. Break open the Scriptures for the week and share how Jesus' teachings apply today.
3. Help your candidate explore how the events of his or her life are glimpses of the "vision of the glory of God".
Be comfortable with your candidate's questions and challenges. In order for belief to be meaningful, for God to be meaningful, young people need the space to explore their questions and doubts. They needs role models who will stand by them, be faithful to their searching, and not abandon them in their disbelief.
The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose.