Our Pastoral Council, Parish Representatives and staff have been working on developing new branding material to support the church’s evangelization efforts.
In looking for a parish “tagline,” literally dozens of potential phrases were suggested that might create interest in the church. The groups collectively chose five from the many for continued discussion. One, although not the one initially in first place, was “Come and see.”
A short time later, the senior leadership team traveled to Atlanta for a seminar, thanks to a grant from the Trinity Foundation, called The Amazing Parish. The conference specifically prepares parishes to transform what they do to evangelize today’s world. Curtis Martin, the president of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) opened his presentation with a quote from John 1:39, when two curious disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus where He was staying. Jesus turned to them and said, “Come and see.”
Who were those two disciples? Andrew, and John the Evangelist.
Only six verses later, Philip met Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses spoke in the law, – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip replied, “Come and see.”
Upon our return from Atlanta, the gospel that very Sunday was about the woman at the well, who left her water jar, went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
Evangelization involves walking alongside people who are seeking help and wholeness. Our genuine interest in their spiritual welfare, our prayers, and our involvement with them say without words, “Come and see. Let’s walk together, and I’ll take you to Him.”
Come and See.