Fear and Evangelizing

One of the great privileges of working for St. Paul Street Evangelization is being able to travel around the country forming, preparing, and activating Catholics as evangelists. Our most popular workshop for the last decade has been “Basic Evangelization Training.” This day-long workshop culminates in the opportunity to go out together in groups of 2-3 to do 1 hour of street or door-to-door evangelization.

Those who go with us usually talk about how nervous they are to evangelize. Even though we just completed the workshop preparing them for their experience, there are still feelings of inadequacy, and “what-if?” worst-case scenarios fill their minds. Yet, every single time we get back together after an hour, without fail, I get to see how filled with awe and joy they are at their experience evangelizing out on the street. It is a beautiful experience for so many of them — not to mention for those that we meet and minister to on the streets.

However, as many of our evangelists will tell you, after a while the fear often sets back in. It’s not that people don’t want to evangelize, it’s that they are afraid, and they come up with any number of excuses to avoid going out with us:

What if I don’t know enough?

What if I am not outgoing enough?

What if people are aggressive or hostile?

What if I am embarrassed when someone gets the better of me when I am trying to evangelize?

What if I am robbed or beaten or killed?

What if I look foolish and my evangelization team thinks I’m a bad evangelist?

What if I don’t really know how to share the Gospel and evangelize?

What if I am not holy enough to evangelize?

All evangelists have these kinds of fears at one time or another. Even our executive staff will tell you that being nervous and having fears about sharing the faith is normal and may never completely go away. But it is possible to replace that fear with zeal, excitement, and enthusiasm for evangelization ministry.

A Scriptural Perspective on Fear and Evangelization

I recently gave a workshop for a midwestern diocese where the bishop attended the entire day. Before we started he asked me not to tell any of the over 100 people in attendance that we were going to go out to evangelize for an hour: “Spring it on them at the end so they don’t have a chance to think about it and leave early!”

I said, “Yes, Your Excellency!” … Normally we give folks plenty of time to get used to the idea, but I’m not going to disobey a bishop, especially one I count as a friend.

So I say,

“Okay folks, we are about 80% of the way through our workshop. Now, we are going to put into practice what we just learned. And I don’t mean a small group exercise. We’re going out to the streets. The street is simply a place to evangelize. All of the tools we have learned throughout today are applicable anywhere. So, let’s go do it together, as a team, for 1 hour.”

At this point, an older woman, sitting with her friends in the front of the room, raised her hand to get my attention:

“Hey hun, so umm, you think we (gesturing to her friends) are going to go out there on the street and evangelize right now?”

“Yes!” I replied.

The entire room chuckled.

“That is not going to happen,” she replied.

I took a deep breath and glanced at the bishop. I said,

“Okay, folks, here is what we are going to do. I am going to pray and the Holy Spirit is going to tell you what He wants you to do for the next hour. You are either going to go evangelize with the bishop and myself or you are going to go into the church to pray the Rosary as our prayer warriors, while we are out evangelizing.”

Interiorly, I prayed that at least more than 5 of the 100+ participants would join us.

I was stunned to see that all but 6 decided to join us. Including all of the “little old ladies” who moments ago had been chuckling at the thought that they would go out. The Holy Spirit got the “last laugh.”

When we gathered after an hour, I heard the same kinds of words that I always hear:

“That was one of the most powerful experiences of my life.”

“I am in shock. That was so much easier than I thought it would be.”

“I couldn’t believe how many people had a conversion experience or healing.”

“I didn’t end up having to argue with anyone in the end like I thought I would.”

“I am retiring next year and I am going to do this full time.”

In this way and others, St. Paul Street Evangelization builds a bridge of trust between the public square and the local parish. It’s easy. It’s non-confrontational. It’s life-giving. Yet even with experiences like the one described above happening almost every week all over the country, it is a wonder for us at SPSE that many Catholics who have just had amazing experiences end up not going on to become regular evangelizers. Our team leaders contact people to go out a few weekends after a mountaintop experience, and the answer is sometimes ‘no thanks.’

We have identified this as a fear-problem, not a being-too-busy problem. Old habits are hard to break, and fear creeps back in. Apparently, people need more time for evangelization to become a habit — or “second nature” — and overcome their fear.

Where does this spirit of fear come from and what can we do about it?

Let’s look at the scriptural background to the spiritual battle at play here. Scripture talks about this fear of rejection or persecution.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God… for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:6-7

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness.
Ephesians 6:12

If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first… because you do not belong to the world, the world hates you.
John 15:18-19

A spirit of fear was not unknown to the early apostles and disciples of Jesus. They scattered at persecution. They ran when teachings became difficult, like at the bread of life discourse in John 6. They trembled and ran away when Jesus was crucified. Our fallen nature makes us fickle. Even after the Resurrection when Jesus proved his power over death once and for all, St. Peter caved before those who required that Gentiles follow the Mosaic Law!

We are not unlike those early disciples of Jesus. We prefer old habits and patterns of living. Even after having a great experience evangelizing, we let fear and “what-if?” statements slip back into our mind and we have to remind ourselves once again that God is with us, and He uses us as instruments of evangelization. He is the only one that can convert hearts.

Scripture also informs us on how to overcome that spirit of fear. Take some time to meditate on these passages:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness… they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:29-31

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.
1 John 4:18

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness… for when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-3

Jesus knew well the role that fear would play in the life of Christian disciples, so scripture is saturated with teachings, stories and examples of the nature of fear and how to overcome it in the Lord. For Jesus overcomes the world.

Strategies to Overcome Fear

Here are some practical, time-tested strategies we’ve seen help Catholics overcome fear and hesitation when it comes to evangelization:

1. Pray Specifically for Boldness and Opportunities

Make it part of your daily prayer routine to ask the Holy Spirit for courage and specific chances to share the Gospel. Name the fear out loud in prayer and surrender it to the Lord. Use the prayers of the saints like the Come, Holy Spirit prayer, or use Acts 4:29 as your personal prayer: “Lord, grant me the boldness to speak your word.”

2. Lean on a Team (Don’t Go Alone)

Fear thrives in isolation. One of the reasons our model works is because we send people out two-by-two, just like Jesus did. Having a partner creates accountability, support, and encouragement.

3. Prepare Well, but Stay Simple

Fear often comes from feeling unprepared. But over-preparation can paralyze you. Focus on just three things:

Sharing a sacramental as an icebreaker.

Drilling down questions like “How are things really going?” “Do you need a miracle in your life?” “Can I pray for you?”

One invitation (to prayer, to church, to receive a sacrament)

You don’t need to have all the answers. You need to be a faithful witness.

4. Expect Initial Discomfort (and Don’t Fear It)

Normalize the fact that the first five minutes will feel awkward. Tell yourself ahead of time: “It’s okay to feel uncomfortable. I’m going to do it anyway.” The fear starts to evaporate the moment you start.

5. Celebrate Small Wins

Don’t measure success by conversions or long conversations. Celebrate the courage to show up. Celebrate each “God bless you” offered, each rosary shared, each smile or kind word. Success is primarily faithfulness, not outcomes.

6. Practice Repetition Until It Becomes Habit

Fear fades with familiarity. Commit to evangelizing regularly, even if it’s once a month. The more you do it, the less scary it becomes. Evangelization is like exercising a muscle—the more reps, the stronger you get.

7. Use Intercessory Prayer and Ask for Backup

Don’t underestimate the power of prayer warriors. When you go out, ask friends or family to pray specifically for you during that hour. Consider offering a Rosary before hitting the street.

8. Remember Your “Why”

Write down why you feel called to evangelize. Who are you hoping to reach? Why does this matter? When fear creeps in, revisit your “why” and let love, not fear, motivate your action.

9. Shift Your Mindset: Evangelization is an Act of Love, Not Debate

Fear often comes from imagining confrontation. But evangelization is an invitation, not an argument. You’re not there to win debates. You’re there to love people and invite them to encounter Jesus.

10. Accept that You Will Never Feel “Ready Enough”

Holiness is not a prerequisite for evangelization—it is, among other things, a fruit of evangelization. The Samaritan woman at the well encountered Jesus and immediately went out to tell others about Him. You are not evangelizing because you’re perfect, you’re evangelizing because Jesus is perfect. If you wait until you feel “holy enough,” you’ll never start. Instead, trust that Jesus delights to work through weak and willing instruments.

11. Ask for the Intercession of the Saints

Call on the saints who evangelized boldly: St. Paul, St. Francis Xavier, St. Philip Neri, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and Our Lady herself. The “great cloud of witnesses” is on your side. Ask them to pray that you receive an increase of courage.

12. Remind Yourself: The Holy Spirit Does the Heavy Lifting

At the end of the day, you are just the messenger. The Holy Spirit is the evangelist. Your job is to show up, love well, and speak truth with kindness. Trust that God will use even your smallest efforts.

Praised be Jesus Christ!