In the 1960s and 1970s, pre-evangelization was considered almost as an independent stage, prior to evangelization proper. Pre-evangelization had to prepare the non-believers and the unchurched or inactive believers for receiving God’s word through hospitality and concern. Warm hospitality, sharing of common views, removal of psychological or intellectual obstacles, service and witness were the way to lead the non-believers or the unchurched and inactive believers to the proper proclamation of the Gospel and consequent catechesis.
Positive aspects of this view are the emphasis on a preparation of a proper setting for accepting God's word and an awareness of the person’s readiness for a more formal faith development.
However, a problem arises if the different stages of evangelization are seen as independent and one superseding the other.
Some experts prefer distinguishing between implicit and explicit evangelization. Examples of implicit evangelization include the beauty of creation, the love of a parent, the compassion of a friend, the community life of a parish. These experiences prepare persons for more explicit ways of experiencing God’s word. This implicit evangelization is in a sense the equivalent of pre-evangelization.
Explicit evangelization happens when the proclamation of the Gospel is formally carried out.
In the last decades however a more global view of the evangelization process has been accepted.
Evangelization is seen as central to all ministries of the Church and continues throughout the lifetime of a Christian. It is not a separate ministry. It is important to remember that one’s ability to hear and respond to God’s word changes with age and the circumstances of one’s life.
The Church’s teaching indicates that evangelization is at the very heart and soul of the Christian life. It is not a stage in the process.
The General Directory for Catechesis, approved by Pope John Paul II in 19997, states:
“The missionary mandate of Jesus to evangelize has various aspects, all of which, however, are closely connected with each other: ‘proclaim’ (Mark 16:15), ‘make disciples and teach’ (Matthew 28:19-20), ‘be my witnesses’ Acts 1:8), ‘baptize’ (Matthew 28:19), ‘do this in memory of me’, (Luke 22,19) ‘love one another’ (John 15:12). Proclamation, witness, teaching, sacraments, love of neighbour: all of these aspects are the means by which the one Gospel is transmitted and they constitute the essential elements of evangelization itself.” (46)
