“FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH!” (1 Tim 6:12) Gary Stephens, an ex‐amateur boxer and boxing coach at Bury ABC and father of seven children reflects on his journey into full time ministry as a Catholic Lay Evangelist within the Catholic Church: Ever since I can remember I have felt a burning desire within me to proclaim the Word of God (Cf. Jer 20:9). But like many I drifted away from the Church pursuing my own interests. I began boxing at the age of 13 and had my last contest in 1993 at the age of 27. In 1987 I got married to Joanne and over the next 7 years we were blessed with six amazing children. Through the grace of God, in 1992 the faith of my childhood was re‐awakened becoming involved as an apostolate of the Divine Mercy into care homes, hospitals, prisons, the streets and door to door. I experienced many blessings during this time but the desire to proclaim the Gospel still remained. In 1998 I experienced a Baptism of the Holy Spirit whilst attending a Paul Course run by the Nottingham Pilgrims where this desire was finally realised! Over the next few years I attended several more courses and also became an associate member of the Pilgrims gaining valuable experience in the New Evangelization! Called to Australia In February 2002 as a family we were discerning whether or not to enact a migration visa allowing us to live and work in Australia. Thomas my second eldest child was 12 years old when he shared a dream: “Jesus Crucified in front of a large map of Australia motioning and beckoning us towards Him with His right hand. Then the Crucifix turned into a Jumbo Jet and flew across the face of the map!” After much discernment we arrived in Australia in August 2002. I met the late Bishop Joe Greche (R.I.P) in the October and before I knew it I was coordinator of the School of Evangelisation in Melbourne and on the National Executive of the Australian Schools. Under Bishop Joe’s directorship the Lord truly blessed the work we did including the establishment of a Parish Evangelisation Formation Programme forming over 25 Catholic Evangelizers in a single parish and which was later multiplied to many parishes across Australia. Before leaving, one of our final projects under the guidance of Bishop Christopher Prowse was to train evangelisers to be more creative in their ministry i.e. “new in its fervour, new in its methods, and new in its expression.” (John Paul II 1983) Working closely with the Sion Community in England, Monica McArdle came to Australia and delivered a course forming participants with gifts of Signing, Mime, Art, Dance, Music and the use of technology. These newly acquired skills were then used in the lead up to WYD 2008! From Australia into the desert It didn’t take long for us to resettle in England ‐ after securing employment we moved into our family home, the children back into schools and colleges and I was speaking regularly at the Prince of Peace Community in Liverpool and supporting Days of Renewal in the North West! However, In Johns Gospel Jesus warns His followers to be brave because they will face hardship! (Jn 16:33) It was around this time that as a family we entered such a time of hardship: A serious assault on my 15 year old son who very nearly died and was left partially paralysed, personal illness, sustained periods of unemployment, reduced incomes, the loss of our family home and my dear mother’s death. But at the heart of this period of hardship, the Lord sent us our seventh child Joshua, a child who has brought uncountable blessings causing us to “rejoice in our sufferings" (Cf. Col 1:24). Formation is a must Just like the Olympic boxer who prepares for a contest through rigorous training, we too, as ‘soldiers for Christ’ (2 Tim 2:3) are called to train and mature in the Faith! (Cf. Evangelium Gaudium, No. 121) Responding to this need and influenced by my mother, during this time of hardship I began a degree in Divinity at the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham involving a systematic study and analysis of Christian doctrine through the study of sacred Scripture, the works of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church and documents of the Magisterium. Now, because of these studies, all work I do as a Lay Evangelist must take account of the hierarchy of truths as defined by the Church, that is: • The Mystery of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Creator of all things • The Mystery of Christ the incarnate Word, who was born of the Virgin Mary, and who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation • The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, who is present in the Church, sanctifying and guiding it until the glorious coming of Christ, our Saviour and Judge • And the Mystery of the Church, which is Christ’s Mystical Body, in which the Virgin Mary holds the preeminent place. (General Catechetical Directory no. 43) Past skills and experiences As well as catechetical formation we all acquire many worldly skills and experiences as part of our journey of faith! With some of these skills in mind, evangelisers must use "whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing and whatever is commendable" (Phil 4:8) for the glory of God! In 2010 I was employed as a Lay Chaplain in Catholic education where I was challenged to reach out to disaffected pupils. One of the principle techniques learnt through the Pilgrims Community was the importance of personal testimony and inculuration i.e. meeting people where they are. With this in mind, I opened a non‐contact boxing club in school where I was able to test the hypothesis (as part of a Divinity degree) “To what extent can non‐contact boxing be used to aid the inculcation of Christian virtues and the integral development of pupils in Catholic secondary schools”. The catechetical boxing programmes were greatly blessed: one boxer from Year 11 accepted an invitation to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, another tough boxer in year 9 was assaulted in the playground but decided to turn the other cheek and another boy who was continually in trouble with the police decided to apolgise for the troubles he had caused! I was also greatly encouraged as a copy of this dissertation was requested by the Pontifical Council for the Laity Library ‐ Church and Sport section at the Vatican! Into full time ministry Recently I completed my first project as a full time evangelist, working with Fr. Pat Deegan and Our Lady’s charismatic prayer group in Moss Side presenting a course on evangelisation over 6 weeks. I am also thankful to Rev. Bernard Loveland who invited me to speak at the October Day of Renewal in Preston. Through the strength of the Holy Spirit, who is the principle agent of evangelisation (Evangelii Nuntiandi 75), I am continuing to develop kerygmatic evangelisation courses for use in prisons and youth catechetical courses which utilize sport. As I continue this exciting journey I am constantly reminded of the words of St Paul “Woe to me if I do not evangelise”. (1 Cor 9:16) Therefore I encourage all Catholic evangelisers to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim 6:12), with the full armour of God, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes ready to proclaim the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph 6:15‐17) to persistently proclaim the gospel message whether the time is favourable or unfavourable. (2 Tim 4:2) An Imperishable Crown In closing, when addressing Olympic medal winners, John Paul II reminds his hearers that the sacrifices they have made, has won them a crown, that one day will wither, but the imperishable crown means not losing sight of the finish line, or fighting as though we are shadow boxing. (1 Cor 9:25‐26) This is a reminder then, of the necessity, not only for a training of muscles, but also for a training of the spirit, through the exercise of the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance and the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. (John Paul II Speaks to Olympic medal winners, November 24, 1984) Gary’s ministry is mainly to proclaim the Word of God and pass on the teachings of the Catholic Church. He speaks at Life in the Spirit Seminars, prayer groups, days of renewal, retreats and conferences and in schools and prisons. His website is www.integritasintus.co.uk and can be contacted via e‐mail at [email protected] or on mobile at 07825 528225. <Note this website is currently under construction>