Young adults test the limits of their faith

By Blanca Morales - Florida Catholic

DORAL | It started with technical difficulties.

At a brewery as large and as open as The Tank in Doral, sound does not travel easily. Add to that loud and cheerful beer enthusiasts, and it almost looked as if the Theology on Tap event hosted by the archdiocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry was off to a bad start.

On top of all that, the speaker, Tim Gray of the Augustine Institute, had to catch a flight back to Colorado within the next hour. But his topic was, “Can you trust God?”

The crew organizing the event was put to the test rather quickly.

The emcee for the Theology on Tap hosted Feb. 1 wasn’t worried though, even if the venue’s sound system wasn’t what organizers hoped it would be.

A year ago, Ismael Lopez could not see himself emceeing an event, much less one for young adult ministry. But it was his attendance at a similar event that inspired this twentysomething to seek conversion as well as personal and spiritual growth.

Lopez, like several others in attendance that night, is taking part in the archdiocese’s Young Adult Parish Missionary Discipleship School, a program that prepares young people ages 21 to 29 to become peer ministry leaders throughout South Florida.

The formation program teaches participants to study scripture, share their testimony, and dive deeper into prayer and ministry. They listen to talks by guest catechists and take on challenges, such as emceeing events and serving at retreats, to grow in their leadership skills.

Among the challenges were to read the entire New Testament by a given date, to practice intercessory prayer with strangers throughout the city, to conduct street evangelization, and come face to face with the poverty that is often overlooked in Miami-Dade County.

In November, the Missionary Discipleship School students committed themselves to a year of training consisting of monthly weekend retreats, to be followed by a year of service at an assigned parish.

Carlos Rodriguez, a commercial real estate agent who attends Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Kendall, shared that learning as a group has helped them develop better relationships, teamwork and sense of community.

“Having deeper conversation on the faith and our own lives, sharing about our journey, discerning together... it has brought us all very close,” said Rodriguez, who had met some of the other members of the team through St. Augustine Parish’s young adult group.

His biggest takeaway from the Missionary Discipleship School, however, is learning how to share the faith.

“As Catholics, sometimes we feel ashamed of our faith, not being able to speak openly and confidently. (Discipleship school) has helped us be more comfortable and more able to talk about it publicly,” he said.

Marketing analyst Sergio Leon said he also grew in the ability to reach out without being overwhelmed by rejection. His challenge was to find individuals to pray with at a billiards and sports bar. All but one of those he approached allowed him to speak.

“It reminds me of the book of Acts,” said Rodriguez of his experience as an evangelizer. “The early Christians started by speaking out, praying out loud and growing in the Spirit.”

Leon said the experience has left him feeling bolder, as well as increased his trust in God.

Back at the Theology on Tap session, speaker Gray did not seem to notice the technical difficulties. Surrounded by vats of beer in a back room, he made himself heard by the Catholic young adults in attendance, demonstrating to the Missionary Discipleship students the trust in God he preached.

As Gray ran off to catch his flight, the students put their newly acquired skills to work by reaching out to the dozens of attendees. They’re hoping the next Theology on Tap, set for May and featuring renown international speaker Matt Fradd, will bring in more new people to plug into the youth and young adult ministries of the archdiocese.