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Search and Rescue: How to Bring Your Family and Friends Into or Back Into the Catholic Church by Patrick Madrid
You don't have to become a biblical scholar or a theologian to be an effective spokesman for the Catholic Faith. In fact, even though you don't know all the answers and can't explain every aspect of the Faith, you can begin winning souls to the Church right now . . . using prayer, friendship, and common sense. It sounds almost too good to be true, but in Search and Rescue Patrick Madrid explains why these are among the most effective, time-tested methods for bringing family and friends into — or back into — the Church. As the publisher of Envoy magazine, author of many apologetics books (including Surprised by Truth 2), and a veteran defender of the Faith, Madrid himself has used these methods successfully for years.But Madrid doesn't give you only the benefit of his own considerable in Search and Rescue he also includes simple and genial advice from St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine, and other great lovers of God. Get Search and Rescue — the book that shows you how you can start winning souls for Christ today!
Paperback
First published June 1, 2001
36 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Madrid
69 books90 followersPATRICK MADRID is the publisher of Envoy Magazine, a journal of contemporary Catholic thought, and the director of the Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey College. Since its inception in 1996, the Envoy team has garnered numerous journalism awards, including several first-place awards in the magazine-of-the-year “General Excellence” category from the Catholic Press Association.
Patrick is the author or editor of 14 books on Catholic themes including, Pope Fiction, Search and Rescue, Does the Bible Really Say That, 150 Bible Verses Every Catholic Should Know, and The Godless Delusion: A Catholic Challenge to Modern Atheism (Spring 2010). He edited and co-authored the acclaimed multi-volume Surprised by Truth series.
He has published numerous popular articles on Scripture, Church history, patristics, apologetics, and evangelization in various Catholic and Protestant periodicals, and he has contributed scholarly articles on apologetics in the New Catholic Encyclopedia.
Active in apologetics since 1987, he worked at Catholic Answers for eight years (from January 1988 to January 1996), where he served as vice president and helped co-found that apostolate's flagship magazine, This Rock, in January of 1990.
Patrick is a cradle-Catholic, not a convert. By God's grace, he was raised in the Catholic Faith and has been a practicing Catholic his entire life.
Growing up in Southern California, he attended grammar school at the Mission San Juan Capistrano parish school, where for years he served as an altar boy for the parish's daily Traditional Latin Mass in the famed Serra Chapel. Ever since his boyhood, Patrick has loved the Traditional Latin Mass.
Patrick earned a bachelor of science degree in business from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor of philosophy degree (B.Phil.) from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, where he is completing a master's degree in dogmatic theology. He has also done graduate studies in theology at the University of Dallas.
He is the host of several EWTN television series, including “Pope Fiction,” “Search & Rescue,” and "Where Is That In the Bible?" and he hosts the Thursday edition of EWTN Radio's “Open Line” broadcast, heard on approximately 150 AM & FM stations across the United States, as well as on shortwave and on the Sirius Satellite Radio Network (Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. ET). He is also a regular guest on the "Catholic Answers Live" program and Sirius Radio's "The Catholic Channel."
Patrick serves on the board of trustees of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, CA, on the board of directors of St. Gabriel Catholic Radio, in Columbus, Ohio, and on the board of advisors for Catholics United for the Faith, Immaculate Heart Radio Network, and Catholic Scripture Study International. He authored all the original website content for CatholicsComeHome.org, where he also serves as a theologica
Patrick is the author or editor of 14 books on Catholic themes including, Pope Fiction, Search and Rescue, Does the Bible Really Say That, 150 Bible Verses Every Catholic Should Know, and The Godless Delusion: A Catholic Challenge to Modern Atheism (Spring 2010). He edited and co-authored the acclaimed multi-volume Surprised by Truth series.
He has published numerous popular articles on Scripture, Church history, patristics, apologetics, and evangelization in various Catholic and Protestant periodicals, and he has contributed scholarly articles on apologetics in the New Catholic Encyclopedia.
Active in apologetics since 1987, he worked at Catholic Answers for eight years (from January 1988 to January 1996), where he served as vice president and helped co-found that apostolate's flagship magazine, This Rock, in January of 1990.
Patrick is a cradle-Catholic, not a convert. By God's grace, he was raised in the Catholic Faith and has been a practicing Catholic his entire life.
Growing up in Southern California, he attended grammar school at the Mission San Juan Capistrano parish school, where for years he served as an altar boy for the parish's daily Traditional Latin Mass in the famed Serra Chapel. Ever since his boyhood, Patrick has loved the Traditional Latin Mass.
Patrick earned a bachelor of science degree in business from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor of philosophy degree (B.Phil.) from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, where he is completing a master's degree in dogmatic theology. He has also done graduate studies in theology at the University of Dallas.
He is the host of several EWTN television series, including “Pope Fiction,” “Search & Rescue,” and "Where Is That In the Bible?" and he hosts the Thursday edition of EWTN Radio's “Open Line” broadcast, heard on approximately 150 AM & FM stations across the United States, as well as on shortwave and on the Sirius Satellite Radio Network (Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. ET). He is also a regular guest on the "Catholic Answers Live" program and Sirius Radio's "The Catholic Channel."
Patrick serves on the board of trustees of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, CA, on the board of directors of St. Gabriel Catholic Radio, in Columbus, Ohio, and on the board of advisors for Catholics United for the Faith, Immaculate Heart Radio Network, and Catholic Scripture Study International. He authored all the original website content for CatholicsComeHome.org, where he also serves as a theologica
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 11, 2008
Got a free copy of this book, and I think it may be useful.
Well, now that I've started the book, I can tell that it's something I can't read straight through once. It bears reading and reading again. I like the sentiment "Evangelize always. Use words when necessary." But that's hard! Both parts! Patrick Madrid says that the fact my close relatives are not Catholic is apparently a God's plan - to use me as a way to bring them home... He also says that nothing is impossible for God. Which is true of course, but when he describes the features that an evangelist should have: humility, love for God and love for "the neighbor", prayerful life -- I realize how far I am from that ideal. Really. Especially, since I've just recently prayed about humility and resolved to practice it with God's help, and then on vacation it all went haywire. I didn't pray as much; I was thinking more about myself than about others; I was grumpy with little provocation... He had some useful tips, though; that's why I think I'll need to read and reread.
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I've gotten an opportunity to witness in my life, and decided to go one with the reading of this book looking for the tips. Once I decided I'm going to do it, the reading went smoother. I think the author should have moved the section on the excuses we make earlier! It does make some sense having it after the preparation, but still...
The book is choke-full of tips. I particularly like the advice on pages 192-194 about being patient.
At the end it also provides a list of suggested books to read afterward, with descriptions of what they are about and subdivided into Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced. I think Preliminary is the longest category, and Advanced the shortest.
Well, now that I've started the book, I can tell that it's something I can't read straight through once. It bears reading and reading again. I like the sentiment "Evangelize always. Use words when necessary." But that's hard! Both parts! Patrick Madrid says that the fact my close relatives are not Catholic is apparently a God's plan - to use me as a way to bring them home... He also says that nothing is impossible for God. Which is true of course, but when he describes the features that an evangelist should have: humility, love for God and love for "the neighbor", prayerful life -- I realize how far I am from that ideal. Really. Especially, since I've just recently prayed about humility and resolved to practice it with God's help, and then on vacation it all went haywire. I didn't pray as much; I was thinking more about myself than about others; I was grumpy with little provocation... He had some useful tips, though; that's why I think I'll need to read and reread.
---
I've gotten an opportunity to witness in my life, and decided to go one with the reading of this book looking for the tips. Once I decided I'm going to do it, the reading went smoother. I think the author should have moved the section on the excuses we make earlier! It does make some sense having it after the preparation, but still...
The book is choke-full of tips. I particularly like the advice on pages 192-194 about being patient.
At the end it also provides a list of suggested books to read afterward, with descriptions of what they are about and subdivided into Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced. I think Preliminary is the longest category, and Advanced the shortest.
November 15, 2013
Being a convert myself I can relate to everything he's saying in this book. I think that this book should be read by anyone who is wanting to evangelize - I see so many well meaning Catholic people pushing Protestants, or former Catholics, away on a daily basis. It's so easy to push people away, either by being over zealous or by getting caught up in a pointless argument and letting tempers flare. This book is not a magic answer for converting anyone, but it will teach you some very practical tips for having a good conversation with anyone you are wanting to share your faith with. It's absolutely recommended.
September 13, 2024
A FAMED CATHOLIC APOLOGIST GIVES SUGGESTIONS FOR SHARING ONE'S FAITH
Editor Patrick Madrid (born 1960), is a Catholic author, TV/radio host on EWTN, apologist, and the publisher of Envoy Magazine; he has written many books such as 'Where is That in the Bible?,' 'Answer Me This!,' 'Why is That in Tradition?,' 'A Pocket Guide to Catholic Apologetics,' 'Pope Fiction: Answers to 30 Myths and Misconceptions About the Papacy,' 'Any Friend of God's Is a Friend of Mine: A Biblical and Historical Explanation of the Catholic Doctrine of the Communion of Saints,' etc.
He also edited the series, Surprised by Truth: 11 Converts Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic, Surprised By Truth 2: 15 Men and Women Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons For Becoming Catholic. (v. 2), and Surprised by Truth 3: 10 More Converts Explain the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic (v. 3).
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2001 book, "you'd think that by now I would have managed to bring all my friends and family members into---or back into---the Catholic Church. Not so! And that's one of my greatest sorrows: although I can draw to Christ the souls of strangers, I sometimes find myself unable even to get a hearing from some of those I love the most. I'm not alone... I've met thousands of other Catholics in my situation... heartbroken because someone near and dear to you has left the Church or refuses it... This book is for you... and for those you love who are outside the Church. In it, I'm going to share with you what I've learned from my own mistakes and successes..."
He reveals, "Eric is a member of my family... A major reason for Eric's fall away from the Faith was that he had been repeatedly 'propositioned' by a Catholic priest who himself secretly lived an active homosexual lifestyle. Eventually, the priest weakened Eric's resolve. 'If even a "good" priest could be so willing to do this,' Eric later confided in me, 'why should I say no to it?' Scandal weakened him in the face of temptation and allowed him to be engulfed by it." (Pg. 64)
He admits, "It's true that some Catholic parishes ARE boring, but that's irrelevant. Some priests give lackluster sermons at best. Other parishes have lively preaching, but the people in the pews seem cold and disinterested in newcomers.... some Catholic parishes... tend not to preach the hard truths of the Faith, and you sense there a general theological malaise in areas of objective truth... none of these things touches on the issue of whether the Catholic Church is the one true Church established by Christ." (Pg. 73-74)
He recalls how on a call-in radio program, a Protestant minister quoted 2 Cor 5:8 "to disprove the Catholic teaching on Purgatory... But he misremembered the verse. It actually says, 'Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.' In other words, the actual text doesn't exclude the possibility of Purgatory." (Pg. 108)
He advises, "I used a technique that's especially helpful in discussions with door-to-door missionaries who have canned presentations. I call it 'redirection': I politely steer the conversation away from their prepared presentation and into a theme of my choice." (Pg. 141)
He ruefully recalls how he convinced a Southern Baptist to visit a Catholic Church: "I opened the door and came face-to-face with a large church hall full of several hundred Catholics... playing BINGO... These Catholic gamblers were into the game, oblivious to anything except their chance of winning that pot of money... Nearly everyone, it seemed, had a cigarette dangling from his lips... The smoking, the drinking, the whooping and hollering, the carousing! I was mortified. Bob was overwhelmed by this kaleidoscope of Catholic scandal. All his prejudices against Catholics were inflamed and confirmed in that instant. It was as if I had opened the gates of Hell in front of my Southern Baptist pal and said, 'Welcome to the Catholic Church, Bob!''... I didn't know what to say, and he was embarrassed for me." (Pg. 218-220)
This is an excellent book for Catholics interested in sharing their faith with others.
Editor Patrick Madrid (born 1960), is a Catholic author, TV/radio host on EWTN, apologist, and the publisher of Envoy Magazine; he has written many books such as 'Where is That in the Bible?,' 'Answer Me This!,' 'Why is That in Tradition?,' 'A Pocket Guide to Catholic Apologetics,' 'Pope Fiction: Answers to 30 Myths and Misconceptions About the Papacy,' 'Any Friend of God's Is a Friend of Mine: A Biblical and Historical Explanation of the Catholic Doctrine of the Communion of Saints,' etc.
He also edited the series, Surprised by Truth: 11 Converts Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic, Surprised By Truth 2: 15 Men and Women Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons For Becoming Catholic. (v. 2), and Surprised by Truth 3: 10 More Converts Explain the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic (v. 3).
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2001 book, "you'd think that by now I would have managed to bring all my friends and family members into---or back into---the Catholic Church. Not so! And that's one of my greatest sorrows: although I can draw to Christ the souls of strangers, I sometimes find myself unable even to get a hearing from some of those I love the most. I'm not alone... I've met thousands of other Catholics in my situation... heartbroken because someone near and dear to you has left the Church or refuses it... This book is for you... and for those you love who are outside the Church. In it, I'm going to share with you what I've learned from my own mistakes and successes..."
He reveals, "Eric is a member of my family... A major reason for Eric's fall away from the Faith was that he had been repeatedly 'propositioned' by a Catholic priest who himself secretly lived an active homosexual lifestyle. Eventually, the priest weakened Eric's resolve. 'If even a "good" priest could be so willing to do this,' Eric later confided in me, 'why should I say no to it?' Scandal weakened him in the face of temptation and allowed him to be engulfed by it." (Pg. 64)
He admits, "It's true that some Catholic parishes ARE boring, but that's irrelevant. Some priests give lackluster sermons at best. Other parishes have lively preaching, but the people in the pews seem cold and disinterested in newcomers.... some Catholic parishes... tend not to preach the hard truths of the Faith, and you sense there a general theological malaise in areas of objective truth... none of these things touches on the issue of whether the Catholic Church is the one true Church established by Christ." (Pg. 73-74)
He recalls how on a call-in radio program, a Protestant minister quoted 2 Cor 5:8 "to disprove the Catholic teaching on Purgatory... But he misremembered the verse. It actually says, 'Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.' In other words, the actual text doesn't exclude the possibility of Purgatory." (Pg. 108)
He advises, "I used a technique that's especially helpful in discussions with door-to-door missionaries who have canned presentations. I call it 'redirection': I politely steer the conversation away from their prepared presentation and into a theme of my choice." (Pg. 141)
He ruefully recalls how he convinced a Southern Baptist to visit a Catholic Church: "I opened the door and came face-to-face with a large church hall full of several hundred Catholics... playing BINGO... These Catholic gamblers were into the game, oblivious to anything except their chance of winning that pot of money... Nearly everyone, it seemed, had a cigarette dangling from his lips... The smoking, the drinking, the whooping and hollering, the carousing! I was mortified. Bob was overwhelmed by this kaleidoscope of Catholic scandal. All his prejudices against Catholics were inflamed and confirmed in that instant. It was as if I had opened the gates of Hell in front of my Southern Baptist pal and said, 'Welcome to the Catholic Church, Bob!''... I didn't know what to say, and he was embarrassed for me." (Pg. 218-220)
This is an excellent book for Catholics interested in sharing their faith with others.
November 3, 2022
Now to be honest, I was hoping Madrid would have some formula or magic words that I could use to instantly bring family to and back to the Church. Obviously, there is no one magic way to awaken their faith and invite them into the Church.
Madrid begins the book advising the first thing we must do to evangelize our friends and family is to "develop the virtues of an apostle." These virtues modeled by St. Francis de Sales include: Prayer, Absolute trust in God, Humility, Perseverance, and Love. Second, you must ask yourself if you want to share the faith for you, or for God? We must keep our ego in check and acknowledge that it is God who will grant them the grace of conversion, not us. The book continues with specific question, examples, agenda items and prayers for each of us to utilize in our own evangelization of our friends and family.
Search and Rescue provides the reader with tools to learn more about the faith, understanding the knowledge builds our confidence in defending our morals and beliefs. I gained wonderful insight in how to talk to people in a non-confrontational, non-combative, non-defensive manner. Madrid offers various methods for approaching people depending on where they are on their own faith journey. His footnotes offer direction for specific arguments and he provides an expanded bibliography for continued reading and study.
I wasn't convinced that reading the book had made much of an impact on me - until Jehovah's Witnesses confronted me recently. Suddenly, different parts of the book made perfect sense and I found myself filled with confidence to trust in myself and God for putting me on that path.
This book is not the end of the journey of Search and Rescue but a wonderful place to start the arduous task of being prepared to defend the faith and spread the word with loved ones and strangers alike.
Madrid begins the book advising the first thing we must do to evangelize our friends and family is to "develop the virtues of an apostle." These virtues modeled by St. Francis de Sales include: Prayer, Absolute trust in God, Humility, Perseverance, and Love. Second, you must ask yourself if you want to share the faith for you, or for God? We must keep our ego in check and acknowledge that it is God who will grant them the grace of conversion, not us. The book continues with specific question, examples, agenda items and prayers for each of us to utilize in our own evangelization of our friends and family.
Search and Rescue provides the reader with tools to learn more about the faith, understanding the knowledge builds our confidence in defending our morals and beliefs. I gained wonderful insight in how to talk to people in a non-confrontational, non-combative, non-defensive manner. Madrid offers various methods for approaching people depending on where they are on their own faith journey. His footnotes offer direction for specific arguments and he provides an expanded bibliography for continued reading and study.
I wasn't convinced that reading the book had made much of an impact on me - until Jehovah's Witnesses confronted me recently. Suddenly, different parts of the book made perfect sense and I found myself filled with confidence to trust in myself and God for putting me on that path.
This book is not the end of the journey of Search and Rescue but a wonderful place to start the arduous task of being prepared to defend the faith and spread the word with loved ones and strangers alike.
April 17, 2020
Excellent advice for bringing others to The Church, whether it be Catholic or Protestant. Jesus said He had sheep in other flocks. We are to love and care about bringing people to Christ; not filling churches. Even Madrid ended with egg on his face when he took his Protestant friend to the Catholic Church. I believe God was saying bring the lost sheep to me, those who do not follow Christ.
December 24, 2009
This book is useful and quite instructive. Its reading plan will take years to complete but is loaded with books I have already considered; it will focus my reading for years to come.
Read
December 31, 2019.
February 5, 2021
This book is garbage. It is an instruction manual for being a scumbag con artist. The author probably made a pile of money off of it though.
November 23, 2015
A good book but just a little more basic than I was looking for.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews