There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database. For the children's author, see Michael Hall. For the author of the Island Pamphlets (Northern Ireland), see Michael Hall.
"... [A] new generation of builders is needed. Moved not by fear or violence but by the urgency of genuine love, they must learn to build, brick by brick, the city of God within the city of man." (St. John Paul II, 17th World Youth Day, Toronto, Canada).
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As part of the Catholic Christian's Outreach (CCO) Connect program I was invited to volunteer for this school year, I received this book along with other resources to prepare me for the role of student and faith study leader. Although I only got to read it many months later, I'm glad I did.
I haven't read many spiritual books before, but this one's conversational tone eased the comprehension of the content. Its epigraph does justice to the book's recurrent theme: outlining and explaining the tools and approaches to prepare Catholic youth to partake in their role in the mission of evangelization of the world. As a cradle Catholic, much of what I read was familiar thanks to my mother and her example in living the faith so devotedly. Nonetheless, the book still delivered me various lessons about being a better Catholic and how to better carry out my role in the Church's great mission: for others to get to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
The book's content of the book was presented in a very instructive way. At no point I found it overwhelming or intimidating. Rather, I wanted to keep reading to equip myself further. Hall interposes the movement and Church's teachings with several personal compelling anecdotes, resulting in a balanced didactic book for any Catholic seeking further resources in leading others.
While I have been applying the Intentional Accompaniment model this past semester with my faith study participants, I feel further prepared to employ it in the upcoming semester. I never really been someone to explicitly preach my faith because I believe that actions speak louder than words, but one of the main takeaways is that words are just as important (as a writing student, I know that better than anyone).
After reading this book, I feel that I have a manual in how to be an apprentice for a new generation of builders in a world that so desperately seeks hope, love, and faith in something beyond the material world. Here's to building this world together, with other Catholic youth worldwide. I can now confidently make myself instrument for God's plans in my life for His greater glory and mission.
A good book. Nothing heretical, good advice for evangelization. Also nothing groundbreaking though. I found it to be a little repetitive, but once again, it wasn’t heretical so that’s good.