Reply #50: Oh, I know that, unfortunately (IMO) oftentimes

[JerseygirlCT]

the "mission" is all about pushing religion on people, and very little about helping them in tangible ways.

But really - it's not always that. These trips that the young people in my parish have been taking involve kids from all over the country - and from not just the Episcopal church, but also other mainstream churches.

And I suspect that the people involved (kids and the adults accompanying them) get at least as much from the experience as the people being helped.

I just think it's a whole lot better to walk the walk - and let people get from that what they will - than to make the help you offer contingent on talking at them...

But I have to say, it was the same for me growing up in a Roman Catholic church. We just didn't do that proselytizing thing.

As an Episcopalian now, I know one of those inside jokes is that evangelism is the "E-word"... we shy from it. I think it's more that we shy from the sort of brow-beating, all talk no action stuff practiced elsewhere. We'd rather be welcoming and try to act our faith. If people want to know more, they'll ask.

I'll just also add that my husband, an agnostic Jew who pretty much disdains most religious practice, has said he'd want our son to do one of these trips when he's old enough. First time he's been the one to encourage a church activity, lol.