Nearly two years ago, Jason Evert arrived in Cincinnati for a quick visit -- packing in nine talks in three days. All but two of the talks were mandatory all-school assemblies. Even in the voluntary audiences, seats were packed, as hundreds (500 people at one of the evening events) strained to hear every word.
The topic? Chastity.
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| A packed house at the Ruah Woods- sponsored event in 2010. |
The audience? Primarily teenagers.
When Brandon Vogt opened this year's list of 100 Catholic Speakers for bloggers to choose a speaker to research or interview or otherwise introduce to the blogosphere, I didn't hesitate to choose Jason Evert.
After earning an undergraduate and graduate degree at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Jason Evert became a staff apologist for Catholic Answers. His chastity speaking ministry has taken him across the world, speaking to more than 100,000 people each year, often times along with his wife Crystalina.The attractiveness of Jason and Crystalina's message is not simply the content of their words ... it is their authenticity. The passion, creativity, humility, and genuineness of their witness and work are not based on their sheer willpower, but on their receptivity to what the Lord has given.
For "Support a Catholic Speaker Month," Jason Evert graciously accepted my request for a written interview to learn more about how he approaches his role as a Catholic speaker.
What first led you to public speaking ... and
specifically in the realm of chastity?
Jason: I began helping out with youth group retreats when I was
in high school. By the time I was in college, I began leading the retreats for
a youth group near my campus while also volunteering as a sidewalk counselor.
These experiences gave me a deep understanding of what teens are going through
in their relationships, families, etc. Many of the teens on the retreats were
wrestling with their faith because of sexual issues, and just about every one
of the young women who entered the abortion clinic was there because of the
absence of chastity in her life. Because of all the hurt I was seeing, I wanted
to reach out to the teens, in order to show them how to find the real love they
deserve. When I would talk to women who were 30 minutes away from getting an
abortion, all I could think of was "Why couldn't I have met this girl six
months ago, or back when she was in 7th grade? If I had talked to her then
about the benefits of chastity, maybe she wouldn't be in this difficult situation
today."
After I graduated from Franciscan University, Catholic
Answers hired me to do apologetics work in 1998. While explaining and defending
the faith, the beatitude “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see
God” often came to mind. This verse from Scripture tells us that those who are
not pure of heart will have a difficult time seeing God in this life, or in the
next. As I began to direct more of my energy to bringing the message of purity
to teenagers, I found that it was a terrific way to evangelize them. You take
the subject that’s most on their minds (sex), and wed it to their ultimate end
(God) by teaching them the truth about both.
What is the greatest challenge of being a
Catholic speaker? What is the greatest
gift?
In terms of the greatest gift, it has to be the joy of
witnessing young people change their lives. Following the presentations, I keep
in touch with many of the teens through email. My favorite ones are when the
students write to me years after the assembly. I love hearing about how their
future relationships are so much better than the old ones.
Here are a few examples of stories that have brought me
tremendous joy:
A stripper watched the chastity DVD of our talk, and quit
her job . .
. after making a
visit to the strip club and showing it to the other women. She now gives
pro-life talks.
A few years after having been found innocent when he lied
in court, a rapist turned himself in after watching our chastity presentation
on DVD.
A teen in Michigan told me she had planned to kill
herself the night of my presentation. Her suicide note was written, her funeral
clothes were laid out on her bed, and the pills were sitting on her nightstand.
However, after the chastity talk, she realized there was hope for her, and she
chose life.
A teenage couple emailed me the picture of the baby they
were pregnant with during my assembly. They said that they probably would have
aborted her if they didn’t hear the talk.
A 17-year-old girl was invalidly married to a 24-year-old
abusive drug addict. After the presentation, I met with her and encouraged her
to drop him, return to her family, and pursue her dreams of becoming a Broadway
dancer. She emailed me years later, saying that she’s a junior at a university
in New York city, and plans to send me tickets to her first show. She added
that she’s now dating a great Catholic guy who treats her like a queen.
I never cease to be amazed at what the power of a hundred
convents of praying nuns can do!
Did your approach, content or method in
presenting chastity change during your stages of engagement, marriage and
becoming a father?
Jason: Some people wondered if my chastity presentation would
still be effective after I was married with children. Thankfully, I've come to
realize that the teens are still engaged by the message and are even better
able to see the fruit that comes from practicing chastity prior to marriage.
Furthermore, I'm now in more of a position to explain the necessity of the same
virtue within marriage.
What keeps you from burning out?
Jason: When I was single, I would sometimes travel and speak up
to 28 days per month. But now that I'm married with a family, we've made some
guidelines to keep the ministry in check. For example, my wife and I have
worked out a plan where I only travel 9 days a month, and only two nights at a
time. We also restrict my international trips to 3-4 visits per year. Also, I
only give about three or four talks each summer. So, for 22 days of the month
during the school year and about
28 days of the month during the summer, I'm home with my
wife, helping with the kids. My vocation comes before my ministry, or neither
will last. Setting those boundaries and sticking to my prayer life has helped
me from getting burnt out. As one priest taught me, "The most important
word you need to learn in order to become an effective apostle is 'no.'"
Jason: Much of my content consists of encounters I've had with
teens around the world. As I experience new stories, I try to incorporate them
into my presentations. Also, I try to keep up to date in terms of my
statistics, research, and theology by staying in tune with the latest findings
and insights from the CDC, sociological journals, theologians, etc. But in the
end, my goal is for my speeches to be not only the result of my personal study,
but most of all, my contemplation. My hope is that God would speak to my heart,
and that from that fullness, I can speak to the hearts of the teens.
If you could summarize the goal of your ministry
in one sentence, what would it be?
Jason: To help people to become pure in heart, so that they will
see God in this life and in the next.
Any new projects you're excited about?
Jason: My wife just recently launched a website called www.womenmadenew.com that ministers to
women who feel broken and are longing to feel whole again. Also, she and I
wrote a book called "How to find your soulmate without losing your
soul" and people can get copies for only $2 a piece at www.howtofindyoursoulmate.com.
The point of the steep discount is to encourage people use the book as a
low-cost evangelization tool. For example, the woman cutting my hair two days
ago opened up to me that God saved her from a life of prostitution and prison,
and that she now ministers to girls in the same situation. I offered her copies
of the book, and she asked for more than a dozen to share with the young women!
..................................................................................................................
If you are unfamiliar with Jason Evert's speaking gifts and articulation of the virtue of chastity, then it is certainly worth your time to watch a few clips of his work.
A clip from the television program, "The Pure Life" about modesty:
Jason Evert tackling the question of pornography:
So, how can one learn more about bringing Jason Evert to deliver the beautiful message of chastity to local youth? For starters, visit Jason and Crystalina's website, a resource packed with insightful Q&A, saint quotes, encouragement, statistics, downloadable talks, and information about Jason's books and recorded programs.
Next, call Catholic Answers at 619-387-7200 for booking.
In closing, I'd like to add that Jason seems to me a model for Catholic speakers. He has a true gift for articulating the beauty and goodness of the Church's teaching. And this gift is grounded in a humility, prayerfulness, and authenticity that says, "Jesus is the one you are looking for, and He is the one who is looking for you too."
Next, call Catholic Answers at 619-387-7200 for booking.
In closing, I'd like to add that Jason seems to me a model for Catholic speakers. He has a true gift for articulating the beauty and goodness of the Church's teaching. And this gift is grounded in a humility, prayerfulness, and authenticity that says, "Jesus is the one you are looking for, and He is the one who is looking for you too."
Just listened to your CatholicLighthouse CD--edge of my seat in wonder for the abundance of God and the compelling response of those who are committed to the Lord.
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