“A lot of young Christians are not challenged to go beyond and live a life of excellence.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Christianity is declining in Canada. Even in the pews, recent studies show dismal numbers pray regularly or read the Bible. Despite religion’s struggle in the West, some ministries are thriving with models that are strengthening churches and growing their influence. National Evangelization Team (NET) Ministries is one example that is based right in Ottawa.

NET Ministries is a Catholic organization that aims to challenge Catholic youth to respond to Christ’s invitation to a personal relationship. One key to their success is who they send to evangelize the youth.

“As much as I want to say I understand what youth are going through these days, I don’t,” explains Pierre O’Reilly, who took on the position of executive director in July. “We have seen a huge increase in anxiety that wasn’t a problem when I was growing up. Having youth evangelize youth at such an impressionable age is so important.”

“One of the things we hear most often is that the work they are doing is fantastic, but the formation that these young men and women get is just top notch.” Photo courtesy of NET Ministries.

O’Reilly says youth, today, often need to see from someone they can relate to that Christianity is relevant.

“When they see an 18- or 19-year old standing up there and saying, ‘I believe in God, He has made all the difference in my life,’ that is more effective than using theology or apologetics.”

NET Ministries is approaching their 25th anniversary of training young men and women and sending them across Canada in small teams, engaging youth with the Gospel in churches and schools. That training is something O’Reilly sees as one of the ministry’s greatest strengths.

“You see a lot of young people who are Christians, but they are not challenged to go beyond that and live a life of excellence,” he says. “One of the things we hear most often is that the work they are doing is fantastic, but the formation that these young men and women get is just top notch.”

In recent years, NET Ministries has added another focus to their missionary teams, responding to the challenges many churches face. They now send out several teams every year to partner with parishes and schools and help build up effective youth programs.

“We don’t want to come in, do a youth retreat for a day, and then there is no sustainable youth ministry. We’ve seen that that is a growing need. As some churches shrink, they find it harder to hire or train youth ministers. That is a skill we are able to provide for schools and parishes.”

This year, they have 52 missionaries between eight teams. Half the teams are travelling, while the other half are helping build up youth programs in a set region.

Pierre O’Reilly joined NET Ministries as their executive director in July, 2019. Photo courtesy of Pierre O’Reilly.

“My real excitement is seeing the renewal of these parishes. Theology is fine, but at some point we need to get down to the brass tacks and evangelize the people who are in our pews and churches. We are seeing more and more opportunities to partner with parishes or diocese to [impart] that same mindset zeal for evangelization.”

Still in his first year on staff with NET Ministries, O’Reilly is looking forward to expanding those partnerships further and he is passionate about seeing increased renewal in the Catholic Church.

“I sense there is going to be a growth in our ministry. Our office is bulging at the seams. I see more churches getting interested and schools looking for ministry. The teenage years are very formative. If you can get them thinking about the faith and about Christ in that time, then by the time they get to university they have more of a base to stand on.”