The Voice is arguably the best vocal talent search competition on television today. Vocalists from all walks of life audition in hope of gaining attention, revealing who they are as an artist, and sharing their stories and messages. There are many lessons aspiring performers learn from their experiences, but here is what The Voice taught me about evangelization.
Have a Platform (or create one)
The number one reason we hear the contestants we do is because they have found a platform to be heard! It may have taken years of dedication or even a lot of luck, but they have devoted their lives to being heard.
In order to evangelize others we must discover our platform for being heard. Our most impact will likely not be on TV but with those around us. Catechists have a platform with a select group. Parents have a platform with their children their entire life. Anyone with a job has the opportunity to evangelize at work. Make the most of your life so others will be drawn to what you have found!
Earn the Respect of Others
Contestants who are disrespectful or arrogant never seem to go all the way. Those reflecting authentic humility for the opportunity to be heard always are treated with more respect and appreciated for embodying this virtue.
Effective evangelizers who recognize their platforms also earn the respect of others as opposed to drawing arms. We are not entering a battle of who is right but hoping to share a great and wonderful loving God who offers gifts greater than those in the world.
Show Your True Self
The artists who can select a song that exemplifies who they are including style, message, and range always do best. It comes down to believability. Those who know who they are as artists are more believable.
Authenticity is the key to evangelizing. Knowing who we are as a child of God means we know why we share our faith and what our message is. If we present ourselves as authentic people who have faith and like to share it, we will have more believability with all we encounter.
Share Your Story
In just about every competitive reality show these days there is more and more emphasis on contestant stories and the struggles they have overcome to get there. Many times in The Voice it is music that has helped them through the difficult times. Stories fascinate people and we love to cheer on anyone who has overcome anything!
Likewise isn’t “story” the essence of our faith and salvation history? God chooses a people and makes a covenant to lead them to the Promised Land. The people, however, keep getting side tracked so God sends his only son Jesus to save them.
In every personal life is also a story – the same story with different details. God wants to be with him but we lose our way because of our own weakness and struggle. Eventually, we open ourselves to Jesus who leads us to salvation. We have overcome (with the help of a close and personal friend).
Recognize Your Journey
Some hopefuls are in this competition to win The Voice. Their goal is the end in itself. Whether they win or not, the reality arises that they are simply on a journey. Some with unrealistic expectation may end their musical journeys while others continue.
So it is with sharing our faith with others. The sole purpose is not really to see success at all – that’s a bonus. No, ultimately, we are there to share our faith with countless others until the end. This is our journey. Being an evangelizer is who we are and what we do. It is not only for others, but for our own selves as well!
These are some of the great things the Voice taught me about evangelization. So, how about you? Why don’t you evangelize us? My favorite part of evangelizing is _____________. (fill in the blank by commenting below)
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