Servants of the Cross proceeds from a model of evangelization and conversion of the individual, the married couple and the family—then on to the renewal of the Church and the transformation of the world. The prevailing model skips the evangelization and conversion of the couple and the family and then (in a futile effort) aims at renewing the parish and the world. Ah yes, Saint John Paul II reminded us that, “evangelization passes through the family”.

Far too often a husband complains that since his wife got interested in her faith, he has been living as a widower and their children as orphans. The charge is made by wives as well, about their husbands. The problem here can uncover a lack of understanding of the Sacrament of Matrimony. In God’s plan, the grace and mission of Matrimony is to serve, not primarily in the parish, but rather as a family who is present to help transform the world. But more basic than that fundamental misunderstanding of marriage is a faulty model for evangelization and conversion.

Most of our evangelization efforts as Catholics (and, to a great extent, the same can be said for Christians in general) focus on bringing the Gospel message to an individual and then getting him or her serving in the Church (as in the graphic above). So, for example, the person attends a program designed to present the kerygma (the basic Gospel message); and as a response or a follow-up the candidate is exhorted to serve in the parish or in a movement within the Church. After making a Cursillo weekend, ACTS, an Alpha course, Search, TEC or some other presentation, the supposition is made that this person is ready to get to work on serving others as part of a team or ministry. This same supposition shows a lack of understanding of how the body of Christ is organically constituted and functions. We are not created to be isolated Christians but families.
Every person needs to experience what St. John Paul II called, in Ecclesia in America, an encounter with the living Christ. The person is certainly the essential starting place for renewal:

The person "is the primary route that the Church must travel in fulfilling her mission: the individual is the primary and fundamental way for the Church, the way traced out by Christ himself, the way that leads in variably through the mystery of the Incarnation and Redemption". – John Paul II. CFL #36.

And while it is true that each person must begin to serve, basic conversion is not yet complete.

Saints Paul and Peter, in their New Testament letters, have instruction on the “household codes”, acknowledging that a renewal is needed in the whole family if the Body of Christ is to be healthy. Paul makes healthy marriage and family relationships a requirement for leadership.

One of the beautiful aspects of the Servants of the Cross mission is that we address the need for a conversion and spiritual renewal for the individual, the couple and for the family as a model for the church’s evangelistic efforts (as in the graphic immediately above) and as a foundation for leadership in a parish pastoral ministry, a movement, or a major service in the Body of Christ. Even a very simple Protestant model, of being evangelized and then getting started evangelizing, must take relationships into account. This is true not only where adults are being addressed, but much more so for youth and young adults. Friendships need to be taught and fostered, dating and social relationships have to be brought into line with healthy human and Christian values, social media need to be examined and utilized within boundaries of justice, charity and chastity. We all need to be taught what is friendship and how can it grow in our lives (read more).