One key approach is to focus on personal testimony and lived

[Mary Naeem]

One key approach is to focus on personal testimony and lived experience rather than abstract arguments. Share how your faith has transformed your own life and brought you joy, peace, and meaning. Let your actions and the way you treat others be a living witness to Christ’s love. As St. Francis of Assisi wisely said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”

When engaging in dialogue about faith, maintain an attitude of respect for the other person’s views and experiences. Avoid a combative or superior tone. Instead, humbly share what you believe and why, while acknowledging that faith involves mystery and that none of us has all the answers. Be willing to admit what you don’t know or understand.

It’s also important to find common ground and shared values as a starting point. Focus on how Christian beliefs and values can contribute to the common good and human flourishing. Frame the discussion around universal human longings for love, meaning, justice, and transcendence.
Finally, be patient and don’t expect instant results. Planting seeds of faith is often a long process. Trust in the work of the Holy Spirit rather than trying to force conversions through argument alone. As Pope Francis reminds us, “The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! … Even the atheists. Everyone!”