[.ca] Search and Rescue: How to Bring Your Family and Friends ... (ISBN 192883227X)

Excellent Apologetical Starter Guide:
Patrick Madrid takes you step by step, situation by situation, into the nuts and bolts of what it means to witness to others. He teaches with a gentle prodding to stop making excuses and get out there to bring the true faith to others. He systematically breaks down all the requisites one needs in order to be an apologist who is "always ready to make an account of the faith that is within him." If all of that were not enough, at the end of the book he compiles a comprehensive reading list from beginner to advanced so that one may slowly become familiar and acquainted with both theology and the prevailing anti-Catholic, anti-God, and secular humanist arguments that most Catholics are faced with at one time or another in their life. This book is an excellent introduction to apologetics, and lays out a very clear and concise list of "steps" one should take in learning, re-learing, and witnessing their Catholicism to others. Madrid leaves no stone unturned and definitely prepares the new recruit for a battle unlike any the world has ever seen. However, I would also recommend this for the more advanced apologists as well that they may remind themselves of what they migth have forgotten in the midst of their constant battles. I highly recommend this book and guarantee you will find it quite informative, not to mention, an excellent reference book when you move from beginner to more advanced. God Bless

The Harvest is Great... Why are You Waiting?:
Absolutely phenomenal work. Patrick Madrid gently takes you by the hand and shares his experience and wisdom in sharing the Gospel. Addressing the unique scenarios of people who 1) have never been in any church, 2) are in a Protestant Church and are hostile to the Catholic Church, and 3) used to be in the Church, but are now "ex-catholics" who fall into either category (1) or (2) above, Madrid equips you to handle almost any situation, to be able to interact with almost any person. In each chapter, Madrid looks in depth at each unique situation, shares his experiences, practical wisdom, suggested reading, and a few spiritual exercises to boot. Each chapter ends with a time of reflection for you, a time of prayer (with specific printed prayers at the end of each chapter), and a list of "next steps," which cover such things as "pray the rosary once a day for a month for the person you're witnessing to," or "spend one hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament, praying for your potential convert." He also provides examples from saints, such as St. Francis DeSales, who were successful in the work of evangelization. Madrid places the focus where it should be: not on impressing your potential convert with head-knowledge, but on personal holiness that will allow you to exhibit a loving, caring attitude towards this individual, so that your very life, not just your words, will be an invitation to join the Church. However, Madrid does not forget the intellectual side of the preperation, and he gives a very helpful step-program, with a list of books at the end of his book that you should read for further study. He breaks this up into several phases, reading lighter material in the early phases, moving into heavier theology in the later phases. All in all, a very practical, very helpful book. All it needs is a support group for people using Madrid's methods... (...)

Manual for the New Evangelization:
This is the one book that really opened my eyes to the reality of the issues about most non-catholics. This book is the practical guide to anyone who always wanted to share their Catholic faith to non-catholics but don't know how. Offer lots of Prayers for the conversion of non-catholics and then follow what this book says. It is not our clever arguements that converts people but the loving grace of Jesus Christ our God. As St. Francis said: "Evangelize always using words only when necessary." This 'Search and Rescue' book really shows 'How to Bring Your Family and Friends Into, or Back Into, the Catholic Church.'

Fulfilling the Great Commission--Catholic style!:
Before I read this book, I thought my days as an evangelist had ended the moment I came home to Rome. Patrick Madrid is proof that the task of evangelizing is not purely a Protestant endeavor. He not only explains *why* we should help our friends and loved ones come into the fullness of truth of the Church, he gives lots of practical and sensitive advise on *how* to go out there and do it.

Helpful but not very:
This book could have been much more helpful. It does give good quotes from the Bible, lessons he has learned, and examples from history to help along the way. However, most of what he says seems obvious at times. Even though it's obvious, it's good advice, but advice that is hard to follow. The recommeneded reading list is a great addition at the back of the book to help people begin reading about the Catholic faith.