So true.
Even evangelization is an inward and then an outward process. We must believe in our Church and then we can talk to others and invite them to take a look.
Yes, and St. Benedict enjoins us to begin any work with prayer, which is why the Benedictine motto is Ora et Labora. So I'd say the principle applies even to things which are not obviously religious in nature, such as academic study.
My own way of contributing to my parish is through "music ministry," as it's fashionably called these days. When I'm asked for advice by other choir members, I try to remind them that their task is not so much performance but prayer, and that their ministry consists in helping members of the congregation to pray more effectively. This is especially important, I think, with Gregorian chant, the "emotion" of which must arise from the text, interpreted prayerfully by those who sing it. But that's getting off-topic ...