Evangelism in our culture can be . . . complicated. Books and "how-to" strategies for sharing the gospel abound, but why is working for the Great Commission so challenging? Here's one take on the root (and fruit) of the issue. - Paul

I'm no stranger to evangelism. By the age of 12 I was confidently washing windows at gas stations and handing out free bread, hoping to show love and start conversations about Jesus. I was taught that Christians were to make disciples, and I was willing to step into any task with that goal.

But a number of years down the road, I got to see evangelism from the other side of the table. At the University of Wisconsin in Madison, I heard peers discuss run-ins with various campus ministries. Sadly, it was an ugly sight for them. I even had Christian friends who dreaded encounters with "one of those people who knock on your door." The ministries had good intentions, but where they tried to communicate love, all that I saw was damage, ...