Remember Oskar Schindler's last emotional words to his Jewish workers? At a time when he might have basked in his heroic accomplishments, he cried, "I could have done more!" Meaning that he could have "purchased" more Jews from the gas chamber had he sacrificed his fancy car, expensive suits, and glitzy jewelry.

This is not far from the feeling many of us have whenever we think about evangelism. As biblical people we affirm the "lost" state of humanity, the necessity of salvation, and the promise of abundant and eternal life to all who believe. We're obligated, by call, to proclaim these truths. But we are rarely satisfied with how much we've done. We identify with Schindler's wrenching cry. In a world so large, so spiritually empty, we all could do more.

As a pastor I constantly struggled against an institutional system that relentlessly sucked me into its center. It was easy to go an entire week without one substantial conversation with someone outside the faith. Then too, I know the fears ...