At an international conference, a wide spectrum of views on the topic of ‘evangelism’ came to light. A group advocating a rather restrictive approach dominated much of the speaking time in the programme and the following discussions. On several occasions, I cautiously attempted to introduce an alternative perspective. During the breaks, I decided to speak openly to certain leaders about the issue and share my discomfort with them. I hadn’t expected that several of those I spoke to would share my concerns. All attempts to raise the issue in the plenary session failed. I felt a sense of disappointment welling up inside me, which I also verbally expressed. I remained engaged in the conversation. A few days after the conference ended, I received a reply by email saying: “I, too, often think back on our meeting and the wonderful conversations we had. I really appreciated your criticism, and you were absolutely right. I’ve discussed this with my organisation, and we’re considering the direction our work will take in future. So you’ve actually inspired me to think about it.”
