Only someone who has tasted failure would understand the atmosphere in the car that evening as we made the eight-hour trip home. So much effort had gone into the outreach event! At twelve, traveling with my dad and another missionary and his daughter who was close to my age, I was old enough to sense the heaviness in the air.

The plan had been to do a tent campaign, something that was very popular in those days. It involved a huge tent that could fit 200 -500 people, folding chairs, loudspeakers, a good soloist or maybe a quartet. And, of course, a good evangelistic message, with an invitation for people to come forward. Oh, and flyers distributed around the neighborhood in advance to invite people to come. This particular campaign lasted three days, if I remember right.

We had seen responses in other places. In fact, one of my best friends and her family had come to Christ through a tent campaign and were involved in our church. But as I heard the two dads talking in the front seat, it was obvious they were disappointed and confused. A long dusty trip, so much effort, and no results.

I hadn't been at all the meetings, so I piped up, "Didn't anyone come forward?"