Have you ever found yourself in a circle of honor? I did for just a few minutes many years ago. They were life-transforming minutes and I will never be the same.

Barely 17 years old and newly converted to Christ, I was in the foyer of my downtown home church wearing a robe and making my way toward the baptistery when it happened. My 68-year-old pastor, standing in line next to my unsuspecting parents and me, enthusiastically asked a visiting guest speaker, "Have you met this young man? Well, let me introduce you to him. This is Robert Crosby." Is he talking about me? I wondered. "God is doing great things in this young man's life and we are excited about his future!"

Although my pastor had ministerial duties to perform that night such as baptizing a bunch of new believes, hosting a guest evangelist, and leading the congregation, and no more than a few moments to spare, the words he chose filled something within me. At once I felt affirmed, appreciated, and significant. ...