Conversion experiences have never excited me—at least as I felt they should have.
—Jim Abrahamson

I am a pastor with a terrible confession to make: I do not get excited about "soul-winning."

I can't help it. I feel guilty about it. I have tried to repent of it. I will go to therapy over it. But in the end I must honestly confess that altar calls and "Just as I Am" leave me cool if not cold.

Don't get me wrong: I have a passion for Christ, the gospel, and people. I believe that faith in Christ is essential to eternal life. But bringing people to pray to receive Christ is not what lights my ministry fire.

I can recall my student days at a leading Midwestern university where, as part of a campus parachurch group, I "led fellow students to pray to receive Jesus as their Savior." What could be more exciting, right?

Why did I not share the joy my staff worker did over one more lost sheep coming into the family of God? What was wrong with me? I loved God. I was serious about following Christ. I made ...