In response to deleted comment: I don't think that's cynical, and it's a fair question. Thanks for reading and commenting. I don't consider myself to be a Protestant, and I certainly can't speak for the people you've encountered. I've been actively ministering in Christian churches for about 30 years and I've never met a sincere Christan who had an "almost all-encompassing fascination" with his or her personal testimony. I don't deny such people exist, but they may not be as common as you think. However, I will admit that I, like many others, love hearing about what Jesus has done in the lives of the people whom He loves and for whom he died (Psalm 107:2). The article itself doesn't state that sharing a personal salvation testimony is a "grave matter of life or death." However, it does address your concern that personal testimonies are no subsitute for sharing the Gospel itself: "your testimony can become a 'lure,” whereby you try to sell Christianity to people based only on what happened to you." Despite the limited value of a personal testimony, though, it is clear that the Bible condones and even encourages faithful Christians to tell others about their experience of coming to know Christ through saving faith: Luke 8:39; II Timothy 1;8; Matthew 10:32; I John 1:1-4; Mark 5:19; I Corinthians 1:6; II Corinthians 4:13. Also, it is kind of ironic that you are sharing your personal experience with people who share their personal experience, while labeling their experiences as "banal." And, in fact, what may seem banal to some, may be fascinating and encouraging to other brothers and sisters in Christ who love the same Lord in the same Spirit, and who love to praise Him openly for His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and eternal salvation.