Preacher makes pleas to convert (7)
I believe the answer is:
apostle
'preacher' is the definition.
(the apostles spread Jesus' message)
'pleas to convert' is the wordplay.
'convert' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'converted' mean this).
'pleas'+'to'='pleasto'
'pleasto' with letters rearranged gives 'APOSTLE'.
'makes' is the link.
(Other definitions for apostle that I've seen before include "Champion - one of twelve" , "Thaddeus, perhaps" , "Preacher perhaps" , "A follower of Jesus" , "Principal champion" .)