These Young Preachers

I am amazed at the number of young people who have accepted the call to preach God's Word.
When I was a young preacher things were a little different. Growing up in a "old school" pentecostal church there were certain things that was, instilled in us.

During the early years we were taught how to fast, pray, and live holy lives. Now I know that word holiness scares some people but don't freak out on me.

It was a funny thing being the nephew of the Pastor, and the son of the Assistant Pastor I was raised seeing the trouble of ministry and the accomplishments of it also.

We all had preaching time, we all got a chance to do ministry work, and we all got proper training.

My good friend Elder Tony Leach, and myself would tag team preach...........we would be up do long until the church mothers started singing us down. When this happened Bishop Willie Howard gave us a good old fashioned wood shed heart to heart. Pointing his finger at us he said " you can't tell it all in one sermon, you don't know enough to be up on the floor more than ten minutes" .  Being young men who knew we were both called we were very obedient to those who had rule over us.

The point I am making is................young preachers get yourselves properly trained. I know that it may seem other young preachers are passing you and doing great things, and you are stuck at your home church. This is critical time for you. During this time serve at your church, getting all the hands on training you can, develop your time with God, study the word not for a sermon but to feed yourself. Watch out for the performance syndrome........be who God created you. There is only one Bishop Patterson, one Bishop T.D. Jakes, one Rev Frank E. Ray, one Pastor Stephen Brown, and one Pastor Ricky Floyd.
Young preacher you are a terrible somebody else, but are a terrific you.

Remember it is Godly character that people will know you for and not how well you can preach.
It is your willingness to stand by your pastor as Joshua stood with Moses.
It will be those who serve that will become great leaders.
Don't be money hungry, don't search for the spotlight, preach sound messages, and stay away from the sisters.

What God has placed in you he will perfect it so don't walk behind God, don't run in front of him, but walk with him. Agree with the plan he has for you.