Of the NNPA
Dear Gwendolyn:
I told my church that God called me to be a preacher. I have been preaching for six and a half years now. It will be seven years on May 16th. When I first started preaching, I was 11 years old and it was on the morning of a Mother’s Day holiday.
This is the problem: I don’t act like a preacher. I smoke weed and drink large amounts of alcoholic beverages. However, I manage to get the alcoholic smell cleared before having to get up close with church members on Sunday morning. My family found out about my habits because my younger brother told them.
I want to act like a preacher, talk like a preacher, and walk like a preacher. Instead, I act more like a gangsta having my pants sagging to my knees.
Gwendolyn, I do want to change. I am a preacher.
Reverend John W.
Dear Mr. John W.:
Thank you so much for taking time to write to me regarding your most serious problem. In calculating your age of being in the ministry since 11, you are 17 ½ closely approaching 18. You received your calling as a child while others often receive their calling after already experiencing their youthful corruptions. Child ministers have been known to fall to the temptations of the world. You are no different.
Before I continue, I want to inform you that your letter was rather annoying because of the spelling. You kept spelling you with just u, and gangster is not spelled gangsta. I am surprised your congregation have not cautioned you about that. It is not cool. Pretty soon you will forget how to spell. Please don’t fall into that ‘boys to men’ category where being cool fades. These boys (now men) find themselves unable to provide for reasons being lack of knowledge.
Now, back to the issue at hand. Your worldly ways at present are dominating your faith. Preachers have always been viewed as leaders and role models of the community. You must fight the temptations of the world, or go back into the world. You can’t have it both ways. There are already too many false and corruptible people in the ministry.
Let me tell you this: Acting like, talking like, and walking like a preacher will not make you a preacher. Think about it. It’s not in the way you act, walk, or talk. Being a preacher is in the Christian life that you live.