One of the outstanding attributes of this congregation–and there are many–is its approval and encouragement of young preachers.  The encouragement accorded them by the people here has been a valuable contribution to quite a number of young men who have decided they want to preach.  

 

Jarrett Ferguson and I have been talking about preaching.  He’s 15 and can’t drive yet, but he wants to become a preacher.  I told him I would work with him some this summer to get him started in the right direction.  His Mom is now bringing him to my office periodically and we study about preaching–preparing material, reading the Scriptures, making sermon outlines, and a host of other related fundamentals.  At the first meeting, I asked that he write a piece on “Why I Want To Be A Preacher.”  I found it to be well done–actually, rather exciting.  I’d like to share it with you.  Here is a preacher, just waiting to happen:  

 

“There are many reasons why I would love to be a preacher, but I feel like there are three reasons that stand out the most.  I want to help people, I love studying God’s word, and it feels like the right thing for me to do.

 

I’m not sure why it is, but I’ve always wanted and enjoyed helping people.  I suppose it’s just the way I’ve been raised.  Now I realize there is a golden opportunity for me to not only help people, but to help God.  One of the first things you tod me this past Monday was, ‘Preaching is not an occupation, but rather a way of living life.’ I feel like I have already been living this way of life from July 25, 2010, the day I was baptized.  A life of devotion, a love of God’s word, a life of prayer, persecution, and a life of helping whoever needs it in what ever way it is needed.  Now I see that everyone needs help, and the way they need it is spiritually.  I want to be a preacher because I want to help people in whatever way it is needed.

 

I remember from a toddler up I’ve had a great interest in participating in Bible class.  From a young age I’ve loved studying history, but particularly the Bible.  I understand that preaching isn’t meant to be fun, and that it will often be extremely heart-aching and difficult, but I believe it’s necessary to love and enjoy it in order to be successful. I don’t recall and athlete who hasn’t enjoyed their particular sport, and they certainly couldn’t have succeeded if they dreaded that sport.  For the same reason I want to be a preacher, because I love studying God’s word.

 

When I walked into your office this past Monday, you asked me why I wanted to be a preacher.  I honestly didn’t know exactly why I wanted to be a preacher, or at least how to put it into words.  Every time I get up in front of the congregation to do whatever it may be, I feel like I’m doing the right thing.  I feel like I’m in the right place.  I feel like it’s my duty that God has appointed to me.  God has blessed me with many gifts that I believe I can use to be a preacher.  So I believe it is my obligation to be a preacher.

 

The list could go on and on, but I believe those are the three key reason I want to, and should, be a preacher.  I feel obligated, I love studying the Bible, and I want to help everyone get to heaven.”

 

And so, God willing, perhaps another preacher is on the way–one of several who started right here.  Aren’t you proud?  May God help Jarrett to become what he has decided to become, and bring many souls to Christ. Thank you for how you have encouraged young men to preach.