Kids as young as seven years of age are not only getting saved but standing at the pulpit preaching the message of salvation in front of congregations and on the streets.
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(Photo: AP Images / File)Terry Durham, a young Fort Lauderdale preacher, sings to the congregation in April 2006 at the Ambassador Reverend Chief Divine Ministry Outreach in Riviera Beach.
Samuel Boutwell, 7, began preaching after being saved by Jesus when he was only three years old. Son of Baptist evangelist Kendall Boutwell, Samuel delivers messages at Church of the Lord Jesus Christ at Brookhaven in Mississippi and goes around waving and pounding the Bible telling the public to repent and get saved.
"After I got saved, I knew I could try to reach more people to try to get saved," he told ABC's 20/20.
"You can go to heaven or hell," Samuel would shout on the streets. "You need to repent! You don't have to ask your mom or dad. It's up to you."
Meanwhile, Samuel’s father is next to him responding "amen" and "preach it."
Outside abortion clinics, the young open-air preacher, as his father calls him, shouts, "Don't kill your child! Just give it to somebody else. You don't have to kill it," while wearing a sandwich board that reads "stop sinning."
Boutwell believes it's a divine calling. When asked to preach, Samuel says God tells him what to say right there.
"I know he's divinely inspired…if you listen to the messages, the different ones on the different subjects, yes, he's definitely divinely inspired," said Boutwell, according to ABC.
Of more renown and experience is 9-year-old Terry Durham. Dubbed "the lil man of God," the African American kid preacher wears colorful suits and preaches in a more dynamic style, dancing, singing and shouting across the states.
Grandchild of a traveling evangelist, Terry preached his first sermon at the age of four and got licensed two years later, now traveling with the title "minister." His grandmother, Pastor Sharon Monroe, ordained him.
Randall Balmer, an Episcopal priest and preacher and a professor of religion at Barnard College, believes kids are too young and don't have the experience to be a preacher.
"I believe that one's calling as a minister arises out of the crucible of one's experience…and there's a certain maturity that comes with that, a certain understanding of the faith that comes with that," said Balmer, according to ABC.
Terry, however, doesn't believe he's too young to preach.
"People say Jesus started at the age of 12," Terry noted. And it's not his grandmother pushing him, he says. His calling as a preacher is also divine.
"It's the power of God that's pushing me," he said.
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Above all things, the one who calls anybody to a ministry is not man but God. God chooses whoever, no matter what race, age! etc. This kid and God Bless him, is doing something that many people that say that are christians are not doing. Which is going around the world and preaching the Gospel of Christ. A child can have a calling to be a Pastor at the age of 6,7,8,9 etc. and when that child grows God will let him know when its time. and he will be the one to open doors.
And SHOUTING REPENT AND BE SAVED. is just the beginning, because God starts to take control, God is the one that puts words in our mouths to bring word to his people. All the Glory and Honor goes to God and only God not man, we are only instruments that he uses to preach and minister his word. God has something special for this child. And by him caring about the souls that are lost, shows as well the love he has for God, because everything we do is for God. I dont think no one should be putting this kids testimony down, by saying kids are to young to be preachers, pastors, etc. And he can still have a childhood. and still have a ministry. People need to rearrange there thoughts, and summit themselves to God and ask God for answers, and thoughts instead of coming up with our own opinions in when someone should be called and what age is appropiate to be a preacher or pastor. REMEMBER GOD IS THE ONE THAT CALLS AND TRANSFORMS US, HE IS THE ONE THAT PUTS WORDS IN OUR MOUTHS TO BRING BREAD TO THE TABLE. REMEMBER TO GOD BE THE GLORY AND HONOR!!!!
GOD BLESS!!
This boy is a blessing. sent from god. end of. full stop.
Amen.
Everyone seems caught up in debating the authenticity of the phenomenon of child preachers. Does no one out there share my first response, which is one of concern for these kids themselves?
Souldn't little children, like Jesus himself, be protected from the limelight, especially where controversy is likely to follow. I can't help thinking of all these 'child stars' in the secular world whose subsequent lives were ruined because they never had a childhood.
I remember Billy Graham musing that, while Jesus spent 30 years preparing for a 3-year ministry, nowadays people spend 3 years preparing for a 30-year ministry. I wonder what Graham would have to say on this phenomenon?
This is, of course, a form of child abuse. Having a child speak about eternal punishment in hell speaks of the deep psychological ills of the Xian mind-set. Anyone who can conceive of an all-loving deity that would damn a child to torment for eternity because the child did not become "saved" is well-nigh psychotic. Google the name "Marjoe Gortner" and check out the DVD of his story and see the complete insanity, physical abuse and chicanery of "kid preachers."
Did I really say "ordinate"? I meant "ordain." My math background came up and bit me, I guess.
Servent,
I think you hit the nail on the head. Many denominations, especially Pentecostal, which is what this church appears to be, ordinate both pastors and evangelists. The latter are responsible for going from place to place directing peoples' hearts back to God. They are often featured at revival meetings. This makes sense in this boys case if this is what his church practices. And this would certainly explain the disconnect in our debate. If this kid were ordained as a full-fledge pastor, then yes, that would indicate a problem. My apologies for not catching this ecclesiological nuance sooner. Thanks servent.
also I wanted to add that if this kid is preaching repent and be saved and he is teaching what it means to be saved and brining people to Christ, maybe he has the gift of evangilism. Glory to God if God is using this kid that way. But I would say at his age he doesn't have the calling of Pastor (yet anyway).
zenodaddy,
I think Scripture disagrees with you. Here is Matthew 3:1-2.
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
As you can see, Matthew does call shouting a few words, as you say, preaching. If you look up in your Strong's Concordance, Greek #2784, which the word used here for "preaching", it means: to "herald", espec. divine truth (the gospel).
So this boy is, in fact, preaching by the Biblical definition.
I don't think anyone is asking this child to exegete the Greek text, know about text recentions, or the like. That'd be for the role of a teacher. I don't think he'd get involved in marriage counseling either. I do suspect that he'll get better as he gets older. And I also hope he'll pursue formal theological education when of an appropriate age and opportunity arises. But in the meantime, maybe we can encourage the boy to continue to grow in the Lord. If you don't like what the boy says, you don't have to go to his church. True?
I think we are getting to caught up in the ascpect that this kid is ordained. I agree that this kid shouldn't have been ordained b/c I'm sure he doesn't have the spritual maturity to be a pastor, leader, shepherd, spirtual advisor, etc. I've read that some people say that ordnation is of man, and I get the feeling (probably b/c I've hard this before) "that we don't need ordanation (man's approval), all we need his God's aproval". However Paul himself gave his Godly credentials in 2 Cor. I think that ordinatation is one way in which God can put his seal on a minister. If a group of ministers meets and reads the paper of beliefs of someone wanting to become ordained and ask questions (testing docirines, beliefs, spiritual maturity) and feel from the holy spirit that this child of God is truly called to the ministry, I don't see this as being "man's approval" at all
Furthermore, if we do use Jesus' life as proclaimed in the Bible, then you will notice that Jesus' early years are almost silent when it comes to 12 months to 12 years of age, and then silent again from age 12 until age 29 or 30.
The reason is that when Jesus was a child, he acted like a child. When he was a teenager he acted like a teenager. He may have been an incredibly smart child and teenager, but he spent that time developing as we should allow these kids to do.
'So if “Repent and be saved” doesn’t constitute preaching, what do you say about John the Baptist? He, we know, had the Holy Spirit. Would you say he wasn’t preaching either?'
No it does not. Shouting 5 words is not preaching. Preaching is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, shouting Repent and Be saved neither tells you what you are saved from, or who saves you and for what. Preaching goes along the lines of teaching as well. If you want to hear what these kids say, then go to youtube and search there names, I have seen a few in the past hour.
'What do you think Jesus was doing in the Temple when He was 12? Were the old men dazzled by His silence? It seems clear to me that He was teaching them about the oracles of God; In other words, He was preaching!'
They were marveled at his answers and his questions. Jesus was not preaching at the age of 12. You also need to remember who Jesus is... and that is God. This kid is not God. If Jesus was 'teaching' then He would know the answers due to his divinity.
'Isn’t this what the Jewish leaders said about the apostles? I don’t think omniscience is a prerequisite for preaching. One ought to preach what one knows for sure, and grow in respect to knowledge as the years pass.'
You are comparing apples and watermelon. Look, the Pharisees were very educated, spent their entire lives studying scripture, yet they were power hungry old fools. The Apostles on the other hand knew Jesus personally. Not how we know Jesus personally today, but they actually spent time with Him. If we could spend even 1 day with Christ physically, we would learn more in that 24 hours then we would spending an entire lifetime studying His Word.
'You know of this boy, but you are rejecting his testimony. He seems to know that you can’t live a sinner’s life and be saved.'
A child mimics what his parents teach them. They mimic the way their parents talk to each other, they mimic how they see their parents. It is no wonder this boy can sit there and read the bible because he sees his dad doing it.
'According to the article, His grandmother is a pastor and she ordained him.'
I was referring to a non-partisan minister or seminary. Being ordained by his aunt or grandmother or father or mother means little. The very fact that his grandmother is a preacher speaks volumes on the authenticity of his 'anointing'.
Look, these kids are probably incredibly sincere. Some of them may even be mature enough, and understand enough to be saved. It does not change the fact that these kids have no business being in the pulpit teaching adults. Any pastor who allows a 4,6,7,8,9,10 year old to preach to the congregation on a regular basis should be throne out of the church. To disregard our Lord in such a way makes a mockery of the entire Kingdom.
We should give these kids instruction, teach them theologically, and doctrinally and let them be kids.
zenodaddy
“…I find the situation disturbing. If the Holy Spirit was talking through this boy, then he would have more to say then 'Repent and be saved'.”
So if “Repent and be saved” doesn’t constitute preaching, what do you say about John the Baptist? He, we know, had the Holy Spirit. Would you say he wasn’t preaching either?
“‘Now, if the Holy Spirit was speaking through him, then he would also know that Jesus did not begin at the age of 12 and would not need 'people' to tell him otherwise.’”
What do you think Jesus was doing in the Temple when He was 12? Were the old men dazzled by His silence? It seems clear to me that He was teaching them about the oracles of God; In other words, He was preaching!
“‘I see this more of an out for the dad to live through his son.’”
This may or may not be true. If it is true, do you have more that your suspicion to present? If it’s not true, then aren’t you defaming one of God’s children?
“‘This boy is far too young and theologically, and doctrinally ignorant to be preaching.’”
Isn’t this what the Jewish leaders said about the apostles? I don’t think omniscience is a prerequisite for preaching. One ought to preach what one knows for sure, and grow in respect to knowledge as the years pass.
“'began preaching after being saved by Jesus when he was only three years old.'
Now, I know of no three year olds that are mature enough to understand why they would need salvation. ‘”
You know of this boy, but you are rejecting his testimony. He seems to know that you can’t live a sinner’s life and be saved.
“If you notice from the article, the people who 'ordain' these kids are usually their relatives or parents. Why is that? “
It could simply be, as I mentioned in a previous response, that he was ordained simply to get preaching engagements. Many denominations and independent require ordination to be in the pulpit. We don’t know for sure. But I do acknowledge the trend, but it’s no sin.
“If the children are 'divinely' inspired, wouldn't a minister or seminary ordain these kids?”
According to the article, His grandmother is a pastor and she ordained him.
PDF,
"Ordination" is a convoluted term nowadays. What is he ordained to do? Simply to preach? Or is it something more? And who ordained him, God or man? If man, for what reason? It could simply be, as is normative nowadays, to get preaching engagements. Sometimes they pass it out like candy just to get an audience. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but it happens.
Aside from that, I have listened to many "ordained" preachers that aren't worth their salt. And I've listened to many non-ordained Christians who have given some incredible insight into Scripture.
So I'd go back to where I started and rely on what the boy says, ordination or no ordination.
There are many "qualified" ministers who do not even KNOW Jesus Christ, they deny Him, they deny HIS Word, they hold conferences and determine that HIS Word doesn't really mean what it says!
GOD is the ONE who ordains, NOT man! Who are any of us to say, who is qualified. HE calls us and then HE equips us, NOT some school, or some person. The HOLY SPIRIT is our teacher, not man. IF GOD chooses to ordain this young man, and who are any of us to say what God can and cannot do?
It is the Work of The Spirit to determine what gifts we receive and our calling. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocible. I knew from the time I was a little girl that God had a call on my life; and I ran from that calling for many years; but thanks be to God HE drew me back out of many dark waters. When people in the church do not rise up and use their GOD given gifts, preaching, teaching, healing, prophesying, etc, GOD will raise up the people who will, even children! HE is raising up a generation of children (warriors for Christ!!) and they are storming their own generation for the Lord God! It is happening here on the eastcoast and I say Hallelujah! Lord God! A generation of children has been lost to abortion, to the culture, to violence, etc; and God has had quite enough! If we won't praise Him, the ROCKS will cry out!!
Thank you Lord God for blessing and anointing these children to bring Your message of salvation to their world! Protect them Father and may YOU be glorified in all we do and say!
For They Kingdom! For HIS GLORY, Annie Come King Jesus, Come!
Who is man to determine whom God shall use and who He won't use. In the end times, God said , "I will pour out MY HOLY SPIRIT and your sons and daughters will prophesy, and that includes preaching, "a little child shall lead them"! We are living in the end times, and God is pouring out HIS HOLY SPIRIT. Jesus was about "His Father's business" and yes, He was 12 years old. What does it mean to be "about my Father's business" but what He came to do, HE knew His own calling brethren. I know many children who believe God; and know His love and grace, better than some adults who profess to be Christians. They are not ashamed to share the WORD of God and they don't water it down like so many churches to day do. They have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, they know Him and they know HE loves them and they are called to give a WITNESS as we all are. So many are good at pointing fingers, but how many are actually out there living the GREAT COMMISSION!!
Matthew 28
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[d]
NKJV
The Lord God can and will use anyone who is available and yields themselves to Him. HE even used a donkey once! Our Father, loves the children, "suffer the little ones to come unto Me; for such is the Kingdom of Heaven"! So many children out there being taken down the wrong path, and here are these children sharing the Gospel and still people find that wrong.
God knows the hearts and intents of all of us; and if anyone is misusing those children for their own gain, the Lord God knows that too and He has a word for those people as well.
It will be better for those people to wrap a millstone around their necks and drown themselves, for they will answer to God for what they do! As we all will.
For HIS GLORY! This is not about us, this is all about Jesus! Jesus, said, "I will build MY CHURCH and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Amen to those children for lifting up the name of Jesus to those who are perishing! If people do NOT repent they will not be saved; and that is God's Word on that! The church is so afraid to preach the message of salvation these days, and look at the state of our Nation for the very reason, of the church no longer being salt and light to this nation. Fires in California, earthquakes, hurricanes, and the state of our nation (and the world) does anyone see the message God is sending to the Church? God bless those children! For His Glory, Annie