What is it like being raised as the preacher’s Kid? What are some pros and cons?
Being a preacher’s kid is a life that no one can understand unless they too have been raised in it.Through the years my parents and others have said that along with being raised a preacher’s kid comes perspective that most kids my age are not blessed with. With this perspective I have been able to make hard decisions for God that have blessed me.
A burden that comes with being a pastor’s kid is having to be an example for many others. People in the congregation sometimes forget the fact that even pastors kids are human and mess up, and even with forgiveness a lot of people are hurt and affected by wrongdoings committed by the pastor’s kid. -Ben Laine 16 years old. Son of Pastor Peter and Ruthann Laine, Victory Chapel, CFM, Dover NH
Cons: Living in fishbowl. Balancing privacy and having everyone observing your life. Always looked at as an example. You always have to think how what you do affects others. –Lori Ganiear, Pastor’s Wife, Daughter of Pastor Paul and Linda Campo, Victory Chapel CFM, Cape Cod MA
Hahaha… Well, I don’t know how it feels any other way. But growing up as the pastor’s kid I felt everyone had their eyes on us expecting us to have a high standard of living. Which I believe for me it wasn’t that hard because of the way my parents brought us up. Since I was young I was taught the word of God, how to sit still and listen in church, how to have my own time with the Lord.
Pros: You get treated and respected as if you were the pastor himself ( at times that is) …you get to meet and even hang out with mighty men and women of God that otherwise you probably wouldn’t get to. Also as a preacher’s kid you get to suggest how to do or not do things in around the church, cuz, well he is your dad! The cons: Missing church is frowned upon. You have to share your parents with other people. You see your parents go through hardships and see how some people just take advantage of them or speak lies about them. –Lysandra Winslow, Daughter of Pastor Greg and Suzanne Winslow, Missionaries to Zihuatanejo, Mexico
I got to see God move in more ways than one. Also, lol, there were always people at our table sharing our food! -Faith Scott, Second Generation Pastor’s Wife, Daughter of Reverend Ralph and Mary Wise, Potter’s House CFM, Roselle Park, NJ
Pro: You have a definite advantage in your marriage and child raising that some couples won’t have. With both of us being pastors kids and having parents that love God and each other it becomes our inheritance.
Con: You are held to a higher standard and it can be frustrating sometimes. -Maria Winslow, Third Generation Pastor’s Wife, Daughter of Pastor Tim and Faith Scott, Victory Chapel, Hagerstown, MD
I didn’t know anything different. I was introduced to faith in God at an early age and have always felt the presence of God in my life. People expect PK’s to be saints, but we are sinners by nature just like all other human beings. People are really hard on PK’s parents when they aren’t perfect little angels. -David
It can be very difficult. Church people expect you to be perfect little angels. It’s okay for their kids to mess up, but not the “preacher’s” kid. I honestly don’t think there are any pros to it. –Pastor Schaffer, New Life, 2nd Generation Pastor Altoona PA, (His son recently became a Youth Pastor.)
How is/ was your childhood as a PK different from other children?
We were always under the microscope. -Faith Scott
Moving a lot, but rich in culture. I have been all over the world and have met people from everywhere which I would not have been able to experience otherwise. -Maria Winslow
It seemed pretty much the same to me as any other Christian home. We had the same trials and tribulations as all families. I did attend both adult (with my dad) and youth bible classes and choir. I also loved following him around as he ministered to people in sickness and in health. -David
My parents were very good at letting us be kids. There were times however when I’d get passed over for a part in the Christmas play because I was the pastor’s son or that I’d be told I couldn’t win a prize in children’s church because of the same reason. –Pastor Schaffer
Do you feel you are/were treated differently as a PK than other children in church by adults and by your peers?
Pretty normal. Depends on the person. I just tried to be real. -Lori ganiear
Yes, we were treated with more respect, I believe . Lysandra Winslow,
We are raised to a certain standard which sometime becomes a frustration when thinking that we “didn’t choose this life.” –Ben Laine
It seemed liked adults expected me to be more like my dad, but I’m not. He is very outgoing, animated and speaks with confidence. I have always been an introvert, soft spoken, and it is difficult for me to speak in front of people. I prefer small personal intimate gatherings. -David
Adults definitely treated me different. My peers just treated me like another kid. -Pastor Schaffer
Did you resist the Gospel when you were younger and if so, why?
No. -Lori Ganiear
Resisting the gospel was never a problem for me. Growing up in church I was fortunate enough to see so many miracles done by Jesus, therefore leading me to not be able to ever disbelieve anything in the Bible.
I have seen multiple healings, myself included when I was 5 years old. I had major seizures and doctors were dumbfounded. Pastor Mitchell prayed over me and I felt a wind go down my arm. I knew it was the breath of God and from there on I was healed. –Ben Laine
Ben, you forgot to mention it’s a miracle that you exist in the first place! You were a miracle baby.
Very true!! –Ben Laine
No. Lysandra Winslow
Yes. I think I didn’t understand and I wanted to live in the world like my friends. -Faith Scott
No, I never did. I had a healthy fear of God and Hell and even when I wasn’t living right I knew I was wrong and I was afraid. -Maria Winslow
Absolutely not. My favorite book, from the time I could read until I was ten years old, was a children’s Bible with beautiful pictures to go along with the text. On my tenth birthday I received my first adult bible and read it daily.
I have always had a deep conviction in my heart for the Lord and understanding that He is the way. When I turned 16 and starting driving and group dating, I started bending to peer pressure like all teenagers. I think my parents must have prayed a lot during my teenage years. Fortunately, I always had this voice in my head telling me when I going to cross the line and was deeply convicted. Scripture would pop into my head reminding me what God expected from us. I learned later that the Holy Spirit was working to keep me on the straight and narrow. -David
I never resisted the Gospel. But at age 12, I did tell my best friend that if I ever said I want to be a pastor, to just shoot me. Yet here I am because it’s the call, not a job. -Pastor Schaffer
You’ve been privileged to be raised with Godly parents. Do you have any advice for the youth who are PKs and also for the Church Kid?
God sat me down in the front row seat and said, “watch this.” I watched people’s good and bad decisions play out before my eyes. I didn’t want the reputation of being a wayward PK, like others. It’s just not worth it. I knew the bridge was out if I went that way, so I set myself towards God. -Lori Ganiear
There is an assault against PKs. Even if you are raised in a Christian home doesn’t mean you won’t go through stuff. Everybody goes through hard times. -Lori Ganiear
Listen to your parents. Ha ha. –Ben Laine
My advice is to see it as a privilege that God has spared you from living in the world, messing up your life and wasting it. –Lysandra Winslow,
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