HIJO DEL PASTOR/ HELP I'M a PK

This article was published in My Place Magazine (www.myplacemagazine.net, L.A. based Christian magazines for latinos in the USA)

I am different, not because I wanted to, but because they made me. I thought I was suppose to be that way, then I realized. I had to be different than my friends from school and my friends from church. I more than just a kid that grew up in church, Wanna know who I am? I am a Pastor’s Son, Soy hijo de Pastor.

¿Sabes? Probably you are a Pastor’s Son/ Daughter, or your family serves in the church, or you’ve probably been raised in the church. Let me talk to you. Listen carefully, don’t put this magazine down, do not flip the page. Listen. Let’s talk. My name is Luis. I am a Pastor Son and I don’t regret it. My father has been a pastor and missionary way before I was born. By the time I was born my father, my mother, my brother, and my sister were already pastors in a small rural part of the Dominican Republic. Growing up as a PK is not easy. The long hours in the church, the pressure from your parents and leaders, being in church 7 days a week, not being able to play till late because “ Mi hijo, tienes que ir a la iglesia“. Every night that’s all you knew. Go to church, again, and again and again. Your prayer life and your knowledge of the Bible needed to be at its fullest, and you were barely 8 years old. You had to be part of the choir, Sunday school teacher, learn how to play an instrument, and ride the church van after every “hermanito” was dropped off. You did not wear the latest outfits, you did not have the latest gadgets. Remember you are a PK, everything you had it was “ Por la misericordia de Dios”. Every time there was service, you already knew what was going to happen. ( let’s see how fast you could read this following sentence) First, you would seat in your pew for an hour before all the “hermanos” come, then “el hermano” Juan would start praying for 30 minutes, then “la hermana Juana” would try to sing a song when you knew she couldn’t sing but she sang it anyways, then “Hermano Vito” would “recoger la ofrenda” and before he prayed he would preach for about 13 mins and 32 seconds, after that you would say hi to all the brothers in the church and get ready for the message that lasted an hour and you were the only kid that had to stay to hear the message, after that your Father (the pastor) would make a calling and 4 people would answer it, Sister Juana (she always goes to the front every week), and a couple of visitors (if there was any). And that way you, and I grew up. Knowing that church was all figured out for us, growing with the pressure of trying to be better than every body, because “tu eres el hijo del Pastor”. And church became a routine, God became a routine. Go to church seat, clap, sing, seat, listen, clap, two Allelujahs, and I’m out. You grew up like that, and in the process of growing up you got hurt. You started wondering why all your friends had left church, why the music you like “es del Diablo”, why your friends from school go to parties but you can’t, why everyone is going out with people but you are the dummy waiting for the right person. And soon you find yourself questioning Church, Why service has to be so long? Why some people fall when they are prayed for? Why the “Hermanita Juana”sings the same songs every week? Why? Why? Why? And you start questioning God, and his existence and his sovereignty. Now the weird kid considered a “Church Boy”, forgot about church or lost the taste for it. The one that was suppose to be an example is now “sentado en un banco”. Let me tell you something, If you are still reading is because God is speaking to you. You probably wonder why you, why you father, but I want to remind you about this “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV) God really had a purpose with you and with me. He loved us so much that he wanted to prepare you for a life long service to him, he couldn’t afford to lose you, therefore, he blessed you with a family of priests. You are part of a chosen family. Did you know who is the person that will continue the work that your parents started? Your answer is in a mirror near you. Yeah, it’s you. You see it took me a while to get it. But I got it. This is true not because Church or ministry is something that is inherited, but it is a blessing that God lays upon families. I mean think about it, don’t you think that by now you are a better preacher than all of those evangelist that used to go to your church, just figure if you are now at least 18 years old you have heard a minimum of 936 sermons, 4, 680 songs, and have heard the word “Allelujah” about 23, 000 times. (email me I let you know how I got the figures) You will be a better servant of God than your folks because if you really believe it God will use you. He has a bigger blessing for you, and trust me the Lord needs laborers for this time and this hour. I think he is calling you.
At the present time I am still in college pursuing my Bachelors Degree in Management, and now I am a Pastor in my church, and part time staff. I took the challenge and stepped to it, today me and my father share the load of the ministry. I learn from him, and he learns from me. We make a great team. You should team up with your parents, you’ll make a stronger team. Today is a great honor for me to say, I am a PK.

Questions and comments please email PastorLipe@yahoo.com, or check www.fuentedesalvacion.com,