"Preacher Boys"

sovgrace,

I don't know where it first started to catch on.

I would be willing to classify you as a "preacher boy". It really is just a term given to a young/new generation of preachers in the process of being trained by their pastor or in Bible college to go out and preach God's Word. To me it certainly doesn't have to equal a young guy ranting, since most of the "preacher boys" I know don't do that. In fact, I see it as a term of endearment and some respect. Of course, Im not "married" to the term.......I don't think it is something that ought to really be worried about one way or the other.

 

I generally would only call members of a youth group who are called to preach "preacher boys."

That is unless I'm including myself in the group, then I would merely be using it to refer to the younger preachers (i.e. younger guys without a zillion years in the pastorate). I probably wouldn't say that all that often, if at all.

 

Sovgrace,

I don't like the term either. Especially considering in scripture how God would often use someone so powerfully at a young age.

I don't use that term. Also, our church really goes all out to involve our students in ministry...not as "minister wannabees," which I think the term "preacher boy" sometimes unintentionally connotates.

 

I'm wondering if it is an IFB term. I have never heard it used in an SBC church.

Karen

 

The first time I heard it was in 1970, when it was used to refer affectionately to the "Preacher Boys" class at BJU, where all those in the ministerial course met twice a week. No one thought of the term as anything derrogatory.

It was an exciting time. We would start every class with about 800 men (I'm guessing) singing the chorus, "Souls for Jesus."

Souls for Jesus is our battle cry,
Souls for Jesus, we'll fight until we die.
We never will give in,
While souls are lost in sin!
Souls for Jesus is our battle cry.

 

Personally, I wouldn't call you a "preacher boy," brother. You are out of Bible college and serving the Lord. Have at it for Jesus!

 

The first time I heard it was in a Hyles sermon... that put a connotation to it I can't shake.. and what I hate even worse is when a Pastor says, "you should have heard MY preacher boys preach" or something like that...

They are not HIS. They are God's...
When I hear the term I automatically think of a young (immature) preacher that has just accepted his call into ministry and is overzealous, and wil just stand up and rant. I know one that calls himself that, and has said that he doesn't need to study like other older preachers, he just gets up behind the pulpit and preaches what God puts on his heart...

He says that "older preachers that have been to "cemetaries" have forgotten how to listen to the Holy Spirit... Instead they are listening to their education."

Oh, one other thing... most of the pastors that I have heard use this term calls seminaries, "cemetaries". So I don't have a good feeling about it.

 

When I hear stupid comments like that it just reminds me of the verse which says, " Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling."

 

Ok, so you are saying my comment was STUPID? I know I'm just kiddin you! lol

Watch out or I'll seek my preacher boys on you!

 

I am 36 years old, married for 13+ yrs, father of 3, Active Duty US Marine, combat veteran and currently consider myself a "Preacher Boy". I'm not a Pastor, I'm not an Under Shepherd, I'm a Preacher that fills the pulpit under the guidance and training of my Pastor so yes I'm his "Preacher Boy"!! I don't follow a man as a naive wide-eyed youth but he is my current Pastor and current Mentor and I consider it a term of endearment and as one that is set apart and under the watchcare of the Church leadership as they help train and mature me for the Lord's ministry. Some day when I am hired as Pastor or as an Associate Pastor I'll be in full-time service and not a "Preacher Boy" anymore (while I may still be under anothers ministry and mentoring).

So while some may not like the term or hate to apply tags...I personally carry it with pride (not full of pride) and consider it a term to identify me in my training process for future ministry for the Lord!

 

I do think that such objections as gb's and tiny's are akin to objecting to a man calling his students "his students". Frankly I think its a bit silly to claim that it is prideful on the part of the pastor.

I agree with MRCoon. But if you don't want to use it, sovgrace, don't. Its not like its a Biblical mandate or anything.

 

I think this started as a term of endearment similar to II Tim 1:2 where Paul calls Timothy his dearly beloved son. I was over 30 when I was called to preach and I can't recall ever being called a preacher boy but if one of the older pastors who mentored me and taught me wanted to call me one of his preacher boys I would not be offended.

Certainly everyone who responds or acknowledges a call to preach does not finish the course. Many of those we would call preacher boys never become preacher men or mature preachers with their own ministries so the term could also be representative of the maturity and experience of the preacher.

The term boy in itself can be considered racist today so preacher boy is probably not a good term to use widely.

 

This comes to mind
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068924/

 

I believe the term may have originated with Bob Jones, Sr. It was a term of endearment and carried no negative connotations in 1927.

When Gilbert Stenhom retired as the director of ministerial training, he was replaced by Richard Rupp, who brought in massive changes to update the program. He did away with the term "preacher boys" and everyone became, from then on, "ministerial students." In other words, he saw the same things y'all are objecting to, and he fixed it.

 

why would a movie come to mind for you?

 

It seems to me that "preacher boys" is often cast at undergraduates who are currently taking a ministerial degree at a Bible college.

In my opinion, to preach = "to proclaim the Word;" therefore, anyone who is proclaiming the Word is a "preacher boy."

 

Bapmom
It's a documentary.
Just read/look at the pictures in the following reviews.
http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0602,atkinson,71647,20.html
http://www.dvdinmypants.com/reviews/H-N/marjoe.php

 

mioque,

I still don't get it, but I believe that's more because Im just not all here right now rather than anything on your part.....Im sorry, when Im more with it I will take another look.


INterestingly enough, at church this morning we had a small segment of Bob Jones, Sr's biography as a special reading. Besides the fact that it was incredible, it starts out with him being saved at a young age (13 or 14 years old) and then going around and preaching wherever he could. Because of this he became known as "the preacher boy". Did you know he started a church when he was 14 years old? Isn't that somethin'?
But to the point, I thought perhaps this had something to do with the actual origins of the specific term, especially since someone else mentioned it started with Bob Jones, Sr. But it was a term given to him because of his own reputation, not one which he placed upon himself.....so then he passed it on to his students later. I think its kind of neat.