A lot of folks

call tell you some juicy stories about PKs. That is, preacher's kids.

and in the church. Sunday School teachers can provide details of their

dreadful behavior.

Yet, regardless

what's being said out there, all my experiences are just the opposite.

Take the pastor under whose leadership I surrendered to the Gospel. He

has three children: not one was arrested; not one had child out of wedlock;

not one brings anything but joy to their father's and mother's heart today.

Take another

pastor who had a profound impact on my life and calling. He had two sons:

one who now serves as a senior executive with AFLAC and another who is

a prominent CPA in Florida. At no time in their growing up did they bring

grief to their parents.

Then, of course,

take that girl who in spite of her parents is developing into a young

lady of integrity, grace, and wonderful inner and outer beauty. Of course,

Anna Christine Hatcher.

My column with

daughter as focus comes after receiving this e-mail in the morning electronic

mailbox: "Oh, the most important thing that happened today Miz accepted

Christ in our room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that awesome? I read the Romans

Road, and she wasn't sure that if she died today she was going to heaven,

so she wanted to make sure. It's so awesome. For the past two weeks we've

been reading the Bible at night, so it finally got through! Amen. I was

so excited. I led someone to Christ. Anyway, we are going to try to make

the Bible Study on Thursday at the church. Love you bunches. Anna."

(Miz, a student from down under, is Anna's roommate).

When Anna accompanied

me to Uganda this past summer, the word leaked out that she was a virgin.

That character description was seized upon by our host pastor who, when

he would introduce Anna to speak, would always include the fact that she

was a virgin. He wanted to make a case, in a country ravaged by HIV, that

it was possible for young ladies to keep themselves pure and chaste.

As a college

freshman earlier this fall, Anna was dating a young man who, after several

dates, frankly told her that they were to continue in a relationship,

he had to have sex. Well, the relationship was terminated that night.

Of course, Anna couldn't believe it. She was dumbfounded that such jerks

did exist.

In academics,

Anna also excels. Her Christian faith calls on her to do her very best.

As she approaches the Thanksgiving Break and semester final afterwards,

she is looking at the prayerful possibility of earning a 4.0 average for

her first semester in college. How proud do you think Anna's parents are?

Huh?

But, it takes

more than parents to raise good kids. It takes a great church of folks.

Like Deacon Robert Ivey, Anna Nunan, and the Kurt Ward family. They are

some of the church folks who care by loving unconditionally. Then, there

is our family physician, Dr. Roger Carr, who takes the time to talk academics

as well as medicine with our daughter.

Finally, we

praise God. Mary Ann and I have made too many blunders for any significant

praise to be laid at our feet. God has been there all the time to pick

up pieces and push us along. We give him all the credit, glory, and honor.

The Rev.

Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of

River's Edge Community Church

1091 South Jeff Davis Drive

Fayetteville, Georgia 30215

770-719-0303

Back

to the Top of the Page