I Am a P.K. (Preacher's Kid)

From the Archives: Winter 2011

Written by Melissa Grogan

People have always said that the preacher’s kids were the meanest but my brother, Tim, and I knew better.

Tradition of Loving and Serving God

My Daddy, Rev. Dean Watson, was called into the ministry in 1984. I was a newlywed just having married in 1983, so I wasn’t really a P.K. as a child growing up, but I was a deacon’s kid first when I was saved at nine and a half years old at Gap Creek Church.

Several people, including our family, helped form what is now Trinity Baptist Church, which met at the old Lutheran church building in Deep Gap.

Through lots of hard work, the charter members obtained property on 421 to build a new sanctuary that is there today. Trinity is special to our family because Daddy was called to preach while attending, and I was married there. After Daddy became an ordained minister, he went to Fruitland Bible Institute. His first pastorate was Healing Springs Baptist Church.

Even though my dad disciplined us, when he preached, I knew I was watching a man of God. I loved to go to the churches he pastored. The people weren’t just members of a church, they were (extended) family members. They loved us and we loved them. But they loved God the most. It’s good for that many people to love God.

Finding My Own Place of Ministry

While I loved to hear Daddy preach and always wanted to support him, I came to the conclusion that my husband and I had to be a part of a church that God was leading us to.

Daddy had his work to do, and I had my work to do. The Lord made it clear that I had to find a church, become part of it, and do my work.

Cullen and I visited several churches as we looked for the one we were suppose to attend. We always prayed before we visited them, asking the Lord to lead us to where he wanted us to go. One Sunday morning, we visited Beaver Creek Baptist Church. I came into the church with a diaper bag and a baby boy in my arms (the baby is now 19 years old), and I knew it was where I was supposed to be. It was the place I was to do my work for the Lord.

I’d never seen so many kids in one church. With the Pastor Johnny Goodman’s permission and blessing, I began with brief object lessons on Sunday morning. One morning, I brought in a fishing pole to teach the kids about “being fishers of men”. Because I’d learned about puppet ministry in one of the churches I’d grown up in, I was able to start one at our new church. I loved it, and the kids loved it.

Along with the object lesson and puppet ministry, my work in the church expanded into teaching a Sunday school class and as the craft person in Bible school. God gave me the talent to use with crafts, and I knew I’d better use the talent God gave me. As I work with the kids, what Momma and Daddy told me years ago comes to mind: Be careful what you say and what you do because there is always someone watching. The kids are watching and I try to live before them the way the Lord wants me to.

I’ve always known living for the Lord. I’ve never known anything else. It is so sad to see people who are lost. I’m grateful Daddy and Momma taught us to be who we are with God’s help. I fall short, I know, but I don’t know what it would be like not to have God in my life.

My parents instilled in me the truth of Jesus Christ. They taught my brother and me to pray and to live as we should. I always took it serious that my Daddy was a preacher and wanted to live a life that would honor him and God. As I look back today, I can see clearly how God called me to a work for him and his church. I could no longer follow Daddy as much as I might like to. I had a work to do, and I am thankful the Lord has given me the place to do it.