Hi, it’s me. Chances are we have met through my father, so it’s okay if you haven’t remembered my name. Truthfully, I am awful with names so I probably don’t remember yours either. That, or you’ll ask me what I am doing on Sunday or Wednesday and I will reply with church and you’ll ask which or why and inevitably the conversation will lead to me revealing that my father is, in fact, a pastor, making me a pastor’s kid. Here is what I want you to know.

I am proud of my father. Every day he helps people fight their spiritual wars. Every single day he spends his work day in dedication to the work of his God, and mine. I do not hide the fact that I am a PK because I love my father. My dad will touch more lives than I could hope to with my future profession of teaching because his words are heard by hundreds of people at a time- and it doesn’t stop there. The lessons he teaches are not only heard by those physically present, but also those tuning in online, and the people that hear about the sermon for however long after because the words he said stuck in somebody’s head and made a difference, and those he mentors and helps in time of need. He changes lives with an altar call because he is so good at what he has been gifted with and called to do.

And although I admire, love, and boast about my father- I am not him. I will not stand in front of people and evangelize effectively because his call is not my call. His profession does mean I live differently than my peers but it does not mean that I do not feel, or question, or face the challenges of those around me. I am still me.

Everybody assumes that PKs, especially the daughters, will take on the role of either a sinner or a saint. The truth is, I am neither. People cannot just be put into one category or the other, we are all in between because we just are. I have done things I am not proud of, and so has my father. Yes, even pastors have things in their past they are not proud of. My mistakes do not make me a rebellious sinner. My lack of mistakes does not make me a saint or a goody-two-shoes. I would like the opportunity to be seen as my own person and not a branch of the profession my father chose.

Additionally, I do not believe just because it’s what my father does. My faith is a result of my experiences, education, and personal opinion. I would love to sit down and have a conversation with you about my God and my church and all things religious, but I can’t promise to give you politically correct answers or to be able to answer at all. However, I can promise you authenticity and reasoning for my beliefs.

At the end of the day, I support my father and what he does fully. So even if you judge me, or forget that I am not a sinner nor a saint, or if you choose to stay away because I am a PK, I love you. And I forgive you. And I want you to know that I am still me and I would very much like to get to know you.

With love,

A pastor’s kid