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Eleven-Year-Old Boy Ordained as Minister: Too Young... or Too Awesome?

SodaHead News 2012/06/22 21:00:00
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When Ezekiel Stoddard was ordained as a minister at the Fullness of Time Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland, last month it was a unique celebration -- one that turned heads and raised questions. Why? Because Ezekiel is just 11 years old. According to "Good Morning America," the son of two pastors decided to become a minister at this very young age when God spoke to him in a dream.

The young minister said, "God gave me that particular scripture [Psalm 23] because a lot of people, they try to draw you away from the Lord, trying to get you on the wrong path." When asked if people thought it was strange, he said, "People come to you, they ask you questions about why you should act like a child and not a minister. I do things like a child, but still I am a minister. I am an evangelical." But do you think Stoddard is too young to take on the role of a minister?

ezekiel stoddard
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  • owen Michell... 2012/06/27 01:29:54
    owen
    American Christians are not aware that most of their churches are masonic,the founders were 33 degree Freemasons and this actually means that they are in false churches.JWS,Mormons,Christian science etc etc.
  • owen J-DUB 2012/06/27 01:27:08
    owen
    You are right in the case of American evangelists,I couldnt agree more but these churches are frowned apon in Europe and elsewhere.
  • J-DUB owen 2012/06/28 01:23:30
    J-DUB
    Crazy is crazy regardless which side of the ocean you are on.
  • owen J-DUB 2012/06/28 01:30:46
    owen
    American churches really take the biscuit,one of the problems being door to door evangelism ,recruiting mentalcases,the Jws are said to be as high as 20% of there flock is on psych medications,if thats correct its laughable
  • J-DUB owen 2012/06/28 21:50:05
    J-DUB
    I find the JW are good decent people. One of the few religions that actually follow the example of Jesus the bible describes.
  • owen J-DUB 2012/06/29 00:35:46
    owen
    Theres both good and bad in all faiths ,If they stick to the meds they should be fine I guess.
  • J-DUB owen 2012/06/29 08:05:36
    J-DUB
    But they parade the good and hide the bad and call it persecution.
  • owen J-DUB 2012/06/29 08:23:01
    owen
    How so?
  • J-DUB owen 2012/06/29 21:15:43
    J-DUB
    When the molestation became public knowledge the catholic church cried persecution when authorities went after the abusers and their collaborators.

    Churches cried persecution over birth control mandate.

    Claim persecution when homosexuals are granted rights they sought to deny.

    List goes on and on.
  • owen J-DUB 2012/06/30 00:36:47
    owen
    I agree there has been too much hidden dirt.
  • merlinskiss 2012/06/25 21:03:09
    Too Young
    merlinskiss
    +2
    How about just plain wacky...
  • Jan 2012/06/25 20:57:03 (edited)
    Too Young
    Jan
    +1
    No child of that age should be ordained. If his religious beliefs are that strong he'll be able to wait until he's an adult before taking such a serious step.
    My son was only 11 years ol when he became an alter server and took 'Confirmation Classes'. He enjoyed his church life but I would NEVER have allowed him to become ordained at such a young age.
    Oops, edited due to typo.
  • rand 2012/06/25 20:51:58
    Too Young
    rand
    +3
    Any age is too young to become self-righteous.
  • bob h. 2012/06/25 20:51:46
    Too Young
    bob h.
    +5
    Just what the world needs. Somebody else who hears voices.
  • Kozmo bob h. 2012/06/25 23:29:15
    Kozmo
    +1
    "When You speak to God, it's called Prayer,
    When God talks to You, it's called Schizophrenia"

    Lily Tomlin
  • bob h. Kozmo 2012/06/26 02:58:19
    bob h.
    +1
    Tru that.
  • 2012/06/25 20:49:37
    Too Young
    +2
    Talk about brain-washed...
  • Oli Lolly Stimson 2012/06/25 20:45:08
    Too Awesome
    Oli Lolly Stimson
    +2
    If he knows what to do he would be brilliant and he could get us kids some rights too
  • owen Oli Lol... 2012/06/27 01:31:07
    owen
    Did your mamma put you up to this?
  • Oli Lol... owen 2013/01/05 19:11:54
    Oli Lolly Stimson
    No my mum didn't it was me
  • owen Oli Lol... 2013/01/05 20:23:01
    owen
    Godbless
  • Oli Lol... owen 2013/01/19 14:43:12
    Oli Lolly Stimson
    ;p
  • life's big ? 2012/06/25 20:42:27 (edited)
    Too Young
    life's big ?
    +3
    That is years of brainwashing and brain-damage from flopping around on the floor like a fish.
  • Bookworm 2012/06/25 20:31:00
    Too Awesome
    Bookworm
    +2
    He can reach young people.. I think it is awesome.
  • owen Bookworm 2012/06/27 01:32:45
    owen
    And when he falls flat on his face with a breakdown so too will his followers and they might never come back to God again.
  • ☆FritzW☆ 2012/06/25 20:29:57
    Too Awesome
    ☆FritzW☆
    +4
    No doubt, he is a child and still needs to be recognized as such; but where's it written that God only speaks to adults?? To say he's not fit to be a minister because of his age is just plain wrong.. I can think of a LOT of things an 11 year old could be doing today that's a far cry from being a child of God. In the end, God bless him and may his ministry be guided by His hand!
  • Lsbrill... ☆FritzW☆ 2012/06/26 01:44:11
    Lsbrilliance77
    Well said.
  • Sass ☆FritzW☆ 2012/06/26 18:28:11
    Sass
    I'm sorry, but it doesn't seem that he meets the biblical requirements...unless you expect an 11 year old to have a wife:

    1 Timothy 3:1-3

    New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)


    Overseers and Deacons

    3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[Traditionally bishop--A senior member of the Christian clergy] he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

    1 Timothy 3:12-13

    New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)


    12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
  • ☆FritzW☆ Sass 2012/06/26 19:28:40
    ☆FritzW☆
    No need to be sorry, but by that response than a Catholic Priest is not eligible either. :) My point was more secular in that I'm happy he's getting involved with a very worthy task and making such a choice at such a young age... well, perhaps God had his hand in that as well. Who am I to judge? :)
  • owen ☆FritzW☆ 2012/06/27 01:35:30
    owen
    The problem with the post v2c priests is that their ranks are overflowing with freemasons and that is killing the Roman church.See Malachi Martin on the Illuminati on youtube.
  • Sass ☆FritzW☆ 2012/06/27 18:07:48
    Sass
    I'm not Catholic.
  • findthelight2000 2012/06/25 20:09:55 (edited)
    Too Young
    findthelight2000
    +3
    This poor child's predicament is obviously the result of child abuse.
  • bob h. findthe... 2012/06/26 03:00:37
    bob h.
    I don't think brainwashing is listed as child abuse, but it should be.
  • findthe... bob h. 2012/06/26 03:01:31
    findthelight2000
    +1
    It certainly should.
  • owen findthe... 2012/06/27 01:36:44
  • owen bob h. 2012/06/27 01:36:29
    owen
    +1
    Im sure it has to be
  • owen findthe... 2012/06/27 01:35:57
    owen
    +1
    I so agree,Godbless.
  • Myopinionmatters 2012/06/25 20:09:53
    Too Young
    Myopinionmatters
    +3
    ... thats just wierd.
  • sally 2012/06/25 20:09:04
    Too Awesome
    sally
    +2
    It's kind of cool that he had the maturity to chose what he wanted to do but I mean kids change their minds every day, I sure hope he can stick to this plan.
  • Sass 2012/06/25 19:59:34 (edited)
    Too Young
    Sass
    +3
    ...and blasphemous and ridiculous!!!! He's not even old enough to understand complex issues.

    1 Corinthians 13:11

    When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
    James 3:1

    Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

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