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Preacher's Kid

Album: 23: Twists and Turns

Episode: 300

Lesson/Theme: Being a preacher's kid; being Christlike; being imperfect.

Bible Verse: Romans 3:23; Ephesians 5:1

Characters: Donna, George, Jimmy, Mary

Writer: Marshal Younger

Sound Designer: Mark Drury

Original Air Date: February 4, 1995

Last Air Date: March 18, 2009

Description:
Old Mrs. Erskine is at it again. She is sitting behind Donna and her friends during the Sunday morning worship service. George is preaching, and something happens to make all the kids giggle. Mrs. Erskine is annoyed. She threatens to move up a pew and sit between all of them if they don’t quiet down. Not only that, but she tells both George and Mary about Donna’s behavior after the service. George and Mary come down on Donna, who is beginning to have serious doubts about being a preacher’s kid. Nowadays, it seems that no matter what she does, someone is scrutinizing her. Donna feels she can’t make even the slightest mistake. George and Mary try to sympathize with her, but George tells Donna that now she is expected to be a role model, simply because she is his daughter. But Donna feels imposed upon, especially when she has to attend pastor functions like a senior citizens’ dinner and a home Bible study on parenting. Donna decides enough is enough. On the night of the Bible study, she skips out to go on a hay ride with her friends. Only, her friends don’t go on a hay ride. Instead, they go to the old Donovan house near Gower’s Field, and accidentally burn it down! No one is hurt, but the police bring Donna home in disgrace. George is called to an emergency meeting of the pastor’s committee at the church. He is sure he will be fired for not being able to control his rebel daughter, but the committee is anything but condemning. Even Mrs. Erskine is understanding. The committee just wants to know what they can do to help George. In the end, Donna apologizes for her actions, and everyone realizes that just because you’re a preacher’s kid doesn’t mean you’re perfect.

Questions:
Were Donna and her friends misbehaving in church? How should they have behaved? Were George and Mary putting too much pressure on Donna to behave a certain way? Explain. Donna did something she knew she shouldn’t just because her friends talked her into it. Have you ever been in a similar situation? How did you handle it?