Dear Bro. White

[Just a Shepherd]

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

Brother White is a tremendous blessing both as a preacher and man of God, and as a friend.

I consider him one of the top three or four preachers in the UPC right now. Incredibe.

This is an interesting statement when examined more closely. There are over 3,000 preachers in the UPCI and how many could you have possibly heard? If you have heard 200, that would be a lot, but still only 6 to 7%. So what do you base your ranking system on if you haven't even heard 93% of the preachers in the UPC?

I wonder if this kind of thinking is what birthed the UPC "cult of personality" or if it is a product of it.

[bishoph]

Originally Posted by Just a Shepherd

This is an interesting statement when examined more closely. There are over 3,000 preachers in the UPCI and how many could you have possibly heard? If you have heard 200, that would be a lot, but still only 6 to 7%. So what do you base your ranking system on if you haven't even heard 93% of the preachers in the UPC?

I wonder if this kind of thinking is what birthed the UPC "cult of personality" or if it is a product of it.

It is amazing to me that several have posted questioning the "rating" of this great man of God. I doubt anyone has heard the 9000+ licensed ministers of the UPCI. However, the "circuit" preachers are much less in numbers. I think it would be safe to say the more popular "circuit" preachers probably numbers less than 75 and possibly less than 50. Of those Bro. White is undoubtedly in the top 5. (Based on his popularity, and continued demand for his ministry) In my personal rating he is in my top 5 lifetime preaching favorites, (and I have heard hundreds and probably close to thousands.) My rating is based on content, spirit, anointing, and results witnessed from his ministry.

To each his own, and everyone will have their own top rated preachers. IMO however I agree that Bro. White is in the top 1% of preachers in Pentecost today.

[Just a Shepherd]

Originally Posted by bishoph

It is amazing to me that several have posted questioning the "rating" of this great man of God. I doubt anyone has heard the 9000+ licensed ministers of the UPCI. However, the "circuit" preachers are much less in numbers. I think it would be safe to say the more popular "circuit" preachers probably numbers less than 75 and possibly less than 50. Of those Bro. White is undoubtedly in the top 5. (Based on his popularity, and continued demand for his ministry) In my personal rating he is in my top 5 lifetime preaching favorites, (and I have heard hundreds and probably close to thousands.) My rating is based on content, spirit, anointing, and results witnessed from his ministry.

To each his own, and everyone will have their own top rated preachers. IMO however I agree that Bro. White is in the top 1% of preachers in Pentecost today.

The question remains then, why rate at all? Were the Apostles rated or ranked? Didn't Paul address this same issue in 1st Corinthians chapter 1 and say in fact that "that no flesh should glory in His [God's] presence?"

When I hear a great message, I glorify God, not the weak and despised flesh that brought the message. Again this ranking, rating, popularity contest, is a cancer on the Pentecostal movement today. It's all about who is your "favorite preacher" today. I'll tell you who my favorite preacher is - Jesus. All else is filthy rags, corrupt and debased humanity that God uses for his glory.

A Preacher is just a man like every other man on the face of the earth and is deserving of no special recognition or pats on the back. If it weren't for the limitless mercy and grace of a blood soaked savior, there would be no men to preach. Someday we will humble ourselves instead of hiding in our little mutual admiration society while the dammed drown in a stormy sea of hopelessness.

I'm sorry if you take offense or think this is too intense, no disrespect at all is meant to Bro. White, I personally do not have any agenda or ax to grind with him. My thoughts are about the "cult of personality" in the UPC in general.

[QueenEsther]

Originally Posted by Just a Shepherd

This is an interesting statement when examined more closely. There are over 3,000 preachers in the UPCI and how many could you have possibly heard? If you have heard 200, that would be a lot, but still only 6 to 7%. So what do you base your ranking system on if you haven't even heard 93% of the preachers in the UPC?

I wonder if this kind of thinking is what birthed the UPC "cult of personality" or if it is a product of it.

Have you not heard of the internet or of ordering cd's??????? My husband has soooooo many downloads and Cd's and DVD's of preachers and sermons from people we have never met or heard in person but we have hear many of their messages. You can hear ALOT of preachers even though they have never came to your church.

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by Just a Shepherd

This is an interesting statement when examined more closely. There are over 3,000 preachers in the UPCI and how many could you have possibly heard? If you have heard 200, that would be a lot, but still only 6 to 7%. So what do you base your ranking system on if you haven't even heard 93% of the preachers in the UPC?

I wonder if this kind of thinking is what birthed the UPC "cult of personality" or if it is a product of it.

Maybe I should have said, "he is one of my top three or four favorite preachers in the UPC."

I don't know that that makes me a personality cult member, although I like his personality too.

Honestly, I am not much interested in debating minutiae like this with you.

[Just a Shepherd]

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

Maybe I should have said, "he is one of my top three or four favorite preachers in the UPC."

I don't know that that makes me a personality cult member, although I like his personality too.

Honestly, I am not much interested in debating minutiae like this with you.

I should think not - you haven't won a debate with me yet, and we have debated on at least three different forums!

[Pastor G]

I could rank just the preachers I have heard on here... 1-5... Y'all might be surprised who makes the list...

Ready? Here goes..

1) P - - - no that would be unfair to all the preachers on here who I haven't heard..

Steadfast.... Exactly how many screen names do you have on here?

[PastorD]

Originally Posted by Pastor G

I could rank just the preachers I have heard on here... 1-5... Y'all might be surprised who makes the list...

Ready? Here goes..

1) P - - - no that would be unfair to all the preachers on here who I haven't heard..

Steadfast.... Exactly how many screen names do you have on here?

[Pastor G]

Originally Posted by PastorD

You might want to get some Twizzlers too... lol

Originally Posted by Pastor G

I could rank just the preachers I have heard on here... 1-5... Y'all might be surprised who makes the list...

Ready? Here goes..

1) P - - - no that would be unfair to all the preachers on here who I haven't heard..

Steadfast.... Exactly how many screen names do you have on here?

Well, that's a odd question. Don't even know why it would matter as my life is generally as ***** Edited by Admin*****.