By Tim Norton, AoP’15

“This feels like the American Idol of preaching. I’m not sure I want to do that.”The words escaping my lips were true if not overly blunt.

My mentor was encouraging me to participate in the Academy of Preachers’ New England Regional Festival of Young Preachers. I felt as excited about it as I did about filing my taxes.

I loved preaching and didn’t want to put myself in a position to compete as a preacher. That seemed dangerous for my already too competitive soul.

Mercifully, my objections did not phase my mentor. In his patience, he assuaged my fears and I was off to Harvard, unsure of what I would find and experience.

I am so thankful I went.

At the Regional Festival, I was surrounded by fellow preachers, men and women from differing traditions who genuinely wished to encourage and be encouraged. The camaraderie was contagious, each person uniquely contributing to the blessing of the weekend.

I met seasoned preachers, first time preachers, preaching professors, and supporters of preachers. My conversations crossed theological tradition, race, gender, and temperament.

Such a social dynamic can easily devolve into a comparison game, everyone silently judging those around them. AoP was different. Somehow, this group of strangers rallied under the banner of preaching the Gospel.

The festival wasn’t a competition. There were no winners and losers. No one was voted off the island. It truly was a celebration of preaching sponsored by an organization seeking to elevate the importance of preaching in the next generation.

I left that weekend with a renewed sense of joy and encouragement as a Gospel storyteller.

Providentially, I found myself at the 2015 National Festival of Young Preachers a few months later.

In Dallas, I often found myself scanning the room, taking in the sight of hundreds of preachers laughing together, sharing stories, offering encouragement, and soliciting critiques. Many of these men and women received their first formal instruction in preaching during that early January weekend. Still more honed their craft as they received feedback from seasoned preachers.

Everyone present, regardless of experience, championed the importance of preaching and offered encouragement as they listened to their preaching peers. I was struck by the thought of what our lives might look like 10, 20, even 50 years from now.

To be sure, no one knows how the Lord might work through us; but I do know this: I am excited for the preaching ministries of a new generation of Gospel storytellers to unfold.

After my AoP experience, I confess that I have a greater appreciation for the beauty of God’s Kingdom and the importance of community within that Kingdom.

It is clear to me now that the Academy of Preachers does not sponsor preaching competitions. It is an organization who believes in the significance of preaching and wants to partner with the next generation of preachers. I’m on board with that.

And so I join, not a competition, but a celebration. I join the celebration of God’s Kingdom, of the Gospel, and of preaching that Gospel and that Kingdom. I join the AoP.