The World's Youngest Minister

At an age when most of his peers are busy with bicycles and computer games, Ezekiel Stoddard is already a fully-ordained minister teaching the gospel at the Fullness Time Church, an independent Pentecostal church in Maryland, USA. Just 11 years of age, fluent and articulate, Stoppard preaches to his audience with the fervour of a Billy Graham and the swagger of an Ashimolowo (check out his videos below). 

Ezekiel Stoddard of America. At the age of 11, he is the youngest ordained church minister on earth. 

Ordained as a full minister on 6th May, he has been preparing sermons since the age of 7 or 8, reports ABC News. Both parents are pastors but they say that Ezekiel has received his own special calling from God and that God also instructed him to specially read Psalm 23. Hear him: 

"It doesn't matter the age that you can be licensed. It just matters ... how much word do you have and how much God has called you." 

However, he says that some adults still take him for a toddler. 

"A lot of grown-ups will look at me like I'm just a joke and I need to sit down," Stoddard told the Washington Post.

"God gave me that particular scripture because a lot of people, they try to draw you away from the lord, trying to get you on the wrong path," he said.

"People come to you, they ask you questions about why you should act like a child and not a minister," the young minister said. "I do things like a child, but still I am a minister. I am an evangelical."

Arriving in style. 

When he is not reading the Bible or doing his assignments, he prefers to go the movies or enjoy sports with friends. He is also a lover of music (see videos). 

But whatever the case, he has decided to go into full-time ministry of the gospel in future. 

Ezekiel also believes that God spoke to him two years ago and his mission is to the propagate the word of God. He said of his dream when he was eight: 

“God said, ‘You are going to lay hands on the sick and preach to the poor,’ ” Ezekiel said.

The voice, sounded like fire. “He said, ‘Son, you are going to be something.’ ” The boy’s mission? “Ministering the Gospel, and running souls right over to Him.”

He has been ordained in the same church where his parents also minister. Hear him: 

“The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent,” he said. “To repent may be deeper than you think. You have to give your life over to the Lord. Don’t act like this world. . . . Have your own mind set in Christ.” Then audience cheered and applauded.

He is home-schooled by his mum and three other siblings and spends 13-14 hours a week studying the Bible. Hear his mum: 


"He's had time to study, he knows a lot of scripture, he knows the 10 Commandments, the stories. He does childlike things, but when it comes to the word of God, he studies, he prepares." "There's a seriousness about Minister Ezekiel," his mother said. "He knows it's not about him. It's about ministry. Wherever he goes, they say, 'That's the little preacher there.'"


Check out his videos here: 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/11-year-minister-ordained-md/story?id=16614056#.T-0spBdo18l

And a little child shall lead them. 

-Isaiah 11:6

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