The Preacher Boy: Learning to Trust God: From the Prison to the Pulpit

By Treeca Yarbrough

Bobby Joe, a sixteen year-old boy, is discouraged and dejected and is hitchhiking to any place he can find a job. Having been told by his mother to get out of her house and never having met his father, he feels alone and disillusioned. God sent a young man, Peter, to mentor him. He and his wife were very intrigued with Bobby Joe. That is until he was accused of committing murder at the church where he had gone to work. Now they were apprehensive for him. What will God do to salvage him? You will be amazed!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512754629

Treeca Yarbrough

At the age of sixteen, I married a young preacher. We traveled and pastored for fifty years together. Our lives were very interesting and sometimes tragic. I learned a lot about human nature, during those years. After my husband’s death, I felt my ministry was over. But God has led me to start writing Christian Fiction books. I have been a New Mexico State women’s minister, a Christian School Teacher and Administrator, and a Conference Speaker. I loved our life of helping people find their way to God. But of all my many endeavors, I love writing the best!

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

B obby Joe held out his thumb hopefully as he saw a car approaching. He wondered what they saw as they whizzed past him. Did they see him as a sixteen year old homeless bum? Which he supposed he was: or did they see a hopeful person who only wanted to get somewhere that would allow him to better himself? He looked down at his jeans and tee shirt. They were at least clean. He knew his blond hair was a little long for the best style in this age. But he didn’t have the money to get a hair-cut after he had paid his portion of rent he had promised his room-mate. He hadn’t wanted to leave him in the lurch. After all this was the modern age. Each should carry his own weight.

After Katie had told him that her Mother had demanded she quit seeing him, he felt the despair of rejection. His Mother had told him to get out of her house, his father had left a long time ago, never to be heard from again, and now his friend’s Mother had just squelched his interest in a sweet girl.

I feel like I just want to lie down on this lonely road and let the next car run over me. No one would care. Mom wouldn’t even think to search for me. No one would miss me. Where do I think I’m going anyway?

In despair he stumbled over the ditch and sat down under the shade of a tree. Dropping his head to his chest, he thought about last night.

He had asked, Katie could I go to church with you and your Mother?

Sure you can, Bobby Joe, Mother doesn’t like to drive at night, so maybe you can drive us there in our car.

Are you sure? I do have my license, but I haven’t gotten to drive much. My Mom had to have the car to go to work so I never got to drive.

I don’t think Mom will object. Katie scooted in the passenger door.

Excited about getting to go with Katie, and getting to drive also, he clamored under the steering wheel.

Coming out of the house, Mrs. Bowman stopped, stared, and frostily said, What is going on here?

Oh Mom, I told Bobby Joe you probably wouldn’t mind if he drove us to church, as you don’t like to drive at night.

All right. It was evident her agreement was hesitantly given, but she climbed in behind Katie in the back seat on the passenger’s side.

This is a wonderful car, Mrs. Bowman! Bobby Joe said as he slid his arm behind Katie’s shoulders.

Young man, it takes both hands on the wheel to drive safely! Mrs. Bowman reached over and pinched a plug out of Bobby Joe’s arm.

Ouch!

Shut up and drive!

When they arrived at the church, Pastor Gary greeted Mrs. Bowman like a long lost friend. Bobby Joe wondered if that was just his personality. After all, Katie had told him that the Pastor’s wife had died several months back, and her Mom had been single most of Katie’s life.

When Pastor began the songs, Bobby Joe really enjoyed the worship service. He had always had a longing to play the guitar. Their worship band was very intriguing.

However, the message Pastor Gary preached touched Bobby Joe’s heart. He told about the prophet Elijah, who had tried to obey the word of the Lord, and was told the most powerful woman in the Kingdom was going to put out ‘a hit’ on him. He said the story was in I Kings 19. Pastor Gary also mentioned how the prophet ran for his life, finally sitting down under the juniper tree and telling God to just kill him then and there, because he felt despair. After that God sent him an angel to minister to him, both physically and spiritually.

When the altar-call was made for people who wanted to accept Christ into their hearts, Bobby Joe went forward. As he confessed his sins, he felt a joy and peace. He really hoped his life would take a turn for the better.

As he sat in the shade of the tree, waiting for another car on this lonely road, he thought about last night. I guess this is my juniper tree. he thought. Didn’t he say something about God sending an angel to encourage the prophet? I don’t know if I believe in angels or not. Seems like, it kinda equates with the tooth-fairy.

He heard the crunch of gravel in the distance. Jumping up quickly, he crossed the ditch and held out his thumb. To his astonishment the driver pulled over and stopped. Bobby Joe ran up to the car, Are you going to the next town?

Sure am. Even farther than that if you are interested.

Frankly I don’t know where I’m going. I just need to get to a town where I can find a job, and rent a room or something.

My name is Peter Simon. What is your name?

Bobby Joe Johnson

Glad to meet you Bobby Joe. What kind of work do you do?

I don’t know. Anything, if someone is willing to teach me. I learn fast. I was raised in a small town mostly, and not many jobs were available. So I went to a city, but that didn’t work out, so I decided to go somewhere else.

Did you get into trouble with the law or something in the city?

Oh no, I met this sweet girl who took me to church with her. I really liked the church: and her too! But she told me that her Mother had insisted she not see me anymore. I felt so rejected, I just quit my job and ran.

Do you have a passion for any kind of work or project? What do you want to do with your life?

I guess I never thought about it. I just wanted to finish high school and get away from home. My Mom was always so unhappy. I felt I never pleased her. Of course I don’t think anything ever pleased her. I don’t remember her laughing much.

Son, how old are you?

Sixteen.

How did you finish high school at sixteen?

"When I was in the first grade, I could already read, and so they put me in the second grade. I learned to read because there was nothing else to do. My Mom was always at work, and the baby-sitter wanted to do her housework so she bought me picture books. It wasn’t long until I recognized the word under the picture. Then when I saw that word somewhere else, I would try to figure out what it was saying about that animal or whatever. You might say I taught myself to read.

In the second grade, after I learned how to add and subtract, I was bored, and so they moved me up to the third grade. That was pretty hard, but I passed at the end of the year. I was always the little runt in my class, until I got to Junior High. Then I caught up with the others."

I am intrigued. Would you allow me to have your IQ tested?

I’m not for sure. Does it hurt?

No! It is a simple test to see how smart you are.

Some people tell me I am smart, others tell me I am dumb.

Let me take you home with me. My wife would like to meet you. She is a school teacher.

Forgive me, but I think I want to stay away from those! I was glad when they graduated me, and I never want to see another school teacher again.

Don’t you want to go to college?

No. I feel that I can learn to be somebody by learning on my job or just reading on my own.

If you will come home with me, I will tell the teacher to leave you alone and contact a friend of mine, who will set up the testing for you.

I don’t have any money to pay for the test.

Don’t worry about that. It won’t cost you anything.

I am smart enough to know that nothing in life is free. There is always a price to pay, if not in dollars, than in obligation.

What a skeptical young man you are! Haven’t you ever met anyone who just wanted to be nice to you?

Not really. Everyone is interested in themselves, and not caring what others need.

You poor boy! God will need to teach you there are people who do care about others.

Well, I don’t know any adults who think that way.

Son, you just met one!

You must be my encouraging angel!

What in the world are you talking about?

When I went to church with Katie, Pastor Gary spoke from I Kings chapter nineteen about a prophet, Elijah, who was so discouraged he wanted to die. He sat under a juniper tree and had a pity party. As he fell asleep, God sent him an angel who fed him and encouraged him. As I was resting in the shade this morning, I said to God ‘where is my encouraging angel?’Laughing he continued, I don’t even know if I believe in angels or not."

It doesn’t change the facts, whether you believe or not, if it is real, it continues to be real no matter how much you deny it.

Hey I didn’t say I didn’t believe, I said I don’t know about them.

In all of your reading, did you study the Bible much?

No, it talked funny. Like Shakespeare. I got tired of trying to figure out what Shakespeare was saying, so I didn’t really try to figure out what the Bible was saying. But I understood what Pastor Gary said, because he made it simple in our language and I have felt the same way Elijah did.

The Bible speaks to a lot of our lives if we will but listen, but believe me I’m no angel!

CHAPTER 2

W OW! Staggering backward, Bobby Joe placed his hand on his heart. You don’t look like any teacher I ever had!

Emily Simon held the door open for the two men. Who do we have here?

Oh this is just some ‘piece of trash’ I picked up along the road as I was coming home.

Peter, I will not have you speak in such a derogatory manner to any student. Words matter!

I just wanted to show him whose side you were on. He thinks teachers are automatically against him. I didn’t mean to start ‘World War III.

Introduce me in a proper manner, Peter.

Emily, meet Bobby Joe Johnson. Bobby Joe, meet my wife Emily Simon.

Turning away and speaking behind his hand Bobby Joe whispered, I’m sorry, Peter, she is so beautiful, it took my breath away.

Just remember she is already spoken for! Peter whispered back.

What are you two whispering about?

You they both said together.

Oh my! I can tell this is going to be an interesting connection. Turning to Bobby Joe, she continued, Have you eaten recently?

No, Mam.

I knew that Peter would be hungry so I have prepared Lunch. Peter, show him the bathroom to wash his hands, and bring him into the kitchen, while I set another plate.

~

As Bobby Joe eagerly consumed the meal, he watched the joking way the husband and wife poked at each other, laughing hugely as they got the best of the other. He thought, ‘Now this is what I have always thought would be a wonderful way to have a relationship.’

As the meal finished, Peter turned to Emily and explained, Bobby Joe is only sixteen years old, but has graduated from a public school. He skipped parts of the first and second grades because he already knew the material. I felt intrigued, so I asked him to come home with me. I would like to have Mr. Paulson to test his IQ.

I think that would be very helpful for your inquiring mind, but what will it accomplish for Bobby Joe?

I don’t know, but can we take one step at a time?

CHAPTER 3

T hat test was different from what I was used to.

I told you it would be painless.

I can’t say that exactly. But it was different.

Do you think you did okay on it?

I don’t know. I knew an answer to most of the questions. But having not studied the material, I don’t know what the correct answer should have been. I don’t like to take a test, when I haven’t been able to study before.

"I think