Dwight Nelson gives 90% of fellow pastors an inferiority complex

The one and only...
The one and only…

BERRIEN SPRINGS, Mich. — “It’s been going on since the ’80s,” said Andrews University-based pastoral therapist, Elsa Bradley. “Nine in 10 Adventist pastors stateside come to my practice for crisis therapy. They are all suffering from the same thing: ‘Dwight Effect.’ Most pastors seem to believe that no matter what they try they won’t be able to preach like Dwight Nelson and this really eats away at them.”

Bradley reports that the two therapists at the Andrews-based pastoral rehab facility take entirely opposite approaches when it comes to treating Dwight Effect.

“The method I use and recommend is simple. I get to the point and say, ‘Stop trying to copy Dwight. You’ll never reach your God-given destiny by dying your hair gray, experimenting with mustaches and preaching at triple espresso speed. Only Dwight gets away with that.”

Bradley’s colleague Sam Karlsson claims that the other method for treating the Dwight Effect is far more effective: “I encourage pastors to get in touch with their ‘inner Dwight.’ I know this might sound like Eastern philosophy but it isn’t. I just think that if we look deep enough, each of us can summon Dwight-sized charisma and PowerPoint proficiency.”

Pastors who come to Andrews for rehab are often deeply conflicted over which course of treatment to pursue.

“I still don’t know whether to be treated by Bradley or Karlsson,” said Jerry Blake, a young pastor working for the Northern California Conference. “I definitely need help. Dwight is too good. Even his children’s stories are untouchable. I can’t watch the Hope Channel anymore because I’m afraid he will come on air.”


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8 Comments

  1. Richard Mills

    8/8/14
    Stop dissing on Dwight Nelson. He allows me to retell his kids’ stories at my church. I retell them with more pizazz, flair & color. I’m in your corner, Pastor Dwight!!

  2. Bozidar

    Adventist pastors have inferiority complex because they missed the main point of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not about preaching well but about living, and doing, and serving and sacrificing well.

  3. R.Wyman

    Have noticed that when English is not one’s native language, that satire is often missed! And for those who know it’s satire yet are offended, remember that “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine” & it’s healthy to NOT take ourselves too seriously! 🙂

  4. Jillian L Lutes

    “Pastoral therapist”–hang on, why DOESN’T this exist here at Andrews? There’s plenty of neurotic young pastors who need that kind of help. There are plenty of great (free) therapists, but no one specializing particularly in pastor crazy. Someone should start a field of research in that.

  5. Aster

    Greeting ministre , onec more again to touching you how much wonderful pastor you’re I appreciate you each time heard the message gaven by you a true and brillante knowledge I see and listening the words which you brought to the christians peoples , its important and real to understand the whole subject you thought to teach the words of God to the church thank you for this devotion for christianity . In this time I got a hard situation not have to find a good way to realize my wish to visite which I need to leave . However the situation like this I demand to you praying for me heavenly father . I believe you understand the whole issue about the realation with friend . So this message give to you encouraging and trust to you we’ll going through this life with Jesus together in this world . Thank you and God bless you and to family and friends .

  6. Tim Mayne

    I don’t fight it anymore. I was at Andrews when Dwight came. So I’ve learned from the beginning how to do a perfect “Dwight”. The only thing I do is to ban my members from watching him so that they don’t realize that I’ve stolen his sermon lock, stock, and smoking barrels. And if they do hear him, I fain anger at Dwight using my material.

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