SHOW LOOKS AT THE LIVES OF PREACHERS’ KIDS

Alvin Daniels interviews the Rev. Alvin Richards, of Revival Tabernacle Church, for his show, “Preacher’s Kids.” Photo courtesy of Alvin Daniels
Alvin Daniels interviews the Rev. Alvin Richards, of Revival Tabernacle Church, for his show, “Preacher’s Kids.” Photo courtesy of Alvin Daniels

Show looks at the lives of Preachers’ Kids

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Alvin Daniels took more than 800 interviews with preachers’ kids from the last 12 years and created a stage play based on the lives of people whose parents were clergy. Now, he has created a television series based on the same idea, a funny look at their lives, called “Preacher’s Kids: The Untold Stories.”

Daniels used his experience growing up in the church. He remembered when his grandfather, who was the pastor of a church, sent for his uncle because he needed help.

And, what they found was there were people stealing money and doing other hurtful things.

“I took that pain and began interviewing Preachers Kids around the country,” he said. “How do you deal with the daily grind of being a Preachers Kid?”

Daniels said he asked each person the same four questions: Tell me a little bit about your parent who was a preacher, how was it growing up as a preacher’s kid? Do you have any funny stories or funny characters that you grew up with and do you have any advice to younger Preacher’s Kids?

From those questions, Daniels created dialogue and funny scenarios that he included in the shows.

He said one of the prevailing messages from the interviews is that you’ve got to find your own voice. He said he had to find his voice. It happened while he was in college.

“Quite often, because we’re at church and whatever needs to be done, we’re there, we’re supporting our parents, you don’t find your own voice,” he said. “You’ve got to find your own voice, what makes you happy.”

Daniels, whose mother and grandfather were pastors, said the episodes combine his three loves: love of humor, love of filmmaking and love of the church. He also took from scenarios from his life.

“In the first episode, you see me, as a young Alvin, portrayed by a young guy, he goes to his mother, portrayed by someone else, she says it’s totally in confidence, it’s just between us, then in the next scene, we’re in church and she’s telling my business,” he said. “Think ‘In Living Color’ meets the Gospel. It is [a] sketch comedy from church from Preacher’s Kids.”

Some of the characters include Deacon Pray Too Long, Sister Tell It All and Sister Off-Keys. Daniels said not only is it meant to make people laugh, it is meant to be inspirational, with a bit of nostalgia.

He added, “I try and bring the old hymns that we used to sing, I try and bring back friendships,” Daniels said. “Without my foundation, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”

Daniels, who teaches filmmaking at Chicago State University, said the response has been tremendous. He said people have really identified with the characters in the play and in the show. “Anyone who’s ever been to church can identify,” he said. “Each story is a different slice of life.”

Daniels said he wants people to get some hope from the show, because the church is a place of hope. And, to understand that preacher’s kids are human.

“We’re not asking you to lift us up and honor us, but just like you respect your kids, respect us as kids, as well,” he said.

Daniels said he also wants people to laugh.

“I want you to get a good laugh. Laughter is healing,” he said. “Again, it allows me to give something that you might have looked at one way, in a different way, just to give you some laughter, something to laugh about.”

Episodes of “Preacher’s Kids: The Untold Stories” are available for rent on Amazon Prime Video for $2.

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