Pint-sized preacher: The toddling pastor wowing churchgoers in Mississippi



He is a famous preacher, whose eloquence and energy has inspired church congregations and wowed millions of followers online.

And aged just four years old, he's pretty cute as well.

Kanon Tipton, known by some as the world's youngest preacher, is a Youtube sensation whose precocious speeches have been watched on the internet by more than four million people.

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Adorable: Kanon has inspired millions of followers with his emphatic preaches

He shot to fame aged just 21 months when, barely able to talk, a video of him mocking the style of church preachers was uploaded online by his parents.

And borne into a family of Pentecostal preachers - his father and grandfather have taken the microphone before him - he has not stopped since.

While they insist they do not coerce their child into performing, Kanon's parents, Damon and Kandi, allow Kanon to take to the pulpit when he feels in the mood.



'One word comes to mind and I believe it’s "phenomenon",' Damon told MSNBC.



'And his name is Jesus': The congregation stand to attention

Energetic: Kanon Tipton runs around the stage, stomping his message to the congregation

'I really believe it’s a phenomenon in what Kanon does. It’s very unusual. I’ve never seen anything like it.'

In his first clip, Kanon merely mumbles and imitates the tone of voice and hand movements made by the preachers he must have absorbed as a baby.

Now, aged four, he dresses in a suit and tie to perform, shouting about Jesus and 'the red-hot revival' with a handkerchief in hand to wipe away his sweat.



'The Lord is here tonight — and his name is Jesus!’’ he can be heard chanting in one video. 'There’s only one God.'

Precocious: Kanon has been preaching from before he could properly talk

Impassioned: The child's parents say he was always driven to get up and perform

His father added: 'It really captures the audience - the fact that a little child like this can be saying some things like that.'

Kanon's parents insist they do not force him to take the stage, but instead simply allow him to preach when he feels like it.

'I like to stand up there,' Kanon said. 'Because I just see my daddy preach all the time.'

Proud: Kanon's parents Kandi and Damon say they have never forced their child to preach



All smiles: Kanon, who is known by some as the world's youngest preacher, is seen here relaxing on a day off at home with his parents

Asked whether he thinks the mannerisms come from mocking or from something godly and innate, Damon said: 'I think it’s a little of both.

'Yes, children absorb whatever you put in front of them [and] all of his life thus far, he’s been around the ministry.



'Of course he is mimicking, but I do feel like the hand of God is on him in a special way.'

He added: 'I think everybody has their own opinion. The Bible does say: "Train up a child the way it should go, and when they get old they will not depart from it."



'All that we have done is involved him in church and he himself has taken upon this passion, and so we’re not pushing him. [We] don’t have an agenda.'





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