I do not have a single memory of my family and I not attending church. My parents raised my sister and me in such a way that we would love Jesus Christ and want to gather with more believers.
When I was younger, we attended a very “traditional" church, which I define as having the pretty stained glass windows, tall steeple, ladies wearing fancy lace dresses with men in suits, and a fancy choir that wore robes for fancy occasions.
My mother led the children's group and you best believe that thing was in tip-top condition because Momma did not play around. My sister and I were in all the plays, which my daddy always recorded. It was just normal for us to love and adore church, but I did not realize it was more than a building until I got older.
My childhood church closed when I was younger so it felt like we had to start all over. We searched for a church for years, but we never gave up. It broke my heart that the beautiful place that I called home, was no longer, but the building still stands today.
Right before I went to college, my parents and I had found a new church that was somewhat traditional and what we were used to, but it wasn't the same. It felt like a tiny piece of me had closed when the doors of my home church were locked. I wasn't sure what to expect or where to go next.
One day I decided to not go with my parents and I drifted to another place. It was this place that was in a warehouse building and it looked dark and creepy, but it was completely different inside. I was greeted by all sorts of people. The music and everything were so modern, so I was fearful I wouldn't enjoy it, but I was 100% wrong in that assumption.
The message by the pastor was phenomenal and I could feel the Holy Spirit within me once more. I decided to keep visiting over the next little bit, and even later decided I would officially stay.
As the weeks turned into months, I started to feel more comfortable there. I made friends there and became to know the pastor a little more. Things were starting to fall into place.
Almost four years later, I am still there. I have made some of the BEST FRIENDS there and I consider the pastor to be one of my greatest friends. Church is no longer is a building in my eyes, but it is a group of people who gather to worship Jesus.
Church can be a tough subject to discuss, but I am thankful that I chose to never leave it.
