My faith started early. It started early because my parents brought me to church each and every Sunday. When we traveled during the summer, my parents searched for a worship service near by. When visiting extended family, we went to church with them even if that meant that when visiting my mom’s family we would attend 2 church services (morning and night) with them. Not only did they attend worship services they were active volunteers: choir, leadership roles, teaching bible studies, teaching Sunday School and leading VBS.

It was expected that as children we would attend Sunday School despite that most times I was bored to tears! (That’s another reason I do what I do by volunteering to lead Kids Church) We were expected to weed church member’s property to raise money for youth activities, we were expected to be at every youth event, camping, lockins, bowling, you name it! We were expected to take part in choir, in bell choir, and form friendship with people my own age in my church.

You would think with that heavy emphasis, my parent’s kids would flee from the church the moment they turned 18. Here’s an update:

I did end up changing denominations, but that was because I had some theological big issues with the church I was raised in (namely they didn’t ordain women pastors and I, a woman, was feeling called into ministry). I have served as a volunteer youth or children’s ministry director since I was 18 (that’s 14 years!) and graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 2005. My most important relationship in my life is with God.

My younger brother also changed denominations, to a non denominational church. He works full time as a campus minister with a church on the campus of the University of Southern Florida. He is married to another campus minister. He walks up to strangers on campus and asks them to join his bible study class – that takes a strong relationship with God to be able to do that!

My younger sister has not changed denominations. She is a member of a new church start in Arizona and is a volunteer music minister with that church.

Can you see where I’m going with this? I often do not hear from friends that do not attend church that their parents brought them to church TOO MUCH, it is always that they didn’t bring them to church enough. Something to think about.

Join us in Kids Church every Sunday 10am!

~Lisa