I grew up as a Southern Baptist. My family has always belonged to the same church and to this day my parents and my brother’s family still attend First Baptist Church in Forest City, North Carolina. One of the reasons Baptists are given this name is because they are not baptized as infants, but when they are old enough to understand the full concept of Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us. I accepted the Lord as my personal savior when I was thirteen and made a public profession of my faith by walking to the front of the church one Sunday morning. Many factors in the past have influenced my relationship with God and continue to do so daily. I first learned to be a Christian from my parents. They took me to Sunday School and “preaching” on Sunday mornings when I was young. They made sure I was involved in the youth group and children’s and youth choirs while growing up. They taught me to say a blessing before every meal, and they laugh when I still occasionally break into our traditional “God is great, God is good . . .” version of grace I learned as a child. My parents were also the ones who taught me to ask for God’s help when I am in need of something or worried about an issue as well as to give God praise for all of the blessings in my life. My grandparents also helped further my Christian education. My Grandmother Hall made an impact on my understanding of church because she was very opinionated about what her preacher should and should not be preaching about from the pulpit. Her opinions caused me to think about what I believed in and why I believed that way. My family was very important to my upbringing in the church. As a Christian, I feel there are several places where I can feel close to God. I love to be in... ... middle of paper ... ...his wife are unable to have children. The wife is so distraught with disappointment and resentment that her husband asks her, “Will you be able to love the Lord even if you can’t have children?” This is a question I have had to ask myself many times, and thankfully after many years of heartache I can answer YES! I realize that we are indeed going to be able to live full, productive lives even without children. (This could definitely account for the crazy love we shower on our dogs, Hunter and Dixie.) My parents, sacred places I like to visit, and knowledge that God is with me continue to make a difference in my Christian life. I know that as I grow older I will continue to have experiences that show me God is present in my world. I hope I can continue to be a good and positive influence on those around me so that I can help them to see God’s presence as well.
Looking back on my childhood, I have many memories shrouded in fear and self-loathing. I was raised in the Baptist church. My mother and grandmother made sure that I attended church every Sunday morning. My grandmother was from the mid-west. She carried her strict Bible belt background with her as she traveled west with my grandfather. The many lessons I learned from my grandmother and the minister at our church played a big part in how I began to see the world and my place in it.
After seeing though the eyes of my pastor I’ve come to realize the importance of faith and committing to one’s beliefs. Returning to church after two massive losses has helped my mother in many ways and it has also taught me as a young man how small things that I could do would turn to have a big impact on someone’s life the same way my pastor impacted my life and the life of my siblings.
Growing up in El Salvador, gave me the opportunity to experience different churches, because my grandmother took us to the Alliance church, and mother used to go to the Pentecostal church, and my uncle attended the Baptist one. During the weekday my siblings and went to church with grandmother, on Sundays usually with my mom’s church, and sometimes, she gave us a choice where we wanted to go. She made it clear that we needed to go to church. In El Salvador we used to go to church times a week, the service was long and sometimes I felt it was too confusing, I remember they was not a separate class for the kids on weekdays only on Sunday. It was hard sometimes to understand the sermons.
Religion and faith have been a part of my life since the day I was born. My grandfather has been a pastor at Selma Church of God for 39 years and my mom, along with my grandmother and aunts, run our churches worship team. One could only assume, I have spent much of my life in the church. From years of children 's church and Sunday school, I learned of God 's unconditional love for me and His constant willingness to forgive me of my sins. My family and teachers explained the crucifixion and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. As a child, I knew all these things, these wonderful things about my God and my religion, but it was not until my early teens that I began to thirst for more.
Growing up and becoming a Christian was nowhere on my life timeline. In my early teens I accepted God as My Lord and Savior. Who knew that from that day on my life would take a huge turn. Before this huge turn I didn't know what it was to include a daily prayer nor know the reason why I attended church. Eventually I became mature and was able to comprehend God's purpose for my existence. It was like a puzzle waiting to be solved. I view my life as special because I stand out to people who don't know what it's like to live in a Christ-like perspective because it's a reminder that I see the power of Jesus and they don't.
Matters of Faith offers an array of things such as music, messages/devotionals and sometimes even a guest speaker. It is a place for many people to come together and hear not only about their own religion but other religions, as well. As a matter of fact, those are some of the reasons that had me intrigued and wanting to see what Matters of Faith was really all about.
Church was the first place where I learned to respect my community and surroundings. I have mentors, youth pastors, and dear friends who set an example of respect, responsibility, and hospitality. From observing and then volunteering in events, I soon began to realize how small my world was compared
Each and every individual holds a certain set of beliefs that guide them through their life decisions. Simply put, everybody has a faith. This faith defines people by separating them into different religions based on similar beliefs. Similar beliefs shared by a population that get passed along through generations make up the spiritual climate of a certain place. I have examined the spiritual climate of America through readings in the IS 101 Reader and through my personal observations from the news and social media. I have found that traditional beliefs and ways of practice are sometimes confronted by new discoveries, such as evolutionary studies, and changed as new generations hold different values. America has always
From a very young age my parents ensured I was involved in church. As a confused girl searching for a connection the thought of a God who loved me and always watched over me was very appealing. I enjoyed going to church and prayed every night. As I got older and gained confidence in my identity I decided to put the questions to rest and enjoy my life. I put more effort in and attempted to have a better relationship with both of my parents. Being adopted played a large role in my belief and faith in God at a young age.
From the earliest I could ever remember, my parents have put me in church and kept me involved. In particular, my family chose to attend Baptist churches. I never fully understood why I was there, although I had thought I knew exactly what I was supposed to do. I assumed that I was a good person and that God was the center of my life. I believe, however, that I was not fully aware of what the concept of God really was. By the time I was teenager, while I was not completely rebellious, I was not living a life representing Jesus win a good manner. As I grew older and matured I began to realize what Christianity was all about.
I was born into a Christian family; my father was a non-practicing Catholic and my mother was a protestant. I was raised to belief in God. The Social and cultural effect of my spiritual development and religious experience. As an adult my spirituality has grown and changed throughout my life; these changes effected the many events, decisions and circumstances; in my life which have effect my spiritual development and my religious experience. I have substantively have brought an important, meaningful quality, meaning and solidity to my life. Through these experiences, I have gained a understanding in of God, my faith and my church.
In addition to being influenced by church and religion, I have also been influenced by my family. My parents have always been there for me and supported me in all I do. They encourage me in my schoolwork as well as my extra-curricular activities. They attend all my concerts and things I participate in including church activities. My grandparents have also influenced me in what I am today. My grandfather is a minister and has always encouraged me to do well and have high morals. They have always done special things such as taking me on trips to show me how much they love me. My sister has also helped me be the person I am today. She has been a role model to me in many things. She has encouraged me to do well in school because she excelled and was valedictorian of her class. She also has an outgoing personality and has been a role model socially.
As far back as I can remember, I have been raised around good Christian people with good Christian values. I felt safe in church, knowing that most of the families I had connected with had the same set of values and beliefs that I was educated on throughout my life. Learning what I have in
The faith that I have, and my parents’ example, have both had a large impact on who I am
Much later in life I was going to a little Baptist church where I first accepted Christ as my savior