My Church History

As you may no I grew up going to church from the time I was born.  I was one of the lucky ones who had amazing parents who wanted their kids raised in the church and surrounded by people who love God.  Looking back to when I was a kid I don't remember a Sunday where church was not our top priority.

My first memories come from First Baptist Church here in Lakeland.  We would wake up at 6 am in order to get all 4 kids ready and to Sunday School on time.  Church was 30-40 minutes away but we always went.  We spent Wednesday nights there too.  I was a GA and did all the the fun things kids do with the church.

When I was in about 7th grade, about the time we started having the choice a little on whether or not to go to church, Mom made the decision to move to a church closer to home.  Scott Lake Baptist is about 5 minutes away and that is where my family is currently members.

That is where I went to Youth Group up until my sophomore year of high school.  The problem I had there was I found the group to be very cliquy.  And if you didn't make it every Sunday and go to all the events you eventually got phased out it seemed.  I didn't really go to church in the summers due to being at the beach and going to The Vineyard for camp.

Needless to say by my sophomore year of high school I was not enjoying going to church.  So when I heard about the youth group at First Presbyterian I convinced my siblings to go check it out.  Several of our camp friends attended there so it was fun seeing them.

I fell in love with this group of people and quickly made friends.  The youth pastors and their wives were all amazing and I finally felt like I fit in.  Then two years passed, lots of drama, and I started to lose touch with the group.  I didn't feel like I fit in anymore so I stopped going.

Then I entered college.  I can remember that first Sunday of all of us trying to find a church to go to.  We went to three in one morning.  I was with the girls and we all came from different backgrounds, but didn't want to go somewhere on our own.

I went with friends to Harrison Christian Church in Johnson City.  I immediately got involved with the Children's Ministry there and fell in love.  The people there were so nice to me and loved me.  I spent all four years of school there and miss it so much.

Harrison taught me that just because the denomination was not what I was use to, I could still worship there.  It is the people who label which type of Christian you are, but God is in all places at all times.

I have loved each church I have attended, and now I am in search of a new one.  Since I have moved home I am in need of a new church home.  And I just may have found it!  But you will have to wait to learn all about that one!