Life Unscripted: A Personal Testimonial
I grew up with no religion. My mom was a “catholic” and my dad was Jewish by blood, but neither followed the faith of either denomination. Even though I wasn’t assigned to a particular religion growing up, I did sway towards Christianity at a young age. When I was in third grade I would sneak in the backyard and read my children’s bible in a small forested corner of the yard – just opposite the corner with the mini hill. I read it in hope of learning what the big deal was with our neighbor Shannon going to Sunday school every week, and with a real curiosity of the whole thing.
In fourth grade, my parents began their divorce and that was probably an end to whatever curiosity I was harboring for the next few years. It wasn’t until seventh grade that my interest was sparked again. I began reading a series called “Left Behind” and that was what led me to developing a relationship with Christ. I did not go to church at that point and had no background knowledge of being a Christian, but I truly believe that was the time period at which I got saved. But having no accountability and nobody there to disciple me, I did not begin walking until winter of eighth grade.
In the winter of eighth grade the youth group, Ro0ts, went on a winter camp retreat. The speaker was Joey Baran – my sister got saved that weekend. It was the beginning of my walk, my relationship, and an end to a new beginning. I look at it like I was slowing down for about a year at the stop light, and finally, that winter, I was able to begin moving forward; except this time around I had Christ on my side.
Ninth grade was my first year being a true believe and a strong one at that. Ro0ts was going through its Golden years, as we like to call it. Though my dog, Tobi, had just died, I somehow found strength and hope in Christ to strive forward and draw closer to God. The year was drab for me, because for most of it I was learning about who God it, and what it is to be a Christian, and getting over the death of my former best friend. It was the year I learned to make God my best friend, to trust God in all things, and the year I look back at as amazing.
We held a couple events with the youth group; car washes, a garage sale, and we sent out letters to raise money for New York. Ro0ts was at its peak. We were never closer as of that point. Finally, New York came and we bound together as Christian teens for Christ for that entire summer. Every minute we had free we spent time together. There was almost a month and a half there that we spent every day doing something with someone from the New York trip.
After that summer, I started tenth grade and things began to change. In October, the Phillips left the church and we lost two prominent members of our gang – Ryan and Tiffani. Also, Jackie and Dan called things off after the New York trip so there was no doubt some rifts in the group. Eventually, Jackie and Jill stopped coming to Ro0ts and the group was no longer the original members. Though I, and I’m sure the rest of the group, are thankful that new people started coming, there is no doubt in my mind that we miss having the whole group together.
In tenth grade, many people came to, and unfortunately, left Christ. My friends Tiffany and Theo came to Christ and Kami came to youth group. And my sisters’ friends Megan and Alyssa came to Christ. Alyssa and Theo fell back soon after they began, and Megan has not yet been left with much accountability but her heart is still in the right place. This year also, we lost our youth leader Brian Blomer to Christen Deane. We gained Steve Roby and Julia in response though.
Right now, I am a happy Christian. I am mostly waiting for Jesus’ return – though I don’t really expect it to happen in my lifetime. I’ struggling with things most teen girls do: little passing crushes, dieting techniques - mostly vain stuff. We are planning to go to Texas at the end of this summer, Summer of Love, but my doubts are high if I will go. I’m too hung up on what I look like and honestly, my faith doesn’t appear to be that strong that it is His will for me to go. If we will only be going for water parks and fellowship, I can’t spare the $175.
I grew up with no religion. My mom was a “catholic” and my dad was Jewish by blood, but neither followed the faith of either denomination. Even though I wasn’t assigned to a particular religion growing up, I did sway towards Christianity at a young age. When I was in third grade I would sneak in the backyard and read my children’s bible in a small forested corner of the yard – just opposite the corner with the mini hill. I read it in hope of learning what the big deal was with our neighbor Shannon going to Sunday school every week, and with a real curiosity of the whole thing.
In fourth grade, my parents began their divorce and that was probably an end to whatever curiosity I was harboring for the next few years. It wasn’t until seventh grade that my interest was sparked again. I began reading a series called “Left Behind” and that was what led me to developing a relationship with Christ. I did not go to church at that point and had no background knowledge of being a Christian, but I truly believe that was the time period at which I got saved. But having no accountability and nobody there to disciple me, I did not begin walking until winter of eighth grade.
In the winter of eighth grade the youth group, Ro0ts, went on a winter camp retreat. The speaker was Joey Baran – my sister got saved that weekend. It was the beginning of my walk, my relationship, and an end to a new beginning. I look at it like I was slowing down for about a year at the stop light, and finally, that winter, I was able to begin moving forward; except this time around I had Christ on my side.
Ninth grade was my first year being a true believe and a strong one at that. Ro0ts was going through its Golden years, as we like to call it. Though my dog, Tobi, had just died, I somehow found strength and hope in Christ to strive forward and draw closer to God. The year was drab for me, because for most of it I was learning about who God it, and what it is to be a Christian, and getting over the death of my former best friend. It was the year I learned to make God my best friend, to trust God in all things, and the year I look back at as amazing.
We held a couple events with the youth group; car washes, a garage sale, and we sent out letters to raise money for New York. Ro0ts was at its peak. We were never closer as of that point. Finally, New York came and we bound together as Christian teens for Christ for that entire summer. Every minute we had free we spent time together. There was almost a month and a half there that we spent every day doing something with someone from the New York trip.
After that summer, I started tenth grade and things began to change. In October, the Phillips left the church and we lost two prominent members of our gang – Ryan and Tiffani. Also, Jackie and Dan called things off after the New York trip so there was no doubt some rifts in the group. Eventually, Jackie and Jill stopped coming to Ro0ts and the group was no longer the original members. Though I, and I’m sure the rest of the group, are thankful that new people started coming, there is no doubt in my mind that we miss having the whole group together.
In tenth grade, many people came to, and unfortunately, left Christ. My friends Tiffany and Theo came to Christ and Kami came to youth group. And my sisters’ friends Megan and Alyssa came to Christ. Alyssa and Theo fell back soon after they began, and Megan has not yet been left with much accountability but her heart is still in the right place. This year also, we lost our youth leader Brian Blomer to Christen Deane. We gained Steve Roby and Julia in response though.
Right now, I am a happy Christian. I am mostly waiting for Jesus’ return – though I don’t really expect it to happen in my lifetime. I’ struggling with things most teen girls do: little passing crushes, dieting techniques - mostly vain stuff. We are planning to go to Texas at the end of this summer, Summer of Love, but my doubts are high if I will go. I’m too hung up on what I look like and honestly, my faith doesn’t appear to be that strong that it is His will for me to go. If we will only be going for water parks and fellowship, I can’t spare the $175.