I do not come from a religious family. I was not baptized, I was actually blessed by a pastor friend of my parents. We did not attend church, like some of my other friends. When asked what religion I was, I would always say "no religion."
Growing up I attended a private school where 2-3 times a week we attended Chapel. We sang hymns (I was even in the chapel choir for 2 years), one of the Reverends gave a mini sermon (during which I would sit there flipping through the hymnal most days), we said the Lord's Prayer, and sang more hymns. We had classes about religion where we were taught all the basics...God created the world, God created Man and Woman, Noah built an Ark, Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph and performed miracles throughout his entire life, and eventually was crucified for our sins. I believed what I was taught, and never questioned it...what 10 year old does?
Then we moved to Florida and I became involved in a youth group at a local church. Most of my friends would go to these meetings during the week, and I heard about all the fun things they were doing, so I started to attend them myself. I fell in love with the youth leaders, and the sense of family between my friends and I during these gatherings. I started to attend the church on the weekends with my friends, and eventually went on religious retreats during the summer with this group. Yes, I went to church camp, but this was not your average church camp. And amidst all the activities and costume parties and cook outs, I became wrapped up in the spiritual teachings and "devoted myself to Christ."
