I’ve been going to church ever since I was born. Growing up, my parents would never skip this part of our Sunday mornings, especially when I asked. I was at that stage in my life where I didn’t like getting up early or grocery shopping, and I didn’t understand how Sunday was supposedly the “day of rest.” Looking back, I am extremely grateful that my parents didn’t let me skip church because it means so much more to me now.
My mentality toward church started shifting when my parents divorced. I was in fifth grade, swiftly approaching middle school, and was struggling to comprehend it. I remember Mr. Bill (or Mr. England), our youth pastor, always looking out for me and my sister. Funnily enough, I now pass him in the MV hallways and exchange greetings with him every day. Kid Depot (the name for Central Christian Church’s kids ministry) became such a safe space for me where I received so much support and community, especially from my friends in small group.
That passion started to build and deepen when I entered middle school. This portion of my life (thus far) has been the most impactful in who I am today, or it was the first time I got the opportunity to volunteer on the worship team. When you’re at that age, you care a lot about what other 12-year-olds think about you, and I realized that I had some performance anxiety. Serving in this way exposed me to a smaller group that I eventually became comfortable with, and now that anxiety isn’t as potent as it used to be, especially in front of unfamiliar crowds. I also met one of my bestest friends, Gracie, in my middle school small group.
Now that I’m in high school, I can say that these past couple of years have been tough, with feeling pressured to prepare for college and struggling with mental health, which I’m sure most high schoolers can attest to. I go to the Central Students High School service every Sunday night, and it has been my safe space. Religion isn’t the only quality that defines a church, because the people I’ve met there are truly wonderful and have, in many instances, changed my perspective and encouraged me through being a teenager and making mistakes. It really is my weekly restart. I am still an active part of the worship team, which has helped me to realize my passion for music.
I’m extremely blessed to have a place where I’ve learned how to grow and use my talents, get out of my comfort zone and learn to be more outgoing, and met both friends and role models that I will remember forever. I know not everyone is fortunate enough to have their own “safe space,” but it sure feels good to have had it for so long, especially when it felt like the other parts of my life were falling apart.