I began attending Sunday School at the age of two. I went to a United Church of Christ. It was a very small church. My parents took me and my brother and sister every Sunday morning. They would drop us off and come back for us; they did not stay. When I was in my late teens, my mom did start coming with us. My parents attended the worship services occasionally so we would go too. I attended this church until I got married at the age of 22. I had been a faithful pupil with 19 attendance pins to prove it. I even taught a children's Sunday School class in my last few years there. I had a strong belief in God growing up. I prayed every day and had parents who supported my interest in church. We did not pray as a family or talk about spiritual things very often at home though.

I began dating Darryl, who would later become my husband, when I was 16. He and his family were firmly planted in the Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene. Many of our Sunday evenings were spent at his church. Little did I know that these Sunday night dates would lead to my salvation.

One night, Pastor Wilson spoke on the topic of how we can ask Jesus into our hearts. I thought this sounded so easy, and I wanted to do this. After all of those years of attending a church, I never had somebody explain to me how to accept Jesus as my personal Savior. I grew up hearing of His love and teachings, but I cannot recall attention being paid to becoming a saved Christian. I had the Lord in my life for so long, but that night in the quiet time of my personal prayers, I asked the Lord into my heart. I was about 19 or 20 years old at this point. I do not remember the exact date as some do, but all I need to know is that I made the most important decision of my life.

Now at 28, I have been a born again Christian for many years. I am proud to say my parents are now attending church weekly. I think they finally saw how they needed the church and I think my faithfulness has helped them too. I only wish I had more Christian guidance as a child. This is why I am now teaching the primary class and I'm the Children's Ministry Director here at the Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene. I hope to provide some of that guidance to other children.

I am still growing. I think Christians always need to continue to grow in their spiritual walks with the Lord. I just pray that I am a witness to my daughter and son as well as other children and adults that cross my path.