I began attending Sunday School at the age of two at a United Church of Christ. It was a very small church. My parents took my me and my brother and sister every Sunday morning. They would drop us off and come back for us; they did not stay.  On special occasions, we would go to service as a family, but for the most part, what I knew about Jesus came out of Sunday School lessons. 

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 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 even though for most of my childhood they did not go with me. 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 at 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, our former Pastor, spoke on 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 felt like my little church did not teach salvation enough.  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 19  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.

I have been a born again Christian for many years. I am proud to say that my parents are now attending church weekly. I think they saw how they needed the church and I think my faithfulness has helped them too. I do wish I would have had more Christian guidance as a child. This is why I am now Children's Ministry Director here at the Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene. My husband and I also teach our 5th and 6th graders.  My desire is to nurture the Christian walk of my own children and of the children in our church and help them develop their relationship with Christ.

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.