I am a fifth-generation Christian and have spent my entire life growing up in God’s Church. I have been around God’s way of life and His teachings since I was brought into this world. For me this has been a normal way of life. There were some things about “growing up in the Church” as I was beginning to understand and grow in maturity that did present challenges over the years.

All through my childhood I was taught the stories of the Bible as well as God’s commandments. The difference between right and wrong was always laid out before me. And this presented trials as I entered into my mid and late teen years. I didn’t feel like I had a chance to figure out what I believed was right and wrong on my own.

In my high school years I had intense pressure as I began to participate in sports, band and other extracurricular activities because almost all of these would conflict with the Sabbath and Holy Days—a deep root for my faith. While I knew it was wrong to participate in these things on God’s holy time, it hit me hard to see the difference between my friends who did not grow up in the Church.

I had to begin to continually research my beliefs and know not that participating in these activities was wrong, but why it was wrong and be convicted by what God says. This was a wake-up call because I felt like growing up in God’s Church had a very nice pillow around myself that shielded me for years from all the pulls of this world—I was told the right way to go and didn’t question why before.

Now I am glad that I looked into God’s Word and decided to start making my beliefs my own. I was very blessed to have grown up in the Church and for knowing the Word of God since I was young. It made God and His way of life a natural part of my life that I love very much.