My Faith Story by Kelly Young

I became a Christian at the age of 8 at Bethelehem Baptist Church in Hartselle, AL.  I grew up in a Southern Baptist church, and most of the churches I attended would be characterized as "Bible thumping" churches where “Just as I Am” was the only permissible hymn to sing for the invitation.  When I graduated from high school, I attended Samford University and received a Bachelor of Music degree.  I then taught school for a couple of years and then in 1983 I moved to Louisville to attend the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  I received a Master's of Church Music from there.

This may seem like a fairly straightforward progression of faith, but for me it was anything but.  As I began to study Scripture, and pray and think on my faith, I became more and more unsettled about some of the teachings I was hearing.  This became increasingly uncomfortable for me until things came to a head at the seminary.  I've thought about this for a while, and have decided that what drove me over the edge was the idea that the church was trying to tell me who I should, and more disturbingly, who I should not love.  This made me very angry and bitter.  I was so angry and bitter that I left the church for 20 years.

I thought it was important to be honest with you about this and to share with you where I am now on my spiritual journey.  I read over the past few weeks that the author Anne Rice made quite a stir when she announced on her Facebook page that she was leaving the church.  I wondered what I would say to someone like Anne Rice about why I have come back to church.  After all, I never stopped loving God and I don't believe God ever stopped loving me.  But, why, really did I come back?

It boils down to this.  I don't believe I can sow the seeds of love with a clenched angry fist.  To sow love I need to open my hands.  When I came to Highland Baptist three years ago, it was exactly with that hope in mind...that if I came with an open hand the people here might decide to take it.  We might decide to clasp our hands in prayer for each other.  I have come to love the people of this church and have been so grateful for the friendship and love that you have shown to me and my family.

 Now I have been blessed and honored to be asked to serve this church.  I am so happy and thankful to do so.  I've made a commitment to pray for you every day and I hope you will pray for me.  Thank you for taking a few moments to listen to my faith story and in closing, I’d like to share a Scripture that means a lot to me.  It’s Romans 8:38-39.  “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Thank you and God bless you.