Okay, let me just thank you for teaching me what church is and who God is. Since I was just a small child, I’ve attended the church on Sunday mornings religiously. It wasn’t something my mom had to force on me because it never felt like a chore. You made church a home, a family that I could always go to. You taught me not only about Jonah and Noah but also about what it means to be a decent person. You taught me that church is not a place for perfect people but for those who know most that they need saving.

When I think of my memories from my childhood, I often think of getting ready for church on Sunday mornings, singing hymns with the piano, and going to Sunday school for the kids. I often had trouble finding the pages for hymns, but now I could almost do it blind. Those were the times when I was being introduced to who Jesus and God are but wasn’t completely understanding. I understood God saved us by giving his son, but not the actual torture that Jesus endured. You helped me understand that God is a loving father. I learned this not only on Sunday mornings but also on Wednesday during kids club. I learned about God there, did crafts, and bonded with others there.

Before my freshman year of high school, I remember going to a conference of sorts called Life, and that is an experience that truly changed me. Going to a Christian conference with people from not only all across America but also several countries as well was incredible. We sang, we listened, and we, most importantly, grew in the word of God. Without my church, I could not have ever been involved with any of that experience. You set me up for success. You did this not only with church, but also a future. I helped organize events like vacation Bible school, which helps me when organizing other ideas.

One of my favorite parts of church was the fellowship I had with you. The dinners we enjoyed together, the football games we watched were all a huge part of it. Through all of those times, I’ve felt not just like a member of the church, but like a family member to each and every one of you. This church is not somewhere you can go and not feel welcome. The talks before church and the times you often stayed after just to chat with me about school and my life never went unappreciated.

Thank you to my hometown church for encouraging me through every endeavor. Thank you for encouraging me to pursue God faithfully through all of my life. Thank you for encouraging me to pursue a Christian group at my college campus for while I’m away. Without that encouragement, I wouldn’t have met some of my friends and learned even more about how great our God is. I’ve learned so much about God’s grace and how to rely on God, not myself. You planted the seed or flame in me for God, and I simply cannot thank you enough for that.