When I was 14 years old, I was a pretty regular teenager. I was obsessed with Social Media, how I looked to others and, of course girls. I got good grades, was involved in my school and looked awkward at the eighth grade dance.
But in ninth grade, my life seemed to spin on its head. I was entering high school with not many friends. I felt like I was constantly being judged by my peers, and nobody liked me. As time went on, I learned more about myself, and some of my friends weren't really friends at all, and I felt backstabbed at times when I was doing my best to fit in.
Then my grandma tells my mom and me that she's enjoying this new church, and told us to go. I remembered how I used to go when I was little, and it was an area of my life I never explored throughly. Spiritually, I was coming in with barely any knowledge.
But that didn't stop my church from treating us like family. The minute we walked up to the door, we were greeted with smiles, handshakes and programs for the sermon. My pastor then began preaching, and for once I felt like I finally understood the Bible and the message it presents to us. On that day in September, my very first sermon, I truly believed I knew Jesus and that he was my protector, so I accepted Jesus as my savior.
From that point on, everything fell into place. I got better grades, I became more involved and it helped me personally by giving me a new outlook on life. It helped me so much that my grandma and I decided to get baptized together.
Becoming a Christian as a teenager was life changing. It allowed me to fully understand and know the Bible before I made a commitment to accepting Jesus as my savior, and understanding what he did for us. Just by going to church, I learned just how loving a group of people may be. No matter your background, your clothes or what you look like, our church members would gladly shake your hand, welcome you and have a conversation with you.
I know that I will always have a home away from home. Even though I may have gone to college out of my hometown, I still come to church when I'm home. Even at college, I go to a church that was founded by a close friend of my pastor's. Whenever I come home, it doesn't take long for someone to give me a handshake and say, "You're back! How's college?"
I truly believe every teenager should, at some point, come to church before they go into adulthood. Church not only teaches you about Jesus, Christianity and the Bible, but, most importantly, it teaches you acceptance. Acceptance of people, beliefs and ideas.
In a world filled with hatred, violence and pessimism, it's important to surround yourself with good people who will continually welcome you —people who come from different backgrounds and have made many mistakes all gathering together to learn and grow.
My life has been forever changed by church, and, most importantly, Jesus and what he did for me and many others.
