It all started when I was seven

I was born into a Christian home. My mother was raised Assembly of God by Christian parents in Arkansas and my father was raised Baptist by his mother in Florida. His father was there too but the jury is out on whether he was a Christian or not.

My parents met while my father was in the military and as they say the rest is history.

So I was raised in a Christian home. Christian but far from perfect. We lived in several places, Dad was in the Air Force and we were transferred what seemed like a lot as a kid. So the only constant in my life really was that where ever we went we found an Assembly of God church right away. Church life was rather hectic as far back as I can remember. We were always there. Sunday mornings early for Sunday school, then church service. A quick lunch maybe a nap or I would get to play before it was back to church for evening service. Then off to coffee with church friends. That was always my favorite part. Wednesdays was Missionettes and when I got older Friday nights were youth group. We were very very busy.

The Assemblies of God (AG) are what most would consider evangelical. "Holy rollers" Lord knows I have seen my share of rollin. In the south they seem to be more fundamentalist than they are here in the west. When we would go off to church camp the Girls would have to wear dresses all day every day. Even when we played soccer. But I thought it was normal, as a kid you kinda roll with it. Pardon the pun.

One summer the summer I turned seven I went off to church camp. It was a normal camp not much to remember except maybe that the speaker that came to that camp always dressed like an Indian Chief. That is what I remember the most... Him being in a large headdress and talking to us about Salvation and being with God.

On one particular evening he spoke on Loving God with all your heart. I don't remember much of the sermon all that I remember is how I felt. I remember wanting to know and love God with all my heart. Because I felt like he would except me as I was and love me. So I made the trek down the isle to the alter along with tons of other kids. I don't know if they all felt like me or it was just the thing to do. We had seen our parents do it over and over at church. But that isn't what I wanted I was there because I felt this need to love. I can't really describe it any other way. So I went and I knelt down and I began to pray. Well unless you have an AG back ground you may not understand this. But I remember this feeling as if it were yesterday. I felt consumed by love and power. The last thing I do remember is feeling overwhelming love.

I was told by my dorm councilor that I was "slain" in the spirit that night and I lay there with a smile on my face for 2 hours after all the other kids had left. She said they couldn't wake me but that they could tell that I was fine so they just watched and waited. I came to my senses finally and was at such peace I can't describe it and I was exhausted. That was the day I came to know God in an intimate way. I've never looked back. That type of experiance has never happened since either if you were wondering. My experiences with God have all been vastly different from each other.

I have had some ruff times and seen and been through some wonderfully incredible moments. I will share them all eventually. This was just the first.

Sherry