From my personal day #1 (or maybe 1 month of age) on this earth, I have attended Church.  We had a large, very active congregation in the church of my “growing up years,” in Ohio.  As a youngster, I attended JUNIOR CHURCH.  We were taken into the large main sanctuary for the announcements, opening hymn and prayers.  All of us sitting together in our Sunday best clothes.  Quietly (sometimes) we were then led out and back to the classroom where we would have Junior Church. We were led by Mrs. Emma Baer who taught us Bible stories, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed, children’s songs, and so much more.  Our little offerings were collected by slightly older youth, a position we looked forward to growing into.  As a pre-teen, I loved staying with Mrs. Baer and being a helper with the toddlers and “little” kids, (maybe my teaching career had its roots there, as I was allowed to teach the children songs I cherished), THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, ZACCHEAUS WAS A WEE LITTLE MAN, WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS, JESUS LOVES ME, WE ARE IN THE LORD’S ARMY, I’VE GOT THE JOY JOY JOY DOWN IN MY HEART and so many more. How blessed am I for such a rich, nurturing faith-filled upbringing to have surrounded me!

When Jesus chose His disciples, the men were perhaps, late twenties, early thirties. Knowing Christ for my whole life, having Jesus in my heart is a gift from my parents and JUNIOR CHURCH.  God is available to you at any age, any stage of your life, any time. Whenever you allow Him to be your Heavenly Father through this life, you will experience unconditional love. He is waiting for you, not just in JUNIOR CHURCH or Sundays only, or times of woes and troubles, but daily, hourly, always.

I was blessed with faith-filled parents, a wonderful faith-nurturing church family and in these most recent times (2020) having my current church/worship online.  Isn’t God amazing?  Let others know of His greatness and the gift of His Son, ready for each of us. 

Jill