Wow!  I see a lot of Baptists here!  I grew up in a Baptist church and it has taken me years to get over what happened in that church and to find a church that I felt comfortable in again.  The Baptist church I was raised in preached non-stop about things that don't amount to a hill of beans:  women shouldn't wear pants, women shouldn't have short hair, women shouldn't work outside the home, yada, yada.  The people at that church were so judgmental it was unreal.  There was a man, a drifter, who was not allowed to attend a church service because he did not have on a suit and tie.  If you were not dressed to the hilt, you were not allowed in the doors.  If you were divorced you could not be a member - all kinds of stupid crap.  Kind of like a Mary Kay meeting! 

We now go to a United Brethren church that has a comtemporary service.  Their motto is "Casual About Dress, Serious About God".  We LOVE going there.  The music is upbeat, they have a great band, and there is no judgment there. 

Michelle, isn't that so true!  I honestly don't know the denomintation of church I attend, but I do know it's non-denominational.  The folks believe the Bible's basic message but when it comes to some of the debated interpretations, there's people there who will tell you they are Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist, etc.  It's Evangelical in the sense that they actively do stuff to share Christ (not just preach it to the people but BE HIS LOVE to the people) w/ others from right here in the community to all over the world.  We have missionaries that have sprouted from our church in over 50 countries.  The Bible says Christians should be united, and that really is a sore spot for me too.  I don't like seeing different denominations fighting, rejecting one another, etc.  It just gives ground to the devil.  Like Sassy said, the root of wars, too.  That kind of hatred is not condoned by God.  My mom raised me in a Bible Baptist church, like someone mentioned, the BJU fundamentalist kind (women in skirts, movies are sin, rock'n'roll is sin, children born out of wedlock are bastards, etc - that's what they preached), and I have healed most of the way from that.  I don't believe someone who is that denomination of Baptist can't be a real Christian or a good person, but I do think they should be careful and proceed w/ eyes WIDE open, and research those Bible verses and the original intent of the message yourself.  Just cuz a pastor says it doesn't make it true.  I'm still great friends w/ many of my friends who stayed at that church.  My dad drank beer, listened to 60's-70's rock'n'roll, fixed the cars and watched alot of "M.A.S.H.", , and Taxi.  Interesting mix w/ the Bible Baptist preaching that I was getting at least 3x/wk. that said all of those things were evil.  I think my dad grew up Presbytarian.  My DH grew up Episcipol, but heard the message of salvation for the first time in our pre-marital counseling w/ the Army Chaplain and got saved.  Into what religion?  None specifically, just saved.  We have attended the same basic type of church throughout our marriage, but the one we have attended now for the past 3-4 years is one that I went to also as a teen.  Just give me the truth, the way the Bible presents it.  No need for any fluff or extra stuff added in.  Or left out, for that matter.  If any of you are ever in the Kansas City area (and I'm not, btw) you should go to IHOP.  No not the pancake house!  International House of Prayer. 

You may be right....I've always thought very differently...I believe that Jesus wouldn't want to be worshiped. He was a beautiful person and he loves people....I believe he would want his teachings to be lived rather than worshiped. JMO.

Disclaimer: This statement is in no way intended to offend or upset anyone. I'm sure that people that worship also live Jesus' teachings. Guess I just believe that the type of religion shouldn't matter as long as you live by the teachings in the Bible.

I was raised unchurched, became a Wiccan () at 13 and gave my life to Christ 12 years later.

I am Southern Baptist. 

LOL  Apparently, when you try to type the word w-i-t-c-h, you end up with .  LOL  I didn't mean to have the flying emoticon, but I guess that works just as well.   

Anyway, I became interested in the occult and Wicca through a friend in high school (as a freshman).  My lab partner (when I was a junior in high school) was also very deeply into Wicca.  He was the one that encouraged me to use spells and become more "devout" with Wicca.  Believe it or not, in this area (Charleston, SC), there has been a very large Wiccan population for over 20 years.  (Probably longer.) 

I was a solitary practitioner.  I never was comfortable gathering with others for rituals, etc., but I knew quite a few witches and occultists from the area.  For the next 12 years, I practiced withcraft and also was very skilled with Tarot card readings and other occultist activity.

When I was 25, I was invited to an evangelistic play ("Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames") one night (by my Amway sponsor, of all people).  I gave my life to Christ.  I went home and threw out every piece of material that had to do with anything occult, Wiccan, etc.  It took 2 lawn/leaf bags to haul it all out.  I had books, cards, candles, etc.

I now speak to church groups about my experience.    I talk to kids and also to parents.

If you want a more detail, please feel free to pm me. 

ShayinSC!

Thanks for sharing! That was a great testimony! That is so great that youa re able to minister to kids and parents!

 

Methodist

I still attend the church I grew up going to.