A guest post by Jennifer Underwood, Director of Children’s Ministries: I started going to church alone in the 5th grade. I attended the church to which my parents belonged and were even charter members of, but hadn’t attended themselves in several years. When I first insisted on going, it could have been that my parents thought it was a phase; what 11 year old goes to church by herself? Regardless, my mother faithfully dropped me off at our little Presbyterian church for Sunday School every week and picked me up after church was over and then repeated the process in the evening for Youth Group. My friend, Vicki, also attended that church and her family took me under their wing, allowing me to sit with them, ensuring that people got to know me, and always making me feel welcome. Vicki’s parents had three children of their own to wrangle on Sunday mornings, but I never felt that they minded having one more, unofficially. I am forever grateful for their love and acceptance of me and their willingness to embrace what must surely have seemed…
