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Ever since I could remember, church was always a part of my life: the weekly Sunday school and Chinese school, the friends I made, and the influence that it had over my behavior. My mother brought me to Sunday
school ever since I was a toddler. I knew all the major stories in the Bible. I competed against other little Boonies, trying to memorize the most memory Bible verses and win the prizes. But that was all I knew, the fun and games of church and the information that was basically hand-fed to me. I knew the simplified version of the faith. God is all powerful. God is everywhere. God loves us even though we were bad. Yet, I never felt the necessity or dedication of my heart to Him and to Him alone. There were times when I doubted that He was there at all. Although I was in church every week during middle school, I lived a rebellious life. Consequences were useless, parents were frustrating, and nothing mattered. I constantly argued with my mother until we were both red in the face. I was angry at anything and everything of life. The one thing I did hold on to was music.
From Barney & Sesame Street to z100, I always and still love music. It taught me the basics of life, such as manners and imagination, and the abstracts of life, such as love and hate. Music was my way of releasing pent up emotions. The lyrics of the songs were cathartic and often expressed the thoughts of my head better than my own words. Many times I sought out music for comfort and understanding that I could not find anywhere else.
It was not until freshman year of high school that I truly found the Lord’s calling to my heart. I remember being invited to a music concert at a friend’s church. She told me there was a well-known Christian band performing and offered to bring me there. I refused at first, but then I thought it might be a good opportunity to go to a concert, so I ended up accepting the offer. That night, I experienced the Lord in a completely different way. Back in kiddie Sunday school, the songs were more story-telling and focused on grabbing our 10-second attention spans than emotion or praise. At the concert, the music, the lyrics, and the sensations of actual worship were overwhelming. The passion of the worship leaders and the people around me touched and warmed my heart and I was able to experience what I have been missing 
after all that time. The pure love and feeling of wanting to know Him, which were nonexistent in my younger years.
After that night, I started going to Youth Fellowship more consistently. I began incorporating reading the Bible and praying to Him into my daily routine. I gained best friends, brothers and sisters that I was able to relate to, and a spiritual family that is always there for me. I have to say that this was the best thing that happened to me, because it really is. Almost all my happy memories are associated with Him, whether it be a fun Bible study, a topical group discussion while digging into a bowl of noodles, or just singing during praise. It has impacted me more than I could ever imagine and I thank Him for it.
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