“Come on Mallory, we need to get ready!  You’re going to church with us!” As I saw her blonde ponytail perk up out of a sleeping bag, I hoped that, one day, she would want to come on her own.   One month later I received a text from Mallory asking if I would like to go to church with her that Wednesday night.  I was elated that she asked.  I remember an enormous smile gleaming off my face and looking like a loon, there in the middle of the grocery store, although I regretted that I wouldn’t be able to join her because of cheerleading.  Today Mallory goes to my church every single Wednesday.  With the simple act of inviting her to church, after years of her not attending, I was able to change her future.  This event also helped change how I act now.  Since I wasn’t afraid to share my religion, my friend wasn’t either.  It helped me determine that, no matter the outcome, you should still value your faith over friendships, and not be afraid to share your faith with your friends.

One summer day when I was about 10, my mother woke me up for church as she always does.  I opened my eyes to a room basking in the early morning sunlight and my mom softly telling me to wake up.  I longed to stay in bed so much that I told her I hadn’t slept all night and that I felt “nauseous”.  My mother, seeing past my meager attempt of an excuse, scolded me for lying.  Still wanting to stay at home so I could Facetime my friends, I begged, “Mom, do I really have to go?” She responded with a stern, “Yes.  No exceptions.” So, I sluggishly pulled on jeans and the first shirt I found hanging in my closet.  As I drug myself into the church I thought about how disrespectful I was being Man, I really do not want to go to service this early ,but then again that’s bad of me and I do need to go…  .  Wishing to Facetime my friends instead of doing something to not only spend time with my family, but also to grow spiritually, was so selfish.  By the time the pastor opened his mouth I decided that I would move on from worrying about my friends and focus on the more important thing: my faith.  That Sunday the pastor gave an amazing sermon and I would not have missed it for the world, it was so inspiring and made me reflect so much on my life.  I longed so much that I would never have to make the decision again between friends and religion because I know the choice is simple now, always put your faith first.  After realizing that, I figured why not both? So I started being on a mission to bring as many people as I can with me to Christ and to rejoice with me.  I specifically remember thinking, today changes my outlook.  Why shouldn’t everyone get the opportunity to experience this? Now, everyone in my path will, because I will bring my friends to my faith.

In October of 2015 one of my good friends of another faith had a question about the Holy Trinity.  Throughout my years of going to church, sometimes reluctantly, I had learned a good amount about the Holy Trinity.  So, instead of keeping quiet in fear of scrutiny, I decided to pipe up and give him a description of what it meant.  There, in science class, where we were supposed to be working on the computers everything just perfectly poured out like I had prepared a sermon already and I remember thinking to myself, why does this come so easily? How has God perfectly placed these words in my brain? I knew then that I loved this and wanted to always have this come so freely.  When I had finished explaining it to him, I realized that I had just taught someone a whole new religion without resisting or being scared or nervous.  My friend was very interested in learning more so I told him, “You can always come to me and I’ll answer your questions in a heartbeat.” I hope he has the courage to talk to me more about my faith in the future.  As of now, I’m just glad I made the decision to be open about my religion.  In church they always preach that “A teacher teaches to learn”. I never fully understood that statement until then- a true “aha” moment where I realized this is what makes teaching so wonderful. I see now the truth in those teachings because I learned to not be afraid among my peers when it comes to religion.  

My close family friends, the Hamilton’s, have a daughter named Caroline, one of my best friends.  Caroline had another friend named Kate whose family had gone to church in the past but had drifted away over the years.  Much like my story at the beginning of this paper, the two woke up on a Sunday morning after a sleepover the night before.  Caroline invited Kate to go to church with her, and while at the service something clicked for Kate.  Over time, Kate got her family to become more devoted to their faith and rejoin the church.   I remember seeing Caroline always checking over her shoulder to see how Kate was and always returning with a beautiful gleam noticing that Kate was 100% infatuated with the sermon and learning more and more about God.  After some time, Kate’s father became very ill and passed away with cancer.  However, he had come to know the Lord prior to passing and now he will rest in Heaven.  Today we can all rejoice in knowing that just one simple sermon, one simple “Hey, why don’t you come to church worth me?” can do all of this.  Later once I had heard this story I was so inspired that someone I am so close to was able to reach this amazing series of events.   Because Caroline wasn’t afraid to share her faith with her friend, she saved an entire family.  I admire and strive to be as open as Caroline.

The lesson I’ve learned from all these experiences is: do not shy away from showing your friends your faith.  Before these events I had not ever thought that I could openly invite my friends to join me in rejoicing in Christ because it was just “awkward” but now I know that God’s grace is for everyone and our main goal as true and faithful Christians is to spread that word, especially to our peers.  Since I haven’t been afraid to open up I have brought many friends closer to God.  That blonde ponytailed girl named Mallory always puts a smile on my face every day because I know she is celebrating in Christ.  In the future I will always help people by leading to my faith.  Just knowing that I could make a person’s day better or forever change their life makes me feel as if I have done something tremendous.