The Real God

by Heather Hart
(Denver, CO)

My daughter Ella and I

I grew up in going to Sunday school, VBS, and several different church camps, but nothing ever pointed to a personal Jesus. I knew all the stories and songs. But I didn’t understand.

One summer I was invited to a different camp. It was the biggest church camp I had ever seen. I don't know who the speaker was that summer, but he amazed me. He made the services fun. He would stuff like: ‘Chilly pepper’ and then we were suppose to say ‘whoa that’s hot hot hot’ and he would reply ‘yes it is but hell is hotter.’ At random times during the service to see if we were really paying attention.

My friends and I spent a lot of time passing notes or making fun of our Bibles goofy sayings (It had alternative definitions of different things). Somewhere in there he reached me, and something in me snapped, this wasn't just stories. I got more into the services, and eventually understood. I was born again that week.

I wasn’t an insta-Christian; I had a lot of growing up to do. I started going to the church that had taken me to that camp, and met lots of christian kids. My faith grew, and God became the center of my world. I prayed constantly, I was at a spiritual high.

My entire high school knew that I was a Christian and respected that. I did 30 second kneel downs every morning when I got to school and again at lunch break, praying for my fellow student and our teachers. I didn’t think it was even possible to get closer to God.