Wow. I am glad I am not alone!!
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:49 pm
Hello. I am Kella. Not my actual name but what I go by. I grew up in the coc in Wichita, KS from birth until about 6 years ago when my parents divorced, and I conceived my first child (out of wedlock, need I sat more?). I was told I was too young (21) to have a child, however my best friend was pregnant at the same time, but it was ok for her since they were married. When our children came a month apart, a shower was held for her baby. Mine wasn't worthy of even being mentioned. Now at that time I was already leaving the church that was already dying anyways. We went from being the biggest coc in Wichita, holding two services every Sunday (200+ each), to just under 50 in only 10 years. There's a story of how it got thwre, but it's way too much to type right now. Long story short... I was judged and deemed the outcast because of my divorcing parents (who were regular attenders) and the gossip train taking sides (whichever produced the juiciest gossip) and for being a single mother. One family even suggested abortion! 
I thought, "If THIS is CHRISTIANITY then I want nothing of it!" I turned away from God. Then 3 years later, a pastor from an Assembly of God church came to my neighborhood telling us about the thanksgiving dinner they'd soon be having and invited us. We went because we has a friend in the hospital and were going to save our fixings for when he got out. We were showered with love and affection! I told them my church story. They said "That's awful. Hey our church motto is All People Matter to God!" Well after testing out a worship service, which was WAAAAAY far from our norm of the coc, we were unsure. But their love and kindness kept us coming back. Well to wrap up, I now attend an AOG church and have a new found love for God. Stronger than EVER!!! Because it's so late, I must cut this short. But to wrap up, the COC caused me much self loathing and in fear of God instead of being in love with Him. More to come soon....
I thought, "If THIS is CHRISTIANITY then I want nothing of it!" I turned away from God. Then 3 years later, a pastor from an Assembly of God church came to my neighborhood telling us about the thanksgiving dinner they'd soon be having and invited us. We went because we has a friend in the hospital and were going to save our fixings for when he got out. We were showered with love and affection! I told them my church story. They said "That's awful. Hey our church motto is All People Matter to God!" Well after testing out a worship service, which was WAAAAAY far from our norm of the coc, we were unsure. But their love and kindness kept us coming back. Well to wrap up, I now attend an AOG church and have a new found love for God. Stronger than EVER!!! Because it's so late, I must cut this short. But to wrap up, the COC caused me much self loathing and in fear of God instead of being in love with Him. More to come soon....