Journey Stories

I was raised in a Protestant Christian home by wonderful God-fearing parents (who are now Orthodox too)! Growing up, I attended a non-denominational Bible study where the theology was primarily Baptist. I remember attending church for most of my childhood and enjoyed studying the Bible. When I was a very young child, I remember praying the “printed prayer.” I distinctly remember feeling like there was still something missing from my understanding of the faith and as I grew older, my feelings ... [Read more]

Like all the amazing stories that fill this page mine is yet another that displays the miraculous providence of God. I was raised in the Episcopal church as a child and, after my family stopped attending church, I was taken to Southern Baptist church by neighbors who were concerned for my spiritual well-being. I wandered aimlessly through adolescence from a spiritual standpoint always believing in God and trying to look good to others from a worldly standpoint but not really connected to ... [Read more]

I grew up nondenominational Protestant, attending Baptist, Evangelical, Assembly of God, and Foursquare churches, along with Christian schools. There was an emphasis on Bible study, avoiding sin, politics, evangelizing, and the end times. To me, this was authentic Christianity. I thought of “being saved” by “asking Jesus into my heart” as a one-time event, and I struggled with doubt, wondering if I had prayed the “sinner’s prayer” sincerely enough. After moving away to college, I stopped ... [Read more]

I grew up in a Protestant home, attending a variety of different denominations, but feeling most at home in the moderately charismatic Foursquare denomination. I felt like my faith was pretty solid until tragedy hit my family: my youngest sibling passing at 13. I was angry at God and pushed Him away. However after some years, I came to the conclusion that I needed God whether I liked Him much or not. When I met my husband John, he helped me work through that. After John and I got married, John ... [Read more]

Coming to Orthodoxy was like death by 1,000 papercuts (or like life, in this case!): there wasn’t just one pivotal moment or fact, but many small things over time. The Bible says we will experience trials and tribulations in life, and in 2010, our family received our fair share (cancer, death, and divorces). By the end of that year, I was left feeling sorrowful and lost as pieces of my world view began to fall apart. Also, at the end of that year, my brother, Eric Clary, came to live with me and ... [Read more]

My first obstacle was accepting that God was something to consider. Growing up agnostic in a small Missouri farming town and going to a Baptist Sunday School on occasion, I was left with the idea that church was free daycare and a school for morals. I gave next to no thought to God—that is until I had what could be called a mental break at 24. I spent my free time playing in a band and living a lifestyle reflective of that choice. I set myself up to have an early existential crisis, wondering ... [Read more]

I think my journey began at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, where my Aunt Jackie received Jesus as her savior at a Billy Graham Crusade. From there, she would frequently take her three nephews, myself included, to Glad Tidings Temple on Filmore Street, to hear the gospel of redemption, and evangelical Christianity, “on fire.” My folks, not wanting to be called “holy rollers” started attending the Presbyterian church, in San Rafael, where I was baptized. My brothers and I, sang in the choir, ... [Read more]

My father’s mother, who my siblings and I called “Yiayia,” was an active member of the Greek Orthodox community in central California. I grew up outside of Orthodoxy, in a Pentecostal setting, but attended Pascha picnics most years with the whole family and a Liturgy here and there when I stayed with my grandparents. My father was involved in the Charismatic Movement and became a pastor in the Foursquare denomination. In spite of this parting of ways, he and his extended family got along well, ... [Read more]

When I look back, I see that God was guiding me on my path to Orthodoxy - a journey that I continue each day. I grew up Catholic and was drawn to God from an early age. When I was a teen, I started to question some of the history and teachings of the Catholic church and went seeking other faiths. I ended up not attending church at all, but still prayed. Many years later, a co-worker and I started discussing life and ended up talking about our beliefs. I mentioned that I had been raised ... [Read more]