I came into Orthodoxy with very little. One could say I came from a family of faith, but I had so little it might have well been none. There aren’t many Community of Christ (formally RLDS) churches
around the country and we moved a great deal. Faith was private in our family so, even with a RLDS priesthood member as a father, I had little guidance and have no memory of mentorship beyond learning children’s versions of Book of Mormon and Old Testament stories when we did attend church.
Growing up I experienced a lot of hypocrisy, did not feel loved and could not find a place in my family’s church. So, I lived in the world. I was angry, became cynical and, frankly, bitter. I couldn’t believe in a protestant God but wasn’t an atheist either. There was no meaning in life, and I was desperately lonely … and then I met my husband, Paul.
Having grown up with poor examples, I was committed to personal improvement and a successful monogamous relationship. In my journey to better myself as a human, woman, partner, then wife, I slowly learned there is no meaning in life without God. Before I came to that conclusion, however, in 2020 Paul and I agreed to find a more wholesome community since the world seemed to be falling apart. The secular groups we were familiar with are individualistic and/or generally don’t provide cohesive, healthy communities.
We started considering the sacred, thinking we could leave if we got uncomfortable or didn’t like something. I knew I couldn’t go back to a church that had no strong guidance or leadership, but I also knew I couldn’t commit to the Roman Catholic papacy. During 2020 there were very few churches open. Knowing nothing about Orthodoxy, except maybe it was akin to Latin Mass, we went to our first Vesper service on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Beaverton, the closest conservative/classical Christian church I could find … and then I met God.
I was baptized on Holy Saturday 2023. I still struggle with weak faith. I think of myself not as Orthodox but becoming Orthodox. I ask God to forgive my unbelief and thank Him for the family of saints, church fathers, Father Matthew, Deacon Innocent, all the chanters, my Nouna Sophia, my Koumbara Lindsey, the rest of my God family, and the whole body of the Church. I also thank God for Paul because without him I wouldn’t be here
