Original Date: 6-29-97

I sat on the third row again this Sunday. Everyone was talking as they had the Sunday before. I didn't have anyone to talk to. I was sitting and thinking... What do the young people in this church do? I had only seen them sit in the back of the church and talk. This time a very healthy lady sat down beside me. She spoke. Someone called her name. It was Sister Proffen. She turned and talked to the person that had called her. She turned and looked at me when she had finished talking. She asked me who I was. I told her who I was and who I had come with, even though she didn't really believe me. Then she went to talking to someone else. When she finished, I asked her what the young people did at the church. She told me that they had a youth choir and a youth program called Young Warriors or YW. Most of the time, the youth choir sung on the fourth Sunday of every month and the YW had classes and programs that went on all during the week. The youth and children came to the church. They did arts and crafts, held bible studies, and fellowshipped with each other. Sometimes, they went on field trips and went to Bible Drilling contests. She explained that she was one of the youth director and that if I wanted to come to the YW meeting that evening, I would be welcomed. She also told me about the $5.00 fee for the YW meeting. They used the money for the purchase of supplies, snacks, and things like that. I told her that I would attend the youth service that night.

The service went like it had gone last Sunday. The morning hymnal was "Sweet Hour of Prayer." The choir's selections were almost like they were last Sunday except they didn't sing an anthem.

Kourtnee lead the second song that the choir sung. It was entitled "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It." It was up-tempo. I didn't think things could get more rowdy than they had last Sunday, but it did! I mean Kourtnee wore that song out. Before she could even finish the first verse, people were on their feet clapping, singing, and shouting. The church was jumping. I was even standing and clapping. When they finished singing the song, the choir received a standing ovation.

When it was time for the sermon, the pastor came to the podium and introduced the visiting minister, Evangelist Sanford Jones, who was going to bring the sermon. The pastor sat down and Evg. Jones stood behind the podium. He prayed. He said that the subject of his sermon was going to be "Turn Right on Love Street." He said that his scripture was going to be I Corinthians 13. He read the scripture then he went on to preach. Sister Proffen was avidly taking notes as the minister was preaching.

The sermon would have been normal if it had not been for Bishop Adkins' actions. He was very excited about Evg. Jones' sermon. Either he liked the sermon or he liked to hear Evg. Jones preach. Bishop Adkins shouted Amen, Yes, Preach boy, Preach preacher, That's right, and Gone boy. He was louder than anyone else was in the church. He also gave Evg. Jones several reaffirming pats on the back. Bishop Adkins was more interesting to watch and listen to than the preacher was. After the sermon was over and the choir had sung the invitational hymn, the benediction was given and we went home.

At Home

When Kourtnee and I went home, I told her about the YW meeting. She said that she would take me. We ate dinner at the house.

I left the dining room and went to my room. Kourtnee said that she wanted to take a nap. She told me to wake her up when it was time to go to the church. I went over to the closet and began to pick something out to wear to YW. I had to admit that I was pretty excited about YW. I was going to meet the other teenagers of the church. I had to look good.

I picked out a multi-colored shirt. Then I picked out a pair of black jeans. I got a pair of black shoes out of the closet. I went to the drawer and got a pair of coordinating socks. I laid everything out. I was sleepy. I set the alarm clock and grabbed the remote control. I turned the television on and found a suitable program. I laid my head on the pillow. It took about ten minutes before I went to sleep.

Sunday Night

Kourtnee drove me to church. When we arrived, there were children running around, teenagers gossiping, and parents yelling at their kids. Kourtnee parked the car and we got out of it. We proceeded to the activity center. I asked Kourtnee to stay at the YW meeting with me because I was scared, being the new kid on the block and all. When we got in the building, Sister Proffen was the first person to greet us. She saw me with Kourtnee and smiled. She said, "I guess you were telling the truth." A few minutes later, children began to file into the church's fellowship hall. The meeting was about to begin.

Sister Proffen passed around a basket and collected all the money from the children. Then she asked a young man named Michael to pray. After Michael prayed, a teenage boy went to the piano and began to play "The Lord Reigneth." After we had finished singing the song, a girl named Sheila read a scripture. Sister Proffen said, "All right everyone break off into your age groups. LaDawnya, you are in the 14-18 age group. Regina, show LaDawnya where her group meets." I followed Regina into a classroom. Kourtnee left me and went into another part of the activity center for a meeting called Parents for Christ or PFC.

There were four age groups. The first group was for children ages 3-5. They were called the preschool class. The second group consisted of children ages 6-9. They were called the primary class. The third group was the junior class, for ages 10-13. The group I belonged to was for ages 14-18. They were the senior class. The last group was the young adult class for ages 19-20.

The teacher for our age group was named Sis. Karen Danaldo. She was about 23 years old, although she looked as if she was our age. There were fourteen students in the class. Sis. Danaldo passed out the lesson for the evening and began to read the paper after everyone had received a copy of the lesson. The subject of the lesson was "Procrastination." The lesson was about Jonah. We discussed the lesson and how it applied to us. After the lesson was over, we went back into the fellowship hall.

Many of the kids were already waiting in the fellowship hall. Ms. Danaldo directed us to a table that was filled with painting equipment. There were also some clay turtles on the table. She told us that we were going to paint them. She also told us that if we did not finish them that night we could work on them the following Sunday. We rushed to the table and grabbed at the turtles. I picked over the turtles until I found the turtle I wanted. I got a paintbrush and began to paint.

The other kids were talking among themselves. One of the girls came over to me and said, "Who are you and what are you doing sitting in my seat?" I looked at her and said, "What are you talking about?" She looked at me and said, "This is my seat, and I always sit here!" I smirked and moved to another seat. She walked over to me and said, "That's my seat, too." I looked at her, pointed to a seat, and asked, "Is there a seat here that is not your seat?" She sneered and said, "Naw, it ain't." A guy walked over to me and said, "Marquita, leave this girl alone. LaDawnya, you can sit over here. Just ignore her," he finished as we walked over to another table.

After we were seated and had begun working on our turtles, I asked the kids that were sitting at the table with me about the youth choir. They told me when they had rehearsals --Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM. They also told me about some of the other things that they were involved in at the church. The church's youth program was very good.

Young Warriors is what the youth ministry of Greater Buelahland Interdenominational House of Rest is called. The Young Warriors ministry consists of several other subdivisions. These subdivisions included Proverbs 31, Young Men on the Move, the Youth Choir, and Youth for Christ. The Proverbs 31 Ministry which is geared towards helping the young girls and teenage girls of the church be Godly women through mentorship by the older women of the church. Young Men on the Move is designed to help the young boys and teenage boys at the church through mentorship by the older men of the church. The youth choir was a music ministry that is for young people ages 12-20. Youth for Christ is a ministry that allows our young members be witnesses for Christ by going out into the neighborhood and passing out tracks and witnessing. Greater Buelahland Interdenominational House of Rest had plenty of things that a young person could be involved in. The parents of the church were able to get together and talk to each other because of a ministry called, Parents for Christ or PFC. PFC was a ministry that helped the parents at Greater Buelahland Interdenominational House of Rest be better Christian parents.

No one in our group finished their turtles, so we would have to wait until next Sunday. All the kids came back into the fellowship hall and sat down. Sister Proffen had us sing another song, "Soon and Very Soon." She then told Michael to bless the refreshments as well as give the benediction. After Michael finished, kids began herding to the refreshment table. I finally got a place in line. I got a couple of chocolate chip cookies, a couple of Oreos, and a glass of punch.

On the Road Again

After we ate our refreshments and goofed off for awhile, everyone began to leave. Kourtnee and I got in the car and drove home. She asked did I enjoy myself. I told her that I had. She asked me what I had learned. I told her about the lesson and everything that had happened. I did not shut up until we got to the house. I had really had a good time.

When we got to the house, Kourtnee asked me if I wanted TV with her. I said, "Yes." We headed to the den, sat down, and watched TV for about two hours. Then, I took a bath and got ready for bed. When I was in bed, Kourtnee came in the room and asked me if I needed anything. I told her that I did not. She tucked me in and kissed me good night. She left the room and turned off the light.

I went to bed with a smile on my face.