Nate Kinser

Growing up, I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic Church. Although we did not go to church often, my parents wanted me to at least have some experience with religion, since they both were raised Catholic. As the years went on, we eventually stopped going to church altogether. Through all of this I still found myself believing in God, but my actions did not show that, and it was just more of a side thought in my head. By my sophomore year, my buddies and I would go to the gym everyday, and then go to eat at a popular spot in town, Chips Pub III. Typically my Mom would take us from the gym to the restaurant, and then we were able to walk home because the walk was only 10 minutes. After we ate we began to walk back, and to get back home we needed to pass by the church. So as we were walking by the church, one of my friends was cussing. I had said something to him about stopping because we were right near the church, and then we got in an argument because he claimed he never knew I was “religious” which made me realize something. I realized that, one: I was a hypocrite, because I also swore all the time, but two: I was so wrong and far from Jesus, because my own best friend didn’t know that I desired a relationship with God. After this night things changed for me. I began to make it a mission to strengthen my relationship with the Lord. I realized He has given me everything, and I cannot turn my back on Him, and that I must submit and give Him everything. Today I have felt closer to the Lord than ever before, and me and a friend started a Bible study together before school!