As a part of Membership Class at First Friends, I ask each participant to write out their “My Story” and share it with me. The basic concept is tracing your journey of faith while looking back on your life so far. It usually includes a brief picture of your formative years, especially whether or not you grew up with any sort of faith background in your family of origin. It should include what you remember of becoming aware of God’s love for you and your need for a Savior. For some people, that’s a single and powerfully unique experience. For others, it happens gradually over time. For those who “grew up in the church,” it might even be hard to pick a certain moment when they committed to following Jesus because it’s all they remember. And, some of us have stories of (to some degree) wandering away from the faith and then returning and recommitting ourselves to Christ. Your “My Story” should also include any significant formative moments that you can remember—some of these are rooted in incredibly joyful experiences, and others in incredibly painful experiences. Either way, these are the kinds of experiences that can have a big impact on how you see/understand God, and how your journey was altered as a result. Your “My Story” should conclude with an assessment of where you are, spiritually, now… and what you hope for your future. The goal of this exercise is two-fold. First, it’s good to remember the path that has led you to where you are today. Second, writing out your “My Story” prepares you for circumstances in the future when you might have the opportunity to “give a reason for the hope that you have” if someone asks you about your faith. Feel free to write as much, or as little, as you like. I’ve had some people keep it very simple and write one paragraph. I’ve had others send me a 5-page document. You can hand write it and bring it to me at the church, or you can email it to me (i.e. Word, PDF, Google Doc link). Whatever works for you! I trust this will be a meaningful and rewarding experience for you. If possible, I’d love to receive your “My Story” thoughts by May 31st.