My Journey (Part II): Where it all started...

I was born into a military family. My dad was a sergeant in the U.S. Army. I was born in Ft. Ord, California. I have no recollection of any time before my parents were in church, as my dad got “born again” when I was only five and I lack that phenomenal memory some have of when they were two crawling on all fours and shitting their diapers! I am told my dad was a drunk, dope head womanizer before he got “saved”. While stationed in Germany a missionary came by our house and invited my mom, who went to church and then got my dad to go to church and the rest is predictably history.

A few months later my dad began preaching. He got orders to a base in the State of Washington. We went to a church there till my dad got done with his tour in the military and we moved to Resaca, Georgia, a small town in NW Georgia where the Faith Baptist Camp is located. A little about FBC. FBC is a campground where they have “camp meeting” 3 times a year. Camp meeting involves a five day meeting where there are services three times a day. An enormous amount of preaching. That is all there is for five full days. If the words “fire and brimstone” mean ANYTHING to you, this is the place for it. If you are a right wing religious fanatic...this is the place for you!

Here is where the majority of my childhood took place. My dad became a missionary and we lived on and off in Puerto Rico for ten years, alternating between the mission field and the campground. My intense indoctrination came from this period of my life. Ten years...8-18. At age 11 I saw a movie entitled “Thief in the Night”. In this movie the “rapture” is depicted followed by the tribulation in which all kinds of horrid things happen to those that did not go in the rapture ending in a horrible death for the ones that choose to follow Christ and reject the Anti-Christ. Basically...a scare tactic. An effective one I might add as I got “saved” that night after watching it. A couple of years later, at age 13, I surrendered to preach and began my training for the ministry.

I was naturally drawn to preaching. Public speaking was a strong suite for me, always has been. I studied hard, memorized a lot and knew all the right answers to the questions. I have a bit of a dominant personality and used to be a real people person so it was a natural fit. I never questioned what I was being taught. I just followed. From a young age I was taught in true military fashion that when told something by your elders your response is, 'Yes Sir” or “Yes Ma'am”.

During this time in my life there were several people that played a big part in my life. Some I have grown to detest and distance my self from. Others I still respect deeply. Dr. Sammy Allen was my pastor and one of the most honest and gentlest men I have ever known. In all my years in church, he is the one and only person I have EVER met that I have never heard him say a single negative thing about anybody, even those that were attacking him. If you tried to talk to him about somebody he would respond, “well we need to pray for them”. He is the one person I could never question his sincerity. Others I still respect are men like Lance Carpenter and Rufus Edminston. My biggest regret is the hero like worship I had for a man known as Phil Kidd. He personifies the hate that permeates the religious movement in this country. When I first saw him, that very first night he preached at Faith Baptist Camp. I admired him so much. Something that now...years later..I am completely ashamed about.

Most of my ideology at this point of my life was set by my surroundings. It is how it works for all of us. I was very very anti gay. I marched in Ashville, NC in a march against gay rights. I was very anti abortion. I spouted the mindless hate of those I considered my heroes. Slogans like “Stop burning flags and start burning fags”, “Adam and Eve were created, Adam and Steve will be cremated”. Stuff I look back now and wonder how I possibly justified it. I cant even justify it now as I look back on it. Not even “upbringing” and “circumstances” justifies that kind of stupidity. I just blame it on the ignorance of youth and the passions that conservative religion brings out in a person.

We were in PR when I turned 18 in September of 1994 and I left home in November and returned to Faith Baptist Camp to attend Faith Baptist Institute. And I began my official training for the ministry.....but that is part of my next post....