Tish's Story
Hand in Hand
Hi, I'm Tish Kelsey, and this is my story.
Well, I did come to Westport Road Baptist Church through my parents, and I was 12 years old. And this was back when it was the house, and the church was only a couple of years old, and there was a small group of youth, I mean, we were very small in number. But there were some terrific adults here. So, I think very early on I connected with some of the mentors in church. Chester, as well as, I have to say, the Sunday school teachers just gave me the self-assurance that I was on the right track, you know, I was doing the things I needed to do. But for those adults to have, to see something in you, to say you're good at this or you can do this or let me show you how to do this—it meant everything. It meant everything that someone outside of your family role, you know, really took time to invest in you as well as to help you develop skills and learning beyond what you would normally do. Not only them, but later in life, I realized what they did for me and helped pave the way for me.
And it just is just that ongoing kind of influence, that kind of encouragement that is saying, I know you, God knows you. I know you're trying your best. Just to say that to someone can be changing. It can be spirit-changing. The joy of having my own children and grandchildren here is I'm hoping that they too can connect and gain from the influences here, but also having the friendships and relationships here. So that's one thing, is I want to give that back in some way. But also, just being one of the desk people on Sunday mornings, I choose to do that during my Sunday school time. And even though I miss my Sunday school class, I get an opportunity to meet people that come to the second service that I never would have met otherwise.
I love some of the youth that I'm getting to meet out there. What great people. I mean, they really are. And starting up conversations with them, as well as just other adults I had never seen before because I go to the first service. So now, meeting them, really enjoying that. I like seeing how other people view things and hearing it. I really do. I try to value other people's strengths and talents and try to learn from that. I just think it's fun for me. Hand in hand is saying God has instructed us to love our neighbor. The best way of demonstrating that love for others to see is to be there for others.
That to me, is hand in hand. I'm Tish, and this is my story. Walking hand in hand.
Well, I did come to Westport Road Baptist Church through my parents, and I was 12 years old. And this was back when it was the house, and the church was only a couple of years old, and there was a small group of youth, I mean, we were very small in number. But there were some terrific adults here. So, I think very early on I connected with some of the mentors in church. Chester, as well as, I have to say, the Sunday school teachers just gave me the self-assurance that I was on the right track, you know, I was doing the things I needed to do. But for those adults to have, to see something in you, to say you're good at this or you can do this or let me show you how to do this—it meant everything. It meant everything that someone outside of your family role, you know, really took time to invest in you as well as to help you develop skills and learning beyond what you would normally do. Not only them, but later in life, I realized what they did for me and helped pave the way for me.
And it just is just that ongoing kind of influence, that kind of encouragement that is saying, I know you, God knows you. I know you're trying your best. Just to say that to someone can be changing. It can be spirit-changing. The joy of having my own children and grandchildren here is I'm hoping that they too can connect and gain from the influences here, but also having the friendships and relationships here. So that's one thing, is I want to give that back in some way. But also, just being one of the desk people on Sunday mornings, I choose to do that during my Sunday school time. And even though I miss my Sunday school class, I get an opportunity to meet people that come to the second service that I never would have met otherwise.
I love some of the youth that I'm getting to meet out there. What great people. I mean, they really are. And starting up conversations with them, as well as just other adults I had never seen before because I go to the first service. So now, meeting them, really enjoying that. I like seeing how other people view things and hearing it. I really do. I try to value other people's strengths and talents and try to learn from that. I just think it's fun for me. Hand in hand is saying God has instructed us to love our neighbor. The best way of demonstrating that love for others to see is to be there for others.
That to me, is hand in hand. I'm Tish, and this is my story. Walking hand in hand.
Posted in MyStory