I grew up in a very exclusive branch of the Brethren movement (a la John Nelson Darby). When I was 17, I withdrew myself from their fellowship as there were too many issues I could not live with (most significantly that of legalism). Needless to say it took my family by surprise, but I was given support all the way by both of my parents (God bless them both).

Subsequently, I remembered the Lord with several other Christians, most of whom had also left the branch of Brethren I grew up in, mostly for the same reasons. We operated much on the same principles as the rest of the Brethren movement, although we were no longer "officially affiliated" with it.

In September 1992, I went to the University of Waterloo to study Electrical Engineering. At this point, my faith began to falter. Not having the every day support of my parents was a difficult thing to handle. For the first year or so, I attended a Brethren group in nearby Cambridge, which consisted of those whom I used to be affiliated with who had left the other group, again for much of the same reasons I had left earlier.

From my second year of University through till early in my fourth year, I did not attend any church, and my spiritual life dwindled. Early in my fourth year of University, I decided I needed Christian fellowship, and desired spiritual growth, so I started looking for somewhere near to the University where I felt the Lord would like me to be. Fortunately, I found such a place relatively quickly (only took 2 weeks). I attended the Christian Reform Church in Waterloo (and later in the year, the one in Kitchener), although it took me a bit to remember to go after getting into the habit of sleeping in on Sundays.

In April, 1997, I graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering.  The 4 2/3 years of stress had finally come to their conclusion, and a happy one at that.  I started working for Prior Data Sciences in Kanata, Ontario (suburb of Ottawa) on May 5, 1998 after spending a couple of somewhat relaxing weeks at my father's house (near Parry Sound).  The Lord worked wonders for me in getting that job, I see in hindsight.  I had a signed offer in my hand by midterms in my last term of school, removing another stressor from my life in my last term of school.

Once I had moved to Kanata, I stopped going to church, first because I was unpacking, then because I needed to look for somewhere to go (but for some stupid reason never did), but mainly because I fell back into the habit of sleeping in on Sunday mornings.  Yet once again, my spirit began to starve.  In December 1997, I moved (a few months earlier than I had wanted, but oh well) into the west end of Ottawa itself, placing myself about half way between downtown and work (Kanata), and also in an area with some of the best city bus service in the city. (Did I mention I don't have a car?)  I spent almost all of December settling in, and then went to my father's place for Christmas holidays.

When I came back from Christmas, I once again felt the strong need for Christian fellowship and teaching, so I decided that I would start looking for a church now that I was living somewhere closer to more churches, etc.  I had remembered that some others from the Brethren group I grew up in had started going to a church here in Barrhaven (south end of Nepean, another 'burb of Ottawa) after splitting off from the Brethren (again for the same reasons I had left, but at a different time).  So, the first week back, I called the church, and arranged for a ride (as it is a fair distance from where I am living).  Since the beginning of January 1998, I have been regularly attending the Cedarview Alliance Church.

I now believe that I have found a "church home" where I feel welcome, loved and have been learning and growing in the Lord.  I have not yet missed a Sunday there, and have joined the senior choir (as a tenor - although I am more of a baritone).  Just today (Easter Sunday), we sang a cantata (All Hail King Jesus), and I loved it (And I think the nearly 600 people in the audience really enjoyed it too from the comments I heard).

With the Lord's help I will continue to grow, and hope to become a valuable member of the church.  I know all too well that doing things my way does NOT work.  I pray that the Lord will use me as he sees fit, and that I will obey his will.
 

Thus concludes my diatribe for now. I am sure I will likely add to this later.