For many families in the mountains of WV, faith and their place of worship are an important part of their days, nights and overall identities. Here are some memories of my years from growing up in a Church of God in the Appalachian Mountains. Enjoy!
You may have been "raised Church of God" in southern WV if:
1. Sunday mornings were spent in church, Sunday nights were spent in church, AND Wednesday nights were spent in church for FTH.
2. If you know what FTH stands for.
3. For girls, if you were ever a "Blue Belle" or "Joy Belle".
4. You have ever attended a "camp meeting" in a civic center or other large gathering place and had a late night dinner at Shoney's afterwards finishing with that infamous brownie ice cream cake for dessert.
5. As a kid you played in the pews with toys and as you got older, during the school year, you often took homework, books or other reading materials with you to the evening services in case someone starting "shouting".
6. You knew the difference between "shouters" and knew that if certain folks got up to shout, you would still be home by 9pm, but if others were moved, you may not get home until after 10...or later - even on a school night.
7. If as a kid or teen, you ever attended Youth Camp and stressed over who your "date" would be for the banquet at the end of the week. And if you were a girl, the endless hunt to find "gauchos" to wear to camp.
8. At 10 years old, knowing what "backslide" meant and never asking any questions about people who were referred to as having "backslid"... you just said a silent prayer.
9. At 10 years old, not quite knowing what "luke warm" meant, but feeling kinda uneasy about it and wondering if it had anything to do with body temperature.
10. If you attended church picnics that lasted all afternoon with watermelon eating contests, real sack races, pie eating contests and playing in the creek.
11. Easter egg hunts were conducted with REAL eggs. Hard boiled, of course, but still real.
12. You always loved the new PKs and it was always sad when they left.
13. If you knew what PK stands for.
14. If you studied your lines and prepared for the church Christmas play months in advance. And, if you were an angel, the costume was a sheet and silver or gold tinsel.
15. You loved church pot lucks - especially the chocolate eclair dessert.
16. You loved church hot dog sales.
17. You didn't love church car washes but helped anyway.
18. You still have fond memories of and feel connected to the old folks, the babies and other kids and families you attended church with.
19. You ever questioned your faith but never forgot your roots.
20. You were baptized in muddy water, probably as a young kid, and it's still probably one of the most spiritually moving moments of your life.
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