1 /5 Alyssa Young: From being 1-years old and attending for what I thought would be the rest of my life, to quickly change by the age of 23. I grew up here; I was in the youth group, I served in many ways, and I was a lead sign language interpreter for their contemporary service. I’m beyond grateful for *almost every experience I had in this church as it shaped a part of me, today. My heart broke when I had to make the very hard decision to leave. I watched my former youth pastor be put in a position to leave us wrongfully. I watched close friends be mistreated, gaslit, and even allowed myself to be gaslit over multiple years by “leaders” within the church. I watched the previous children’s ministry director be removed from this church for inappropriate conduct with children, while the church continued to say it was “ok”. I sat with families who were beside themselves when this happened years ago, and to this day, are still battling. I watched yet another person in this church, a former man involved in youth ministry, be accused of taking advantage of children(under the ages of 18) and became disgusted as the church continue to allow this to be “ok”. I watched as I drifted from this place that I used to call home, as Anona began to no longer align with the strong values I have created within myself, and one day, my family. I watched leadership be spoken down to as they served selflessly, and looked out for the children. I watched more wrong happen at this church than good/for the glory of God.
