Brian Calhoon grew up in a United Methodist church that emphasized mission work, but not the kind you might think of. In his late teens Brian went to two rust belt cities and a Native American reservation and fixed stuff, no preaching involved. The church of his childhood felt like home and while he learned…

Tricia Hanson grew up in Minnesota in a religious Catholic household.  She describes Sunday church as a religion in itself and a Catholic grade school for two years.  But as she came of age in the 1970s she began to explore other faiths after seeing how issues like prohibitions on contraception and the divorce of…

After seven years of traveling with the military, Lisa’s father entered civilian life with the Bureau of Land Management in Idaho.  There were good things about Idaho, especially skiing every weekend during the winter.  The school system was pretty good too, something that was brought home after a short sojourn in Nebraska at a school…

Deborah Bonsack grew up in upstate New York.  Deborah’s father was an inveterate camper and her family and five or so other families would tent camp every weekend from last to first snowfall and for all vacations.  There was no electricity but lots of singing around the campfire and her father would preach on Sundays. …