This poem was inspired and dedicated to my Grandmother, Theresa Rogers as well as my father Dr. Julius Rogers and my mother Wanda L. Rogers.

My grandmother created dramatic and choral events in church involving children for over thirty years and insisted that her children and grandchildren were involved.  I am a product of her dedication and devotion to spreading God’s word.

Dr. Julius and Wanda Rogers are my parents and it was there love and guidance that I deeply appreciate.

Dr. Julius Rogers is pastor of House of Refuge Church of God in Christ.   This writing is in honor of these three people.

I Grew up in Church

Some of you remember back in the old days in church
When the spirit of Lord came in the sisters and worked
Seems like all day and sometimes all night long
The sisters prayed and prayed and I prayed too but my prayer was Lord we are just kids, make ‘em stop “I want to go home’
But to my Momma and Daddy, I wouldn’t say nothing

I’d rather be a deacon or speak in tongues than get a whooping
My grandmamma was in charge of the Sunshine Band… that was all of the kids
And you better let her have her way with them or God forbid
That she’d think demons were in you that needed rebuked
Like the ones Jesus cast out in the book of Luke and
You were making a big mistake
If my Grandmamma didn’t see or take
God’s babies especially the girls to church on Sunday mornings

And the mothers of the church had plans for all of us
And if you didn’t do exactly what they told you do they would make a big fuss
Sometimes they’d make us say, “save me Jesus, save me Jesus
Seems like a thousand times over and over again
Say it say it loud or you’ll burn in hell for your sins

Oh my God,
Did they realize what they were putting me through?
When came time for church I wanted an excuse
Not to have to go back for what I called MBMA Mother’s Board and “Missionary Abuse”

Oh, I tried to be slick
And sometimes I pretended to be sick
I would say “Momma tell Daddy I don’t feel good I wanna stay home”
Daddy would say, boy you better find a way to get them clothes on
Cause you’re going to be in church this morning
And hurry up you and this is your only warning
And of course, I got dressed as fast as I could
Cause if daddy said, he was going upside your head,
Trust me, Julius Rogers would

I’m not saying I didn’t like anything about church and Sunday worship
Cause I loved playing my tambourine during testimony service
But some of them sisters would be testifying
And the next thing I know they would be balling and crying
And I would think, why are they crying if the Lord is so good
Seems like to me they would be in a better mood
If was Sister Duffie Bryson that did the most of the crying

Hallelujah! I just wanna thank and praise the lord for waking me up this morning still closed in my right mind still with the activities of my limbs and still save, sanctified and filled with the precious Holy Ghost and that will the mighty burning fire, Hallelujah
And I’d go Awwww, I was just a little boy
And I remember this testimony, Saints I wanna say, “you know the Devil is still busy and they would say Aman! but my Lord and Savior is still busy too, and they would say Amen again…even a lil louder
Saints you know the Devil turned my lights off last week, Glory, Hallelujah! But I just thank and praise the Lord for candles
I’d whisper
If she doesn’t pay the rest of her bills the lights was just a sample

Cause you know faith without works is dead
That’s what they said
Anyway,
I knew all the songs and even most of the testimonies by heart
But I would only say them to myself, never out loud
Cause if Grandmamma knew I could remember lines
Oh my God, I’d be saying the “welcome address” and speeches all the time
Naw, Leave that up to DJ, Michael and my sister Deborah
On the, speech list, next to my name, please, put never
You see I thought coming to church was enough and
I aint going to lie, didn’t want to do nothing
But play my tambourine and listen to the piano playing of Brother Coleman
Every now and then I would even bring a friend… to church
And for me that was a bit much
Because one day they made me and my friend say Thank you Jesus, thank you
Jesus so many times and so fast
That it turned into Tankigee, Tankigee, Tankigee
And as soon as we got to school he told… and everybody laughed

And I’d had been taught, they laughed and they mocked Jesus
And folk don’t always say things that please us
But I was embarrassed, Rudy Rogers was hip at school
When he told ‘em about Tankigee, tankigee that blew Rudy Rogers cool
They actually thought we was crazy
Naw Rudy man, I ain’t going to yo church
I’m scared of the Holy Ghost
I ‘m scared of it
It makes you foam at the mouth
And the lady got stiff and then they carry her out
And where do they take them to
Do they come back, Rudy… does the Holy Ghost ever get on you…
Those are fond memories
Oh I remember this too
I would be glad cause it was almost time for church to let out
And then what do you know, here we go again, alter call!
“The Lord done led me to have y’all come on down
Come one come all”
And I’d say, to myself Awwwww, man
Not again, not now…

I remember I use to sneak and find me a place
Close to the door so I could make my escape
Just in case one of the sisters determined it was my turn
“Boy get that look off your face ya think u sad now
Hell is going to be hotter than Brimstone
Oh I would be so mad
One time Sister Sedberry looked back at me
I waited till she turned her head and couldn’t see
Me slide out my seat down to the floor
And crawl on my hand and knees right out the door
I was praying she didn’t tell on me
Come on now please don’t tell, Sister Sedberry

But now I know why there was a need for all of that
I have friends that didn’t go to church, that or dead, in jail or on crack
Ya see as a grew older and had to deal with life many problems
I recognize that it was my religious training that helped me solve them
The bible says train up a child in the way he should go
And when he is old he will not depart from it
You young people I make this promise
Stay in church
Just hold on and you will see
That coming to church is really `the best place to be
You are blessed if you have parents like mind
That insisted you go to church or whooped yo behind
 and let the church say,

Amen.

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