We grew up in church. Should we stay?

Did you grow up in church and now wonder if you should stay? In this episode of Grown-Up Church Kids, Dwan Hill and Shama Mrema talk about pastors’ kids, church culture, childhood faith, ministry pressure, deconstruction, grief, and what it means to follow Jesus as an adult. If you’ve ever wrestled with church, Christianity, spiritual burnout, or the faith you inherited, there is room for you here. Grown-Up Church Kids is where Sunday meets real life, where there’s more of us than you think, and where stories are better than sermons.00:00 Should Church Kids Stay?01:07 Welcome to Grown-Up Church Kids02:44 Growing Up Around the Pulpit04:24 First Church Memories06:17 Church Every Single Week10:37 Black Church and Public School12:23 Sheltered Church Kid Moments18:09 Gospel Church vs CCM Church20:50 Shama’s Missionary Kid Story24:53 When Church Changed a Family26:09 Church Planting in Tanzania29:03 Pastor’s Kid Pressure32:12 Choosing Faith for Yourself35:21 Fired From Church Ministry38:26 Old Church Kid Pictures40:41 The Cost of Ministry Commitment46:00 Trying to Be Perfect47:58 Dwan’s Salvation Story50:08 Childhood Faith as an Adult53:21 Faith When Parents Get Sick55:34 Wrestling With Disappointment57:19 Grief, Joy, and Seasons1:00:24 Deconstruction and Returning to Faith1:01:56 Trying Church Again1:04:03 Don’t Give UpABOUT THE SHOW:Grown Up Church Kids is more than a show, it’s a full-circle moment where Sunday Morning Meets Real Life. Bringing together community, conversations, shared stories, and songs that shaped a generation, this is a space for Grown-Up Church Kids to reconnect with their roots, redefine their journeys, and celebrate the faith together.There are more of us than you think.🔔 Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9KOBazbPvWdcopb_dd1M5g🎧 Listen on Audiohttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2607662📚 Resourceshttps://amzn.to/3PISqfXFOLLOWMore from Dwan HillYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DwanHillInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwanhillWebsite: https://www.dwanhill.com/More from Shama MremaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AfterSchoolProgramInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/shama4realzWebsite: https://www.shamamrema.com/More from Grown-Up Church KidsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9KOBazbPvWdcopb_dd1M5gInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grownup.churchkids/Website: https://www.grownupchurchkids.com/More from The Choir RoomYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechoirroomInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.choirroom/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.choirisback.com/CREDITS:Director & Editor: Kyle WhittakerProducer: Hannah Gifford (Open Hand Management)Production Assistants: Sarah Bush, Abby LoomisAudio: Garrett Miller, Aaron RochotteVideo: Seth ScruggsVideo, Photo & Social: Jordan RubinoManagement: Annie Cunningham#grownupchurchkids #dwanhill #shamamrema #thechoirroom #faithjourney #churchkid