What was your life like before the Spiritualist Church became a part of it? How did your life up to then shape your religious convictions?<\/b><\/p>\n
I am a fourth-generation Santa Barbaran, so I have lived in this community my whole life. I lead a fairly simple existence. I was a self-employed craftsman for many, many years.<\/p>\n
My mother and grandmother were the most influential figures in my spiritual life. They didn\u2019t attend any formal churches, but they did hold very strong spiritual beliefs, especially pertaining to the afterlife and the belief that our souls cycle through numerous lives. They would also consult mediums on occasion.<\/p>\n
Exposure to these doctrines was essential to my spiritual molding. When I finally came across the Church of the Comforter and saw how it very much complemented my already-existing convictions, welcoming the church into my life seemed so natural.<\/p>\n