I worry a bit about my son, who has become involved a mega-church in our community with a close friend of his. We had never been a regular-church-going family; in fact, after baptism, the kids didn't even go to weekly religion classes or get Communion. I tried to get them involved too late, after their opinions were set that it was too boring and they hated it. Honestly, I didn't like sitting in RC service, either.
With S, I am trying to temper any ultra-conservative viewpoints like you described. I expressed some concerns to him, like how they might look at homosexuality. The very next week, he said it was a topic and all agreed that people are people, no matter what, and should be accepted and respected. Could it be the location of this church? I'm not sure. He likes it because it is large enough to have its own teen-worship, complete with a rock band. He is having fun while learning a little about God and Jesus. At this point, I am just happy that he has this outlet and connection to a Higher Power concept.
I also bring him to some of my church events, and he likes some of those, as well. D has started to come with me, and has liked the Sunday school that is run. They also tend to sit through the service better, as there is more singing. When I spoke with the pastor before joining, she said that about 1/3 of the congregation are actually Roman Catholic or converts from other Christian denominations. After stories like yours, and my own experiences, I feel fortunate to have found the place where I ended up.
