Finding faith: Journeys from birth to adulthood

The search for God can be painful or pain-free, but for most youth, it's a journey that begins at birth and continues over the next several decades. Although not always easy, the rituals, relationships and events along these spiritual journeys can become the most influential in a young person's life.

The Missourian sought to report on a few of the spiritual treks and rites of passage affecting thousands of mid-Missouri children and young adults each year. This series examines a handful of these journeys, from the choices parents make at a child's birth about which faith they'll learn to the commitment young adults make when finding a faith for themselves.