FACES OF THE CHEMICALLY SENSITIVE
Janine Ridings has had to change churches numerous times following remodeling projects that were implemented at churches she has attended. In 1994, Janine was forced to leave the church she had attended for twelve years after they painted their main auditorium. From there, she found a new church to go to, and was able to stay for seven years before the facility the church met at re-sealed the floors with a highly toxic oiled based product. Once again, she was forced to find a new church.
In addition to toxic building materials, fragrances have also been a big barrier to church attendance for Janine throughout the years. During the time when her sensitivities were most severe, about 60% of the time Janine tried to attend church, she would have to leave early due to the severity of her reactions to fragrances. Sometimes even just a few whiffs of someone's strong perfume would cause her to become severely disoriented and fatigued; she felt as if she had been drugged and would often be sick in bed for days afterward due to the exposure. Because Janine was so desperate for fellowship, she was willing to endure the times of becoming very ill at church so that she could at least enjoy fellowship the other 40% of the time she tried to attend when the fragrance levels were lower.
During the late '90s, she remembers holidays being the most difficult, as people typically wear more perfume and cologne on these types of occasions. Most holidays she stayed home to avoid the fragrance exposures she would encounter at church, but after spending several Easters home alone, in 2000, she finally attempted to attend. She will never forget that Easter as she stood standing out in the rain under an umbrella, trying to catch a glimpse of the service through the window, knowing she couldn't go in due to the high fragrance levels. This was not exactly how she had hoped to spend Easter.
Over the years Janine's health has improved somewhat, and she is very thankful to now be able to attend services at Calvary Chapel Eastside. She spends some weeks in the main auditorium, and other weeks she joins the folks in the Fragrance Free Zone who are too sensitive to be in with the rest of the body. Her heart breaks for all the people across the country and around the world who can't even pass through the doors of a church without becoming ill from chemical exposures. She knows this is not God's ideal for believers to be isolated from the body of Christ, and she hopes more churches will become educated about the problem of chemical sensitivity so more accommodations can be made for those with this condition.