Additional thoughts to the OP on caliber.

I prefer carrying my 1911, which is 45ACP. I'm confident that a couple hits from that will stop an aggressor. Likewise, my revolver is a 38 special, and I load it with +P hollowpoints. It may not have the same stopping power as the 45, but again, I'm confident that a couple hits from that will stop an aggressor, or at least slow him/her down enough to the point that I can safely disengage and retreat. More importantly, I can reliably hit center mass with either of these firearms every time (I'm not an MOA shooter by any means, but I can hit a bad guy sized target).

You should have the largest caliber that you can comfortably carry AND reliably hit the target every time. Little calibers like 25ACP don't have much stopping power, but it's better to be able to put those shots into a bad guy than to miss with a 44 Magnum.

I�m going to start going to church more often and praying more with my family.

glock 42 or 43 are excellent for carry, I have the 42 that I carry in a cross draw iwb holster.
try both at a range, there are a lot of good smaller semi autos out there and a ton of revolvers too.
as said go to a range and rent a few and shoot them, then decide on what caliber you want to use.

as for holsters, I probably have 12 or more now for 3 pistols, reason being the search for the one that is most comfortable and does what I want it to. my preference is leather iwb (in the waist band).

thats good advice

I�m going to start going to church more often and praying more with my family.

Find a gun you will carry. A smaller lighter shorter gun is typically harder to shoot. I would choose a gun with no manual safeties in 9mm

Sig 365
Glock 43
SW Shield

Stay away from Taurus, Bersa, and any other brand you have never heard of.

If you can jump up into a small full size gun such as a Glock 19 or Walther PPQ

9mm

Why is that? Bersa and Taurus makes a quality weapon. Not impressed at all with glock.