This weekend I had the exciting opportunity of going to the lifeway Girls MInistry conference with 9 of our Delight Leadership team. It was a great conference where we learned a lot but honestly our initial motives were not completely pure. We seem to be busy "doing" ministry lately and have not had much opportunity to just encourage and learn from each other. Several of our leaders are mommies with small children so their days are full of tending to the home front. Others are college students that we haven't really been able get to know well or even find out what they feel they need to make their ministry better. So..for the most part we enjoy just the opportunity to get away and have girl time together. But, just like last year, we learned and experienced so much in such a small amount of time.
Let me give you a sample of what we came away with.
If you work with teens at all then you are aware of how so many of our girls are in crisis situations. Today we are dealing with circumstances that even 5 years ago would of almost been unheard of.
One of my favorite parts of the forum is being able to choose breakout sessions that pertain to what I feel I need to know to make me a better leader to our girls. This years choices were great and so relevant to some of the very things we have dealt with lately.
The first breakout I chose was PORNOGRAPHY IN GIRLS with Becca Daniel and Lauren Farmer. I guess I wasn't real sure what would be covered in this but I was completely blown away to realize that it was nothing like guys and their problems with porn. Girls can be much more suttle but yet dangerous in their choices concerning sexual exposure. Just a couple of the shocking statistics for you to dwell on...66% of teen girls have sent suggestive messages to others(sex ting) ..everything from nude pics of body parts to words that put guys minds exactly where they want them to go... 80% of 15-17 year old girls have experienced multiple hard core exposure to porn that leaves them desiring to experiment and willing to let their guard down. BTW most of this exposure takes place in their own homes! The average age of a girls first Internet exposure is 11. All of this compiled with the neediness of girls and their desire for any guys attention can spell disaster or produce a stronghold that has a lifetime of consequences.
CRISIS ISSUES IN GIRLS MINISTRY with Nancy Hamilton was yet another breakout that handled straight talk about hard issues our girls are facing. Cutting, eating disorders, porn, abortion, same sex attractions were just some of the issues that seem unfamiliar with many adults working in ministry to girls. Tough issues with hard lessons and long commitments can make our "walking through life " with teen girls so complicated. so draining...I almost felt exasperated as I left some of these sessions .If it wasn't for the fact that we have the hope..THE ONLY HOPE... they need. But we can't give it to them.We have to love them unconditionally, take time for them, listen, offer that Hope and pray that in the days ahead they will take it and let God heal and move them on to freedom in Christ.
We had many other breakout sessions to choose from. Just about any thing you were dealing with as a leader to girls was covered in our sessions. There were opportunities for new as well as old leaders to learn and be encouraged.
Our worship and keynote speakers led us and inspired us to think about and focus on our own spiritual lives. It was so amazing to praise the Lord with over 300 women that share your passion and calling.
I guess if I had to put into words what I took away from this conference it would really be much more than statistics and facts.
For years I have had a rather tearing feeling that I was winding down in girl(youth) ministry. I mean I am not the sharp, witty, 20 something that is relevant in every possible way to every young girl we minister to. Some of the events I am just plain tired of and I don't know if I can even stay awake long enough for one more Delight all night! But then I sit among our leadership team-doing what we really came here for- and listen to them pour out their hearts..listen to their passion to make a difference..to their struggles in their personal lives..and think back to when I was there. I really wish I had done alot of things differently. I wish I had pursued seminary or furthered my degree so I could better equip girls to handle these hard times. I am almost jealous at times of some of our team that probably have many years left to serve. But the beautiful thing is I am affirmed in my call. I don't feel God has released me to wander aimlessly through the church, searching for yet another potluck to attend. I may be patting and encouraging other leaders or I may be listening in my rocking chair but one thing is for sure. Times like this weekend make me remember
why I love girl ministry. I have the hope they need and God gives me daily the strength i need to give it out.
Tomorrow will be a beautiful day in ministry. We get to attend one of our precious new sisters in Christ baptism. Then we get to walk along side of her and many others just doing what I love to do most! LIVING LIFE TOGETHER!
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