Special moments with our senior girls

by Faith Whatley

Thirteen high school girls = Lots of drama
Helping girls navigate through their high school years = Time and prayer
Watching them grow up grounded in the Lord = Priceless

My name is Faith Whatley, and I have been working with high school girls for four years at Gladeville Baptist Church. And the Lord has blessed every minute. 

I cherish so many special moments, but I especially cherish our recent Senior Send Off.

Our seniors hold a special place in our hearts. We started girl's ministry at our church exactly four years ago, so the girls in this group were freshman at the time. Not only did we have them for their entire high school journey, but they invested as much as we did by attending and participating. They allowed us into their lives.
 

Pictured are nine of the girls who participated in our Senior Send Off, which started with a Life Walk. We met at our church, and each leader had been assigned a particular topic to talk about—prayer, friends, God's Word, godly guys, determination, worthiness, balance, etc. Each leader spent 10 minutes privately with each girl sharing some special insights. Leaders purchased a small token to present to each girl during their discussion so girls would be reminded of what was said in the years to come.  My small group leaders took this very seriously and did a great job. The girls loaded up with gifts, but what was most important were the nuggets of wisdom they received from someone they trusted.

After the Life Walk, we hosted a Miss Teen USA Murder Mystery Party. We ordered the kit online and assigned each girl a character that really fit her personality. As leaders, we decided to let the girls participate in the mystery party, but we would come dressed as Miss Teen "has beens". Besides laughing so hard that our stomachs hurt, we learned even more about our girls. They are actresses! Pictured are the girls dressed up in their prom dresses as a certain Miss Someone.  Also pictured are my crazy adult leaders who came ready to join the fun.

I told each leader that it was nice for the girls to thank us (which they did over and over again), but the greatest joy was seeing the wise choices (not always!) they made during their high school years and knowing that each one of them knows the Lord and is grounded in her faith. As their leaders, we don't have to speculate about where they are spiritually because we have walked this journey with them. 
 

If you are wondering if what you are doing is making a difference, keep this in mind: even if it is ministering to one girl, your ministry is having an impact. God is faithful and is doing a work in each girl you love.  All He calls you to do is love them. He will take care of the rest.