It is never too soon to start a girls' ministry...

It seems like so often we focus on middle school and high school girls when we talk about Girls’ Ministry. We see all these girls in our student groups at church and girls growing into young womanhood in our communities. We intentionally look for ways to minister to them and help guide them into a right relationship with God. We want them to seek answers to their questions from Scripture. We want them to live walking with Jesus daily as they face the difficulties and temptations of the teen years. And I think we are the right track to keep focusing on these teenage girls.

However, last week I served as a female chaperone with our children’s ministry my church as we took 3^rd-5^th graders to CentriKid. We had the most awesome week! It was truly an incredible camp experience!

But one thing I walked away convinced of—girls, even 3^rd-5^th graders need older girls and women speaking truth into their lives. They need women who will invest time and make the effort to stick with them through the preteen and teen years as they mature.

I truly believe that some of the issues we are dealing with among the girls during the teen years are left over baggage from their preteen years. Does any of this sound familiar?

“She said (you fill in the blank) about me and now no one will talk to me.”

“I look terrible in this and I want to change clothes.”

Pick a name, any name “is mean and I don’t like her!”

“Why should I walk with her to free time activities? She doesn’t act like she even wants to go.”

How would these girls on both ends of these statements live and act differently during their teen years if someone had taken the time to address some issues like gossip, self-image, insecurity, conflict resolution, and true friendship while they were still in elementary school?

As I watched some girl drama unfold at camp, I also watched two 5^th graders help two 3^rd graders understand and complete their quiet time devotions several mornings. I watched three 5^th graders act as big sisters to some 3^rd and 4^th graders who were participating in their first camp and first time away from home. I watched 3^rd-5^th graders share their testimonies with one another and share the excitement and joy when some of their friends accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior for the first time.

It is never too soon to start a girls’ ministry…

And girls are never too young to be involved in girls’ ministry.

How are you extending your Girls’ Ministry beyond the teen years? Do you have any preteen focused ministries for the girls in your church and community? How can girls still in elementary school benefit from the Girls’ Ministry in your church?