Unless you've been on a sequestered jury for the last couple of weeks, you know that the much-anticipated day has finally arrived: the release of New Moon, the second movie in the cult-statused Twilight book series. Girls have had this date circled on their calendars for weeks. They have surfed the Web for clues. Thay have bought magazines. They have watched every trailer imaginable.

You might be tempted to avoid any discussion about the movie because, like thousands of others, you're already tired of hearing about it. However, you might want to take another approach: use the movie release and book's content to begin a discussion about deeper issues. Listed below are five simple questions you can use to begin a dialogue with a girl about New Moon. In parenthesis are some possible directions the conversation could take.

1.       Are you Club Jacob or Club Edward? Why? (Jacob is the werewolf, Edward the vampire. Girls are divided over which they would choose. Jacob is the friend and confidant for Bella after Edward leaves. This is an easy discussion-starter that will allow you to approach other subjects within the book/movie.)

2.       Do you think you would respond like Bella did when Edward left? In what ways? What things do you think you wouldn’t do? (When Edward leaves early in New Moon, Bella responds with increasingly-dangerous behavior. In short, she acts as if life is not worth living. Her behavior is extremely disturbing and unhealthy. “I’d rather die than be with anyone but you.”)

3.       What would you want to do if you lived forever like Edward and the other vampires? (Edward is an accomplished pianist among other things. This might be an opportunity to discuss the fact that we are NOT given eternity, that everyone must face their own mortality.)

4.       Why do you think Bella doesn’t want to marry Edward? (This may be a good place to begin a discussion about the understanding of marriage and commitment.)

5.       In the book, Bella’s father Charlie seems kind of clueless sometimes, but what do you see as some of his positive qualities? Do you think Charlie could have done something differently as her father? (This could open the door for a discussion about a father’s role in family life.)

I saw a car commerical the other day (you can watch it below) that made me think about God. The gist of the commercial was that, "Fun can obviously change behavior for the better."

Because my brain is wired to connect things back to girls' ministry (does anyone else do that all the time???), I started wondering what it would be like if we helped girls understand that a relationship with God is meant to be fun.

Fun is a flippant word. Makes me think more like a trip to an amusement park or a night out with friends. That's not the kind of superficial joy that I think God intended for believers to experience because they're in relationship with Him. But the commerical makes a good point nevertheless. People are more likely to be involved with something if it's fun. Pleasurable. Enjoyable. They're more likely to want to participate if it is positive, not negative.

And therein lies the problem with God. For some girls, unfortunately, God is not on their list of things they enjoy, things that bring them joy, things that they find positive or even neutral. They think God is out to do them harm. He's mean. Vindictive. Out to strike them down with a lightning bolt when they mess up. Some think He is up there, somewhere, keeping the world in order, but not interested or involved in their everyday struggles. Aloof. A relationship with God is about doing a bunch of things to keep God happy and things to avoid so you don't tick Him off. There's no surprise, mystery, curiosity. Just keeping sin in check, attitudes in order. Maintenance.

Which begs the question: How do girls formulate their understanding of God?

How do they begin to concept in their minds and hearts this Diety who created them? Such a spiritual formation takes place over a long period of time, with a myriad of contributing factors, including parental involvement, social constructs, pop culture (remember the 80s version of God demonstrated by Madonna???), and... you guessed it... the church.

Which leads to another question...what are you and I doing, both positively and negatively, to help girls develop a healthy perspective on what it means to be in relationship with God? How are we helping---or hurting---a girls' spiritual formation?

Which leads to the most basic question of all...what is your relationship with God like? Do girls see joy in you? Do girls see you enjoying God? Do you enjoy God?

I've been reading through the psalms from finish to start (long story) and I'm amazed at the number of times that the psalms talks about the joy that comes with a relationship with God (21:6; 33:3; 47:1; 51:12; 65:8; 100:1). But if you were to poll many Christians today and ask them for adjectives that describe their relationship with God, I seriously doubt that the word "joy" would be the first one on the list. Or even on the list at all.

The commercial has made me think about how I might be somehow responsible for giving others a warped perception about God. Not that I would view God with a flippant attitude. Or as Santa Claus who gives me whatever I want (another perception girls often have). But I wonder how much I communicate joy in a relationship with God. That walking with Him is an adventure. That when you think about it, God is pretty stinkin' funny. Any trip to the local zoo will prove that to be true.

I want girls to understand that a relationship with God is just that---a relationship. It's meant to be full of life and vigor and turns and twists and ups and down and questions and answers, pain and, yes, joy.

Girls' ministy is so much more than teaching girls how to manage their sin. It's more than teaching them to wait until marriage to have sex or to dress more modestly or to speak more nicely. It's about teaching them their chief end, their purpose on this planet: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

So you may remember a previous post where I asked you about how you deal with divorce in your ministry. Christian recording artist Britt Nicole is the child of divorced parents, so she knows what it feels like to walk through that struggle. If you're ministering to a girl whose parents are divorcing, then these words from Britt may strike a chord with her. Feel free to pass this on to her (or to point her to the ec magazine blog where I originally posted this interview).

Divorce is a big issue in your world. All of you have experienced it yourself or have a friend who is. We hate this for you and feel your pain. You’re not alone in it, though. Britt Nicole struggled through her parents’ divorce when she was 7 years old, and she opened up to Emily recently about dealing with the divorce. Check out what she had to say below.

ec: What did you struggle with the most when you found out that your parents were divorcing?
Britt: I remember feeling afraid at times because you’re so used to your life being one way and then it changes, and you just don’t understand. You try to figure it out, but you don’t get it. And your parents don’t know if you’re going to understand even if they tell you. It can just be really confusing. One thing I would do is read my Bible. Even when I was 7 years old. I was always in church, always learning about God. I had heard about Jesus my whole life, but Jesus became real to me when I was 7 years old because I didn’t know who to turn to. I would go to my room, and I had a big Precious Moments Bible—a big white one. I would honestly run to my room and open my Bible and read it and just start crying. I felt Jesus was there with me when I read my Bible. I felt like I wasn’t alone, that God was giving me strength to get through it. I know that sounds crazy to think at 7 years old, you can feel all that. I got saved when I was 7 years old too. It was in the middle of everything that was going on. I was at church one night with my dad, and I went to the altar and accepted Jesus as my Savior. [I was] so dependent on that relationship with Him, even when I was a little girl.

ec: How did your relationship with God change as you dealt with your parents’ divorce?
Britt: I was younger when they got divorced, but I had to walk through it my whole life, from when I was 7 until now. Trying to figure out how to deal with what happened, how to let go of it, how to forgive, how to believe in love. What I saw made me not believe in love. My relationship with God just became more real and more intimate. I knew that I needed more than my family or friends because there are things in life where they can’t always help me the way I need to be helped. God was able to give me everything I needed during that [time]. So my relationship with Him became very real, and it was just like God was my father. I knew that nobody else could help me get through those nights where I was lying in bed, crying. He was there. No matter what I go through, I know that Jesus’ love is constant, and He’s there, always.

ec: What would you tell someone who is going through their parents’ divorce now?
Britt: You’re not alone. But that’s what you feel—you feel like nobody’s there, that nobody understands, but God’s there with you. He sees, He knows everything that you’re going through. Even though what I walked through was really difficult, I’m thankful that I’m able to say to other people, “Hey, I’ve been there.” It’s important for them to know that somebody else has walked through this and felt what I feel. Being able to say, “I’ve been there. I know what you’re going through. You’re going to get through it.” Also, you have to forgive. That was a big thing for me—forgiveness. I did not know that I had not forgiven my parents.

[When I forgave my parents,] It was a huge moment in my life of God lifting a huge weight off me that I didn’t know I’d been carrying my whole life. There were things in my heart that I hadn’t let go of or forgiven. And the moment that I did that, I felt the return of freedom come over me and the return of joy that I hadn’t felt, honestly, my whole life. Forgiveness is really important. You might get hurt and you might not understand why you’re going through what you’re going through, but you have to let go, give it to God, put it in His hands, and forgive. We need forgiveness in our lives too. [Forgiving my parents] was huge, and just letting go. Saying, “God, this happened a long time ago”—or even if it’s something that happened just yesterday—still just saying, “God, I let go. I need you to carry this cause it’s too much. I have to give it to You.” Let God come in and heal [your] heart.

ec: What should they expect, now that their family is different after a divorce?
Britt: It was always hard for my brother and I because holidays are time for families. You’re used to being together. But for the first holiday you’re not, it’s hard. If you go in knowing “OK, this is going to be different.” . . . No matter what they face—whether it’s holidays or spending one weekend with mom and one weekend with dad—keep in mind that God has a plan for your life, and He’s going to take it and turn it into something good, even though you can’t see it right then. I’m a testimony of that and God doing that in my life. God used something that hurt so much and was really hard to get through and turned it so that now I get to help other people who go through it. . . . It’s hard. It’s hard to pack a bag to go see your mom or your dad. But I think it gets easier as time goes by. . . That first holiday or weekend where they’re going to visit their mom or dad might be really, really difficult. But God’s going to be there with them through the whole thing. They’re not alone.

ec: What advice do you have for teens who want to reach out to their friends whose parents are going through a divorce?
Britt: They need someone to love them. They need someone to wrap their arms around them and let them cry—sometimes for 30 minutes. They need that time to get it out that this HURTS. The best thing they can do is just be there for them. Through times like that, you need support; you need love. A lot times you can’t explain what you’re feeling. If someone wants to sit down and talk to you about it, sometimes you don’t even know what to say. If someone needs someone to talk to, then it’s good to be there to talk. But I think more than talking, it’s just being there. Being there, supporting and loving them. Like my best friend—we’ve been best friends since we were 13—and she’s always good at that. She makes me laugh and forget about everything that’s going on. Sometimes you need that—those moments or those nights to just not worry about it and to just have a good time with your friends. It can consume you if you’re trying to figure it out, trying to understand. She was great for me, [at] being a friend, not making it about what was wrong. If I’d wanted to talk about [the divorce], she would. But it didn’t have to be about that. It could be “We’re friends, and we’re getting together to have fun.”
 

ec: What would you say is a positive thing that’s come out of your parents’ divorce?
Britt: Being able to help others get through it. We all walk through difficult things in life. It’s just so awesome how God uses things we walk through—our own struggles and our own weaknesses—for His glory. He says that in our weakness, He is strong. He knows we’re going to make mistakes and we’re not perfect. His grace is there for us in that. I’m just thankful that I’ve had him to get through it, and I’ve had my family. He’s healed my heart, and I’m able to reach out to other people. I think that’s the greatest that’s come of it. My parents have both remarried, and my dad has a son through his marriage who is a huge blessing in all of our lives, and he wouldn’t be here [had my parents not divorced]. God makes things good and turns things for His good and His glory. We don’t understand things, but He understands. We have to give things to Him and say, “I don’t know what’s going on, but I trust You.”

ec: Any last words of wisdom?
Britt: If you’re going through your parents’ divorce, then make sure you’re leaning into God. If I wouldn’t have had Jesus to get through my parents’ divorce, I don’t know how I’d have been able to get through it. If you are daily seeking him, He’ll make it much easier than it would be on your own.


We'd like to thank Britt Nicole for her honesty. If you're helping someone who is struggling through the effects of divorce, remind her that she's not alone. God is with her. Encourage her to talk to those closest to her about what's going on inside her head. Communication with  parents, family, friends, and church family should be open and honest as she deals with a divorce. Encourage her to not let these tough circumstances come between her and God—after all, He's the only One who will never fail her. Or any of us.

Sometimes I really love my job.I love meeting new people. I love giving women (and men) a vision for reaching teen girls. I love being creative and thinking outside the box and dreaming and looking toward what could be. I love being around people who are passionate about reaching teen girls.

Yesterday was one of those days. I got to meet with a team of very talented people and dream about a new Bible study for teen girls. A Bible study that attacks a prevaling mantra that says, "I deserve." A Bible study that helps girls understand that yes, they are princesses endowed with great worth because they are God's beloved, but they are not on the throne. A Bible study that challenges girls to embrace humility instead of pride, servanthood instead of selfishness, meekness instead of aggression. A Bible study that is flexible enough to experience on a variety of levels and settings, from an overnight sleepover to an ongoing discipleship group.

The name of this new Bible study? Tossing Your Tiara: Embracing Humility in an All-About-Me World.

I can't wait to see where God takes this study. I can't wait for girls to begin to grasp their roles as light bearers and ambassadors to the world around them. I can't wait to watch as God begins open their eyes to the sneaky deceptiveness of the enemy who wants them to be less than God created them to be and to accomplish. I can't wait for girls to understand what it really means to be a daughter of God.

As the study unfolds, I'll keep you posted on the progress!

What do you look for in a Bible study? What elements, themes, or topics are important to you?

This month's issue of Parents magazine features an article entitled "Life in the Slow Lane." The premise of the article is that a growing number of parents are actually choosing a slower lifestyle for themselves and their families. The article cites that:

"after the go-fast '80s, the get-rich '90s, and the 24/7, wired pace of the new milennium, slow is quickly emerging and the hot new buzzword."

What does that look like in the family? Bike paths instead of skating parks. Board games take precendence over X-Box. Lazy Sunday mornings (Sabbath anyone??) versus a weekend of mad dashes to the mall, the grocery store, and everywhere else. Listening to music instead of watching music videos. Fewer activities and more quality time.

With this new trend emerging in parenting circles, we in ministry need to think about the implications for our own ministry (and personal lives). In short, we need to think about a slower, yet strategic approach to ministry. What could this look like in your own ministry?

Maybe instead of doing more with your girls, you need to be doing less. Or maybe you need to rethink the way you utilize the time that you are spending with the girls who are a part of your ministry. Think of this following scenario: a Friday night sleepover might involve baking cookies together instead of watching movies. A lock-in may mean ditching the Wii in favor of card games.

During Bible study, you may want to cover fewer Scriptures so girls don't feel so scrambed to "get through" the verses. Bible study may become deeper and richer than you ever imagined. Allow time and space for girls to be still and quiet before Bible study begins so that they can decompress from a hectic pace and make room for God to speak.

What you do should fit into your overall strategy for your girls' ministry, youth ministry, and/or church. Begin to think about what really matters in ministry--connecting girls with God and each other--and focusing on those things. If you don't have a strategy for developing the girls in your ministry, consider the Known Strategy.

Doing activities for the sake of busyness is a bad stewardship not only of your time and energy, but also girls'. Instead, consider what you offer in ministry and why you offer it. This slower approach to girls' ministry may be the difference between teaching girls an activities-based approach to God and an authentic relationship with Him. 

If you haven't heard anything about our first Girls' Ministry Forum, here's the scoop:

Converge: Powering Girls' Ministry
February 26-27, 2010
Nashville, Tennessee

Those are the basics, but here are some more of the great details.

Carol Sallee will be our keynote speaker. She is the founder of To Know Christ Ministries. Through this ministry, Carol speaks across the United States and writes for a numerous Christian publications, including writing the girls' ministry Bible study, Confident. Ily published a bible study for youth girls called Confident. This six week study, available through LifeWay, Confident, which is designed to help teenage girls find their confidence in Christ. Carol is married to Phil, a pastor, and is also mom to three grown children. A satisfying evening to Carol consists of chocolate, a good movie, and Mexican food. Carol admits she is addicted to Sketchers tennis shoes, reality television, and Twitter. Visit www.carolsallee.com to learn more.

Shelly E. Johnson will lead worship. Born and raised in Marietta, Georgia, Shellyis a Nashville-based Christian Artist, Worship Leader and Songwriter with a deep devotion to her Creator and a desire to share Him with others. In 2008, Shelly attended the Gospel Music Association’s Music in the Rockies Seminar, where her song “That’s the Power of the Cross” was awarded the 2008 Song of the Year and her song “Draw Near” was awarded Scripture Song of the Year.  In June 2009, Shelly released her second album entitled Mosaic of Grace.  In August 2009, Shelly was awarded the National Winner in the Gospel Music Association's Immerse National Artist Competition and continues to experience growing momentum as God opens new doors for ministry.  Visit www.shellyejohnson.com to learn more.

In addition to corporate times of worship and Bible study, this conference will provide breakout sessions for enrichment, training, and networking for women. Some of the topics covered include:

• The Great Juggling Act: Balancing Family, Career, and Ministry
• Discipleship 101: How to Disciple Girls
• God is Great, God is Good: Teaching Girls How to Pray
• Lost in Translation: Communcating with Guys
• Help Me! Teen Girls in Crisis

The best part of the conference, though, isn't what it offers women (although I think that's pretty significant). It's what it offers for teen girls. We are offering a leadership track for teen girls, grades 9-12. This track is geared at developing and equipping the next generation for life and ministry to their peers. Some of the topics for the girls include:

• Big Sister, Little Sister—Mentoring Younger Students
• Taming the Media Monster—How to Evaluate the Impact of Media
• Gift to Go—Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts and How to Use Them
• No Worries—The Basics of Leading a Bible Study
• BFFs Forever—How to Develop Healthy Friendships

For an up-to-date listing of all of the breakouts, to get information about the event, or to register, you can go to our Web site: Girls' Forum.

The more I think and plan and pray about this event, the more excited I become. Not because it's something my ministry is offering. Not because it's my job. And certainly not because I'll be leading a breakout. I get excited because of the potential I see to equip women and teen girls to impact their world. A gathering for training, encouragement, networking, worship, and Bible study. Count me in!

There. I've said it. Now let me explain.

The fall has been insane, absolutely insane. Travel. Meetings. Volleyball season (my husband is a coach). Meetings. Being a mom. Teaching. To-do lists. Writing. Cleaning house. Phone calls to return. Meetings. Church responsibilities. Emails that need replies. Meetings. Life has gone at a furious pace for more than two months. And tomorrow I leave to teach in Texas. It just never ends.

When life is flying past me at Mach 7, all I feel like I can do is hang on for dear life and hope the merry-go-round stops soon so I can get my bearings (and not throw up in the process). In the midst of the craziness,  it's really easy to forget about God

Do you ever feel that way? If you're honest, I bet you do.

I was talking with a friend in the hallway just this week and she said something that rang so true. She said, "I get in my car sometimes and say, 'Lord, I've been working with your Word all day and I haven't even talked to you.'" I love her honesty.

That's the danger of working where I do. We're around Christian people with Christian beliefs and Christian behavior (most of the time). I can see a Christian bookstore outside my window and there's a workroom across the hall full of Bible studies, Bibles, curriculum and other Christian stuff. I just met for devotion and prayer with my department this morning (but had to leave early—for another meeting!).

I think if you're honest, you feel the same struggle, too. Maybe you don't work for a religious non-profit, but you understand all-to-well what I'm talking about. Work. The demands of kids. The pull between ministry and life. The desire to reach girls and the angst of feeling like there is so much more to do. And when life is flying by so fast, it's really hard for you to remember that the God of the universe who created your heart is as close as its beating in your chest. It's easy to forget that God is in control over the chaos that seems to be spinning furiously out of control.

I'm grateful that God is timeless. That He knows the end from the beginning and knows that there will be times when as a human being, I will see through a glass very darkly. It will be diffiult to stay attentive with Him. There will be days when the most honest thing I can pray is, "Help me, Lord."

I'm grateful that He welcomes those prayers. That His presence is my life is not determined by my attentiveness to Him. And that when the dust settles, the first words out of His mouth won't be words of condemnation, judgment, and shame. The first words I hear from Him are simply, "I've missed you."

I've missed Him, too.

Lately, my quiet times have felt a little dry, as if I’m just sipping on the Word. I’d prefer to want to gulp it down like the Gatorade you throw back as you’re running a long race. I want to feel like I’m going to die of thirst if I don’t get in the Word. I want my soul to feel quenched by it when I spend time in it. But let’s just say I’m going through a bit of a drought in my quiet times. They’re consistent, but lately, they’re not deep. Maybe you feel the same way.

Don’t get me wrong—I’ve read the Bible all the way through. I spend hours in it most days, checking references and wording for the work I do. I’m pretty familiar with it. But I’ve overlooked how powerful it can be. It’s not just another reference manual on my desk, along with the dictionaries and AP Style Books. I need to remember that it’s the living, breathing Word of God.

Yesterday was the last day of the National Youth Worker’s Conference here at LifeWay. It’s been great to interact with youth workers from all over the country. Tuesday night, David Platt spoke. I was struck by his love of the Word and how he could quote it, reference it, and move around in it as he presented his message. It’s apparent he’s spent a lot of time in it. He challenged youth leaders to teach the Bible because it is powerful. Platt also reminded youth workers to pray. These are basics, and yet they are easy to overlook as we focus on planning, programming, and all the other tasks associated with ministry.

The Bible may be our instruction manual, but some of our students have only a vague idea of what’s in it. How are you helping them cultivate a deep love of the Word? How do we teach them to gulp from the Bible instead of sipping?

Here are a few suggestions from Sherry Spillman, Student Ministry Specialist at LifeWay:
1.    Make sure that the meat of Bible study actually searches Scripture and is spent examining God’s Word. It’s easy for Bible study to become a discussion of girls’ and leaders’ opinions. Go to the Bible so that girls can discover that the answers to their questions are actually in there.
2.    Be careful not to answer your own questions. Don’t let the uncomfortable silence after your question cause you to rush to answer it yourself. Give the girls time to wrestle through their answers.
3.    Prepare your heart for worship to take place during Bible study. Worship isn’t just about music and singing; it’s about encountering God and being transformed by His presence. It should be taking place in our Bible studies.
4.    Make sure that your girls are given an opportunity to measure their lives against the truth you’ve studied. Examining their lives in comparison to the Holy God found in Scripture will help them realize how short of Him they fall. In light of that realization, their surrender to and dependence on Him should follow.

Lately I have been hearing a lot about teen girls and homosexuality. Phone calls from ministry leaders. Questions during speaking engagements. Emails. Hallway conversations.

This is one of those subjects that I hesitate to blog about. It's a deep issue. It's politically charged. It has the potential to open up a can of worms. I'm not political. I do not have an agenda. I'm not a trained therapist. I do not have all the answers. But I do feel compelled to make a few observations about this "trendy" issue among girls.

Why Girls Act Out

Needless to say, one of the reasons girls engage in same-sex relationships is because they are sinners. We're all tempted. Some girls are just tempted by this particular issue. That being said, I think teen girls demonstrate lesbian behavior for several reasons:

1. The shock factor. Tattoos are common, even among youth ministers. Body piercing is boring. So what's left to shock those around you? Tales of what you did over the weekend with another girl. What better to shock your parents with than an announcement that you're gay? Or to shock your youth minister? Or your fellow classmates? You can gain notariety and fame overnight. Granted, it's not glory that most of us would ever want, but when you're desperate...

2. Media saturation. I'm not one to blame everything on the media, but when you see commercials for the latest movie and it includes a same-gender kiss, you know that things have gone horribly awry. From the famous kiss between Brittany and Madonna to same gender relationships on just about every prime-time show on television (including "reality" TV), it's no wonder than teen girls are adopting the understanding that what they are experiencing, questioning, and moving toward is absolutely normal. Average. Perfectly acceptable. Their favorite celebs are blatantly gay or label themselves "lipstick lesbians". If everyone else is exploring this area, why shouldn't you? If it's not taboo, why not try it out? What's the big deal? What's the appeal?

3. Lack of boundaries. Many girls (and guys) growing up in today's culture have no sense of what healthy boundaries look like—emotionally or physically. They do not understand the concept that some things are just inappropriate or why something is off-limits. Without any boundaries, anything goes.

4. Dysfunctional family relationships. Researchers continue to debate about the impact of a family of origin on a person's sexual identity and development. And such debate probably won't go away any time soon. The reality is that a lot of people who grow up in dysfunctional relationships with one or more parents turn to homosexuality. I'm not saying that there is a correlation. I'm not saying that it is inevitable. I'm just saying that there seems to be an awful lot of evidence to suggest that there are underlying dynamics that create an environment where exploring same-gender feelings becomes a desirable option.

5. Normal adolescent development. What do you do when everything in your world upside down overnight? How do you deal with intense feelings, even intensity toward those of the same gender? If you listen to today's culture, you need to label yourself as gay, come out of the closet, and explore those feelings to their natural end. But what many people fail to realize is that teen girls (and guys) are dealing with HUGE shifts in their neural, emotional, social, and physical development. Chemicals are running all over the place. Deep feelings and the need for friendship with those of the same gender are normal, but most girls just don't know how to deal with those feelings. They look around for an answer, and the only answer they see is the one offered by the gay community. No one has talked to them about healthy expressions of love and fidelity within same gender relationships.

6. Blurred gender lines. Metrosexual. Feminazi. Feminist. Macho. All gender labels that are strong and incite immediate emotional response. But what does it truly mean to be feminine? What does it mean to be masculine? Is there a difference between gender identity and gender roles? What is the church's response? The lines between genders has become increasingly blurred and the girls (and guys) growing up in this culture bear the brunt of this ambivalence. Unfortunately, the church hasn't helped  much when it comes to helping girls understand what it means to be female.

In Part 2, I'll discuss how the church should respond. For now, I'd love to hear your feedback on how you have encountered and responded to this issue.