– A platform for girls and women to engage kingdom men on disputed and taboo topics
The Young Women’s Auxilliary Group (Y’s) of the First Assembly of God Church recently partnered with the Men’s Ministry to roll out a two-part session titled ‘Ask a Man.’
These sessions, which were notably interactive and informative, served as a safe space for young women to pose questions on various issues relating to sex, courtship, making the right decisions, marriage, and life, generally. The God-fearing men offered guidance and advice to these concerns based on the Word of God and their individual experiences.
The first session was held virtually and saw more than thirty girls participating, while the second session was held in person at the Non-governmental organisation Generation Next, which seeks the empowerment of all individuals, along with imparting life skills to youths and others. This was just one of many impactful sessions that are held regularly by the Y’s Ministry.
Questions ranged from what a young woman must expect from fathers or father figures, a potential spouse, or any male figure in her life, understanding the human male as God has created them, and what a man expects of a woman, among many others.
The men on the panel responding were some of the executives of the Men’s Ministry: Elder Cleveland Dey, Deacon Orson Smith, and Minister Owen Maison, while pastoral representatives were Dr Wilbert Lee and Assistant Pastor Kurt Corbin. Elder Wesley Adams, a past president of the Men’s Ministry and current assistant at our Judah Outstation, was also integrally involved.
The leadership of Y’s intends to host similar and much larger sessions since it was recognised that more women might need to benefit from these impartations. Robust discussions revealed that values of the world were being accepted as values of the kingdom for some young women. Thus, ‘Ask a Man’ has become a much-needed session that will be expanded to include other church departments. More girls in the local assembly (and outstations) will be encouraged to come out.
‘Ask a Man’ is the brainchild of a younger group of women, the ‘Girls Only’ Missionettes Department, who were curious about life as they are now exploring teenage and young adulthood. Their sponsors allowed men from the fellowship to share with them and guide them as they manoeuver in the world of work and dating life.
The Men who initially made these sessions possible were Assistant Pastor David Hermonstine, Pastor Wilbert Lee, Assistant Pastor Nyvin John, and the late Assistant Pastor Raphael Jackman.
The Young Women’s Auxilliary Group (Y’s) meets every first and third Saturday monthly at 5pm (17h) in the Generation Next building. Some sessions are held virtually (this information is provided by church announcements and flyers shared on social media). The group targets young ladies between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. Its objectives are to train and encourage physical, social, and spiritual development and educate members on good moral principles, self-respect, and self-confidence, thereby producing responsible women, wives, mothers, great citizens, and God-fearing and virtuous ladies.
Recent past sessions include Bible chats, the creation of a vision board, time management, and mindset shift, among others. The Y’s group was resuscitated in March 2023 and brings vibrancy and fresh ministry for young girls/ladies to interact with their peers and older women as they navigate life, transitioning from teenage years to womanhood.
A special invitation is extended to ladies within the age range to be part of these life-altering and revealing sessions. A common principle that the group adopts is that each one must bring one so that at every session, the attendance and impact are doubled.
