The Footprints
“Girls Ministries is a wonderful opportunity for young girls to connect with others, explore their faith, and find a sense of belonging,” 17 years of age Condolisa Langford enthusiastically shared. A member since 2018, Condolisa believes the ministry is a beautiful opportunity for young girls to connect with others, explore their faith, and find a sense of belonging. “Girls Ministries provides a safe space to share my thoughts and feelings with sponsors and other girls, who are going through similar experiences, and to learn from them,” she stated. Being a part of Girls Ministries allowed her to strengthen her support system by forming strong bonds with other young women with similar values and beliefs. Condolisa attributes her overall personal development, including spiritual and emotional growth, to the valuable support she received through Girls Ministries. Some of the activities she found impactful included open and lively discussions on current affairs and several areas of interest to girls, examining and applying biblical passages to everyday life situations, and journaling by recording events in her life weekly. Condolisa encourages young girls to join Girls Ministries, as she is firmly convinced the ministry favourably transformed her life and will do the same for them. According to her, Girls Ministries is an excellent platform for young girls to establish healthy lifelong friendships and build confidence and leadership skills.
Young adult, wife, mother, and past member of Girls Ministries, Prudence Serieux was an active member of Girls Ministries from childhood to young adulthood. Reflecting on the ministry, Prudence said, “It is an opportunity to be exposed to love and acceptance, encouragement, and support while developing spiritually and mentally. It is a safe place to share life issues without being judged or looked down upon since sponsors and leaders are women with extensive experience to share with young girls while caring and nurturing them.” For her, being part of Girls Ministries was indeed a transformational experience that stayed with her throughout her life. She is particularly grateful for the impartation of knowledge and the values she developed from being a part of the ministry. This, she recalled, was done through activities like sleepovers and interactive sessions with older women on topics such as knowing your body, how to interact with boys, developing your gifts and talents, how to choose a spouse, table manners and etiquette, telephone etiquette, and learning about your menstrual cycle. Prudence affirmed, “At the time, I did not have those kinds of teachings at home. The values and lessons learned positively and professionally impacted my life and made me a better wife, mother, and role model for young girls.” She now uses the values and principles learned from Girls Ministries to encourage and empower young girls in her community.
Over the past five years, Condolisa and Prudence are just two of the more than 200 active members who benefitted from Girls Ministries at First Assembly of God Wortmanville (FAOGW). But how did Girls Ministries start, what does it involve, and how can girls benefit from the programme?
The Beginnings and Mandate
According to Assemblies of God International, the origins of Girls Ministries may be traced back to the early 1950s, when the Women’s Ministries Department established ‘Missionettes’ as a formal mechanism for older women to teach younger women and prepare them for involvement in Women’s Ministries. The first Missionettes Club was launched in North America in 1956 for girls aged 12 to 17. Over the years, Missionettes evolved and expanded and eventually became known as National Girls Ministries.
In Guyana, Assemblies of God National Girls Ministries was started around 1965 by Sis. Doris Olive Young, the late mother of Elder Angela Massiah. Reportedly, Sis. Young became the custodian of an interesting Missionettes manual, discovered among reading material received from Assemblies of God Headquarters, Missouri. The manual was handed to young Angela Massiah [who was about 10-12 years of age] to review, complete and submit the assignments. Other girls were subsequently encouraged to complete the material, additional information was obtained, and facilitated the initial formal establishment of Missionettes in Guyana, at First Assembly of God Wortmanville, and later at other Assembly of God fellowships across Guyana. Missionettes commenced with a Stars Group [age 8-11 years], and the members later graduated and formed the Young Women Auxiliary Group, called Y’s, for girls 18 years and older.
The mandate of National Girls Ministries is to introduce girls to Jesus Christ and, through guidance and instruction, equip them to follow Him and spend their lives in accordance with His will and purpose. The ministry provides a space for girls to invite their peers to meet Jesus, interact with other girls who love God, and benefit from the caring mentorship of a leader (Sponsor).
Structure and Activities
National Girls Ministries operates under the Assemblies of God in Guyana and is coordinated by National Director, Ms Yonnette Patterson. FAOGW’s Girls Ministries Coordinator is Minister Samantha Edwards. She is supported by Sponsors or mentors responsible for facilitating activities. A Sponsor is a woman who is a believer, spiritually full, and faithfully serving God. Sponsors serve as role models for young girls, providing guidance and support in their spiritual journey and inspiring girls to live a life of faith and commitment to God.
Girls Ministries comprises seven clubs, each with a name, emblem, age range, and curriculum. The clubs are Sunlight Kids – boys and girls from birth to 36 months; Rainbow – boys and girls 3 – 5 years; Daises – girls 5 – 6 years; Prims – girls 6 – 8 years; Stars – girls 8 – 11 years; Friends – girls 11 – 14 years; and Girls Only – girls 14 – 17 years. With the exception of Sunlight Kids, all other Clubs are currently operational at FAOGW.
Generally, Girls Ministries Clubs meet weekly at the local church, and activities involve teaching, discussions, and practical exercises on an extensive range of Biblical and current affairs topics. These may include grooming, hygiene, and home management; parent and child relationships; respect for authority and etiquette; friendships and dating; choosing a career; soul ties and generational influences; and money management. FAOGW’s Girls Ministries also host annual activities such as camps, sleepovers, father-and-daughter dinners, and tours of places of interest. At the Assemblies of God in Guyana level, the National Girls Ministries’ yearly activities include camps, conventions, rallies, coin for kids projects, and shut-in day.
Impacting Lives
The FAOGW Girls Ministries has positively influenced the lives of many girls and young women, who shared stories of how the group helped them form meaningful relationships and live Christ-centered, purposeful, and productive lives. Further, parents have attested to the favourable changes in their children’s lives and the new things their daughters have taught them as a result of participating in Girls Ministries. According to FAOGW Coordinator Samantha Edwards, Girls Ministries supports the growth and development of girls by providing a good foundation and instilling discipline. Girls also have the opportunity of sharing their struggles and seeking guidance from trusted mentors. The Coordinator encourages parents and guardians to support their daughters in actively participating in the ministry. “The benefits are tremendous,” she affirmed.
