Thankfully, there are tons of resources out there for working with girls. Unfortunately, not all resources are created equal. Here’s our look at some of the best.
Brio Magazine
Brio is a splashy monthly magazine designed especially for young teen girls. Published by Focus on the Family, it provides a God-centered alternative to the average teen-focused magazine. Brio, and its follow-up Brio and Beyond (for girls 16 and up), have been around for years and have developed quite a dedicated following. In addition to the magazine, there is an excellent Web site, a MySpace-type social-networking site, national conferences, missions trips, chat rooms and lots of resources that a creative small-group leader could use to get discussions moving
Girls’ Ministry 101: Ideas for Retreats, Small Groups, and Everyday Life with Teenage Girls
Whitney Prosperi provides a step-bystep handbook on starting a girls’ group from inception through full-blown weekly programming, leadership development, mentoring and special events. In addition to helpful programming ideas, she also provides insights into building relationships with young women (Youth Specialties).
Girls’ Night Out Party Kits
Group Publishing offers pre-packaged party and retreat kits that make the job of organizing a fun time with the girls easier and more creative. Kits include a Chocolate Boutique, Dinner Around the World, and Bead Mania.
Helping Teen Moms
According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, one out of every three teenagers will become pregnant before they reach their 20th birthday. That’s a lot of young moms. These young women are facing some pretty tough circumstances that require help beyond what most youth ministries are set up to provide.
That’s why TastyFaith.com has put together a series of Bible studies and discussion guides that can give leaders that starting point. Life After Birth can be used for one-on-one mentoring, outreach programs for non-churched moms, student-to-student ministries, or even a place for male youth leaders to come and better understand the challenges of being a teenage mom.
Life After Birth uses stories of young moms in Scripture to draw lessons that can be applied to real-life issues. Discussion questions are relaxed, relevant and tremendously insightful. For instance, a study on Dinah asks girls, “Do family members see you as a mother, a wild child, or both?” or “How did having a baby affect each person in your household?” The topics are especially relevant, covering things like The baby-steps of forgiveness and The lowdown on loneliness.
Young moms often are faced with choices and lessons that will impact them and their children long into the future. It can be hard to know how to help. Life After Birth is certainly a good place to start.
His Girl: A Bible Study for Teens
Vicky Courtney has put together an 8-week study packet, including a colorful “bookzine,” a leader’s guide, and a DVD that tackles issues like modesty, girl politics and self-worth (Lifeway Church Resources).
Every Young Woman’s Battle: Guarding Your Mind, Heart, and Body in a Sex-Saturated World
Shannon Ethridge and Stephen Arterburn have written a book for young women that focuses on the struggles and rewards of sexual purity. Along with insight into the messages our culture sends, they also provide answers for everyday sexual situations teens encounter. A workbook and DVD also are available that make it a good resource for small groups (WaterBrook Press).
I Want to Talk to My Teen About Girl Stuff
Heather Flies has developed a book full of insight and strategies designed to help us grow our girls into godly women of grace. With charts, discussion starters and practical suggestions, this book is a good resource for leaders who are looking for specific ways to empower their young Christian women (Standard Publishing Company).
Teenage Girls: Exploring Issues Adolescent Girls Face and Strategies to Help Them
Ginny Olson provides advice and helpful suggestions from counselors and veteran youth workers on the unique challenges of ministering to teenage girls. Each chapter includes discussion questions designed to help leaders process some of the issues their girls might be facing (Youth Specialties).
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
Mary Pipher has drawn a disturbing picture of how our “girl poisoning” culture molds today’s young women. While not written from a Christian perspective, it is required reading for those seeking to heal and empower the girls with whom they work (Ballantine Books).
Growing Strong Daughters
Lisa Graham McMinn’s book is filled with strategies, personal insights, and practical tips that can help equip leaders more effectively to create a social environment that nurtures strong, confident girls (Baker Books).
Confronting Cancer
Melissa’s Prayer Journal provides the guidance and a role model for young people struggling with illness.
The prayer journal provides a very intimate look into the life (and death) of Melissa Bell Meisenhelder, a young woman who fought a remarkable battle against cancer. While her personal thoughts are quite inspiring and compelling, they also are very real. The book is full of pictures and insights about the very things teenagers think. What makes it especially appealing is that it is a reproduction of her actual journal, full of handwritten and highlighted verses, smiley faces and prayers.
Melissa’s Prayer Journal provides an interesting ministry tool. Because it isn’t a traditional Bible study, it may be easier for non-churched young women (and men) to connect to the content. Because it feels so intimate, it may be easier for students to interact with the ideas highlighted in the commentary accompanying each entry. Finally, because it is so honest, it provides a terrific example of what a prayer journal might look like and what a life dedicated to Christ might feel like.
In addition to Melissa’s Prayer Journal, there is a small group leader’s guide that includes 10 separate studies.
American Psychological Association’s Women’s Program Office
The APA did an extensive 2007 study dealing with the sexualization of girls. A summary of the report as well as a Web site with good resource links can be accessed, too.
Queen Bees and Wannabees
This is the book by Rosalind Wiseman about which the movie Mean Girls was based. The book and the movie provide insights for leaders and good discussion starters for small groups. Mean Girls: Facing Your Beauty Turned Beast by Haley DiMarco and Haley Morgan provide a Christian perspective on the same topic (Three Rivers Press).
