EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT!
News for and about HER-oes
A REAL beauty pageant.
by Nancy C. Wooten
Whatever a church's position on
the role of women -- veiled or unveiled, on the pulpit or off, teaching
the Word or only getting to listen -- nobody can deny that women are the
muscle behind many a Christian church.
Remove the women, and that church may find its movement coming to a
screeching halt.
In order to groom the younger women to replace their elders as the
muscle and backbone of their church, the South Carolina Upstate Women's
Council for the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostlic Faith is
using a Woman of the Year "beauty" pageant in choosing an "Our Lady of
Purple."
The kind of beauty they are looking for is not a straight nose or a
voluptuous body, however. They go beyond the body and look at spiritual
commitment, community service, her education and financial
contributions.
The Times and
Democrat.
Beauty is Soul Deep:
How a make-up artist is using
cosmetics to spread the Gospel and the love of Christ
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Lisa Temple
sometimes finds it hard
to think of her skills
as a makeup artist as
tools for ministry. But
every time she gives a
makeover to a newly
released female
prisoner, she's reminded
of how God can use every
talent.
"Since inmates aren't
allowed to wear makeup,
the ladies look in the
mirror and can't believe
how attractive they
look," says Lisa. "I
love that!"
Lisa's a volunteer at
Kate's Closet, a
Montgomery,
Alabama-based boutique
that provides makeovers
to just-released
prisoners from nearby
Julia Tutwiler Prison.
On visiting the
boutique, women are
given professional
clothing to wear on job
interviews, along with
accessories, personal
care items, and a Bible.
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Click here to read the entire article
by Jan Shaw Crouse , PHD at
ChristianityToday.com. |
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From the Baptist Press:
PG-Not the rating you might think!
Hollywood has thought up yet another way
to exhibit it's prejudice against the Christian faith. A new movie,
"Facing the Giants" ,a film with a strong Christian message and
wonderful life lessons has been labeled PG. Call me silly but my
understanding of the parental guidance rating meant that there might be
some mild language or content not fit for a child to see. I guess
my interpretation doesn't match Hollywood's definition. According to the
Motion Picture Association of America, "Facing the Giants" (a Christian
film) is "too evangelistic". Kris Fuhr, an executive for Provident Films
(a division of Sony) reported that the explanation given for the PG
rating was that the MPAA "decided that the movie was heavily laden with
messages from one religion and that this might offend people from other
religions." Heaven forbid!
This is yet another sad comment on Hollywood's
prejudice against the Christian message. I for one will see the film and
take all the neighborhood children I can round up.
Click here
to read the
entire article.
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Growing Girls into
Godly Women
Written by Jimmie
Davis and Tep Lim
Today's postmodern
teenage girls face a variety of issues and pressures from the world, but
how are churches influencing them to become godly women? Women's and
youth leaders are stepping up to the plate to address that need through
girls' ministry.
Girls' enrichment
ministry is an intentional and organized method to spiritually transform
the lives of teenage girls, moving them from large open groups to
smaller closed groups, while equipping them to be godly women. Many
times it's couched as a sub-ministry under student ministry, women's
ministry, or both.
Girls' ministry is
a proactive way to instill godly values in young women while addressing
the needs and issues they are facing. It can also be seen as a
preventative type of ministry. When girls establish their identities and
values on God's Word as teens, they are well on their way to becoming
godly women and avoiding the pitfalls (and consequences) so many of
their peers may fall into as adults.
Before you
consider expanding your church's women's ministry to include a girls'
ministry, look at the needs of today's postmodern teenage girls:
1. Self-Image
Girls today are prone to low self-esteem. Some are pressured into
promiscuity and alcohol or drug use. Many find themselves dealing with
eating disorders, self-mutilation, pregnancy, unhealthy Internet
relationships, even confusion over sexual orientation.
2. Decision-Making
Teenage girls need to learn how to make wise decisions as they become
women. Much of women's ministry today is crisis intervention. Many
crises are brought on by unwise decisions made during the teenage and
college years. Girls are maturing earlier, being exposed to temptations
earlier, and losing their innocence earlier than in past generations;
therefore, we must reach them for Christ earlier.
3. Application of
Scripture
Girls need to know the truth of God's Word and how it applies to their
lives as women. By impressing on them the importance of reading,
studying, memorizing, and applying God's Word to their lives at a young
age, you will help them move along the path to becoming a godly woman.
While these three
aren't exhaustive of all the needs of girls, many can be traced back to
these essentials. Girls' ministry may also provide for these other
needs:
close-knit
relationships with other girls,
female role models,
validation of feelings,
affirmation,
awareness of hormonal issues,
emotional security,
physical security,
understanding of the male mind,
acceptance,
genuine love,
boundaries, and
help in working through problems (such as abuse, eating disorders,
unwanted pregnancy, and STDs).
As you pray about how your church might reach teenage girls, take time
to talk to other youth and women's leaders. Research trends and habits
among teenage girls. Ask God to show you how He'd have you proceed,
whether that means simply organizing a youth girls' event or if it means
launching a full-blown ministry. With God paving the way, a girls'
ministry can be a powerful tool in His Kingdom.
Click here to read the rest of the article at Lifeway.com |
