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Taylor Foster
Mrs. Corbett
Senior Project
November 14, 2011
Girls’ Ministry
Author Kate Johnson once said, “I was born. Whether or not that was to be of
consequence is yet to be determined” after experiencing years of emotional, mental, and sexual
abuse at the hands of the men around her. After questioning God about her purpose not only in
life, but in the context of biblical living, Kate found that after years of believing females were
unimportant in God’s eyes, she came to understand that women hold special importance in
ministry as leaders, teachers, and servants. She acknowledges that the women’s ministry at her
church as one major milestone to her recovery and wishes that she had known of such a ministry
in her younger years. The purpose of girls’ ministry is to raise girls to be women ground in a
biblical foundation that encourages living in a way that is understandable and empowering. This
ministry gives purpose to not only women in a free society, but also shows women their worth in
other less feministic environments, and is important to give meaning to the everyday lives of
women.
The history of girls’ ministry is thought to have begun shortly after Pilgrims landed in
North America in order to escape religious persecution. Women flourished in the ministry as
more persecuted Christians fled to the colonies in search of religious freedom; these women
served as pastors, deaconesses, and elders. In one specific group, called the General Baptists,
women were encouraged to hold these positions, compared to their other sect, the Regular

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Baptists who took more of an approach to Calvinism (Cook 191). Women then were allowed to
serve as missionaries, Sunday school teachers, and as secretaries within the Church, but were not
allowed to serve as pastors or deacons anymore in accordance to the marriage example explained
in the New Testament. Up to the late twentieth century, the specific counsel and ministry of
women was simply to take care of the orphans or to serve as Sunday school teachers; however it
was noted by youth pastors (predominantly male) that the girls within the youth groups were not
ignored per say, but definitely not given the attention in a way that was specific to the spiritual
maturation for girls. Thus, the idea of girls’ ministry was born.
One of the many needs for girls’ ministry involves the difference of the sexes. For
example “female teenagers are more actively involved in religious activities than their male
peers” (“Sex and Gender” 44). However most religious activities involve more bible
interpretation for males rather than females, but girls still attend despite the fact they are not fed
in the way that is specific to them. Girls’ ministry serves to actively encourage participation in a
way that is biblical but also geared more toward the female persuasion. However, according to a
study, “gender Discrimination and a lack of female professional mentors were perceived as
barriers and challenges to ministry.” (Johns et al. 115). Girls’ ministry leaders are now rising as
influential members of the church society in order to help in this phenomenon, but the lack of
experienced leaders make for a few issues. Male pastors attempt to create some ministry
opportunities for girls, however fail because they cannot get close and mentor the girls in this
era, due to legal issues and fear of sexual accusations. This ministry requires strong female
leaders who work as mentors to other girls growing up in the church in order to give a more
personal account and education.

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Other needs fulfilled by Girls’ Ministry are the physical, mental, and emotional needs of
girls. According the Jimmie L Davis, author of the Girls’ Ministry Handbook, girls need “love,
worth, safety, purpose, hope, self-esteem, and friendship” in order to really grow and mature
healthily (17). By providing a community of girls and leaders who share a common interest, girls
no longer are ignored within their youth groups, but instead have a loving family environment
where they are accepted and loved. Girls’ Ministry provides the family type atmosphere that
should exist, but sadly does not in all cases; the ministry serves to give girls purpose and security
they may not find at home. It fills the emotional need for stability and family outside of the
home. Girls need time also to be with each other physically and deal with their problems in a
community way. Davis states that “planning time for building relationships is the starting point
in girls’ ministry. Planning for building relationships is vital. Girls need time to talk, share
feelings, and connect with other girls who are feeling the same way,” regardless of socio-
economic status, race, or age. Everyone, not just girls, needs to experience love, acceptance, and
community, and without an effective girls’ ministry, this need drives girls to look in other
unhealthy places to find these things. A girls’ ministry gives a safe place grounded in truth and
peace for girls to seek refuge and wisdom in, while filling their needs.
Once the refuge aspect is established, a girls’ ministry’s job is to provide biblical
instruction presented practically and specifically for girls. One way this can be achieved is
through setting boundaries. In today’s society, the idea of boundaries have been thrown away
and replaced with the idea that feelings should determine the right and wrong course of action. In
reality, security is set up through boundaries, and this concept is proved true even in modern
psychiatry. When boundaries are removed “there is no truth” (Davis 19). The confusion from
girls trying to live Godly lives in a world that tells them just the opposite makes it hard to believe

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the truth when it is presented. A girls’ ministry presents the option to not only gives boundaries
that give freedom to girls but also to encourage them against the prowess of the world. “In spite
of the turbulence of youth, our culture still expects young people
to defer to the experience and wisdom of older people” who are studied and matured in the word
of God (Lind 70). Girls’ ministry offers the opportunity for the older women of the church to
influence the younger generation and set the Godly example for them in a way that is more
relatable than say a male youth pastor. Females naturally relate to females more than males and
in this way, are more relatable to follow the women who they are surrounded by. By setting a
Godly example and boundaries, girls are given the opportunity to grow in a healthy church
environment not dominated by an excessively masculine presence.
Girls’ ministries should also look to encourage three types of relationships: one with God,
one with adults, and one with peers. All of these should be biblically based and promote a
healthy relationship that provides for the good of the girls and others. The first one, a relationship
with God, comes from an “intrinsic need to have a relationship with the Creator” (Davis 28).
Many times, girls fill this need with dating relationships with other boys as a part of the need for
a male figure within their lives to give them self worth. Girls’ ministries strive to encourage a
relationship with God, since that is what He purposed since the beginning. Once a relationship
with God is established, a mentoring relationship is needed. There is a need for girls to also be
relational despite the images presented by the media with a “negative attitude toward God and
parents” (Davis 29). Relationships with Godly adults promote the relationship with healthy peer
relations as well. With a girls’ ministry at hand, the opportunity arrives for other girls to relate to
each other with the same kind of ideals; these relationships form bonds that not only keep each
other accountable, but provide a safe community where girls can communicate their feelings and

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enjoy community where they are loved. These relationships are usually built through various
events sometimes within the youth group and sometimes within the girls’ ministries themselves.
Girls’ ministry not only involves setting Godly examples and providing love and
examples, but it provides events for girls to fellowship together. Within many youth groups, the
focus serves to fellowship all members, however usually the activities planned are more inclined
for males. Girls show up though in order to be included in their youth groups, but rarely within
youth groups is there events geared more toward the girls. Naturally, “all Christian youth
workers see the Bible as important for their own lives and for ministry” but not all youth groups
approach this in the same way (Kageler 55). Rather than the physical bonding experienced by
boys through sporting events or video game tournaments, girls crave an emotional bonding time.
Girls’ ministry provides this by specifically providing events where girls can not only bond with
other girls, but with adults such as parents and leaders as well. Girls desire to have emotional
relations with all types of people, and a girls’ ministry understands how to promote this in a
healthy way. More youth ministers than ever are being prosecuted and accused of having
inappropriate relations with female students; one way to prevent this is setting the boundary high
for relations between female students and male youth pastors. When women have the chance to
influence women, not only does it protect the youth pastors, but it gives the opportunity for the
girls to be mentored effectively. Girls and boys are different and should be mentored to as such.
The time spent with both groups is important, but girls’ ministry serves to cater to exactly the
relational and activity needs for girls in a scripturally based manner.
My own personal girls’ ministry story began when I was a freshman in high school. I
have always had a supportive Christian household, but I never was ground in a church or within
the youth group and had a hard time relating to other girls my own age. My relationship with

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God was nowhere near perfect either; in fact, the most I knew about God was the basic stories
taught in Sunday school every year. However, after some convincing from a friend of mine, I
decided to attend the girls’ ministry’s bible study that occurred every Tuesday night, and to say
that it impacted my life is an understatement. Pillars Girls’ Ministry of First Baptist Church of
Canton grounded me in the relationships to last a life time, and gave me the emotional, mental,
and physical support I needed to be a Christian in a trying world. I personally testify to the
necessity of a girls’ ministry because there is not one aspect of my life that it has not
strengthened.
In conclusion girls’ ministry is an important factor in a church society and growing youth
groups. Girls’ ministry gives the opportunity for girls to handle their problems and grow in their
relationships in a healthy and Godly environment. It encourages scriptural based maturation into
womanhood, and gives opportunities for older women in the church to serve and mentor the
younger generation. The girls’ ministry provides a place to build the relationships that cannot be
built with male youth pastors in today’s society, and gives a sense of family to those who are
involved. The relationships and encouragement found in girls’ ministries provide a foundation
for a healthy lifelong relationship with God and others.

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Works Cited
Cook, Amber Louise. “The Denied Calling: A Look at the Role of Women in the Southern
Baptist Church.” LOGOS: A Journal of Undergraduate Research 3 (Sept. 2010): 198-
205. Academic Complete. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. <http://proxygsu-sche.galileo.usg.edu/
login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=60845355&site=ehost-live>.
Csinos, David M. “Will Boys Be Boys and Girls Be Girls? Correcting Gender Stereotypes
Through Ministry with Children.” Priscilla Papers Spring 2010: 23-28. Academic Search
Complete... Web. 17 Oct. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=4d1f6d9d-
b260-4de3-b883-
52acd4ab0da8%40sessionmgr114&vid=3&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2
ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=50299106>.
Davis, Jimmie L. Girls’ Ministry Handbook. Nashville: LifeWay, 1999. Print.
Johns, Loretta, and Janice Watson. “Leadership Development of Women Preparing for
Ministry.” Journal of Research on Christian Education 15.2 (2006): 111-142. Academic
Complete. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://proxygsu-sche.galileo.usg.edu/
login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=24170869&site=ehost-live>.
Johnson, Kate A. “A Bridge to Meaning and Ministry.” Mutuality 17.3 (2010): 4-6. Academic
Complete. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://proxygsu-sche.galileo.usg.edu/
login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=55639618&site=ehost-live>.

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Kageler, Len. “A CROSS NATIONAL ANALYSIS OF CHURCH BASED YOUTH
MINISTRIES.” Journal of Youth Ministry 8.2 (2010): 49-68. Academic Complete. Web.
13 Oct. 2011. <http://proxygsu-sche.galileo.usg.edu/
login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=51910893&site=ehost-live>.
Lind, Christopher. “What Makes Good Ministry Good? Women in Ministry.” Theology &
Sexuality: The Journal of the Institute for the Study of Christianity & Sexuality 11.3
(2005): 65-88. Academic Complete. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://proxygsu-
sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=17466656&site=ehost-live>.
“Sex & Gender.” Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity 20.9 (2009): 44. Academic
Complete. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://proxygsu-sche.galileo.usg.edu/
login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=27714055&site=ehost-live>.