A week ago I took a flight from Houston to Nashville along with my friends Kelsey and Megan, both juniors in high school, to the LifeWay Girls Conference. Here are a few reasons I was excited for the trip:
1) It was my first visit to Nashville ever. Not sure why it took me so long to get there but after hearing so much about it, I loved it.
2) I got to spend the weekend with some super fun high school girls.
3) My job at LPM is two-fold. Although I do media, my other focus, and for sure more important, is young girls. I’ve been learning all things media lately, so the other half has taken a back seat. To be neck deep in girls ministry all weekend was not only good for my heart, but has my mind spinning in all things girls ministry. Which is a very good thing.
LPM and LifeWay have a good relationship already so to hear from their staff and other girl’s ministers was a total bonus. Why re-invent the wheel when we’re all reaching for the same goal?
LifeWay has hosted this conference for three years now and I am so thankful to LPM for sending me. By the way, LifeWay was a wonderful host. Each and every staff member and the way they loved on the guests was so inviting and loving. It came at just the perfect time as I’m praying through and seeking what young girls ministry looks like at LPM. Young girls are a different in respect to the issues they deal with, but we all need the same Jesus.
Girls, just like women, need authentic relationships, vulnerability, honesty and some good, solid Bible teaching. They can smell a fake a mile away. But at the same time, they’re so self-aware it’s hard to sometimes crack the shell, but certainly not impossible.
My favorite aspect about the conference was the breakout sessions. They had separate sessions you were able to choose from for the leaders and the girls. I attended one called “The Secret Addiction”, which dealt with the issues on girls and pornography, which is another post for another day, but it was very powerful. Another one that really spoke to me was about pressing in and pressing on in ministry, which was all about taking care of yourself and your relationships in ministry. Can you say relevant? How often do people in ministry pour themselves out to the point of exhaustion or worse, burn-out, but never attend to their own soul? I walked away very encouraged, built up and much wiser.
Not only did I benefit from the conference, but the girls did as well. I know for a fact they enjoyed the different breakouts they got to choose from.
I’m not saying I have answers, but I have ideas. I’m asking the Lord to press in and reveal what the next step is. Where do we start? I’m so ready. Have I mentioned before that I dearly love me some young girls? Oh, I do.
The conference ended Saturday evening, so before taking off Sunday morning, we had Saturday night to explore Nashville’s hot spots. After eating some authentic Tennessee BBQ, my friend Heather who lives in Nashville chauffeured us to visit the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. It was beautiful and we loved getting to walk around, explore and eat gelato.
It was an excellent weekend. It you’re a girl’s minister, high school girl, or have a high school girl, I’d say it’s worth sending her next year. Let’s get these girls immersed in some Bible study and life-giving, life-saving truths.
One thing I know is true; this generation of girls certainly has my heart and my attention.
Morning worship with Jamie Jamgochian.
My sweet friends Megan and Kelsey. This was Friday night at the main session!
Saturday afternoon during break-time with the girls. I think we were ready to take a nap at this point.
A little Tennessee BBQ. SO good, y’all.
You know you’re spent when you look in your backseat after a long weekend and see this in your backseat driving home from the airport. I love it!
Thank you to both LPM and LifeWay for investing in our weekend. I am so grateful.
Lindsee…Having a heart for teenagers myself…I was giddy to see that you were able to go!! Thank you LPM for investing in the younger girls too! And who doesn’t love Nashvegas?? 😉
So very proud of you, friend!
((hugs))
Fran
Lindsee,
First of all, I have to say… I LOVE young girls too! Know that ever since I heard that you were going to be on staff with LPM with a focus on some girls ministry, I have been praying for you because I’m am SO excited! I actually saw your post on facebook about being at this conference over the weekend while I was hanging out with some girls friends and talking about how my heart is being pulled toward girls ministry and my first thought was “I hope she blogs about this!”
I can’t wait to see what comes out of you and LPM in the way of girls ministry. Personally, I felt that when I was in middle school and high school and even college, everything that was geared specifically toward girls was only about purity and self-image and being beautiful in God’s eyes. While these are all GREAT things to talk about, I always wanted more. Through many of those years I was yearning to learn how to take ownership of my faith, read the Bible for myself, and really grow in all areas of my faith and I just didn’t really know how. I’m only a little over a year out of college and I’m still learning all of those things and I know that I will be for the rest of my life but I was always one of those girls, in high school especially, that wished I had a girls Bible study that went more in depth.
I don’t know exactly what your vision is for girl’s ministry via LPM is but I am praying for God’s blessing over you as you start to work out what it will look like and I can’t wait to see what happens.
Sorry for the lengthy post but I just got excited all over again when I read this post and I couldn’t help myself!
Many Blessings,
Emma
Emma, thank you so much for your sweet comment, but more importantly, your prayers. Girls, I receive them! And need them! And sister, I can see that you already have a heart for girls. I’d say go for it! They need young women like you pouring into them. Blessings!
Lindsee,
SO COOL! Thank you for sharing. I had no idea that this existed. I’m a mom of a high school girl. I know that pornography is a REAL issue and is the “Secret Addiction.” I’m hoping you are going to share more about what you learned later. Nashville is a FUN place. So glad you got to enjoy it.
“Girls, just like women, need authentic relationships, vulnerability, honesty and some good, solid Bible teaching.” Amen and Amen. I completely agree. Thanks so much for sharing with us Lindsee.
“Girls, just like women, need authentic relationships, vulnerability, honesty and some good, solid Bible teaching.” I completely agree, Lindsee, thanks so much for sharing with us.
Jamie was just at our church, Portland Christian Center, in Portland, Oregon! I missed her beautiful talents because I was at my grandfather’s funeral in Maryland. So glad to see her continuing to use her giftings!
Please do a post on girls and pornography. I am raising four beautiful young women and need to know what is going on out there!
Hey Lindsee!
I am a mother to 3 boys (ages 6 and under) and one girl, a 3 year old. She is precious to me but I am clueless as to what to do w/ her at times. I feel like I am reliving my childhood and have to be aware that that is not true and she is her own person. I am thanking the Lord for people like you and others who have a passion to invest in the lives of young women. Even though my daughter is only 3 she needs that prayer and love now and by the time she’s having her babies perhaps these young women you are mentoring will be mentoring and encouraging her . Thanks so much!
Beth, just wanted to let you know that I finished memorizing the book of James and I can’t wait to “recite” it for someone, actually anyone who would be willing to listen! I felt challenged because my sister in Virginia is doing the study at the same and she said she was going to do it, so I took her up on it. I have carried the book with me everywhere and I say it in the car, on my patio, at work (to myself) and just about anytime I can fit it in. It feels like a great accomplishment – I was convicted by the whole book, but especially his teaching on the tongue! Ever since I’ve started this study, the Lord has convicted me on the power of the tongue. I have never been so overwhelmed by temptations in my life! It seems like everday at work this lesson is hitting me in the mouth (yuk, yuk). Seriously, I am really trying to guard my words now and have seen firsthand the crippling effect that gossip and backstabbing can have on the whole atmosphere. God is doing a a number on me and I’m grateful, but humbled so much and have had to pray so hard to submit my conversation to His heeding. God bless you for this study, Beth. I have done almost every one of your studies and this one has done the most to actually change my behavior, and as James says, to put my faith into action.
Whoooo Hoooo!!!!!
Lou Lou I could not be more excited about YOU! As a Momma of 4 girls, Thank you for following God’s call on your life. They need Jesus, yes they do…
Lord Jesus,
Bring Yourself great Honor and Glory through Lindsee’s life and ministry. Protect her from self-doubt and fear of the un-known. Give her healthy portions of Grace and Mercy and vision every single morning at LPM. And thank you Jesus for her life.
Amen.
As a mother of a little girl who will soon be 10, this post excites me! I thank God for her Sunday School teachers but it’s exciting to hear that LPM is looking into girls ministry. I will be praying blessings on you for this.
Lindsee, I too went to the LifeWay Girls Conference (last year) and had the SAME great experience! Since you are PRAYING about young girls, stronger biblical studies, authentic relationships, and PRESSING in on what the Lord in showing these girls…I would love for you to take a look at my website: http://www.thouartexalted.com. This ministry reaches to Tween and Middle School girls combining God’s word with an artistic bent. Art has a way of breaking down walls and exposing the real issues they are dealing with. My Bible Study called BRAVE is at Group Publishing right now going through concept survey testing. I am a total believer that these girls need Jesus too-right where they are in a POWERFUL way to be their source when battling the TOUGH issues of Middle School. Thanks for your blog Lindsee, and your HEART for young girls! Annie Pajcic 🙂
HI, Beth: I am helping with Confirmation for the youth in our church. One thing that concerns me is how little Bible knowledge these kids have. Your blog post today is so timely because I was just out walking my dog, wondering if the Lord is calling me to try to start some kind of youth Bible study. Beth, can you recommend any Bible study materials for youth? If you could possibly blog about that, or ask the Siestas for recommendations, it would be so helpful!
Can’t tell you what a HUGE difference your ministry is making in my life. Doing the Daniel study now with 2 dear friends. Thank you!
Becky
Sounds awesome, Linds! My husband and I have recently started working with the youth in our church & what a blessing it has been. I can’t wait to see what the Lord unveils to you for LPM’s girls ministry! Your heart and excitement is so encouraging! I hope you have an amazing day!
What a wonderful trip! I’m so glad you got to visit Nashville. It’s an amazing city. Maybe next time you can visit the Hermitage, home and burial place of President Andrew Jackson and his wife Rachel. The house and grounds are beautiful. Sadly, Rachel died two months before her husband took the oath of office. The couple had battled cruel accusations for years because Rachel married Jackson believing she was divorced from her first husband. That proved not to be the case and they later married again. History lesson over.
So wonderful to hear your passion for girls ministry! My husband is a youth pastor so I work a lot with teen girls and lead a bible study on youth nights. Sometimes it seems nearly impossible to get them to really open up and be authentic with each other…. But I love them to death and am thankful for the burden God’s put on my heart for them. Lindsee, may God richly bless you in your vision and mission for girls ministry at LPM. I will be praying for you! 🙂
A young girls age is such a crucial time in her walk, how glorious to walk with Jesus during those years that are the hardest I believe. I am so thankful to HIM that HE has given you a specific call in the arena.
May HE BLESS you with HIS POWER WISDOM and MIGHT. GOD BE PRAISED!!!!
LOVE IT!! How much of a blessing is THAT!! God bless your service and willingness to reach the next one for Christ. You are an inspiration to so many and words cannot express the love I have for you.
In our precious Lord;
Melinda
ps – I’m a friend of birds 🙂
Hi Lindsee…what a sweet blog post:) So glad you got to be at the conf. It was my first teen girl event with LIFEWAY and I thought they did a great job:) LOVE YOUR HEART for teens & will be praying for your LPM teen girl adventures!
If you ever need a worship leader or someone passionate about Modesty just let me know:)
**My sweet friend Nancy Mattingly told me about this blog so I checked it out:)**
Blessings,
Jaime Jamgochian
Thanks for saying hi, Jamie! So fun to have that little connection with Nancy, which neither of us realized until after she read this post. How funny is that? Thank you for blessing us with your gifts this weekend. Blessings, Sister!
Lindsee – Is there anyway to get ya’ll to leave the livestream website without a password for 24 hours so that those of us who miss the livestream can watch it later? I am at work and cant be listening to anything but would love to hear later?
Hi Julie, we will leave it up for a few days, Sister! Be blessed.
Lindsee: It was great to see you at the conference! I had the opportunity to talk with you briefly Friday afternoon after the first break out session and it was a pleasure to meet you! I hope you had the opportunity to meet Becca Daniels who heads up Rave Ministries and also led the breakout session on pronography. I think LPM teaming up with Rave would be an awesome thing! I have worked in youth ministry for ten years now and our girls LOVE Rave Ministries. Their ministry has truly impacted our girls.
So glad you enjoyed Nashville. If you come back to the conference next year, you need to eat at San Antonio Taco Co. – it’s Nashville’s best Tex Mex! It is down the street from the Lifeway offices.
Can’t wait to see what LPM comes up with for our girls!!
I do not know how to “chat” on a stream- however, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to share your insights regarding affliction- that is certainly a theme in my life right now- you so often “hit” the exact spot I am trying to navigate with the Lord- I know that is true for all the siestas- Blessings to you and yours- Your honesty and authentic sharing is an inspiration-
I am really excited to hear what you all have planned. I have a 3.5 year old girl and I love thinking that some day she may be impacted by LPM like I have!
Thank you so much for your post, Lindsee. I also didn’t know that LPM has a girls’ ministry…so excited. My niece is 16 years old and I’m praying that the Holy Spirit brings her into a personal relationship with Jesus. I’ll add you and your ministry to my prayer list and can’t wait to hear about developments. May God richly bless you and all the wonderful ladies at LPM. My small group is doing the Esther study right now…so blessed!
Come to Portland, Oregon 🙂 We would LOVE to have a LPM conference in our area for Teen Girls!
Hey Lindsee!
I had the pleasure of meeting you on Friday evening at the SSMTC. So thankful for you and your heart for young women! What an asset to LPM and the desire to reach young ladies at this age. I have a heart for women also! Had a High School girls small group for 3 years (they graduated in May) and am now “coaching” ladies small group leaders. I am always blessed personally by what you share and pass information on to our small group leaders. What an awesome ministry you are a part of! Praying for you and the team as you continue to seek God’s direction in this area! Blessings!!!!!!!!!
Lindsee, I love this. Having an 11 year old daughter, I just love this. I pray He uses you mightily!!!
I am so excited about the outreach to teenage girls. I work in a Christian school and have search for good Bible studies and other resources for teenagers. In today’s world, our focus needs to be with these young people. They need encouraged and grounded in the Lord more than any other generation. Please keep us posted on the developments of this teenage girls’ ministry. Did I say that I am SO excited?
Lindsee, I was excited to log on and see this post. Just tonight I found out that I am going to be doing a girls Bible study with some girls very dear to my heart. I will be praying for you as you focus more on this aspect of ministry, and will be excited to hear updates of what God is speaking and doing! Also, I think you should write that post about girls and pornography sometime. It is my experience that it gets labeled a guys issue while there are lots of girls who feel alone in the struggle because no one is talking to and praying for them on this issue. You are such a wonderful woman of God and I am excited to see where God takes you and LPM in the realm of girls ministry.
Lindsee, You have no idea how excited I was to see this post. I have a 9 year-old young lady in 4th grade and just signed the permission slip for her to see the “Human Growth and Development” film in health class. I was immediately filled with dread, knowing that I was CERTAINLY going to have to talk to her about this in a Godly way soon. I was upset by the lack of moms I know with older girls who have gone through this. While praying over it, I really felt like God was telling me that I did have women in my life who had been through this – right on this board. I was hesitant and didn’t know how to present my request for advice and have been typing and re-typing the same e-mail over and over. Then your post about young girls. So, can any of you girl-moms out there help out?
Looks like so much fun and some good bible teaching, too 🙂 I will definitely be on the look-out for these types of evernts as my girls grow to be teenagers. My oldest is 11 at the moment and has been a part of a youth group for preteens called Tweeners. I’m hoping Real Life in Spokane has something similar.
Hello Lindsee, this sounds like an awesome experience especially to be able to bring the girls too. I’m interested in your upcoming post on the breakout sessions. It is a difficult subject for youth workers and a delicate one as it is somewhat unknown for girls to struggle with. I’m glad you learned from it and would love to hear your take. I’m a Life group leader for 11th grade girls, it is definitely a wild ride! Praying to make some great impact with you for the kingdom in this ministry.
Thank you for sharing, Lindsee. I’m glad you did. I prayed for you today as you grapple with God on what it will look like to bring His word to girls through LPM. As a mother of two girls (6 and 9), I look forward to the fruit of you labors with God.
Thank you so much for your prayers. I receive them, Sister, and am beyond grateful for them. It’s only Him that can do this thing. Oh, that He would equip me to do His work for His glory!
My dear Lindsee,
I am forever grateful to you for your influence in my life and the life of my precious Megan. Thank you for taking her with you to Nashville and investing in her life in countless ways. It was a weekend she will never forget and I am so looking forward to what God will show Megan through this experience. I love you my sister!
Lindsee, I am mentoring a 15 year old girl who just had a baby. Being in my 30s i am having trouble talking to or getting to a deeper level with her. thought doing a bible study together might be a good start and help with communication. What do you reccomend or did you see at the conference that might be helpful. thanks! blessings to you
Hi Julie! What a jewel you are to be mentoring this sweet girl. I am sure you are a tremendous blessing to her, whether she ever voices that or not. One thing that immediately came to mind was So Long, Insecurity. I can imagine being a teen mom, this could really minister to her, really, to all of us. That is just my first initial thought. Blessings to you, Sister!
PLEASE share more Lindsee. Just a few months ago we discovered my daughter had a “secret” relationship with a guy at school. We were crushed to see pictures she was sending of herself to him, sexual texts, & plans to meet up to act upon their conversations. She has accepted the Lord, been raised by God’s word (she use to teach her dolls “Sunday school” & pretend she was Beth Moore. She is 15 & never been on a date (due to us asking her to wait until she is older). She does not have a computer in her room, her cell phone does not have a camera…or texting. We thought we were doing things “right”. It turns out a friend showed her how to download something called “text now” on her ipod & this allowed her to engage in this. Her father & I are crushed (she is not looking for “daddy love”…her father is fabulous). She is in counseling, we have moved her schools (due to her unwillingness to “give up” this relationship) . I am both holding onto the Lord with all I have & feeling abandoned by Him. I have prayed for her since she has been little, I have done devotions & Bible studies with her. Taken her on Passport2Purity retreat when she was in middle school. Talked specifically about the sexting issue. All seemingly to no avail. I am heartbroken for her & me. I am weary & I fear she will continue in a destructive path. Extra prayers would be much appreciated.
I wondered how I can get info for next years conference? My daughter would love that1