Christmas is next week, but HOW did we get here this fast?! As we all begin to slow down and look forward to the new year, this is such an important time to look back at what God has done and what He has taught you, changed in you, and brought you through.

This episode allows us to share with you the lessons we learned in 2024! So let's reflect on God's kindness and faithfulness together and remember that this is the same God heading into the New Year with us. 

You might notice how many of your girls who were once connected in youth ministry fall off the map after high school. They aren't connected into the local church, and they likely are not connected into women's ministry or discipleship. So what's the disconnect? Where did we go wrong? Or is the expectations on young women to "fit" the current dynamic of women's ministry off?

This is a must needed conversation in the local church, and we hope this will encourage you to take those first steps in shortening the gap between girls and women's ministry.

Anne Harrison is passionate about connecting women with the God Who loves their souls, with Scripture, and with other women who will encourage them to grow and flourish. She and her husband, Jim, have three sons and a beautiful daughter-in-law! Anne is a graduate of Texas A&M University, holds a Master in Ministry to Women from SEBTS and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary. She loves the local church and served as the Director of Women’s Ministries at First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas for over a decade. She currently serves on the Lifeway Women’s Event Team, simulcast team, and as a Lifeway trainer. Some of her favorite things include taking long naps on rainy days, short naps on sunny days, and enjoying a cold-brew coffee every day.  

Resource Highlight: You Lead 2025 Dates

Make sure to follow us @lifewaygirls!

We aren't sure about you, but making friends as an adult might be even harder than it was when we were teens! So what makes a good friend in a season where time is limited and burdens feel heavy? And would you say that you are that friend you're looking for?

Spoiler: We have TWO fun announcements at the end of this episode, so make sure to listen to the whole episode so you don't miss out!

Tara Sun joined us for this conversation, and we couldn't love her more! She's an author, blogger, podcaster (Truth Talks with Tara), wife and mom. If you haven't followed her on Instagram yet, you should do that now @misstarasun! You can also check her out at tarasunministries.com. 

What's your title?

Minister. Director. Associate. Assistant. Admin. Super Woman/Ministry Queen?!

Titles can be a tricky or sensitive topic to discuss. There's a tension of wanting to be validated in a position without sounding discontent or entitled. When we know the title that actually matters, the desires or conversations around titles can become Christ-honoring and fruitful. 

Make sure to follow us @lifewaygirls! If you have any questions or feedback, email us at [email protected]

Whether you're already a mom or feel like this isn't a question you'll be asking for awhile, we hope you'll be encouraged hearing how we've wrestled with this question, navigated our calling when we each found out we'd become a mom, and continue to look to God to be our strength and wisdom in each season He leads us in.

Also, since we recorded this episode, Corinne had her BABY! Wish her congratulations over on Instagram @corinneolundallen! 

Want to provide feedback for the podcast and enter a Lifeway Girls giveaway? Just email [email protected] and we'll send you the link to our HGHG survey! This is available until December 1, 2024.

If someone hasn't told you this yet, you're going to make a mistake in ministry. Whether it's your students, your boss, parents, or someone else, you'll inevitably disappoint a person and let them down. Even if it's not your intention, you can't be super woman all the time!

So how do we redeem the mistakes we make? How do walk in reconciliation and forgiveness rather than shame and defeat? Glad you asked! Aunt P is back to have this conversation with us and it is SO good.

Resource Highlight: Check out lifeway.com/ashamed for a Bible study for women and teen girls.

Make sure to follow us @lifewaygirls on Instagram.

Kristi McLelland is BACK as we celebrate the release of her new teen girls Bible study, Luke in the Land! We spend time reflecting on being in Israel recording this study September of 2023, and Kristi shares how and why being in the land changed the way she reads Scripture. It's tempting to view historical and biblical context as unnecessary or simply head knowledge, but Kristi challenges us to consider how the living God transforms our hearts through the context of what we read.

To find out more about Luke in the Land for women and teen girls, visit lifeway.com/lukeintheland. 

If you haven't already, check out @kristimclelland and @lifewaygirls on Instagram. 

It's always SO sad to end a season of His Glory, Her Good. But we are thrilled to have our last episode be with author and former Lifeway Girls specialist, Mary Margaret West, as we celebrate her new Bible study for teen girls called, Made Worthy!

In this conversation, we talk more than just about her new study! We get honest about how easy it is to tell girls to find their worth in Christ while struggling to believe the truth for ourselves. So what does make us worthy? I'm sure you know the answer, but we hope you walk away from this episode living in light of its truth.

Make sure to order your girls Made Worthy! 
 

Mary Margaret West is passionate about equipping women and girls to dive deeply into God’s Word and live out their calling. Mary Margaret has been serving as a leader in women’s and girls’ ministry for the last eighteen years and is the author of Show Her the Way: Your Guide to Discipling Teen Girls. She is a contributor to the Lifeway Women and Lifeway Girls blogs and the Lifeway Women’s Bible, and she is author of the Lifeway Student devotionals Agape, Cherished, and Called to This.  

Make sure to follow us over on @lifewaygirls on Instagram. Let's be friends!

As a leader in ministry, you likely work under a good amount of stress and pressure. And not only are you owning the tasks at hand, but you are carrying a spiritual and emotional weight that is unique to your job. So how do you manage your own anxiety when having to deal with people? How does your reactivity reveal what's going on deep inside of you? What's the difference between caring for something and carrying something that isn't ours to carry?

There are so many practical tools that you will walk away with after listening to this conversation! One tool that Lisa gave was asking three questions:

1. What is mine to carry?
2. What is someone else's to carry?
3. What is God's to carry? 

For questions or feedback, reach out to us at [email protected].

Lisa Cuss is a Licensed Professional Counselor and runs her own private practice as well as works with coaching and vision alongside her husband within Capable Life.  Lisa is trauma informed and is most passionate about helping people journey through deep pain and find connection with God amidst wounded experiences and unhealthy beliefs.   Most of her work is done individually through regular sessions as well Soul Care Intensives.  At the top of Lisa’s Life Giving list is time talking and laughing with her husband, Steve, their 2 adult sons, and their teen daughter.  She also delights in sharing time with with dear friends on a walk with mountain views, or over a cup of coffee and a warm chocolate chip cookie.  

In this two-episode special, we want to give you a glimpse into a volunteer's perspective of leading high school and middle school girls! We ask questions like "why middle school girls?" "What's your favorite part of volunteering?" "What's the most challenging part?" "What have you learned so far?"

Whether you are a volunteer, just thinking about volunteering, or you're leading a group of middle school volunteers, there is no doubt that you will walk away more passionate about reaching 6th-8th grade girls. Let's learn from our volunteers, lean into what God is asking of us, and walk faithfully in obedience. It is worth it!

If you're thinking about leading teen girls and want a book to help you as you begin, check out This Is Girls Ministry.

Feel free to email us with any questions at [email protected].