Suzanne Hadley - Faithgirlz Handbook, Updated and Expanded. How to Let Your Faith Shine Through

FAITHGIRLZ!
handbook

How To Let Your
Faith Shine Through!

by Suzanne Hadley

G rowing up isnt easy. With so much to learn and discover, sometimes deciding who you are can be the biggest challenge of all for a young woman. The entertaining and inspiring Faithgirlz stories have guided girls like you to better understand Gods love and promises as they discover the beauty of believing.

Faithgirlz books, Bibles and other products show girls that they are children of God and that he has a perfect plan for their lives when they walk with him. By encouraging girls to be who God created them to be, resist putting others down, talk to Jesus about everything and be loyal to friends, Faithgirlz strengthens girls to overcome challenges with Gods help.

Now you can set out on the great adventure of walking with Jesus by joining a Faithgirlz Club. Starting a club is a great way to get closer to God and others through fun activities, thought-provoking discussions about truth and exciting service projects.

T his handbook contains everything you need to establish and lead a dynamic Faithgirlz Club. Each member should have her own handbook. Discussion questions may be used as group talking points or as journal prompts. Each week will begin with a Bible passage girls should read before the meeting. They may also be asked to bring an item to club for a group activity.

To get the word out, advertise at your church, or send out invitations or emails one month before club begins. The week before you start, personally call each potential member to remind her about club and let her know what she needs to bring. Your Faithgirlz Club meetings may be held in a church, in a home, or any community room with a welcoming atmosphere. To create a friendly environment, decorate the club area with festive objects from a party store. As the club continues, you may want to set aside an area to display girls art projects.

Youll need:

Bible

Faithgirlz! Handbooks (one for each member)

craft and cooking supplies

decorations (optional)

nametags (if you dont already know each other)

healthy snacks

poster of Faithgirlz verse

poster of Faithgirlz promise

Each meeting will begin with a prayer; the leader may pray or ask a girl to pray if shes comfortable. Members will then recite the Faithgirlz verse and promise. An icebreaker activity will follow. Girls may want to recite and/or review previous weeks memory verse (incentives may be offered for memorizing all verses). The leader will then give an overview of that weeks Bible lesson and follow with a discussion. (Note: Discussion questions may also be used as journaling prompts.) Girls will memorize weeks verse. Following Bible time, girls will complete a craft or recipe. At the end of club, girls will be challenged to think about how they can serve others in the upcoming week. End the meeting by providing a snack and allowing members to socialize for a few minutes. Meetings will run for approximately 60 minutes.

If possible, distribute handbooks to girls prior to meeting. If not, books may be passed out at the first get together. Call all potential members the day the club begins to remind them of the meeting time and place and ask each girl to bring along one object that will tell others something about her. (For example, Josie might bring a soccer ball because she plays soccer.) Write the Faithgirlz verse and promise on pieces of poster board. You will want to display these in your club area. Prepare craft supplies. You may find it convenient to put supplies needed for each individual project into plastic zip bags one for each girl.

Prepare the club area by arranging seating for girls and putting up decorations. Try to create a welcoming, festive atmosphere for your first meeting. Have some upbeat worship music playing when girls arrive, and give each girl a nametag.

During the first meeting, recite and explain Faithgirlz verse and promise. Discuss club goals and go over specifics of meeting times and places, the responsibilities of members, and other club details such as who will provide snacks, craft, and recipe materials.