Texas
Creating space for teen girls
The goal: “To create space for teen girls to connect with God in a culturally relevant, spiritually grounded and challenging way.”
Since 2012, this annual event has brought together hundreds of young women and adult sponsors at Dallas-Fort Worth-area Churches of Christ.
The North Davis Church of Christ in Arlington hosted the recent sixth Girl Gathering, drawing an attendance of 220.
“Girls Gathering has been special to me because it is a creative weekend with experiences and teachings that emphasize the truth that young women are created in the image of God, pursued by his love and prepared for great works,” said Crysty Kimberlin, youth minister for the Preston Road Church of Christ in Dallas.
Girls Gathering attendees pose for a photo. The North Davis Church of Christ in Arlington, Texas, hosted the 2017 event.
“This is a truth that each of us hopes to continually convey to our own students on a regular basis,” Kimberlin added. “However, not all churches have female youth ministers that are working full time to embed this gospel message in the identity of their young women.”
Kim Lowe, family minister for youth at the GracePlace Church of Christ in Duncanville, Texas, said Girls Gathering allows female ministers to use their gifts “on a broader scale through the convention and learn from one another as we do so.”
Meanwhile, the teens benefit from a spiritually transforming weekend that involves service and hearing from older Christian women on how they live out their faith, Lowe said.
Kimberlin, Lowe and Kera Hubbard, a former youth minister who leads a North Davis ministry serving area pregnant teens, have served on the Girls Gathering leadership team from the start.
Kim Lowe, Crysty Kimberlin and Kera Hubbard have served on the leadership team since 2012.
“It was an incredible blessing for all of us to be able to work together to impact so many lives at the conference each year,” Kera Hubbard said. “Lifelong friendships were made between students and adults as we all came together, in a uniquely feminine way, to honor, praise and worship God. It truly was our honor to be used by God to reach so many teen girls.”
Past conference hosts include the Richardson East Church of Christ (2012), the Preston Road church (2013 and 2016), the Altamesa Church of Christ in Fort Worth (2014) and the GracePlace church (2015).
