VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/09/06)-The national leadership team of AB GIRLS announces its theme chosen for the 2007 National Gathering for Girls: "God's Limited Edition". Based on Psalm 139, the conference will help participants realize that God has created in each of us a matchless, exclusive edition of God's image. Through worship, small groups, Bible study, workshops, and ministry tracks, participants will explore just what it means to be "fearfully and wonderfully made".
A past president of the American Baptist Churches USA and special guest at the gathering, the Rev. Dr. Trinette McCray's current ministry is serving as the executive director of the Office of Vocation Development and adjunct faculty member in Religious Studies teaching Urban Ministry at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. McCray, with a heart for ministry with girls, will be an inspirational leader as she helps girls understand their true value in God's eyes. "I'm extremely excited that Rev. Dr. Trinette McCray will be with us! She is a remarkable woman who will have a powerful message to share with the girls," said Dawn Doerr, national coordinator of AB GIRLS.
The National Gathering for Girls will be held July 21-28, 2007, at the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin. It is for girls who have completed 6 th grade through 12 th grade and adult advisors.
"Attending Gathering changed my life," says Rebecca Whitaker, national convenor of AB GIRLS and a high school senior from Hillsboro, Iowa. "It helped me become more mature over the years and it, and the people there, helped me become a lot more outgoing." Virginia Holmstrom, executive director of AB Women's Ministries adds, "These young people come from diverse places and experiences to spend a week together building solid relationships with God and one another. This event changes lives."
The National Gathering for Girls includes a day of mission spent at the Milwaukee Christian Center. In the past, participants have worked with children in a day care program and with Hmong elders in a lunchtime program, cleaned kitchens and vans, weeded neighborhood gardens, sorted White Cross supplies, and a variety of other things. Participants will also have many opportunities to join with the participants of the National Women's Conference (sponsored by American Baptist Women's Ministries) for worship, workshops, and fun!
The conference fee is $485 per person which includes conference registration fee, housing, and meals; scholarships are available. Further information may be found on the American Baptist Women's Ministries' website at www.abwministries.org. Registration information will be available early in 2007; contact the national office of American Baptist Women's Ministries at 1-800-ABC-3USA, ext. 2288, or email info@abwministries.org to request further information.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/