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Missionettes: The power of a discipleship and mentoring program; Changing the world, one girl at a time.

If you're a woman or plan to be one, you'll know what I mean. 'Lose 10 lbs. overnight', 'How to win the guy of your dreams', 'Beauty tips to make you look like a star'. The world's focus is the outward appearance and we are all guilty at some level of subscribing to it. Boys suffer as a consequence too, but the largest casualty is our girls. Compulsive disorders (Anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating top that list), and depression, which are all directly tied into issues with self esteem, are at an all time high. Bullying with it's newer outlets in IM and text messaging, has also reached peak levels among girls. Online social networks such as myspace create environments where it's easy to hide behind an online persona. Girls and young women seek to reach popular online friend status and what is their hook? Sexual talk, bragging about partying adventures, and erotic photographs of themselves.

Enter in Missionettes, a nationwide program with a 51 year history in reaching, teaching, uplifting, and guiding girls into womanhood. Missionettes Girls' Clubs share some similarities to Girl Scouts, specifically their dedication to working with all girls in a nurturing, supportive, fun, active learning based, mentoring environment. Where they split off is that the foundation of Missionettes is the Bible in it's entirety. The focus of Missionettes is on teaching practical applications of the principles laid out in the Old Testament, and taught by Jesus in the New Testament. The Missionettes Code is an important biblical principle that is key in turning girls from the mentality of the world that wrecks havoc with their self esteem.

The mentoring relationship is based on the Titus 2 principle of how the more mature women are to mentor the younger women. Group leaders are called sponsors. Sponsors are carefully screened and selected to ensure that their lives reflect a close walk with God as they live out biblical principles in their daily activities and interactions. Sponsors are also required to take a class and test on the overview of Missionettes so that they have the understanding of what this program is, and how it is used as a tool to reach and teach.

Changing the world, one girl at a time. In partnership with these sponsors, Missionettes develop qualities that will serve them their entire lives: strong values, leadership skills, development of gifts and talents, a strong sense of who they are, and the firm knowledge that they are a vessel of enormous potential. What is poured in eventually overflows out as each girl steps out into the world in service, with love, shining the light for all to see.