Standing up for what you believe may be hard as a junior high student. But Faithgirz, a Mahomet based group of incoming sixth grade students, started to learn about building a solid foundation of faith and friends last year.
Christine Henrichs wanted her daughter, Annie, to talk about social and spiritual issues with as she went into junior high. So last summer, by word of mouth, six girls came together to meet at her home throughout the summer and school year to read chapters and activities based from the Faithgirlz series.
“The series is faith based,” Henrichs said, “But none of them go to the same church, and it’s not specifically denominational, but it is all based on how God would want you to treat others, and what the bible says about being kind to one another.”
Henrichs sets the girls up with a chapter and questions, then allows them to facilitate the meeting on their own. The series prompts girls to discuss image issues, friendship and conflict resolution.
“I’ve seen them figure out it’s ok to stand up for what you believe,” she said. “If a kid is being bullied, it’s okay to step out and say this isn’t right. They are starting to see there are other people who will support me if I do that.”
Faithgirlz are also learning how to support each other through community outreach. This is the first summer many of these girls will not be able to attend vacation bible school because they are too old.
“It’s neat to watch them figure out who is good at what roles,” Henrichs said. “They find their niches this way, then figure out how to help each other through that.”
Instead, they have decided to share their faith with younger children through hosting a vacation bible school at Henrich’s home on July 8. With the help of three incoming sixth grade boys, the group will teach K-4 grade students why God is “King of the Jungle.”
Participants will be placed in groups to learn about how God loves his people, protects them and helps them through stories, lion cupcakes, mask making and songs.
The vacation bible school has been built from the ground up with the group developing a theme, advertising and content.
“We want this to be an outreach for anyone who wants to come,” she said. “We don’t want to be exclusive or about a certain church or anything.”
Henrichs said as the group continues to meet, she hopes they continue to do community outreach or set goals like running a 5K together. After finishing the first book of the Faithgirlz series, they have moved onto another book that focuses of body image, family and friends.
Although Henrichs believes children build kindness and understanding through personal experiences, she hopes the Faithgirlz learn that faith is the rock for everything they do.
“I think the earlier you learn confidence, character and security, the more likely they are to be successful at them when things become difficult later in life,” she said. ““They can show people their faith is love, kindness and understanding. They can show what their faith is by who they are.”
To register for “King of the Jungle” contact Christine Henrichs at cehenrichs@hotmail.com.
