BRANSON— The heart of Titus 2 was on display here Feb. 26-27 during the first Tween Girl Event and Women’s Conferences sponsored by the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC).
The conference drew 350 women and girls to the Branson Landing Convention Center and Hilton Hotel so older women could teach younger women. The “tween” girls (those who are bound for the teen-age years) were a particular focus of this statewide event, which was new in its scope and purpose.
Titus indicates that this happens when the younger women and girls are taught to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good and obedient to their own husbands, so that the Word of God be not blasphemed (Titus 2:4-5).
“I love what we’re seeing happening here—so many dynamics that are going on right now,” said MBC Women’s Ministry Consultant Wanda Shellenbarger. “God is bringing so many different ages.”
The tweens were placed in several classes—ages 7-8, 9, 10, and 11-12. They had fun in various acivities and learned the Bible in large group sessions. Some of the older girls were mature enough to be placed into the adult women’s groups.
“That’s the way it should be,” Shellenbarger said. “We’re teaching them. Different generations are together learning what God has for them on their own level.”
On Sunday there was a celebration of what the group had learned and what they had experienced. The Gospel was then presented to give girls an opportunity to receive salvation, and a few came forward for counseling.
The event was sponsored by the Women’s Ministry Division of the MBC. Teachers and facilitators for the small groups were volunteers from Missouri Baptist churches. Praise and worship was led by the mother-daughter team of Janet and Mabree Mason of First Baptist Church, Arnold.
The group gathered for a big circle of prayer at the end of the conference.
“Father I just pray that You would change us … just allow Your Holy Spirit to continue to minister to us,” Shellenbarger prayed.
A Wise Girls event for teen girls and women Aug. 5-6 at Tan-Tar-A will be an upcoming opportunity.
ALLEN PALMERI / associate editor