BROOKLINE – Abby Dennis, a member at First Baptist Church here and a student at Republic High School, used her senior project to draw other girl’s from her school to a closer relationship with Christ—proving that no Christian is too young to make disciples.
For her senior project, Dennis organized a girl’s conference at FBC Brookline, with the theme “Be-YOU-tiful.” She invited girls from 6th grade up to be a part of the conference, which included a sleepover and speakers who urged the girls to find their purpose and identity in Christ. The event drew 14 girls and may be repeated next year. Dennis’ parents cooked for the girls throughout the conference. And Dennis also spoke, encouraging the girls to realize that God loves them.
“God didn’t make junk,” she said. “You are beautiful the way you are.”
Throughout the conference, she called the girls to remember 1 Peter 3:3-4, the inspiration for the conference’s theme: “Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes; instead, it should consist of the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes.”
According to Dennis, many teenage girls struggle with feelings of inadequacy about their image. She wanted her friends to realize that they can be confident with Christ in their lives. Her message for them: “Be comfortable in your own skin, just being who God created you to be.”
When Dennis first began to plan the conference, she wasn’t sure how her pastor and church would feel about hosting it, since she was such a young person. She was shocked and pleased, however, to find her church’s full support. It was a reminder to her that young people also can follow Christ’s call by making disciples.
“It doesn’t matter about your age,” she said, “as long as you’re doing it for Christ.”
Dan Swadley, a retired teacher and pastor of FBC Brookline, said he and the church were proud of Dennis’ efforts to make a difference for Christ among her peers.
“It was a wonderful event,” Swadley said, “and it actually will be a double blessing, because she’ll take everything she did and do a presentation at school about it.
“I was just as proud as I could be of her as I could be.”