Hawkinsville Missionary Baptist Church helps young ladies ages 10-17 become strong women through monthly Girls to Women Ministry seminars.
"We want to help the girls tap in to their strengths and talents they have been blessed with," said coordinator Meka Hampton. "This program is not only for Hawkinsville young ladies, we invite the community to attend as well. We are here to give our young ladies support, encouragement and love through the program."
Following the normal schedule of the last Wednesday of every month, the next session will be held Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.
"You learn a lot of different things," said youth GTW attendee Raven Jenkins. "You can share your problems that you have."
GTW mentor advisor Christy McGhee said the girls are excited to have a program just for them with no boys. She said the girls open up to speak about life, school, relationships and God. Fellow mentor advisor Granda White called it "a girl's night out."
"We get a lot of advice that's relative to our lives that we can apply to everyday situations," said attendee Regan Jenkins.
Hampton said the Girls to Women mission aims to provide growth experiences to enable young ladies to become independent, self-sufficient and confident.
She said program goals include increasing self-worth, improving perspectives toward education and social issues and providing encouragement and support through mentors and leadership.
In the last session Aug. 17, nine girls and nine women mentors met together in the church sanctuary to discuss "Ways to Be Healthy."
"We discussed with the young ladies the importance of a good diet, exercise and getting plenty of rest," said Hampton. "The young ladies were very interested in being healthy and practicing ways to maintain their health."
She said the Girls to Women scripture verse Mark 9:23 reads: "Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." She said girls bring their Bibles to each session.
Summer topics were "True Beauty Lies Within" and "Positive and Negative Peer Pressure." The girls and mentors eat dinner, play Bible trivia and discuss topics.