Welcome!
We are so glad you’re here.
We can’t wait to tell you more about teaching the Truth of the Bible to teen girls and women!
My name is Rebecca McCready and I am the founder of Evergreen Cypress. Its purpose is simply this: to bring teen girls and women closer to knowing God by being at home with the Bible.
When I found the beauty of the Word of God as a teen, I couldn’t get enough of it. It gave me life in a way that nothing else did. And it still does today.
As teen girls, we hungrily searched for identity. And the years into womanhood are really no different, but rather on a different scale, as we try to find our purpose.
Which is why three years ago, we started LIGHT group at our home congregation. Below is our story. We have seen such a difference in our teen girls and are so excited to share it with you!
The harvest is plentiful. This generation— and all generations— of women are seeking God.
Our prayer is that together, we can be ambassadors for God in a way that shows teen girls and women the beauty of his Truth so they can know him and keep their lamps burning for him.
Hello!
From elders and elders’ wives at West Side Church of Christ
Calling Christ-seeking women who would consider being...
Encouragers
We can never underestimate the importance of godly encouragement. No matter your personality (introvert or extrovert!), you can be a much-needed support for teen girls and women alike. Being an encourager in Christ means to uplift others (like Barnabas did) and not ourselves so they can be closer to God and know the beautiful life that comes from being with him.
Teachers
Whether you’re an experienced teacher or you have the heart for it but have never taught, you could be who the teen girls in your congregation need. It’s not about being a great orator (Moses wasn’t); it’s first about loving to truly study God’s Word and then wanting to just share it with seeking hearts— younger or older.
Hostesses
We all know women with the gift of hospitality— and that may be you! There is something about being invited to someone’s home that touches us in a way that few things do, but it’s the intention of the invitation that makes the difference. If we are welcomed with God’s love (like Lydia did), the place becomes a haven. It’s not a social event—it’s a reflection of the home we find in God.
Our “team"
Teacher, encouragers, and hostesses!
So what is LIGHT group?
“Older” Christian women inviting teen girls into their home for dinner and to study God’s Word together through the LIGHT journals — to encourage rooted faith in God and to build godly intergenerational relationships in the church.
LIGHT group:
How it works
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Our story
LIGHT group started three years ago when we decided to reach out to the young teens girls at West Side. We didn’t know most of them, but we invited them into our homes and started to talk about the Truth with them in love. Over time, they have become “our” girls— family— and we continue with what God is making possible!
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The journals.
The way we study the Bible is through LIGHT journals, which we created. Each journal is a study through a different book of the Bible and each girl receives a new journal every fall and spring. They are responsible for completing it at home before we meet and it is what we use to discuss the Word of God— and from it, we have wonderful conversations!
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The meal.
This is the way we start LIGHT group. Together, we eat the meal the hostess(es) prepared and just talk about anything the girls have on their minds. It’s a time of catching up and being involved in what’s going on in each others’ lives in a laid-back and comfortable environment.
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The study.
After the meal, we start getting out our Bibles and journals and we go over the chapter the girls have studied at home. Each girl takes a turn reading a section and then we all discuss it. Sometimes the girls have questions of certain parts they don’t understand and other times they make beautiful discoveries of the Truth themselves!
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The safe place.
This was what we have found over time to be one of the most crucial parts of LIGHT group. After we established a routine to continually meet in one hostess’s home and we consistently showed up for these girls time after time, the girls felt at home. They felt free to ask questions and talk about their lives to people they knew would speak the truth in love.
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The relationships.
And so, we have been able to grow closer to the girls— not only as a group, but gradually on an individual basis— no matter the season or difficulties of their lives. Because while relationships in the family of God are important, the ultimate goal will always be to help them with the most important one— their forever relationship with God.
This is why we do what we do.
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“Do you understand what you are reading?”
An Ethiopian court official (a Gentile!) was traveling back from Jerusalem, where he had gone to worship God. And on his way home, he was reading from Isaiah.
His heart was seeking! Just like many hearts today…
And Philip asked him if he understood. The man’s answer?
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“How can I, unless someone guides me?”
It’s heartbreaking.
Imagine if Philip hadn’t come. Imagine if the end of the story was that there was no one around to guide him— or, worse, that there were people who knew the Truth but no one who was willing to share it.
But that’s not the end of the story. Because God was taking care of the court official’s seeking heart, just like he is there for the hearts seeking Him today. He is reaching them through his people (like Philip).
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The question for us is... are we ready?
Philip was ready.
When God told him to go down the road that went from Jerusalem to Gaza, Philip didn't question it. He rose and went. And when God told him to go join the chariot, Philip didn't hesitate. He ran.
It doesn’t take much. God just needs his people to follow through with what he has asked of us. And when we do, we inevitably stand amazed at what he does!
We just need to be ready— ready for God and ready to help others that he puts in our path.
We want to share this with you.
We wish we could give you everything we have made, learned, and are still discovering for free. But, like most things, it has taken much time, effort, and money to try to share this on a larger scale.
This is our mission field. We pray it will be yours, too.
Our prayer is now not only for our girls, but for all teen girls seeking Christ: that the Bride of Christ, we the church, will reach out to them in the most formative time of their lives to guide them to know the Truth and to be clothed with Christ.
They are seeking.
I wish I could remember all of the questions and conversations we have had with our teen girls these past few years to share some with you. Some are deeper than others, but the fact remains: they are seeking. The sad thing is the devil is good at telling them (and us) that what we are seeking isn’t God, but the world. Will we let them struggle or will we share the Truth in love as Christ would?
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.”
Luke 12:35
What our girls have to say about LIGHT group.
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It's a great way to connect with others girls with the same beliefs. We can just talk for hours. The journals have taught me so much.
- Madison
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LIGHT group is a special place that I can talk and have fun with a special group of girls. I enjoy being able to have a place to come to and unwind and just have a really good time.
- Kiley
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LIGHT group is something that has become important to me over the years we've been doing it. I enjoy the friendships that have developed.
- Cylanne
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It means I get to be in an environment where other women get to study the Bible with me and we can grow together.
- Ariel
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It means a safe environment that I can discuss the Bible in.
- Sarah
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LIGHT group means time with the youth group girls spent bonding and laughing.
- Zoey
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It's a safe place for me.
- Lily
What the parents have to say about LIGHT group.
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The meetings are great!
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I love having my girls with other girls in the youth group.
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I love [LIGHT group]! From a mom's perspective I am so thankful for this study and the encouragement they have to get into the word and study.
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It's very meaningful for [girl] and she always looks forward to participating each time the group meets. She always tried to be prepared and have her journal filled out timely. It's very helpful for the girls to get together to encourage each other and discuss real life issues that affect them every day and how their faith in God can help them overcome these difficulties.
What other elders and elders’ wives have to say about LIGHT group:
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The Light group has been a blessing to the Westside church. As a result of much time and effort poured into these young ladies, many of them participated in a ladies retreat speaking in front of groups of women. It has been an encouragement to watch these young ladies grow in their faith. This is a wonderful way to mentor young women in the church.
C. Moore
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I have been encouraged to see how this is affecting the lives of our young women at West Side.
S. Moore
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I hear many excellent comments about the work that [those with LIGHT group] have done to "build up" the young ladies and to help them understand their value in God's Kingdom.
M. Walton