The Teacher membership

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 four years ago, we started Radiant class and 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.

Dear Christian women,

This Teacher membership is our support for you. If you would like to mentor/teach teen (or preteen girls) in the beauty of God’s Word but not sure where to start, we are honored to share what we have learned (and are still learning) with you.

Whether it’s through monthly Q&A lives, resources that are found in the LIGHT membership, or (available over time) notes and discussions questions, we want to do everything possible to help you nurture these girls in the most important thing— to truly know God and live for him.

So let’s be those that are sent into the harvest (Luke 10:2) and keep all lamps burning for God (Luke 12:35) as together we plant and water— and let God give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Calling Christ-seeking women who would consider being...

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.

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.

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, & hostesses!

What is included the Teacher membership?

  • Videos going through each spread in most released journals

  • Teacher notes available for each spread in most released journals

  • Calendar/schedule options, designed for each journal

  • Phone wallpaper verses matching the journal to share

  • Monthly live Q&A and/or weekly Q&A posts, specifically for those mentoring and teaching teen and preteen girls

  • Your continual encouragement as you teach these girls!

How can I use this?

  • Teen girls’ small group/class

  • College girls’ small group

  • Women’s classes

  • Homeschooling

  • Mother-daughter Bible time

  • Many more!

What is LIGHT group?

LIGHT group:

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.

How it works

  • 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!
    (Scroll or click arrows below to learn more)

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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.

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.”

Luke 12:35

How we got started - Radiant for preteen girls

Before LIGHT groups, we started building relationships and rapport with our girls while establishing a foundation before they were teens. This is Radiant.

Every Sunday (during the schoolyear), 4th-6th grade girls are invited to a class where they receive a shorter and simpler version of a LIGHT journal called the Radiant journal. The girls learn how to complete the page(s) for the week at home (which starts instilling the importance of personal Bible study) and we then go over the material in class together (which helps them learn how to discuss and share in the Bible as it applies to our lives).

Though the depth of study is less, it gives the girls a chance to develop good habits, create trusting relationships with us and each other, and prepares them for deeper Bible study when they move to LIGHT group (which they look forward to!).

As a side note, those who help with Radiant are different ladies than those with LIGHT group, with the exception of one. The majority of the ladies are able to focus their time and energy on one set of girls while the one who is in both helps with keeping continuity as the girls grow. However, the ladies in LIGHT group reach out to the younger ones as they get nearer to teen years/LIGHT group and the ladies in Radiant are occasionally involved with those who have moved up into LIGHT group.

We have loved watching our own girls grow and thrive and pray it will be the same for those girls in your lives who are in need of the same!

This is why we do what we do.

  • “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?

  • “How can I, unless someone guides me?”

    It’s heartbreaking.

    Imagine if Philip hadn’t come like God had asked him. 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).

  • 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.

Join now!

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?

From elders and elders’ wives at West Side Church of Christ

What our girls have to say about LIGHT group.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • It means I get to be in an environment where other women get to study the Bible with me and we can grow together.

  • It means a safe environment that I can discuss the Bible in.

  • LIGHT group means time with the youth group girls spent bonding and laughing.

  • It's a safe place for me.

What the parents have to say about LIGHT group.

  • The meetings are great!

  • I love having my girls with other girls in the youth group.

  • 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.

  • 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:

  • The LIGHT group has been a blessing to the West Side 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.

  • I have been encouraged to see how this is affecting the lives of our young women at West Side.

  • 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.