From the beginning, I wanted to be open to where God is taking this ministry and fair to all feedback. So I have been thinking and praying a lot about it.
Here are the truths of the matter:
1. Every girl mentioned inside the pages of Mighty Strong Girls deserves to be on the cover. Just like God loves every girl, regardless of her circumstances or sins, I happen to believe no one girl is a "better" cover girl than another. I would put them all on the cover if I could.
2. Part of the problem with girls in general is an animosity toward one another. What if all girls in the magazine equally celebrated one another, no matter how many photos they had or how much space their respective stories took up, whether they were on the cover or the last page?
Have you ever heard the song "So Beautiful" by Superchick?
The lyrics I particularly love:
"If every girl could see her beauty, we would be an army
We are a thousand voices strong
We are each girl who sings this song
We are a beauty that's our own"
One of my frustrations of being a teen girl waaaaaaay back when was that we didn't lift one another up, instead we tore each other down. What if girls collaborated instead? What if all Christian girls had a pact that they would only say kind and encouraging things to AND about one another? What if all Christian girls saw her unique beauty and embraced it confidently, not arrogantly, as God would want her to?
Well, this is what Mighty Strong Girls is about! This is my secret wish for ALL girls! That she would embrace true love, true love that is kind and rejoices in the truth and not a love that is arrogant, envious, evil, boastful, self-seeking or easily angered. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
3. Mighty Strong Girls puts ordinary girls on the cover, not celebrity girls, professional models or even celebrity Christian girls. I think it's OK to have a special night to celebrate an ordinary girl, because the reality is most girls are ordinary girls even the so-called celebrity Christian girls. I view it as a celebration of each girl, not a night to put only one girl on a pedestal.
When we held a cover unveiling, it was fun to surprise the girl on the cover. It was a special night for special girls. The evening wasn't just about the girl on the cover, it was to celebrate the entire issue, with others sharing testimonies and singing praise and worship music. It was a night to celebrate the vision of Mighty Strong Girls — that girls can and should see their unique value and lift one another up.
I've had plenty of time to pray and think, and interestingly (AND frustratingly) enough, I haven't come to a definitive conclusion. So, I'm asking you to help me — PLEASE!
What do you think about the concept of a magazine? What do you think about unveiling each cover at a special event at that girl's church? Are we making too much fuss over one girl? What do you think about the purpose of the ministry? Are we achieving it? Are we alienating girls?
Please, feel free to comment, share your opinions privately or even anonymously! We want to serve these girls in the BEST way, so if we aren't achieving that, I want to hear about it! You cannot possibly offend me with your honest, heartfelt feedback.
In the meantime, as I pondered and prayed, it occurred to me that even though many girls don't need to be on a magazine cover to have their value affirmed, they would love a reminder that they are certainly worthy of being on a cover. My daughter would LOVE a large print of herself on a Mighty Strong Girls cover to hang in her room as a reminder of how much God loves her and how valuable and amazing she is not only to Him but also to us, her family.
If you are interested in helping out the ministry and celebrating your daughter, granddaughter or friend with a Mighty Strong Girls cover poster, here's the information for this fundraiser. It makes a great Christmas or birthday gift and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Mighty Strong Girls. If you are interested in purchasing one, please email adenney02@yahoo.com.
If you sign up as a monthly contributor to Mighty Strong Girls, we would love to give you one as a gift. If you are already giving to this ministry, we would love to gift you one, too! (Complimentary 8x10 for those giving up to $49 per month and 16x20 for those giving $50 and more.)
8x10
mounted on 2mm styrene board, ready to frame — $35
standout mount, 3/4 inch, ready to hang without frame — $50
16x20
mounted on 2mm styrene board, ready to frame — $80
standout mount, 3/4 inch, ready to hang without frame — $120
So if you want to order one (see sample below), just do these two things:
1. Email me the size and style, plus the girl's name and a photo to adenney02@yahoo.com. It must be 2MB, 300 dpi and have the top one-fourth of the image open for the Mighty Strong Girls flag. Professional images must come with a copyright release!
I am setting up some availability for photos in Athens this Saturday and next Saturday mornings if you would like to send her for a new photo. The fee for this service is $10.
2. Pick a "new name" for your daughter from the list below, and we will coordinate the bottom scripture to suit her name.
Joy
Beautiful
Fearless
Faithful
Truth
Pure
Forgiven
Secure
Beloved
Accepted
Light
Grace
Hope
Healed
Peace
Freedom
Chosen
Glorious
Conqueror
Treasure
Lovely
Mercy
Love
Faith
Belonging
Warrior
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