Coming Soon

Last year I had the incredible privilege of leading a group of senior girls in a ten-week bible study.  Going in I had no idea what to expect, and to be honest I had no idea what I was even doing, but I went for it. Those nights, in a little cabin, exceeded anything I could have ever been able to imagine. Some nights consisted of pushing these girls way outside of their comfort zones, and some nights consisted of pushing myself way outside my own comfort zone. But one thing was for sure, every week all of us walked away changed.

But one night specifically changed me forever, and as I look back on it now, it was in that moment that a little dream was starting to grow in my heart.

I was doing a spend the night babysitting gig one Sunday when I got a text that one of the girls in our group had just found out her mom had passed away from alcoholism. Words fall short in those moments but I sent her a text that just said, “I’m here.” Her response was “Thank you Adria. I will see you Tuesday at bible study.”

At first I was shocked, two days after her mom passes away and she wants to come to bible study. What am I suppose to say? What are we supposed to talk about that night? Tuesday rolled around and I knew there was nothing I could say, there was no scripture I could give her, and there was no song I could play, so we dedicated that night to a night of prayer. The girls took turns praying for different things and I closed the night off by praying for this sweet girl and her family. In that moment I realized: it wasn’t about her coming so she could hear something that would make everything better. It wasn’t about her coming and me having some powerful talk that would heal her. No, it was just the fact she had somewhere to go. She had a place to come to that she knew was safe. That was all she needed.

A place.

A safe place.

A hiding place.

I battled all summer long with the desire to transfer schools. I wanted to do more. I wanted to experience more. The nonstop back and forth game in my head was never ending. Most of you know that I coach high school volleyball. Every day I would come home and find myself telling my mom about another girl that was just so heavy on my heart and every time she would suggest them being a part of my bible study this year, but I kept running into the problem of “they aren’t seniors.”

I wanted more, but Jesus wanted more too.

Months ago I was tossing and turning in my bed just thinking about what to do with school and my next semester and I could not land on a decision. Jesus so clearly spoke to me in that night “you aren’t transferring.” With hesitation and resistance I finally surrendered and just said, “Okay Lord, I am not going anywhere.”

It was then that the tiny little dream that had been tucked down inside of me birthed to life. But it wasn’t until I was willing to tell Jesus that I would stay that He was willing to reveal it to me.  You see, He was just waiting until I got to the place where I finally surrendered and was willing to dig my heels into the ground I was/am walking on that so He could show me the "more" I wanted. I quickly scribbled these thoughts into my journal that night and ever since then everything has sky rocketed.

That all leads me to this….

That little bible study needed to be more.

That bible study that was just senior girls needed to be more.

I wanted more, and Jesus gave me more.

I asked some of the girls who were a part of the bible study last year to write a review. There were two similarities throughout them all.

1. Connecting with other girls in their own community and realizing they weren’t alone in following Jesus.

2.     Having somewhere to go.

When I think back on my high school years I still find pain in some of the mistakes I made, but grace rains down on those wounds and slowly is healing them, but yet I still think of the “what ifs.” I am learning that those can’t apply to me anymore, what is done is done.  But I lay awake in bed at night heartbroken for the high school girls that are doing exactly what I did. I dream of the “what ifs” for them.  I was lonely, and decided that where everyone else was going, I was going to go to as well. I wanted a place, and I found one. But it wasn’t the right one.

What if girls had somewhere to go on a Friday night instead of the party? What if sooner or later they realized there are people with the same heart as them? What if they knew they did not have to run to the boy to be seen? What if they had a safe place to run to have someone give them grace they need for their own wounds? What if they had that place? A place to run and hide from the ways of the world.

How many girls would not sit alone on Friday nights? How many girls would not feel the need to go to the party? How many girls would find a community because they know at this place they will find people like them? How many girls would not run to the boy? How many girls would choose Jesus instead of choosing the world?

Maybe they just need a place.

Well, I am REALLY excited to say we are in the process of creating that place. After many phone calls, emails, and meetings, things are starting to piece together. What was once a little bible study for senior girls will now be a once a month gathering, on a Saturday night, for all high school girls. Sometimes I think the church can serve as a barrier. She goes to this church, and she goes to that church, and it eliminates possibilities for some girls to meet. The purpose of these events will be to connect high school girls with other girls in their community, that without a gathering like this they would never meet. With the goal in mind that maybe once connected friendships will form, and loneliness will disperse. Community is the key to following Jesus in high school, and some girls just need to find a community, we want to help them make that happen.

I honored and so humbled to say that Cindy Cathy has agreed to come alongside of me and one of my dear friends, Haley Lamp, and help us make these nights happen. I am excited to learn from someone like Cindy Cathy. We are in the process of finding a temporary space for these events to happen, but the goal/dream in sight is to one day create a space that would just be dedicated to high school girls, and would be available more than just once a month, but that is a long way off. I have a meeting Sunday to get approval to use what we think might be perfect for these nights.

 “For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

                                                                       Psalm 32:7

                                                                         The Mission:

To allow High school aged girls to have somewhere to run instead of running to the ways of the world. A place where they can find: safety, security, community, and truth. A place where they can sit and allow Jesus to guide them down the best pathway for their lives. A place where they ultimately will learn how to hid themselves in Jesus, the true hiding place, and grow to realize in Him they have everything they need.

High school girls, get excited because we are!

Friends, will you start praying for this with us?

Questions? Suggestions? Or want to be a part of making this happen? We would love to hear from you.

Coming soon:

That place that so many need.

Starting 2016.

Jesus, be the center.