Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

There are some aspects of society that transcends borders, cultures, continents.  For young women, it is the way they view themselves.  Unfortunately, the media has only used this struggle as a way to make money off of the female gender.  I have sadly had more conversations this week with beautiful young women struggling with their body image more than I had in the whole time I was at university (and I lived on a floor with about 30 ladies!)

In and around October my fellow intern and I decided we were going to run a program for the young ladies to help them see their beauty (both inward and outward) and give them a place where they know they can talk about their struggles, work through them, and come alongside each other in accountability.  This is not, however, the first time I've run this type of program because I actually based it off of a program we did at university called Get Fit Get P.H.A.T.: Fearfully & Wonderfully Made.  And in it's 7 weeks of running we will go through 5 areas of holistic healthy living: Physical, Emotional, Mental, Social, & Spiritual.  Each week we will engage in a different type of physical activity to help the girls figure out what way they enjoy exercising.  Some, like myself, might enjoy circuit training and running and playing sports where others might enjoy walking, yoga, or cycling (I wish I enjoyed cycling!).  Each young lady will also make a goal for herself, however, the stipulations are that it cannot pertain to a weight goal or clothes size because that way it is something that can continue on in the long run (i.e. eating a salad 3 times a week or walking 30 mins each day, etc.).  We want to help the girls realize that there are more aspects to a healthy life than being a certain weight or fit into a certain size.

The biggest truth that we want the girls to walk away with is that God doesn't make mistakes and that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image.  So many times we as women look for who we are suppose to be in the magazines, TV ads, and movies.  The fact of the matter is societies view on beauty changes...just take a look at pictures of "beautiful women" in the '60s to now.  Societies view changes, but God's doesn't.  "Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.  You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."- 1 Peter 3:3-4.


Why am I telling you all this?  Because we need your prayers.  Like I said, we've been planning this program since October and I don't find it a coincidence that we haven't gotten the funding until now, about a week before the program begins and only about a week after having conversations with girls about their negative view of themselves.  This program is under God's timing, His control, pray that we speak His Truth into their lives throughout the entire program.  Who knows, maybe this will continue past the 7 weeks!  Thank you again for your continued prayer.  You are an intricate part of the ministry here in Newcastle and what we're doing would not be possible without your prayers!