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Getting rid of
garbage
Julie Baker
Senior
College Community Church Mennonite Brethren, Clovis,
Calif.
“For you created my inmost being.
You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” These words
from Psalm 139 washed over me as I sat in a conference
room with about 50 other teenage girls attending the
Identity Issues for Young Women ministry track.
 Our affluent society constantly
bombards teenage girls with negative messages from TV,
magazines, advertisements, peers and even our own
families on how to dress, think, act and what size our
pants “should” be. We are told that others will value us
if we conform to the image portrayed. I constantly work
to understand that these are lies and that my true value
and worth comes from being a child of God. So when I saw
this ministry track option on the long list I was given
a few months ago I knew that was the session I needed to
attend.
The presenter was Amanda Falk, a
Christian singer from Manitoba who is part of Beautiful
Unique Girl, a program that travels across Canada
hosting pajama parties. While the four-hour party
includes fingernail painting and chocolate fondue it
also intends to inspire young women to embrace the truth
that they are intentionally created and valued by God.
 When we walked into the room we
saw these phrases written on the board: discover your
identity, walk in freedom, live with purpose. These
words encompassed the journey we took during our time
together. During the morning Amanda wove together Psalm
139, her story, her music, a time of discussion and
sharing, praying together, worship and experiencing how
we are each wonderfully made by God.
At one point Amanda handed us two
pieces of paper. On one we wrote the lies and negative
messages we receive, and on the other we wrote things we
like about ourselves whether it be physical features,
talents or character traits. At the conclusion of our
time we threw away the paper with the negative list,
symbolically leaving the rotten messages behind.
As I walked away from the trash
can overflowing with torn papers I felt physically and
emotionally cleansed. I also felt empowered. I gained a
lot from this ministry track, and I hope to share it
with others. So many girls need to hear this message to
get rid of their own garbage and to fully embrace the
freedom we are given through knowing our value comes
from God, our creator.
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