What, or better yet- who, pulls on your heart strings?
Sometimes, taking our focus outside of ourselves can be the most lifegiving thing we can do, can’t it?
So many of the women I work with, just like yourself, have the biggest hearts. Others’ wins make them come alive and simultaneously, others’ struggles can deeply impact them, too.
One of my sweet clients in particular, Donna Carruthers, has a heart for young girls. Between her story, her desire to raise her own daughter in Christ, and so much more, she has a passion to support this precious age group.
All of this led Donna to an incredible resource - a magazine called For Girls Like You - created specifically for tween girls to help them find their identity and confidence in Christ so they can walk boldly in who God has created them to be. (I would imagine that so many of you - myself included - would have adored something like this back in the day!)
Today on the blog, we're highlighting why the For Girls Like You ministry is so special through an interview with Linsey Driskill, Director of Partnerships and Development with For Girls Like You Ministries.
Ultimately, my hope is that these words inspire you to boldly step into a space that you might be called to serve more deeply, whether it’s coming alongside this sweet magazine as well, or serving in another area that tugs on your heart.
It’s worth it every time.
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Tell us a bit about For Girls Like You and what you do!
Hi! My name is Linsey Driskill, and I am the Director of Partnerships and Development with For Girls Like You Ministries, a ministry to tween girls (7-12 years old) and their parents. It includes a bi-monthly print magazine, books, and other resources. We have a passion and drive to help girls find their identity and confidence in Christ so they can walk boldly in who God has created them to be.
In 2021, I came across For Girls Like You through my book, Beautiful Hearted Women of the Bible: A Creative Mother-Daughter Devotional (for 6-10 year old girls). The magazine featured my book in one of their issues, and shortly after, I heard about a job opportunity to work there. I have a passion for encouraging girls in the Lord so I was so excited to become a part of the For Girls Like You team!
We are dedicated to providing girls with content about all the things they love (travel, positive role models, creative projects, etc.) without the negative messages, imagery and advertising that often appear in mainstream entertainment. We want every article, interview, and photo to support a Christ-centered focus for our young girls. Each issue of For Girls Like You is fun, colorful and features contributions and interviews from familiar faces as well as everyday girls who are choosing to live and shine for Christ.
How did For Girls Like You begin?
The late Wynter Pitts started For Girls Like You magazine in 2012 with a deep passion and vision to see her girls growing in their walk with Jesus. Wynter was raised by her mother and grandmother in inner city Baltimore, Maryland. As a child, she experienced the effects that poverty and fatherlessness can have on an individual, specifically a little girl. Because Wynter had four girls (Alena, Kaitlyn, Camryn and Olivia) who she wanted to influence, she poured her heart and soul into creating this magazine for seven years.
Along the way, she picked up thousands more tween girls who would grow right along with hers, as she poured out her love for the Word of God through her pen and through her life. Wynter was the author of several books, including You’re God’s Girl, She Is Yours, and For Girls Like You. Wynter unexpectedly went home to be with the Lord in 2018, but her impact continues to grow and her words continue to speak.
In the days that followed, the For Girls Like You team took comfort in knowing that Wynter left them with a job to do. Her family and our staff continue publishing this magazine as an important Kingdom work and are committed to continuing the mission and vision she began: to empower and equip girls to walk boldly into becoming who God has created them to be, and to provide parents with the resources and support needed to raise strong Christ followers.
What do your readers tend to love about the magazine most?
I think our readers love showing up in the magazine through pictures and excerpts about their own lives, and also thee craft and stem sections, the joke page of course, seeing other girls who want to follow Jesus, devotions to grow in their faith, and learning other girls’ stories.
What is your favorite part about the magazine?
Two of my triplets are girls, and I remember one of them saying as she was reading the magazine, “Oh, Mommy, there are so many girls all over the world who love Jesus!” I love that the magazine helps our girls feel like they are a part of a community and to know that there are so many other girls who want to follow the Lord. That they are not alone. The magazine is also a ton of fun! The magazine comes six times a year, and my girls are always so excited when the magazine arrives in the mail!
What advice is important at this age?
I think the advice that is powerful at this age is that God is for you, and regardless of what others think, you are awesome and fully loved by God as you are.
How can we pray for and support the For Girls Like You mission?
You can support For Girls Like You’s mission by:
Praying for the young girls who read our magazine, that it would continue reaching and offering hope to more and more girls, and for wisdom as we create each issue.
We are a non-profit and depend on donations to continue providing our magazine to tween girls as subscriptions do not cover the cost of printing and providing the magazines. If you could support us by giving a donation at ForGirlsLikeYou.com that would be awesome and help us continue reaching more girls.
You can also get a subscription for your daughter, granddaughter, a niece, or any other girl in your life at ForGirlsLikeYou.com. Use promo code Friends5 for $5 off a $34.95/year subscription. You can follow us @ForGirlsLikeYou on social media as well.
Lastly, if you know of churches, organizations, camps, or schools who would benefit from our magazine, please let me know. I’d love to connect with them. You can reach me at Linsey@ForGirlsLikeYou.com. (No “d” in Linsey).
Thank you for taking the time to learn about our ministry! I pray the Lord would bless you richly today with His love, His Peace, His comfort, His joy.