Christian education Looking Ahead In Christian Ed
edited by Margaret Jacobsen, >1.1.
Pioneer Girls
by Virginia M . Anderson
at a local church. Pat found plenty of activity and fun at Pioneer Girls— unique craft projects, a variety of badges to earn, softball games with other clubs, hiking trips — plus an element that was new to Pat. This was the enthusiastic singing of songs about the Lord, along with a fascina ting period called Bible Exploration. When summer came, Pat had oppor tunity to go to Pioneer Girls camp, where she came face to face with her need for a Saviour. She accepted Him and later joined the church where she attended Pioneer Girls. Today she is planing to train for the Lord’s service at a Bible school. Pat is an illustration of how Pioneer Girls carries out its first aim—to win the unsaved girl—draw her into a sound evangelical church, and teach her to establish good Bible study and prayer habits. But what about the Christian girl who may seem to be getting suf ficient Christian training in the Sun day program? Does Pioneer Girls have anything to offer her? Consider Bev—an earnest Christian girl with a brilliant mind, who was developing a one-sided personality. Church on Sunday and studies dur ing the week were her whole life. Friends persuaded her to try Pioneer Girls—and she did. Within a year the change in her life was obvious. Bev entered into social activities, learned to relax and have fun in a group. Bev is still quiet and studious, but she is a much more interesting person and a better witness for her Lord. This illustrates Pioneer Girls’ most distinctive aim — to develop well- rounded and Christ-centered person alities by meeting the need of the whole girl—physically, mentally, so cially and spiritually. “ Christ in every phase of a girl’s life” is the basic philosophy of the entire Pioneer Girls p rogram . It permeates the weekly meeting, the achievement program and the summer camp. Meetings, Ranks, Badges The weekly meeting opens with
unique formations and a column council period. Each club is divided into columns led by pilots. Next, there is an informal activity period of games, crafts or badge work. This is followed by a songfest which bridges the meeting from the active to the more serious time of Bible ex ploration climaxing each meeting. The achievement program consists of ranks, steps of progress, and badges, study in special fields such as food arts, sports, music or nature. Achievements stimulate interest in hobbies, provide purposeful leisure time activity, develop useful skills, and in general, carry out the empha sis of Christ in every phase of life. When a girl comes to her guide to be passed on Bible requirements, the guide has a natural opportunity to deal privately and personally with her concerning her own spiritual life. In addition to the club program, Pioneer Girls has a well-developed camp program which will be dis cussed in a later article. That the Pioneer Girls’ philosophy really works is demonstrated by the following testimony of a mother. “As my girl has come into these crucial years of her life, I realize how much Pioneer Girls has done for her. Pio neer Girls had helped Jean to relate the spiritual to her everyday life — something no other organization in our church has done.” Because Pioneer Girls is a program that works, hundreds of churches are using it today. At the national head quarters in Chicago, a crew of office workers sends out a steady stream of program helps and materials to local club leaders. There are field workers in eight areas to organize new clubs and assist those already started. The task Pioneer Girls faces today is a staggering one— for there are thousands of needy girls yet un reached. But the results seen daily are rewarding, and the organization looks forward to an increasing sphere of service in the future. (T o be con tinued.) END.
I n a recent statement J. Edgar Hoover pointed out the tragedy that seven out of eight children quit church and Sunday school before they reach the age of 15. He also said that children spend eight times as many hours at movies as at relig ious services. “ So what?” some Christians say. “ Our church is doing all we can— we have Sunday school and Sunday evening youth groups. Isn’t that enough?” Is it enough? Can we effectively reach and hold young people through Sunday activities alone? More and more Christian leaders today are admitting the necessity of a weekday activity to supplement the Sunday program of the church. For this very reason, an international club program called Pioneer Girls has been steadily gaining in popular ity in the 13 years since its birth. Beginning with a few small clubs in Illinois, the organization has spread until today there are nearly 1,000 clubs throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. Each club is locally sponsored by an evan gelical church. Girls from eight to 18 are reached, through three sep arate age divisions. Saved to Serve There was a Pioneer Girls club in Pat’s community. She was a typical junior high girl from an unsaved family, who drifted from church to church, usually liberal, until one day a schoolmate invited her to the club
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