My Story...

Hey there! It's Melody here and I just wanted to share my story with you and why I started GEM girls.

GEM girls has been in the making for a long time. I was 12 years old when the foundation for this ministry was laid.

My mom and I have always butted heads. Whether it was over me brushing my teeth or something more significant, it seemed to me that my mom was always calling me out, saying things that weren't true, or just getting on my nerves.

Of course, I didn't have to get upset at her, slam the door, or say things I would regret later, but I just couldn't seem to control myself. I got angry very easily, but only at my family (of course).

When I was 12 years old, our family moved. It wasn't our first move, but it was a significant one for me. You see, I never really had a relationship with God. Oh, my family was Christian and my parents raised me knowing the truth about God and His love, but none of it really sunk into my brain until that move.

I started to spend more time in prayer and Bible study, and I realized that my relationship with God defined my relationship with my friends and my family.

My mom and I started to mend our relationship and actually became friends. Don't get me wrong, she still is my mom and I respect and love her in that way. My mom is my confidant and best friend. Of course, I don't have everything figured out. I still have a stubborn pride that doesn't want to go away and I still have problems with my mom sometimes. But you know what? It's okay, with God's help we can get through the tough times.

When I was 13, my mom and I did a Bible study together by a wonderful woman named Dannah Gresh. Her Bible study And the Bride Wore White, changed my life and molded me into a girl who set high standards for purity.

After finishing the study with Dannah Gresh, I wanted to start a study group with some of the girls in my area. We studied one of Dannah's other books, Lies Girls Believe. Mentoring these girls and watching them grow closer to their moms as they grew closer to Jesus was amazing.

This experience led me to want to help more girls like me have a better relationship with Jesus. GEM girls is the product of that desire! I hope you will join me in growing closer to Jesus as we learn more about His love and what He wants for our lives! Let's become GEM, God's Every Moment!

Love,