Mentoring Young Girls

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“I can mentor them, but only Jesus can save them.”

A thousand-plus miles separate staff member Rosemary Sternbeck and ministry partner Sheri Timber. But through email, prayer and occasional visits, these sisters in Christ encourage each other in faith and in ministry.

“I am convinced that it is my job to deliver the message and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to do the work of salvation and restoration in their lives,” Rosemary emailed Sheri. “It is wonderful fulfilling work I feel called to. It sounds to me that you feel the same.”

For years, Rosemary has been cultivating relationships with young girls in Neah Bay, Washington. They cook, sew, craft and laugh. They serve their community, talk about life, and search the Scriptures for life-changing truth.

One year ago when a tragic car accident took the lives of three young mothers on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana, Sheri knew God was calling her to minister. Not only to the twelve motherless children, but also to other at-risk children on the reservation. She turned to Rosemary for advice in starting a girls club in Montana. Ever since, the two have shared ideas, inspirations and challenges relative to working with young Native children.

“Ellen* gets stuck babysitting her brothers a lot and can’t always come to meetings,” Sheri wrote. “Nora* was living in foster care for a while, then with a friend. Now she’s back with her mom. That gives you some insight into these girls’ families.”

Last winter Sheri and Suzette, a volunteer from the Northern Cheyenne tribe, decided to take three of the girls and one of their mothers to a Women of Faith conference, aware that friction could easily surface. Sure enough, tensions loomed during the two-hour ride to the retreat. But as speakers shared their testimonies and the Word of God was proclaimed, the tensions lifted. Outlooks improved.

“Ellen was hugging me, and that was different! In the past she’s been really stand off-ish. Then Nora joined in. It made me happy to see a wall break down and a door open between us.

“The next day I noticed Nora and her mom were bonding more. It was awesome to see the Lord working there!” Sheri wrote with excitement.

There’s nothing easy or quick about mentoring young girls from dysfunctional homes. “It takes time and a lot of patience,” Rosemary shares. But the rewards are eternal.

It’s summertime. School is out, and kids everywhere are looking for things to do. Unfortunately, in Indian cultures, the easiest choices are often harmful. That’s one reason why Rosemary, Sheri and many of our staff put so much energy into children’s ministry during the summer months.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Deuteronomy 11:6-7

So many Native children like Ellen and Nora are hurt and confused. They’re looking for guidance, even when they act otherwise. Rosemary, Sheri and the rest of our staff understand that ministry is about relationships. And time. And enormous challenges that no training manual ever mentioned.

But God is faithful. He raises up friends like you who share our burdens through prayer and generosity. Because of your past giving, you’re already impacting children like Ellen and Nora.

* Names changed to protect privacy