VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 8/5/11)—
The national leadership team of AB GIRLS, a ministry for girls sponsored by American Baptist Women’s Ministries, encourages girls and young women to attend Immerse in July, 2012, sponsored by ABHMS. The national leadership team of AB GIRLS has chosen to put on the National Gathering for Girls on hiatus in 2012 to support the joining together of American Baptist youth from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico in Washington, D.C., for an event of mission, advocacy, and spiritual growth.

“God’s spirit moved in the AB GIRLS National Leadership Team as we chose Romans 12 as our theme passage to study during the 2011 National Gathering for Girls, ‘Mountaineers.’ We look forward to ‘Immerse’-ing in Romans 12 again at the 2012 National Gathering of American Baptist Youth sponsored by American Baptist Home Mission Societies. Only God could orchestrate the same biblical passage to be used as themes for two national events geared toward the young within our American Baptist family,” says Ruth Alerte, national coordinator of AB GIRLS.

“The national leadership team of AB GIRLS is looking forward to seeing American Baptist girls and young women at Immerse—the themes of mission and advocacy at Immerse are very much in line with emphases in our girls’ ministry,” states Rev. Sandra Hasenauer, associate executive director of AB Women’s Ministries. “I look forward to witnessing how the experience of the National Gathering for Girls and Immerse combine in the lives of these young women as they continue to develop as servants of Christ.”
Immerse, for American Baptist youth aged 14-19, will be held July 24-28, 2012, in Washington D.C. For more information about Immerse, visit http://www.abhms-immerse2012.org/, or the Immerse Facebook page.

Plans are already underway for the 2013 National Gathering for Girls, an event for girls and young women who have completed 6th grade through their senior years in high school. The National Gathering for Girls includes hands-on mission experiences and exciting Bible encounters and worship. To be kept informed of the latest news for the National Gathering for Girls and the AB GIRLS ministry, visit AB Women’s Ministries website at www.abwministries.org and subscribe to the AB GIRLS Leader E-Newsletter, or visit our Facebook page for AB GIRLS.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.