VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 2/10/15)—American Baptist Women’s Ministries announces the first G.I.R.L.S. Leadership Academy, for girls who have completed 6th grade through seniors in high school. G.I.R.L.S. Leadership Academy will be held at the Chase Suite Overland Park Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas, June 25-29, 2015, concurrent with the Biennial Mission Summit of American Baptist Churches USA.

The G.I.R.L.S. Leadership Academy offers girls and young women the opportunity to discover and develop their giftedness by God to leadership. Through Bible study, seminars, and workshops, they will explore issues of multiculturalism; expand their skills in the practice of prayer as well as writing and public speaking for advocacy; and explore ministerial vocations. Attendees of the G.I.R.L.S. Leadership Academy will also participate in Women’s Day (sponsored by American Baptist Women’s Ministries) and portions of the ABCUSA Mission Summit.

Keynote speakers are Jasmine Turner, senior broadcast journalism major at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, and former convenor of the national leadership team of AB GIRLS; and Mary Burnett, a freshman at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and an Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership Scholar, and also a former convenor of the national leadership team of AB GIRLS. Music will be led by Hornrette Washington, Minister of Music Emeritus at the Antioch Baptist Church of Corona, New York.

“I look forwarding to welcoming an emerging generation of American Baptist leaders at this first-time leadership academy event for girls and young women. I’m also eager for them to have this chance to connect with the wider ABC family during the Mission Summit gathering of American Baptists at Overland Park in June,” said Virginia Holmstrom, executive director for American Baptist Women’s Ministries.

For more information, including a schedule overview, information about housing and meals, and registration, visit www.abwministries.org/gathering.

American Baptist Women’s Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry with a commitment to encourage and empower women and girls to serve God.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.