Charter Organization Spotlight: Calvary Chapel Festus

This issue, AHG is excited to shine a light on Calvary Chapel Festus in Festus, MO home to MO3110. Charter Representative (and Senior Pastor) Scott Parker and Troop Coordinator Kelly Drinen reflect on nearly nine years of chartering an AHG Troop at their church and the significant impact AHG has had on their community.

ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPACTFUL FORCE IN THE WELL-BEING OF AN AHG TROOP IS THE CHARTER ORGANIZATION. Every Troop is owned by a Charter Organization, which is typically a church, school, or similarly- aligned Christian organization. Without the support of their Charter Organization, an AHG Troop would not exist. When the Charter Organization and Charter Representative are involved beyond simply providing meeting space, the AHG Ministry can have an incredible impact on the outreach of the organization.

Charter Organizations serve a crucial role in the AHG Ministry, as they own and operate AHG Troops. Though volunteers implement the AHG Program, the Charter Organization is able to customize their AHG Troop to best accomplish their ministry goals.

WHY DID YOUR CHURCH DECIDE TO CHARTER AN AHG TROOP? -Our AHG Troop began out of the desire of several members/parents to provide their daughters with a Christ-focused, scout-like program that would develop character, leadership skills, project management, healthy friendships, and a love for learning and exploring the world that God created. Calvary Chapel Festus (CC Festus) has been instrumental in the health and growth of our Troop. The church sees AHG as a ministry of the church, providing leaders, volunteers, resources, and prayers for our AHG members and their families. Our Troop is diligent in reciprocating that generosity and love. We care for the church building after meetings and events; we schedule Troop updates to share with the congregation; and we encourage our Girl Members to share the new skills they’re learning at meetings as well as all that God has been doing in their lives

HOW MANY YEARS HAS YOUR CHURCH HAD AN AHG TROOP?

MO3110 chartered in September 2013 and has 44 Girl Members. Our AHG Troop Ministry Team is comprised of 14 leaders and numerous volunteers.

HOW HAVE YOU SEEN GROWTH IN YOUR YOUTH/ FAMILY/WOMEN’S MINISTRY PROGRAMMING SINCE CHARTERING AN AHG TROOP?

Chartering MO3110 allowed for a new outreach within the church for church members to become involved and serve with a unified mission. Women of all ages are encouraged to get involved in leading, teaching or serving behind the scenes according to their giftings and skills. Men of the church have also become an integral part of our Troop serving as ushers/security team members for meetings and events as well as skilled teachers of various badge topics and Bible studies.

Calvary Chapel Festus has also recognized the steady increase in AHG families that become active members of our church fellowship as relationships are built during joint AHG/CCFestus community outreach projects and AHG meetings. The addition of AHG families to our fellowship is a tremendous blessing. One of the most wonderful areas of growth within the church has been the spiritual maturity of our young women. Within the last year, we have added many of our teen girls to our monthly women’s ministry Bible Study as it was the desire of their heart to study God’s Word more in depth on a regular basis. These teens are all young ladies that have grown up as members of MO3110 for the last five years.

The Biblical foundation that they receive at Calvary Chapel is expanded and challenged by their participation in AHG, which in return, guides them to continue digging deeper to live out their faith daily. The Biblical leadership and servanthood of these young women is remarkable!

HOW ELSE HAS AHG AFFECTED YOUR ORGANIZATION’S MINISTRY EFFORTS?

AHG provides another avenue for the church to engage in the Great Commission of evangelizing and discipleship. It also provides an opportunity for the women of the church to carry out Paul’s command in Titus 2:3-5 to teach the younger how to become Godly women. AHG has given an opportunity to those outside our church to become acquainted with, and even become part of, our church family. The relationship between our AHG Troop and our church has become a vital ministry partnership, each supporting the other in various community and mission projects.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER POTENTIAL CHARTER ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING TO CHARTER AN AHG TROOP?

Make the American Heritage Girls Troop a true ministry of the church. There are churches who see their role in chartering as only providing a place to meet, a building. This is unfortunate as a church’s oversight is a valuable component to the mission. In our experience, building the Troop’s leadership team from church members allows for an alignment of vision and direction. For example, when a church values Bible teaching, that is reflected in the activities and values of the AHG Troop. The role of the church is to make disciples and the Mission of American Heritage Girls is to build women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country—this alignment of purpose is undeniable. Seek God and pray for His guidance every step of the way to chartering a new Troop and then continue to keep God first as you guide your leaders and members to do the same each day.

For more information on the chartering process, visit americanheritagegirls.org/start-a-troop/charter-organizations