HIGHIMPACT INSIGHT

Nedda Aldrich has been an AHG volunteer since 2017. She’s been the Troop Coordinator of La Crescenta-area Troop, CA1212, for four years. In 2022 she stepped into the Vice Coordinator role for her Troop so that she could aid in the establishment of the Los Angeles-Orange County (LA-OC) Area Team. Today she serves as LA-OC Area Coordinator. She loves mentoring the girls in her Troop that want to advance to the next Program Level or earn their Stars & Stripes Award; as well as connecting Troops in her Area so they can enjoy a greater AHG community experience. She has been married for 18 years and has two kids: daughter Jordan (17) and son Caleb (16).

HOW ARE AREA TEAMS ACCOMPLISHING THE KINGDOM GROWTH GOAL?

Our Area Team supports Troops and volunteers so that they feel wellequipped and encouraged to do the role to which God has called them. In turn, volunteers will better serve girls and their families. Area Teams are also there to fill in gaps that Troops may be missing— like providing Girl Leadership training to organizing a Leaders Training Day. We help to round out the AHG Program, so girls are learning about Christ in a safe, fun environment, and hopefully they share that with family and friends.

WHAT ROLE DOES AHG PLAY IN EVANGELIZING TO TODAY’S YOUTH?

AHG and the program we offer have such an important role in today’s world. We are teaching girls about Christ’s love through badgework, Faith Awards, outdoor activities, and leadership just to name a few. There are not a lot of options for groups like ours to choose from. Fortunately, I’ve seen a lot of growth in my Area with girls joining Troops and new Troops starting up. Families are desiring to put their kids in a program that stands out from the rest, this could quite possibly be the only place some girls are hearing and learning about God. Being a part of a program that demonstrates God’s love to young girls and their families is such a blessing.

HOW DO YOU SHARE THE GOSPEL IN YOUR TROOP/AREA/COMMUNITY REGULARLY?

Sharing the gospel in my Troop has looked like mentoring girls through Faith Awards and helping them choose the right devotional for them. Encouraging our Unit Leaders to not focus on the amount of badges earned, but more so on the girls’ hearts. I write the monthly newsletter for our Area, and I find it encouraging to add a Scripture that speaks to me. Adding Scripture to my “Encouraging Notes” is a way I can encourage volunteers and parents and let them know that I’m praying for them.

HOW CAN TROOPS FOCUS ON GIRL RECRUITMENT WITH A KINGDOM GROWTH MINDSET?

The greatest way to reach new people and showcase God’s love is to get your Troop out into the community serving and engaging in public outreach. After serving at a public Veteran’s Day event, we had a lot of new parents asking our Troop who we were and what AHG was all about. We had many new families join our Troop from that one community event! It’s a little like advertising as we go out into the community together to serve (especially when we’re in our uniforms!). Not only does our Troop grow from these activities, but it gives the leaders and more importantly, the girls, an opportunity to extend God’s love in our community.

WHAT ARE SOME HURDLES YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME TO KEEP CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF YOUR TROOP/ AREA PROGRAMMING, RATHER THAN OTHER IDEALS?

I think one of the toughest hurdles for us is that we can get too focused on girls earning badges during the Program Year. When we focus solely on achievement, we can get distracted and elevate the goal of checking a box to get badges and service hours. When we slow down, we can be more intentional and remember why we are doing the badgework and why we are serving: to grow in Christ, show God’s love as we serve, and become the women God created us to be.