Chosengirls ministry teaches teens the merits of modesty_82304

Posted: 8/20/04

Chosengirls ministry teaches teens the merits of modesty

By Sarah Farris

BGCT Summer Intern

KELLER–Society may say to young women, “If you've got it, flaunt it.” But directors of the Chosengirls ministry work to reverse that message by creating a culture of modesty among Hispanic girls.

“Style tells something about you that you might not really be inside,” said Elizabeth Encinia, Chosengirls creator, to young women at a Hispanic women's conference in Keller.

“People may see someone dressing in a grunge style and think they are sad and that everything is a downer,” Encinia said. On the other-hand, “a girl in short shorts and a small shirt may appear to be a boy chaser,” she said.

“We look at styles and say, 'How will that look?' We should ask, 'What would God think about this.'”

Chosengirls teaches teenage girls what modesty looks like on the inside and out.

“When you work on your purity inside–your mind and how you speak–that makes you beautiful, and when guys see that, looks are just an added bonus,” Encinia said.

She emphasized that young women should dress in a manner that will help their Christian brothers worship God.

As part of their ministry, members of the group have asked young men from their congregation, Hampton Place Baptist Church in Dallas, to speak candidly about the impact of young women's clothes on their visually oriented minds. One young man used the acronym M-O-D-E-S-T to illustrate the desire of dressing in a way that will not cause guys to stumble: “Manner of Dressing Equals Safe Thoughts.”

Teenage girls from Encinia's church modeled clothes in a fashion show that provided practical tips to mothers and teenagers on what clothes are “safe,” and what are not.

She explained that while girls see a cute skirt or cute blouse, guys see the skin exposed by it. When trying to explain a spaghetti-strap shirt, some guys told her: “All we see is skin. We don't even see that little strap.”

Encinia also advised girls that when looking at shirts or pants in a dressing room, they should be conscious of any lower back being exposed.

“The back is a very intimate part of your body,” she explained. While in the dressing room, it is the last time for you to see yourself; the rest of the time, it is the world seeing you, she stressed.

Chosengirls began when ministry creators realized girls in their church were all struggling to define modesty in their actions, dress and thoughts.

“Our moms teach us” about modesty, Encinia said about the group's leaders, “but many other's don't.”

All of the Chosengirls leaders are college students. “As big sisters, we need to help them,” she said. “We are mentored by older ladies, but who is mentoring the youth?”

The ministry hopes to build bridges between teens, college students and older women.

Chosengirls' first conference was at the Hispanic women's conference last year. Since then, the group has traveled to area youth groups, teaching about modest and purity.

Most importantly, Encinia said, the ministry teaches “beauty inside is never going to fade.”