I was a terror as a teenager...
Okay, I wasn’t that bad. But my older sister was, of course, an angel and rarely left the house, while I was sneaking out to meet boys at age 14. My mom would lament to her sister about my disobedience and my aunt would console her with “Leighton’s not the problem child… she’s NORMAL! What teenager doesn’t experiment with a rebellious stage?!” I stubbornly had to learn the hard way, or should I say, MY way.
Enter Mark and Terri Young, my fearless youth pastors and just the two mentors I needed. For years, they somehow wrangled 20+ youngsters every week for 3-4 hours, including some risky church “lock-ins” a few times a year (if ya know, ya know.) They were 20 years my senior, but when they spoke, I listened. I mean REALLY listened. Bless my parents’ hearts, they weren’t teaching me anything that different or novel at home, but because they carried the “mom and dad” label, in my 15-year old mind, their word was null and void.
Mentorship changed my life.
From youth group on, I always had a mentor, sometimes two, now many, to steer me towards God and away from... myself. My transformative teens did not happen by chance. My parents probably knew they were “the enemies” in my undeveloped mind (sorry parents, it’s just a true assumption of 99.99% of teens!) Thank God He strategically planted two mentors in my life with wisdom.
My heart’s desire is to pass the gift of mentorship to my younger sistas (yes, you!) and that you would also learn from the older and wiser. It is such a gift to have a mentor who has been-there-done-that and who Jesus can speak through.
For He has so much to say to you, His precious daughter!
We all need a spiritual mother. We all need a mentor.
Pray Her Forward recognizes the need each of us have for participating in the Body of Christ as both mentees and mentors. We are a place for mentorship and fellowship—bringing women together of all ages to lift one another up in Christ. We are a place for being vulnerable, lending a listening ear, and asking, "But how are you really?" We are a place that can relate to the trenches of late teens to early twenties.
We are a place that wants you to know you are not alone in your struggles.
You want me to write what, Lord?!
It was May 2024, Pray Her Forward was two months old, and the Lord spoke to me. It wasn't audible, but I recognized His familiar still small voice. Our conversation went something like this:
God: "I want you to write to young women in a relatable voice about me. A voice that guides, encourages, and understands them."
Me: YES! This is needed God, but I have no clue where to begin... I'm not qualified for this, and I don't consider myself a writer...
God: "Do it anyway."
Me: Ummm, okay. But you're going to have to do this through me!
God: "Yes, that was always the plan."
Me: Right, sorry. 😅 (I love God's sense of humor.)
So it began. I started writing... and writing... and writing. I took polls, did research, and prayed—a lot. I think I prayed so much because I felt totally unqualified and unconfident, which I suppose helped me speak into this very topic across the twelve chapters of the curriculum.
About four months later, it was complete. 260-something pages and 12-sessions later, I realized how much God has to say to His daughters. I pray the stories, questions, Scriptures, goal-setting and prayer-writing guides bless you. I hope they give you the opportunity to work through some tough areas of life, or just grow closer to Jesus in your every day walk.
DOWNLOAD A FREE CHAPTER!
I'd love to give you a free session of the More Precious Than Pearls biblical mentorship curriculum! Download Session 6 on Dating and Relationship to check out the layout, format, and curriculum breakdown. Try it out on your own, with a small group, or with a mentor!
Need community to feel less alone in your struggles?
Pray Her Forward is here help you navigate life’s obstacles with practical advice, biblical wisdom, and relatable stories.
Learn how to connect with other young women looking for guidance during—let’s be honest—some of life’s most difficult years.
Our Mentor + Mentee Agreement
1. Be ready to hear from God in sharing or receiving His wisdom
2. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and why you may be here
3. Be outspoken and curious; we welcome any and all questions
4. Be in a mindset to learn and share as you feel comfortable
5. Be on time, prepared, and present during mentorship sessions
6. Be respectful of other mentees and mentors when present
7. Be mindful of different backgrounds, upbringing, and beliefs
8. Be encouraged to discuss or share any concerns or feedback
9. Be reminded that we are all human; none of us are perfect
10. Be careful to respect confidentiality of conversations shared
Our Mission
- To fulfill the third part of the Great Commission which is: “to teach believers to obey Jesus’s commands.” (Matthew 28:20)
- To help young women navigate life through a Christian lens, inso sharpening their faith as iron sharpens iron. (Proverbs 27:17)
- To pass on the experience of other women, thereby “teaching what is good” (Titus 2:3-5) and increasing Biblical knowledge.
- To “shepherd the flock and be examples to them so as to partake in the glory that is to be revealed.” (1 Peter 5:1-5)
- To provide mentees with counsel and advisers so that their plans succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)
Our Beliefs
- There is only one true God as part of the Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit). (2 Corinthians 13:14)
- Jesus Christ, the Son of God, walked the earth, lived a blameless life, died on the Cross and rose again so that our sins would be forgiven. (Luke 23:33-46)
- We are saved by professing with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believing in our hearts that He rose from the dead. (Romans 10:9-11)
- We are saved by grace alone and not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-10)
- Nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
The Significance of the Pearl
Why do pearls represent the foundation of Pray Her Forward? Our English word “pearl” is actually derived from Sanskrit, which means “pure.” Biblically, the concept of holiness carries the idea of purity with it. In the New Testament, the pearl is a symbol of Jesus’s perfection and His salvation. The pearl is also biblically symbolic of wisdom! Job 28:18 says “Coral and quartz are not worth mentioning. The price of wisdom is beyond pearls.”
The unique symbolism represented by the formation of a pearl is also fascinating. Pearls are formed from brokenness. When an irritant like a tiny piece of sand, shell, or bacteria, becomes trapped inside the shell of an oyster or mussel, layers of materials that make up its shell are secreted, and after months or years, form a perfectly magnificent pearl. This process also represents heaven, for through salvation and sanctification we may enter heaven through “twelve gates of twelve pearls” and “each gate is made of one single pearl” (Revelation 21:21).
Thus, the pearl seamlessly became the symbol for Pray Her Forward.
