Great Bend’s Hispanic Seventh-Day Adventist Church, located at 19th St. and the U.S. 281 Bypass, recently wrapped up an educational series designed to teach girls to live like children of the King – princesses, in fact.
It all started when church member Marina de Uribe read “The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God’s Gift of Purity,” by Jennie Bishop.
The book is described as: “a beautiful tale of a wise, young princess who learns about the precious gift of purity. When various suitors vie for the princess’s attention she never loses track of what is truly important. Written by a mother for her own two daughters, ‘The Princess and the Kiss’ is the perfect tool for teaching young girls what it means to be pure in an impure world.”
Beginning last March, the Bible and “The Princess and the Kiss” were used in weekly sessions “to instill in the girls their awesome value before God’s eyes and the importance of responding to Him – and with His help – with a life of purity,” Uribe said.
There were two age groups; seven girls ages 9-12 years old and four girls 13-16 years old participated. After each lesson, craft teachers helped the girls make items such as a princess mirror, purse or treasure chest.
As the final session approached, families received invitations to a closing ceremony which consisted of a royal entrance. Each princess handed a white rose to her father and took him by the arm, leading him to his seat. Then the theme song was sung by the first elder. After a brief sermon, it was time for the placing of tiaras.
Each father placed a tiara on his daughter’s head, symbolizing the commitment of both father and daughter to be intentional about the purity of the princess’s heart, Uribe said. Then the fathers and daughters expressed their dedication to the Creator.
As the theme song played the girls walked out of the church to a waiting limo and were driven around town. There were several stops to take pictures before arriving at Perkins restaurant for a banquet. “After the meal and more pictures, the princesses picked up their crafts and went home with a different outlook about the relationship between a boy and a girl,” Uribe said.
Uribe said the same author has written a book for boys, so another program may be in the works. Younger girls have also asked to share the princess experience, she said.