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G4C Publications is excited to collect submissions for our next book. In this book of daily prayers, teens and young adults will have the opportunity to pray about subjects that are important and relatable to them. Would you prayerfully consider writing for this book?

We accept authors of all ages from all over the world. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional writer or if this is the first time you’ve ever submitted anything for publication; we want YOU. Since there will be many writers contributing to this book, it’s important that we have some consistency between each prayer, so please read these guidelines to know what to submit:

Step One: Pick a topic. Prayer topics need to be both broad and specific at the same time. Is that possible? Sure it is! In other words, imagine a teen reading it. (Think of several teens you know- you can even ask them to read your prayer before submitting it.) Can they totally relate to what you wrote? Do you think that will be true of every teen who reads it? Below are a few topics that today’s teens relate to, but you can choose another topic if you truly believe it will have a personal connection to teen readers.

Friendship
Backstabbing
Family
Death
Illness
Environmental Issues and Being Green
Work
School
Money
The Opposite Sex
Church
Who God Is
Learning New Things
Celebrations
Sin
Siblings
Parents
The Future
Fear
Worry
Global Issues (Orphans, Trafficking, Hunger, etc.)
Local Issues
Volunteering
Classmates
Peer Pressure
How Others View Christians
Goals
Politics
Purity
Personal Time with God
Evangelism
Loneliness
Media
Health
Disabilities
Belonging
Cliques and Clubs
Role Models
Chores
Rules
Temptations
Mental Health

Step Two: Write a verse. We don’t want to publish anything that is not biblically sound. That means the prayer you write should be based on scripture. At the top of your submission, write the verse that you’ll base your prayer off of. Yes, we will be publishing these verses along with the prayers, so prayers cannot be accepted if they don’t have a theme verse!

Step Three: Write 150-250 words of prayer. Here are three of those words: always start with “Dear God” and end with “Amen”. The middle part is up to you. This might go without saying since you’re writing a prayer, but please prayerfully write. Think over the words you put down, and ask someone to read it over or even actually pray it if you’re not sure. We’ll only be publishing the top quality submissions, so consider writing more than one draft.

Step Four: Draw readers to Christ. These are just a few details to consider in your writing, but the heart of every prayer is to draw closer to God. That means don’t write things that will be divisive, offensive, boring, inappropriate (for YA readers), over-spiritualized, unachievable, or otherwise unrealistic.

Step Five: At the bottom, add your name and a 25-50 word bio. The bio should start with your name and be written in third person. If you do not include this, we will assume that you are wishing to submit anonymously.

Step Six: Send it in to Girlz4Christ@yahoo.com!

Example

“Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:7

Dear God,

It’s kind of a miracle in itself that I’m trying to communicate with you right now. I can talk with my friends easily enough. I can even talk with my family. (Although I’ll admit that talking with them sometimes means fighting.) Why is it so hard to talk with you? Is it because I can’t see you? Is it because talking with you requires this formal procedure called prayer? Is it because I’m intimidated to approach the God of all creation, or because I’ve heard others praying who are so much better at talking to you than I am?

Help me to break down any walls and overcome any barriers that keep me from talking to you. I should be willing to pray to you since you’re so willing to listen to me. In fact, from what I’ve read in the Bible and heard at church, it seems like you enjoy our conversations! You care about me as an individual and want to have a personal relationship with me, and communication is key to any good relationship, so it only makes sense that I keep in touch with you as much as possible.

Amen

Jessica Lippe is a writer and editor who has authored six books, including Uncommon Adventures and The Ultimate Survival Guide for Working at Camp. Visit her website at JessicaLippe.com

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One True God, 80 Devotions

July 25, 2020 Jessica Lippe

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Introducing a new 80-Day devotional by G4C readers!

Picture for a moment what your life would be like if everything was different. And by different, I mean that nothing at all was the same as your current life. We’re talking a complete one-eighty. Is that what you’re looking for right now? This 80-Day devotional by G4C readers takes you through topics like faith, friendship, and leaning on the Lord through all circumstances. A great resource to start a daily devotion habit, or use as a companion for your personal Bible study time. One True God, 80 Devotions was written by 27 different guys and girls of all ages spanning several countries and continents.

Available now on Amazon

One True God 80 Devotions

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Take a Summer Bookation

June 8, 2020June 7, 2020 Jessica Lippe

We’ve made it to the sixth month of what may have been the most unusual year of our lives! Normally, time of year, I would be telling you how to get ready for camp, but a lot of summer camps have either delayed their start day or closed entirely for the year. I know many of you live in areas where there are safety concerns, and please know that you are being prayed for. So, what can we do for the month of June?

READ!

That’s right. Many libraries and bookstores are opening back up, and Amazon’s book shipping isn’t so delayed anymore. You may have a library, bookstore, restaurant, or school near you that offers a summer reading program, where you’ll get a prize for reading a certain amount of books this summer. (Don’t gloss over this if you’re an adult now- while a lot of programs are for kids and teens, some summer reading includes adults, too!)

So instead of a summer vacation, we invite you to take a “bookation” and explore new lands through the written word.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3

Our Top 5 Reading Suggestions

After entering the book giveaway above, and then scrolling down to see G4C’s upcoming book, you may be wondering how else to fill your summer reading list. Here are a few suggestions:

First of all, we’d highly recommend looking for Christian books. They come in all types of genres, but unlike other books, they will better remind you of God, the Ultimate Author. Bookstores and libraries have sections set up just for Christian books. And if you order books online, it’s easy to search for Christian genres. The number one Christian book that we’d recommend above all others happens to also be the world’s number one bestseller: The Bible! We challenge you to read a little bit of that book every day this summer.
We have three published books through G4C Publications. Check them all out here. Our most recent is actually a journal called Diary of a Girl 4 Christ, filled with fun activities and space to write. What a fun way to document your summer!
Need more book ideas? We have a whole Teen Reading List here. We’d love to update this page with your favorite books, so let us know what we should add!
Remember that not all reading has to be done in the form of books. Most of our books are available on Kindle as ebooks, and there are a ton of great blogs out there too. Naturally, we’d recommend reading our blog posts, but we know there are a lot of great blogs out there. Look through Pinterest for blog suggestions on topics you like.
And of course, don’t forget magazines! Here are a few of our past issues of Girlz 4 Christ Magazine that you can order. These ones feature an interview with an author, so you can get even more reading suggestions while getting behind-the-scenes info about the creation of each book!
1. Marjorie Jackson, author of The Devoted Life
2. Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird, authors of Love Defined
3. Taylor Bennett, author of Porch Swing Girl
4. Sadie Robertson, author of Live Fearless
5. Bethany Hamilton, author of Soul Surfer
6. Masey McLain, author of It’s Worth It
7. John Luke Robertson, author of Young & Beardless

What To Do When You’re Not Reading?

Reading is great. But it’s a good idea to balance it with a well-rounded lifestyle. Here are a few FREE programs I’ve been using lately, including my invite links so you can join me!

I’m walking my way to some fantastic prizes! Sweatcoin is an app that counts your steps, which you get paid for. Use your sweatcoins to buy some cool rewards. Start using Sweatcoin today!
Do you like shopping? I bet you’d like it even better if it cost less money! Use Ibotta and you can get rebates on your purchases in most popular stores. Some items you can even get for free! Sign up for Ibotta.
It might be harder to find a summer job this year, but you can always earn cash through taking surveys, watching videos, and more on Swagbucks! Join me on Swagbucks here and get a special sign-up bonus.

Girlz 4 Christ — *Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.*
-Proverbs 3:5&6 HCSB

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Giveaway: Beyond the Break

June 2, 2020June 10, 2020 Jessica Lippe

In case you haven’t heard, we’ve got a giveaway for Beyond the Break, a brand-new book from Penguin Teen.

Beyond the Break is a funny and gorgeous debut about a girl experiencing her first love. Well, second, if you count her faith… and that’s where things may get complicated.

Manhattan Beach native Lovette has two rules in life. One: no surfing. Not after her brother’s accident. Two: absolutely, no dating. And going into her junior year of high school, she’s pretty happy with that arrangement. She has friends, her church youth group, and God to fall back on when things get dicey. But after Jake Evans walks into her life, following these two simple rules gets a lot more complicated.

Jake is the boy from Lovette’s childhood who grew up. Handsome and sweet, he unlocks the part of Lovette that wants nothing more than to surf the waves again. And as their relationship grows, she begins to question what it means to be faithful: to her family, to God, but mostly, to herself.

Told with humor and heart, Heather Buchta delivers a sparkling debut that asks the question: Can you fall in love, be a teenager, and also be a good Christian?

You can read the first chapter of Beyond the Break by Heather Buchta here. If you want to read the whole thing, you have two options. Starting today, you can find it at any online or brick-and-mortar bookstore. Or, you can enter our contest.

Click here for your chance to win!

UPDATE: Giveaway ended 6/8/20. Congratulations to our winners!

There will be FIVE winners for this contest. But hurry; you only have until June 8th to enter!

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Call for Writers: Be in Our Next Book!

April 11, 2020June 1, 2020 Jessica Lippe

EDIT JUNE 1ST 2020: Thank you to everyone who contributed! One True God, 80 Devotions will be a great book featuring all your work, available for preorder soon! If you missed your chance to write this time around, know that we are planning for another book that you can be a part of. Join our newsletter so you can get the next announcement.

Have you been enjoying our newest book, 77 Days of Devos? We’re making another devotional. Except this time, we want YOU to get involved!

Write a short devotional about any topic you’d like. Make sure to follow our devotional format (see examples here) and include:

A Bible verse or two, including the reference and translation
100-200-word life story or application related to the scripture
A short “Action,” something the reader can pray for or do to help apply the lesson of this devotion to their life
Of course, include your name at the bottom of the devotion unless you’d prefer to remain anonymous (If your work is accepted we may ask for a bio line. If you’re not sure what that is, don’t worry- we’ll explain when the time comes.)

If you look carefully, you’ll notice that we published 77 Days of Devos under “G4C Publications” instead of our full name, “Girlz 4 Christ Publications.” That’s because we want girlz AND guyz to have a daily devotional resource that will draw them closer to Christ! We would like this next devotional to be accessible in the same way.

Anyone is welcome to contribute to this book. That means if you know someone else who likes writing, feel free to forward this to them. However, if you’re under 13, please have a parent review and send your submission to us.

All submissions can be sent as a Word document to Girlz4Christ@yahoo.com with the subject line “Devotion Submission”. You’re welcome to submit more than one devotion. If your work is accepted for publication, you will get a free advance digital copy of the book before publication. After publication, you can also get a free paperback copy of the book as well as some free resources to help you as an author get featured in your local news.

person holding orange pen — Photo by fotografierende on Pexels.com

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Christian Activities to Try During Quarantine Time

March 25, 2020 Jessica Lippe

Ephesians 5:16 encourages us to redeem our time, because the days are evil. In days like these, I’m often reminded of this verse. But how can we redeem our time for good when we are homebound? We’ve collected some ideas from Girlz 4 Christ and other Christian organizations to help you make the most of your day:

-This is a great time to catch up on previous issues of Girlz 4 Christ Magazine. You can even order print copies here. Right now, we only have a handful of our 40 issues available in print. However, if there’s a certain issue that you’d like to see in print, let us know and we’ll make it available!

-You may remember us reviewing the animated film, “The Pilgrim’s Progress”, in the Fall 2019 issue of Girlz 4 Christ Magazine. The makers of this movie just announced that they are allowing FREE streaming! This is great if you’re at home with siblings, but even if you’re alone, I think the messages behind this allegory are powerful for anyone.

-If you’re at least 18 and aren’t able to work right now due to closures, you can supplement your income online with Swagbucks. Make money doing simple tasks like taking surveys, watching videos, and even online shopping.

-Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and other streaming services have been getting more subscribers recently. Did you know that there are Christian movies and shows on many of these streaming services? Look for them! You can sign up for a free trial of PureFlix, a streaming service that is filled with wholesome, Christian films. You can also find tons of quality Christian YouTubers. No matter what you end up watching, look for God in the storyline!

-Since so many churches are including streaming their weekly services or currently are only streaming online due to social distancing rules, now is a great time to watch a bunch of great (and often free) sermons from churches all over the world. If there’s an audio-only download option, you can listen while working out, doing chores, or going to bed.

-For other listening options, try out radio theatre! Adventures in Odyssey is currently offering a free 4-week trial. (No credit card is required!) While your library may be closed, check their website to see if you can borrow audiobooks online.

-Catch up on your reading, and make a new TBR (to be read) list. If you normally read fiction, now is a great time to expand your horizons with nonfiction: read about a topic, then try it out in your real life. We have a free book download this week only to get you started.

-Run out of books? Check out some blog posts that allow you to dream. Start with this one.

-You may have heard rumors that Amazon warehouses are no longer restocking non-essential items. Well, apparently they deemed G4C Publications’ books as essential! You can get 77 Days of Devos and Girlz Who Change the World, as well as all books written by our editor, Jessica Lippe, in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

More than anything, we need peace during this storm. We don’t know how long this will last, but we do know that the next 77 days can be the beginning of peace, hope, and restoration. Our latest book, 77 Days of Devos, is available on Amazon now (in eBook or paperback), and can help guide you towards peace and living life God’s way.

Order here

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Girls Who Change the World in the News

October 2, 2019October 2, 2019 Jessica Lippe

Girlz 4 Christ’s new book, Girls Who Change the World, released on October 1st. Christian news company theDove included a feature with Girlz 4 Christ’s editor and publisher about her work with co-writing this book. Check out the video clip, and then check out the book!

Love the feeling of paperback? Click here

Prefer the convenience of ebooks? Click here

So which is it, paperback or ebook? Let us know in the comments below!

Girlz 4 Christ

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Girls Who Change the World Coming October 1st!

August 26, 2019 Jessica Lippe

Many of you have loved our recent interview with Overcomer’s movie star, Aryn Wright-Thompson. But we’ve had the privilege of interviewing dozens of amazing young women over the years, and for the first time ever on October 1st, you’ll be able to have these role models all in one place.

Girlz 4 Christ

Maybe you’ve been inspired by Bethany Hamilton’s new documentary, Unstoppable. Or you love reading books by teen authors. Or you’ve found inspiration with the younger members of the Duck Dynasty crew like Sadie Robertson, John Luke Robertson, and Mary Kate Robertson. In Girlz 4 Christ’s new book, Girls Who Change the World, you’ll find interviews and profiles of people like these and so many more! There are even girls who are making an impact in their everyday lives all across the globe. Of course, there will be tips for how you can change the world, too!

Girls Who Change the World is available October 1st, but you can get a sneak peek in the Fall 2019 issue of Girlz 4 Christ Magazine. You can also preorder a Kindle copy from Amazon. (Print copies will be available for preorder soon!)

Click here to see Girls Who Change the World on Amazon!

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Overcomer in Theaters Now! (+Movie Easter Eggs)

August 23, 2019May 7, 2020 Jessica Lippe

Are you involved in a sport or other team? Is there one that you want to join? Imagine showing up on the first day of tryouts. You have your choice of seats, because no one else is there yet. You get a little nervous, and check the paperwork to make sure you’re in the right place. You are. Eventually, the coach shows up. No one else does. You’re the only person on your team.

What would you do? Stay? Quit? Encourage the discouraged coach?

Hannah Scott is in this situation in the movie Overcomer. Her cross country coach, John Harrison, isn’t thrilled that he had to give up basketball and instead coach his least favorite sport, which no one else seems to be interested in either. He’s more frustrated when he finds out that Hannah has asthma, which may jeopardize her ability to place in competitions.

But that’s the least of Hannah’s struggles. She’s new to this Christian school, and her home life is a stark contrast from her rich classmates. She lives with her grandmother, who’s told her that both of her drug-addicted parents died long ago.

But this one-person cross country team may be the life change that both Hannah and Coach Harrison need.

*2020 Update: You can read interviews with the cast of Kendrick Brothers movies, including actresses from Overcomer, War Room, and Courageous, in our book: Girls Who Change the World, available now!*

Girlz 4 Christ Magazine Summer 2019 — This article adapted from the summer 2019 issue of Girlz 4 Christ Magazine. Click here to read more.

Kendrick Brothers Do It Again

Which of these films have you seen before?

- War Room
- Courageous
- Fireproof
- Facing the Giants
- Flywheel

All of these movies were made by the Kendrick Brothers, pastors who decided to expand their ministry with the silver screen. If you haven’t seen them all yet, order them online or check them out at your library this summer. That way, you can be all caught up before Ovecomer hits theaters on August 23rd.

Alex, Stephen, and Shannon Kendrick are the filmmaking Kendrick Brothers, based in Albany, Georgia. For OVERCOMER, Alex co-wrote, directed, and plays the role of Coach John Harrison. Stephen co-wrote and produced the movie. (He also has an onscreen cameo similar to War Room.) Shannon serves as the movie’s executive producer. They are excited to release their sixth movie.

The Kendrick Brothers exist to honor Jesus Christ and make His truth and love known among the nations through movies, books, curriculum, and speaking. By prayerfully blending engaging stories with doctrinal integrity, the Kendricks seek to encourage and inspire viewers and readers with resources that impact their spiritual lives and strengthen their families and personal relationships.

Easter Eggs

The Kendrick Brothers enjoy including little things to watch out for in their movies. Be on the lookout for these:

- A favorite breakfast cereal for many of their movie characters is Coney Bombs. Who eats Coney Bombs in this movie? Can you figure out what real-life cereal it’s based on?
- Alex Kendrick is the brother that gets the most screen time. He’s played a major role in every Kendrick Brothers movie, plus other Christian movies like Moms Night Out and The Lost Medallion. However, Stephen has made cameos in the last two films as well as Fireproof. Can you find him in War Room and Overcomer? (Hint: he seems to like competitions.)
- Speaking of competitions, do any of the other teams seem familiar? Perhaps a school from Facing the Giants?
- Many of the cars don’t have license plates. That’s because it appears that they were recently purchased, and still have the dealership plate. Where were they bought from? You might know if you’ve seen their first movie, Flywheel.

Can you find any other Easter Eggs or references to other movies as you watch Overcomer? Let us know and we’ll share your findings on our social media!

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Interview with Overcomer Movie Star, Aryn Wright-Thompson

August 15, 2019May 7, 2020 Jessica Lippe

Aryn Wright-Thompson is an honor-roll student, a leader in her community, and studies piano and dance: ballet, jazz, tap, acro, and lyrical. Aryn also plays volleyball, basketball, and softball. Aryn has also participated in pageants including the Miss N.C.’s Little Miss program and the Black Miss North Carolina Organization. Overcomer is her debut film.

We had the opportunity to ask Aryn about her role as Hannah Scott in Overcomer, and we’re excited to share the inside scoop with you about her acting, her life, and her walk with God.

*2020 Update: You can read even more about Aryn Wright-Thompson and other actresses, athletes, and amazing Christian girls in our book, Girls Who Change the World!*

Have you done any acting or theater before Overcomer?

Yes, a little. I had done some regional NASCAR commercials, and extra work. I was an extra on the Three Stooges movie. That was a lot of fun because I was younger and there was a lot of playing outside and a big cafeteria scene where I got to sit next to my brother and eat and be silly all day. Jennifer Hudson took the time to talk to me that day. Still a highlight of my life…lol!

I have done both school and community theatre. I really enjoyed both.

How did you get involved with the Kendrick Brothers film?

My agent sent over the audition request. I read the sides that were sent and loved that. I taped the audition at home and made my dad cry.

What did a day on set look like?

Every day we would have devos as a group of all the cast & crew at between 7 and 8. Someone would pray and give a motivational or inspirational speech during breakfast. That was my favorite part of the day. Then I’d go to wardrobe, then hair and makeup. Sometimes I’d meet with Ms. Beth, the acting coach, to review my scenes. A lot of times Ms. Shari would talk with me or pray with me. We’d shoot some, have lunch. Shoot some more, then have dinner. There could be another wardrobe, hair or makeup change in there somewhere. We were also fortunate enough to have different churches volunteer to either cook or bring us all dinner to set! We’d eat, fellowship and then head home. Usually about 7 or 8 for me.

Girlz 4 Christ Magazine Summer 2019

Your character is a runner, but do you do any sports?

Yes! My parents have always kept us busy and active. Dance has been a constant in my life. I’m a competitive dancer and tap is my favorite style of dance. I have also played softball, basketball, volleyball and been a cheerleader. I also enjoy competing in pageants. I have participated in several North Carolina pageants.

How did you balance acting with school or your other commitments?

To be honest, it has always been a challenge because I live in North Carolina and I have often had to travel for opportunities. My mom would work with the schools and my teachers so that I wouldn’t fall behind and I have had to attend Saturday school a few times to make up missed time. I am very serious about my education and school work, so I always take every opportunity to work on assignments so that they’re on time.

How are you and your character Hannah alike?

I think that we are alike in the sense that we are both unsure. I had not always been sure of myself or my purpose. Spending time getting to know God and the love he as for me and all of us has given me the confidence to follow my dreams and I know who I am in Christ. That’s a big deal.

In real life, what’s something you’ve been working on accomplishing or overcoming lately?

Hmmmm…lately I think it’s been body image. Social media is such a big influence on the world. It seems the expectation is perfection. That’s not realistic and actual. I think it’s ridiculous. I’m definitely overcoming looking at myself from the view of the expectations of other people. God made me exactly the way he intended to, Who am I or anyone else to second guess that? As far as accomplishments, I’m working on being a professional at doing my own hair, there’s a lot to it!

Check out more girl heroes like Aryn Wright-Thompson in Girlz 4 Christ’s new book Girls Who Change the World, now available now on Amazon!

Now that filming is wrapped up and the movie’s almost out, do you have any plans or hopes for a next project?

Ultimately, whatever God has for me..I’ll do it and give Him my best. I would love to continue acting and telling stories! I have another project I’ve been cast in called Don’t You Tell A Soul. I’m super excited about it because it’s a period piece. I get to play a young lady in the 1940s. I have always wanted to do that. I also plan on going to college and maybe becoming an attorney one day.

Did you have a favorite scene or moment on set?

Every day was my favorite. If I could redo last summer all over again I would. Maybe my favorite day was the first day because everything was new to me. I was a little nervous, but after completing that first day I knew I could do this. I also LOVED getting to spend so much time with all of the Kendrick kids! That was so much fun.

Last question: how much did you REALLY have to run for the movie?

LOL! A lot! Probably an average of 3 miles a day, and when we were filming most of the distance running scenes probably about 7 miles a day. But the girls that were in all of those scenes with me are actual runners. They kept me going and encouraged. The crew was amazing in helping us get through those scenes.

Interviewed by Jessica Lippe

Taken from the Summer 2019 issue of Girlz 4 Christ Magazine

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Call for Writers: Be in Our Prayer Book!