Girls for Christ Empowerment Conference returns 20 years later 

Girls for Christ, a youth empowerment conference started by Roberta Thorpe, is back after 20 years. 

Thorpe, founder and director of Girls for Christ and a current member of Mount Carmel church, said she got the idea to start a youth conference in 2000 after “the Lord gave her the assignment” to do so. The conference, which was designed to empower young women in the community to become positive role models in their communities, families and homes, took place consecutively from 2001-06 until Thorpe relocated to California. 

Now, more than 20 years later, Thorpe is back in Indianapolis and ready to host the conference again.

“God gave it to me to make a difference, and if the need is still there, I definitely want to be obedient and help our children,” Thorpe said. “I would like to be the one that steps in the gap to help those children to give them that little extra love and boost and push that they need and encourage them that they can do and be anything that they need to be with God.”

Girls for Christ equips girls aged 8-18 with the tools they need to grow up and advance through life through a series of seminars, activities and empowerment exercises over a weekend, Thorpe said. The lessons presented during the seminars aim to foster lifelong friendships, positive decision-making, and push the girls to become well-rounded leaders.

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Upon returning to Indianapolis, Thorpe was approached by parents and alumni of Girls for Christ who spoke of the long-lasting impact of the conference and asked if she would consider bringing it back. Thorpe was on board and got to work planning the next conference, which is set to take place in November, alongside parents, alumni and community volunteers.

“I don’t want to be one of those adults that’s constantly complaining about the negative things I see the kids doing,” Thorpe said. “Nowadays, parents are so busy working, keeping food on the table, providing, being the provider, that they have to let a lot of those teaching moments go by because they’re out working or out trying to make ends meet … I want to stress to them that success — the best success — comes with having a relationship with God and taking him along with you.”

Monica Burris, Thorpe’s goddaughter, attended the conference for a few years beginning in 2001 and said it was an amazing experience for her, especially since she didn’t have a traditional upbringing. Being able to “walk closer with the Lord” in tandem with lessons in etiquette and having opportunities to network and fellowship with girls her own age were integral in shaping Burris into the woman she is today.

“One of the things that really stood out was the banquet,” Burris said. “It was the closing night of Girls for Christ, so we all got to dress up and be really pretty and just fellowship. But those learnings have really stuck with me today and have molded who I am today, especially not having the support that most children have.”

For Elisa Muir, who sent her daughter, Andrea, to Girls for Christ in 2001 and 2002, the conference was essential in helping her daughter with social skills and making friends. She said Andrea struggled with other organizations and school programming, but Girls for Christ was a program in which she flourished.

Looking back, Muir said Girls for Christ is responsible for the young woman her daughter turned out to be today and is thankful someone like Thorpe went out of her way to create and maintain a program like this for the community.

“No one else did this for the young ladies at our church,” Muir said. “This was a big deal for parents like myself and, most importantly, for the girls.”

Now that the conference is coming back, it brings an opportunity for people to set an example for the young girls and women in their community and give back, especially those like Burris who have had “the opportunity for someone to genuinely pour into you.”

“It’s needed now, yes, this is a different generation, but they still need that support,” Muir added. “They still need to know that they’re important and that their life has meaning; it has meaning now. It’s definitely going to have meaning in the future … I’m excited because the other young women and girls that this program is going to reach.”

The Girls for Christ conference doesn’t have a yearly theme; instead, Thorpe said the seminars are designed to equip, empower and inform young girls to “do better and get over past hurts.” Topics discussed “reflect the real-life needs and challenges” youth face today and cover everything from character enrichment, public speaking, hygiene, etiquette and manners, physical growth awareness and peer pressure, Thorpe said.

In addition to the seminars, Girls for Christ will provide meals, snacks and treats for the girls, as well as a professional photo session, T-shirts, prizes and awards leading up to a formal banquet on Saturday night.

The 7^th annual Girls for Christ Empowerment Conference returns Nov. 21-23 at the Holiday Inn Express in Fishers. Week End Moms — or WEMs — will chaperone. Registration is $200 for girls 8-18 years and includes room and board, meals and activities for the entire weekend.

Those interested in registering should email Sister Roberta Thorpe at gfcinc2001@gmail.com. 

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.