One of
the pioneers of the Girls’ Auxiliary work in WMU of Nigeria was Mrs. Carson
(SBC missionary). In 1922, she gathered girls who were too old for the Sunbeam
Band to form Girls’ Association which was later changed to Girls’ Auxiliary the
same year. Few officers were elected among them to lead: Miss Grace Emokpae
(later Mrs. Sagie) who was one of their leaders then. In Ogbomoso, Miss
Young also promoted girls who were too old for the Sunbeam Band to GAs. They
were meeting once in a month on Sundays and later the enrolment grew to 22.
Only two or three could read and there was no literature organized by Mrs.
Carson. The main programe was to act Bible stories.
In 1924, there were nine (9) Girls’ Auxiliary in Ijora, Awe, Ode-Omu, Ibadan, Iresi, Ikire, Abeokuta Girls’ School, Igbajo and Ogbomoso with enrolment of 149. Fifty-six of them could read the Bible. The Girls’ Auxiliary organization was officially recognised as a part of WMU family in 1925. The theme for that year was Thirty-five Events in the Life of Christ, though had the same hymn and watchword with the Young Women’s Association— O Zion Haste and Daniel 12:3, respectively. The watchword “Arise, shine: for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1) for that year becomes the G.A. permanent watchword.
This is an organization for girls who love Christ and want to serve Him and be a part of His great missionary movement around the world. Its purpose is in two-fold:
·
To develop the
missionary zeal and response of Christian girls.
·
To bring girls together
for worldwide service for Christ.
Girls’ Auxiliary is for girls between the ages of 10 and 16. In every church, preaching station and schools where it is possible to do so, the girls are organized into Junior and Intermediate groups. The Junior Girls’ Auxiliary group includes girls whose ages are 10, 11 and 12; the intermediate ages are 13, 14, 15 and 16. Each organization has its own officers. Each group meets in a separate place for its weekly meetings.
The Girls’ Auxiliary was officially organized by the Women’s
Missionary Union as an important member of the WMU family in 1925.
In 1940 forward step work was introduced. It was planned for girls
who are interested in growing spiritually and participating in missionary
activities. The steps involve memorizing certain passages of the scripture,
collecting missionary information, understanding the teachings of the
scriptures, reading mission study books, writing, sewing, camping, visiting
mission houses, carrying out varied activities and doing other challenging
things. The steps are seven in number: Maiden, Lady-in-Waiting, Princess,
Queen, Queen-with-scepter, Queen Regent and Queen-in-service.
In all the Forward steps requirements, each girl must do her own work because it is she who is trying to learn. She must complete one step before she proceeds to another. She cannot do two steps at a time. A GA should not just memorize, read or study but she should understand the meaning of the information given and be able to put it into her own words. She should see how she can benefit from each step and not do it just for the award. When Forward Steps are well done, the GA has a sense of achievement. The Counsellor will only assist the GA; she will never do the work for her.
Girls’ Auxiliary Star
Ideals are five:
·
Abiding in Him through
prayer
·
Advancing in wisdom by
Bible study
·
Acknowledging My
Stewardship (Giving)
·
Adorning Myself with
Good Works (personal service)
·
Accepting the Challenge
of the Great Commission (Mission study)
