9 Sep 2025, 23:08IM Communications
Galway Church Hosts Princesses Gathering For Teen Girls
“Thoughtful,” “creative,” “meaningful,” “fun,” “inspirational,” “a spiritual journey.” These are just some of the words participants used to describe a very special weekend, August 22–24, at the Galway Seventh-day Adventist Church. During this time, the church became the setting for Princesses Gathering: The King’s Daughters—an uplifting event designed especially for teen girls. Together, they laughed, reflected, built new friendships, and discovered more deeply what it means to be a true daughter of the King—Jesus Christ.
The Vision Behind the Event
The inspiration for this gathering came from Sayuri Betti, health mentor and member of the Adventist Church in Galway, who noticed the need for a programme that would speak directly to the hearts of teenage girls in the church. “When I first arrived at the church here in Ireland, something immediately caught my attention: so many girls and teenagers gathered together, yet many of them seemed to be there without a clear purpose—some simply because their parents had brought them. That scene brought back memories of my own teenage years as a Christian girl, of the struggles I faced trying to find my place, my identity, and my purpose in God.”
Remembering a similar initiative she had once seen in Brazil, Sayuri felt a strong desire to bring such an experience to the girls in Ireland. With the support of the Children’s Ministry director, the pastor, and other volunteers, the dream became reality. “We wanted to create a special weekend—an unforgettable experience where these girls could not only have fun but, above all, encounter Jesus in a real way and receive encouragement and guidance to face the challenges of this unique season of life.”
A Joyful Beginning
Parents dropped off their daughters on Friday afternoon and picked them up on Sunday. As the girls arrived, they set up their beds in the designated rooms and prepared for the opening ceremony. Entering the decorated hall, they were welcomed by a beautiful, delicate atmosphere. The first presentation, based on Proverbs 31, reminded them that a virtuous woman is not perfect, but wise, faithful, strong, and devoted to God.
The highlight of the evening was the crowning moment. Each girl was called by name, received a crown, and was presented with a gift pack containing a t-shirt, pen, hair accessories, and a notebook. Their smiles and expressions revealed how special this moment was. Afterwards, photos were taken individually and in groups, followed by a festive dinner and a princess-themed cake. One girl shared later: “My favourite part here was the food and all the girls because they are so lovely and super nice; and the decorations, because they were super creative.”
Lessons and Inspiration
Saturday was filled with devotionals, talks, activities, and even a quiz. The girls learned about making wise choices in relationships, identifying godly qualities in a future partner, and waiting with faith and wisdom. Another session on purity reminded them that God’s call is not restrictive, but protective and honoring.
Later, they explored the theme “Discover Your True Beauty”, encouraging them to see themselves through God’s eyes. In the afternoon, the talk “Honour That Transforms: My Relationship with My Parents” guided the girls toward forgiveness, healing, and valuing honor even in difficult family circumstances. As part of this, they were invited to write a heartfelt letter to their parents.
Looking back on the day, one of the participants shared: “My favourite part of the weekend is making new friends and mingling with other girls. The talks were really fun too, because they were meaningful and I feel they help a teen growing up.”
To ensure they could be fully present, participants who had phones were asked to hand them in, receiving them only briefly in the morning and evening. This decision helped create a focused, distraction-free environment.
Sunday morning’s presentation, “Temple of the King: Caring for Your Body with Purpose”, emphasized that honoring God also involves caring for one’s health—through good nutrition, rest, physical activity, and emotional well-being. The girls even enjoyed a practical activity: preparing a healthy chocolate mousse made with chickpeas and sweet potato.
A Meaningful Farewell
The closing ceremony was both joyful and reflective. Each girl wrote down three lessons she would take with her from the weekend. As a symbolic reminder, they placed their fingerprints as leaves on a mural tree and signed their names. The event concluded with the theme song, sung passionately together one last time:
“I’m a King’s daughter, made to walk in light,
not to please this world, but to honor Christ.
In every choice, in what I say and do,
I wanna live a life that points to You.
They may not see me, may not understand,
but I belong to the Great I Am.
I’m a King’s daughter, and I’m not afraid to shine.”
A Lasting Impact
Reflecting on the weekend, Sayuri shared: “Just by observing their expressions during each talk, it was already something special to see how deeply it connected with them. But after the event, when parents and the girls themselves began sharing feedback, it became clear that the goal had been achieved. Hearts were touched. Seeds were planted for eternity.”
Parents also expressed deep gratitude for the programme. One wrote: “A very big thank you to the organisers of this wonderful program. Your hard work, dedication, and selflessness have made such a positive impact. We are especially grateful for the care and attention you showed in looking after the girls. It gave us great peace of mind knowing they were safe, supported, and inspired.”
Another parent shared: “Thank you so much for all the organization. It was an unforgettable and beautiful experience this weekend. May God continue to bless your ministry!” Others echoed the same appreciation: “A big thank you to all the organisers for making each child feel special… princess indeed, and for the encouraging and inspiring talks. May God bless your ministry!” and “Such a beautiful program. My daughter had a great experience and received a lot of useful information. We hope you will be able to create many more projects like this for our children.”
Sayuri’s prayer is that the girls will carry the lessons into daily life, remembering who they are and making choices that reflect their identity in Christ. “It was truly special to witness what God did. My desire is that many more events like this will happen—not only across Ireland but around the world—so that girls will be aligned with the heart of our King, protected from the enemy’s traps, and living with clarity and purpose.”
“Thoughtful,” “creative,” “meaningful,” “fun,” “inspirational,” “a spiritual journey.” These are just some of the words participants used to describe a very special weekend, August 22–24, at the Galway Seventh-day Adventist Church. During this time, the church became the setting for Princesses Gathering: The King’s Daughters—an uplifting event designed especially for teen girls. Together, they laughed, reflected, built new friendships, and discovered more deeply what it means to be a true daughter of the King—Jesus Christ.
The Vision Behind the Event
The inspiration for this gathering came from Sayuri Betti, health mentor and member of the Adventist Church in Galway, who noticed the need for a programme that would speak directly to the hearts of teenage girls in the church. “When I first arrived at the church here in Ireland, something immediately caught my attention: so many girls and teenagers gathered together, yet many of them seemed to be there without a clear purpose—some simply because their parents had brought them. That scene brought back memories of my own teenage years as a Christian girl, of the struggles I faced trying to find my place, my identity, and my purpose in God.”
Remembering a similar initiative she had once seen in Brazil, Sayuri felt a strong desire to bring such an experience to the girls in Ireland. With the support of the Children’s Ministry director, the pastor, and other volunteers, the dream became reality. “We wanted to create a special weekend—an unforgettable experience where these girls could not only have fun but, above all, encounter Jesus in a real way and receive encouragement and guidance to face the challenges of this unique season of life.”
A Joyful Beginning
Parents dropped off their daughters on Friday afternoon and picked them up on Sunday. As the girls arrived, they set up their beds in the designated rooms and prepared for the opening ceremony. Entering the decorated hall, they were welcomed by a beautiful, delicate atmosphere. The first presentation, based on Proverbs 31, reminded them that a virtuous woman is not perfect, but wise, faithful, strong, and devoted to God.
The highlight of the evening was the crowning moment. Each girl was called by name, received a crown, and was presented with a gift pack containing a t-shirt, pen, hair accessories, and a notebook. Their smiles and expressions revealed how special this moment was. Afterwards, photos were taken individually and in groups, followed by a festive dinner and a princess-themed cake. One girl shared later: “My favourite part here was the food and all the girls because they are so lovely and super nice; and the decorations, because they were super creative.”
Lessons and Inspiration
Saturday was filled with devotionals, talks, activities, and even a quiz. The girls learned about making wise choices in relationships, identifying godly qualities in a future partner, and waiting with faith and wisdom. Another session on purity reminded them that God’s call is not restrictive, but protective and honoring.
Later, they explored the theme “Discover Your True Beauty”, encouraging them to see themselves through God’s eyes. In the afternoon, the talk “Honour That Transforms: My Relationship with My Parents” guided the girls toward forgiveness, healing, and valuing honor even in difficult family circumstances. As part of this, they were invited to write a heartfelt letter to their parents.
Looking back on the day, one of the participants shared: “My favourite part of the weekend is making new friends and mingling with other girls. The talks were really fun too, because they were meaningful and I feel they help a teen growing up.”
To ensure they could be fully present, participants who had phones were asked to hand them in, receiving them only briefly in the morning and evening. This decision helped create a focused, distraction-free environment.
Sunday morning’s presentation, “Temple of the King: Caring for Your Body with Purpose”, emphasized that honoring God also involves caring for one’s health—through good nutrition, rest, physical activity, and emotional well-being. The girls even enjoyed a practical activity: preparing a healthy chocolate mousse made with chickpeas and sweet potato.
A Meaningful Farewell
The closing ceremony was both joyful and reflective. Each girl wrote down three lessons she would take with her from the weekend. As a symbolic reminder, they placed their fingerprints as leaves on a mural tree and signed their names. The event concluded with the theme song, sung passionately together one last time:
“I’m a King’s daughter, made to walk in light,
not to please this world, but to honor Christ.
In every choice, in what I say and do,
I wanna live a life that points to You.
They may not see me, may not understand,
but I belong to the Great I Am.
I’m a King’s daughter, and I’m not afraid to shine.”
A Lasting Impact
Reflecting on the weekend, Sayuri shared: “Just by observing their expressions during each talk, it was already something special to see how deeply it connected with them. But after the event, when parents and the girls themselves began sharing feedback, it became clear that the goal had been achieved. Hearts were touched. Seeds were planted for eternity.”
Parents also expressed deep gratitude for the programme. One wrote: “A very big thank you to the organisers of this wonderful program. Your hard work, dedication, and selflessness have made such a positive impact. We are especially grateful for the care and attention you showed in looking after the girls. It gave us great peace of mind knowing they were safe, supported, and inspired.”
Another parent shared: “Thank you so much for all the organization. It was an unforgettable and beautiful experience this weekend. May God continue to bless your ministry!” Others echoed the same appreciation: “A big thank you to all the organisers for making each child feel special… princess indeed, and for the encouraging and inspiring talks. May God bless your ministry!” and “Such a beautiful program. My daughter had a great experience and received a lot of useful information. We hope you will be able to create many more projects like this for our children.”
Sayuri’s prayer is that the girls will carry the lessons into daily life, remembering who they are and making choices that reflect their identity in Christ. “It was truly special to witness what God did. My desire is that many more events like this will happen—not only across Ireland but around the world—so that girls will be aligned with the heart of our King, protected from the enemy’s traps, and living with clarity and purpose.”
