Modern Day Princess was founded by Doreen Hanna after she recognized the need for a rite of passage into womanhood for teen girls in our society more than a decade ago.

In 2002, she was invited to a summit at Focus on the Family for those who had recognized that same need in our culture. It was evident that God had led Robert Lewis to lead this rite of passage movement in the early nineties, and now it was growing exponentially at the turn of the century through more than a dozen men that were present that day. Doreen walked into the conference room to discover that she was the only woman present. However, she quickly saw that this “felt need” in church communities was being met for boys, but not yet for girls. She left the summit with the dream that Focus on the Family would one day publish her book or curriculum.

Twelve publisher rejections and six years later, her dream came true. Focus on the Family embraced her proposal and proclaimed, “This is what we have been looking for since we published Raising a Modern-Day Knight .” Doreen’s heart leaped as she signed the contract, and soon she was featured with her coauthor, Pam Farrel, on the Focus on the Family radio program. She initially saw it as an American-based rite of passage; however, by 2010 the program had been implemented in every state in the nation and is used in more than twenty-two countries across the world today.

Teens are one of our biggest concerns in society because we see the choices offered to them through every possible media, seeking to lead them to very destructive ways of living. We are called to impart wisdom, hope, and healing as leaders and parents in this crucial season of their lives.

Doreen boldly suggests that we equip our daughters with purpose, value, and strength through a rite of passage for our little girls. This passage and celebration is presented in Raising a Young Modern-Day Princess , which equips teachers, parents, and grandparents to guide their girls (ages 4–10) to embrace the fruit of the Spirit into their little hearts. Ultimately, we want to see them live this out daily, offering a taste of that fruit in their relationships with family and friends. The book provides practical applications through more than 100 activities created by coauthor Karen Whiting. In addition, there is a Dad’s Toolbox in every chapter, enabling fathers to model and encourage the growth of fruit in their lives and their daughters’.

Whether you are a pastor, teacher, leader, or parent, consider these resources as a guide to establishing life-impacting rites of passage for your girls today.

Doreen’s most recent book is  Raising a Young Modern-Day Princess: Growing the Fruit of the Spirit in Your Little Girl  (written with Karen Whiting).

Emulating the format of Raising a Modern-Day Princess, authors Doreen Hanna and Karen Whiting seek to help parents and grandparents cultivate strong relationships and encourage the spiritual formation in their daughters using examples, Bible teaching on the fruit of the Spirit, and a variety of creative activities that are based on Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control).

By implementing the ideas in this book, mothers (as well as fathers) will be equipped to understand and guide their daughters through each step of becoming His “princess.” This will include perceiving a daughter’s unique personality and gifts, refining her character through training and discipline, and modeling the attributes of a daughter of the King.

This book is a follow-up to both Raising a Modern-Day Knight (by Robert Lewis) and Raising a Modern-Day Princess by Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna. While the latter book is aimed at parents of girls ages 12 and up, this book focuses on building the Christian character of younger girls.

Check out this excerpt from the chapter on Kindness!

Have you spoken a simple word of kindness to a stranger that turned that frown into a smile? Or did an affirmative nod of support during someone’s moment of doubt inspire that person to boldly move forward? Or did you share a verse with a friend who was seeking God’s direction—and it turned out your friend had just read the same verse? It’s an awe-inspiring moment when you realize God has used you to encourage someone else.

Try This Kindness Activity

Place a piece of celery in a glass of water. Add food coloring to the water and watch the celery gradually change color. Point out that a words of kindness can change people, like adding something colorful to their lives.

A Message for Fathers from Dad’s Tool Box

Your kind words expressing how pretty she looks are important to her, no matter how old she is. This reassurance is incredibly valuable coming from you. Remember, it is impossible to give sincere encouragement without kindness being present.

Download the first chapter  of Raising a Modern-Day Princess by Doreen Hanna and Karen Whiting.

Visit Karen Whiting’s Princess Party Pinterest Page .

Doreen Hanna  is founder and president of Treasured Celebrations Ministries (treasuredcelebrations.org) and is the coauthor of Becoming a Modern-Day Princess , a biblically based rite-of-passage program for teenage girls. Doreen is a faculty member and motivational speaker for CLASS (Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Services), and has been a women’s Bible study teacher and trained biblical counselor for more than 25 years.