April 6, 2026
From childhood belief to lifelong love for Christ, AHG helps families cultivate ‘sticky faith’ that lasts
‘Cultivating your girl’s personal walk with Christ is essential in building a lifelong faith that will shape their future,’ says AHG’s Rachael Culpepper
CINCINNATI, Ohio — The hope of every Christian parent is that their children foster a strong sense of faith from a young age. More than 80% of young women identify as somewhat spiritual with a belief in a higher power, but it is vital that parents and leaders of girls nurture that inherent belief into a lifelong love for Christ. That’s why American Heritage Girls (AHG, www.americanheritagegirls.org), the nation’s premier Christ-centered, scout-type organization for girls ages five to 18, equips parents to guide their girls with spiritual resilience, biblical truth and confidence in Christ before they leave home.
“It’s incredible to see how young girls can be movers and shakers for God in today’s culture,” said AHG Executive Director Rachael Culpepper. “It can be easy to discredit the faith of a child as immature or simplistic, but we as Christian parents and leaders are called to embolden the faith of our children. As parents, we only have our children under our roof for 18 years, so it’s vital we take advantage of this time and make it count.”
For three decades, AHG has ensured that girls and their families are well versed in biblical knowledge through the AHG Faith Award Program. With each AHG Program Level, girls are introduced to new skills, experiences (including outdoor adventures) and leadership positions, as well as given opportunities to grow closer to the Lord. A girl who completes the AHG Program will be a Christ-following servant leader who is honoring, relational, anchored in Christ and competent: a woman of integrity.
On a special episode of AHG’s Raising Godly Girls (RGG) podcast, AHG Founder and Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay spoke with actress, author and speaker Alena Pitts Franklin in a powerful conversation about “sticky faith” — the kind of faith that holds steady through high school, college and beyond. This episode also speaks directly to the challenges girls face today — from social media comparison to cultural confusion — and offers encouragement for both moms and daughters to pursue a faith that is authentic, resilient and deeply rooted in God’s Word. This important dialogue is sure to give listeners the motivation and tools necessary to raise godly girls who will impact the world for Christ.
“Whether it’s reading the Bible in school, sharing her love for Jesus with friends, or following a Christ-centered moral compass in front of her peers, a godly girl can be real light in the darkness. Cultivating your girl’s personal walk with Christ is essential in building a lifelong faith that will shape their future,” said Culpepper.
Tune in to this week’s Raising Godly Girls (RGG) podcast and “Raising Godly Girls” one-minute radio feature to equip, affirm and strengthen parents and loved ones to guide their girls to build a faith that lasts beyond high school and into adulthood. And next week on the Raising Godly Girls podcast, join AHG for a week of conversations on the topic of faith and curiosity — how to equip girls to see wonder in God’s creation, science and Scripture — with a special guest episode featuring Ryan and Selena Frederick.
About American Heritage Girls: Marking the organization’s 30th anniversary this year,American Heritage Girls was founded in 1995 by a group of parents who wanted a faith-based, scout-type character development program for their daughters. At AHG, girls ages five to 18 meet together as a unified group and then break out into Levels. This gives AHG girls the important social experience of interacting with friends and Godly mentors. Girl Members also learn leadership skills within a group setting. AHG Troops are located in local communities across the nation. If one does not exist in a given area, families are encouraged to start an AHG Troop. An American Heritage Girls Troop Development Coach is available to provide resources and support. To hear more about the purpose, mission and vision of AHG from Founder and Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay, click here.
Today, there are 70,000 members and 1,300 Troops in all 50 states, with girls being served in six countries around the globe. Girls can join a Troop at any time; if a Troop is not available nearby, they can become a Trailblazer and enjoy the AHG program alongside their parents. Charter Organizations include a variety of Christian denominations, Christian schools and Catholic outreach. Thousands of volunteer members across the country are helping girls grow in their faith, cultivate a heart for service, enjoy the great outdoors and have more fun than they can imagine.
AHG offers various resources under “Raising Godly Girls,” including a weekly podcast featuring fresh episodes every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, “Raising Godly Girls Minute” with Patti Garibay one-minute radio feature airing on 1000+ Christian radio stations nationwide, a blog, and e-books for parents. All “Raising Godly Girls” platforms and materials offer guidance and biblically-based advice on various topics affecting girls today, such as bullying, identity, anxiety and body image issues. “Raising Godly Girls” provides parents, educators and faith community leaders with tools, resources and Scripture-based advice to help raise girls after God’s own heart.
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To schedule interviews with Patti Garibay, executive director emeritus of American Heritage Girls, or Rachael Culpepper, executive director of American Heritage Girls, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Jeff Tolson, ext. 108.
To inquire about airing the “Raising Godly Girls Minute” with Patti Garibay, contact Michael Hamilton, 610.584.1096, ext. 101.
