Revolve Gives Teen Girls Camaraderie

By Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter Saturday, October 21, 2006

The second annual Revolve Tour, geared toward teen girls, opened its sixth conference this year in Dallas, Texas where thousands of girls are getting the advice they've been looking for from relatable speakers and Christian artists.

Female Christian artists are often approached by young girls who come to them with their struggles seeking advice. But the artists' busy schedule doesn't allow the time for them to stop and talk. Revolve, however, offers the time and venue for artists to give girls the comradeship they seek.

"So many times in concerts, a lot of girls would come up to [us] and say 'I'm struggling with this. What do I do?'" said a ZOEgirl artist in a Revolve video. "A lot of times we don't have the time to stop and really spend the time we want with them. But this is the place where that can happen."

The Revolve tour, a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, kicked off last fall. Mothers who were attending Women of Faith conferences were asking for something for their daughters to go to which resulted in the now annual Revolve Tour. Thomas Nelson Publishers is also the parent sponsor of the Women of Faith conferences.

Revolve involves such artists like ZOEgirl, best-selling female artist in Christian music for 2005 Natalie Grant, and Tammy Trent. New this year is Christian hip hop artist KJ-52. Speakers also include Olympic Diving Gold Medalist Laura Wilkinson and US Diving National Champion Kimiko Soldati.

"It's just been such a feeling of camaraderie, and of family, and of a team where everyone is cheering each other on," said Grant.

With thousands of girls attending the conferences nationwide at a time when eating disorders are on the rise and less young adults are attending church on Sundays, Revolve's speakers tackles issues of friendship, boys, image and faith.

"It doesn't candy coat anything," noted Grant. "It hits these issues dead on and it also is empowering girls.

"They're searching for something that would empower them to be able to go beyond just this conference and what they can take with them to go out and change the world."