History of Missionettes

Early in the 1950s, women began to see a need for a program to teach missions to young women and to prepare them for involvement in Women's Ministries. The national Women's Ministries Department of the Assemblies of God developed the Missionettes program in response to this need and to establish a systematic plan for the older women to train the younger women (Titus 2:3,4).

The first Missionettes club was officially chartered in January 1956. Since then, Missionettes clubs have continued to be organized across the United States and in many other countries. Along the way, revisions have been made to the program, such as age and grade-level changes and additions, and modifications to the achievement programs. But the ultimate purpose of Missionettes--winning girls to Jesus Christ and teaching them to live victoriously--has never changed. Here is a brief overview of the development of Missionettes.

• 1956: The first Missionettes Club was chartered. The original program was for girls ages 12-17.
• 1960: The achievement program, Stairway to the Stars, was introduced for Junior and Senior Missionettes.
• 1968: Prims, a 2-year achievement program for 7 and 8 year-old girls was organized.
• 1969: Young Women's Auxiliary, commonly known as Y's was organized.
• 1972: Daisies, a program for 5 and 6 year-old girls, was started.
• 1978: The Daisies achievement program was written. The club divisions were changed from age-level to graded programs.
• 1979: Rainbows, a program for 3 and 4 year-old girls and boys, was developed. Two divisions of Y's were introduced: Alpha Y's for high school girls and Gamma Y's for college and career young women.
• 1990: Juniors and Seniors became known as Stars. Gamma Y's became part of Women's Ministries, and Alpha Y's became known as Y's.
• 1998: Club levels were reorganized, new clubs (Friends and Girls Only) were formed, and all new curriculum was introduced.