The 10th anniversary of the True Love Waits marital purity movement culminated
in the shadow of one of the ancient worlds most impressive ruins, once
a site of sexual indulgence.
The 10th anniversary of the True Love Waits marital purity movement culminated
in the shadow of one of the ancient worlds most impressive ruins, once
a site of sexual indulgence.
At the event, youth of the world were called to make a stand for sexual purity
by remaining sexually abstinent until marriage.
The event was held Aug. 22, at the Dora Stratou Theatre, located on a hill
adjacent to the Acropolis, site of the Greek Parthenon. Activities focused on
the program sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist
Convention, which challenges young people to make a commitment to remain sexualyl
pure until marriage.
In addition to challenging the few hundred in attendance, the call to purity
was Web cast through www.truelovewaits.com and is still available for viewing.
A central aspect of the event was the arrival of more than 460,000 commitment-to-abstinence
cards from young people in more than 20 countries.
“I believe the diversity of countries from where weve received either
cards or word of commitments made shows the global scope of True Love Waits,”
said Jimmy Hester, co-founder of the movement and director of student ministry
at LifeWay.
“It has had a positive impact in cultures around the world, and it is
simple to understand why. True Love Waits is based on Gods biblical design
for human sexuality. He intended for sex to be between a man and a woman and
within the boundaries of marriage. That is the message we unapologetically proclaim
here in Athens.”
Organizers said the reason for having the event during the Olympics was both
to celebrate the 10 years since True Love Waits was launched and to raise awareness
for a biblical approach to abstinence.
“You stand before a holy God today, and you have to make a decision,”
co-founder Richard Ross challenged the audience. “Do you love God to the
point where you are willing to set yourself apart from what the world is doing
so that you can be a holy vessel through which he can work?”
Ross message was similar to the challenge issued by former Olympian Carl
Lewis, who called the youth to “set yourself apart in your group by being
a leader and not giving in to what others are doing.”
Hester said the international setting was an appropriate place to celebrate
the success of True Love Waits because of how the ministry has spread globally.
It was introduced into Uganda 10 years ago and is credited for a dramatic decrease
in the number of newly diagnosed cases of AIDS in that nation.
All in all, the emphasis has taken root in more than 85 countries. More than
100 organizations – secular and religious – have adopted True Love
Waits.
Teenagers who pledge to remain sexually abstinent until marriage are 34 percent
less likely to have sex than those who do not take virginity vows, a study published
in 2001 by the American Journal of Sociology indicates. The pledge works because
it creates an “identity movement” or “moral community” that
provides peer support for teenagers, the study suggests.
It is an environment that Ross is hoping will take root in countries like Greece
,where abortion has become a key form of birth control and the average girl
may have multiple abortions before she reaches age 25.
He noted that 67 percent of sexually-experienced teenagers in the United States
say they wish they had waited longer before having sexual intercourse. Ross
said he believes a survey done in countries like Greece would reveal similar
results.
“Sexual activity outside of marriage leads to all types of tragic consequences,”
Ross said. “You can see the escalation around the world in sexually-transmitted
diseases and the AIDS crisis spiraling out of control. The very sad thing is
that it is all very much avoidable if young people heed Gods biblical
precepts.
“My prayer is that countries like Greece will be transformed because Christian
young people make a moral stand and influence their peers not just for sexual
purity but lead them to a personal relationship with Christ. The two are very
much related.” (BP)
(Additional information and photos regarding True Love Waits and the Athens
2004 event can be found at www.lifeway.com/news)