A decade after Southern Baptist leaders launched the most recognizable
teenage sexual abstinence program in the world, the effort continues –
and looks to expand its focus.
“We have had the True Love Waits (sexual abstinence) message
take hold from Australia to Zimbabwe,” said Jimmy Hester, a staff member
with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, the agency
sponsoring the effort.
A decade after Southern Baptist leaders launched the most recognizable
teenage sexual abstinence program in the world, the effort continues –
and looks to expand its focus.
“We have had the True Love Waits (sexual abstinence) message
take hold from Australia to Zimbabwe,” said Jimmy Hester, a staff member
with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, the agency
sponsoring the effort.
“Students all over the world are seeing the wisdom of
– and making – a commitment to living a lifestyle of purity.”
Tens of thousands of young people have embraced True Love Waits,
signing pledge cards that call them to remain sexual abstinent until marriage.
And now, True Love Waits leaders want even more people – and not just
teenagers to join in the effort.
“True Love Waits Goes Home” is the newest theme for
the sexual purity effort.
As part of the new emphasis, the True Love Waits commitment
for students has been reworded to broaden the scope of the commitment. The pledge
now states:
“Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to
God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate and my future children to
a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day
I enter a biblical marriage relationship.”
In addition, a second pledge has been drafted for parents to
sign. It reads:
“Believing that true love is pure, I join (insert students
name) in committing to a lifestyle of purity. I make a commitment to God, myself,
my family, and my community of faith to abstain from pornography, impure touching
and conversations and sex outside a biblical marriage relationship from this
day forward.”
It is critical for families to commit to living a life of purity
together, Hester said. “Students and families go hand in hand. …
“(So) For the first time since the beginning of the campaign,
parents will be invited to make a promise to sexual fidelity and purity,”
Hester added. “We know that in many families, the issue of purity is not
just a teen issue. With the proliferation of pornography and divorce, purity
has become an issue for a lot of parents.”
Having a True Love Waits pledge for parents can help families
see that purity in lifestyle goes beyond teenagers avoiding sex; it applies
to the whole family, he said.
In connection with the emphasis, LifeWay has released a “True
Love Waits Goes Home Manual” for use by youth ministers, volunteer leaders,
families and other student leaders.
LifeWay also is publishing “Living Pure Inside Out,”
a study for students that can also be used by families.
February is designated as True Love Waits Month, Hester noted.
So, in February 2003 churches will be urged to offer opportunities for parents
and students to study, pray and make commitments to purity.
Then, in the second year of True Love Waits Goes Home, an international
display is scheduled to be developed for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens,
Greece.
“This (international display) will amplify the voices of the Christian
students who are standing for (sexual) purity, …” Hester said. “Its
our prayer that as the worlds attention is focused on Athens for the Olympic
Games people will become aware of the hundreds of thousands of youth who have
made decisions to protect themselves physically and spiritually by living a
life of purity.” (BP)