A Look At Teen Sex

By Robin Fuller

Alarming statistics have recently surfaced in the United States. Reports have recently said that one in every four girls now has a STD (sexually transmitted disease). Most news reports tell us that abstinence programs simply don’t work, the HPV vaccine is the answer, or comprehensive sex education is necessary to tell our kids about the importance of using a condom.

Many of us who work with teens disagree wholeheartedly. The simple truth is that abstinence until marriage is the safest and healthiest choice for all of our teens. Believe it or not, teens are smart. The majority of them are NOT having sex. When teens hear the facts for themselves, and the dangers and consequences of any kind of sex – along with the simple fact that “safe sex” won’t protect them from many of the diseases (herpes and HPV included) – they often make a choice for themselves to live a life that includes abstinence until marriage.

We owe it to our kids to tell them the truth. Truth, combined with support and encouragement, is what they need to make the healthiest decision when it comes to sex. If we, as adults, believe in our teens and encourage them on the right path, they will usually listen!

The energetic touring group the Silver Ring Thing (www.silverringthing.com) is coming back to Southern Oregon to promote this healthy decision of abstinence until marriage! Last year’s event in Grants Pass prompted so many positive responses, and was so successful that this year it will be held on two consecutive nights. One in Grants Pass, then in Medford. In 2007 there were more than 750 students who attended this event, with 424 purity rings sold at the event and 91 commitments made to make Christ the center of their lives! This year we hope to give this message to thousands of students.

The Pregnancy Care Center is sponsoring this FREE event in Grants Pass on Friday, May 9^th at the Performing Arts Center at Grants Pass High School. MANY (Medford Area Network of Youth Ministries) is sponsoring the event in Medford at North Medford High School in the gym on Saturday, May 10^th.

All middle and high school students, along with their parents, are welcome to attend. Doors open at 5:45, with the event starting at 6:30. There is a separate seminar at the beginning of the event just for parents, which also starts at 6:30. If students want to purchase a ring, they simply need to bring $15. All who plan to attend should go to the Silver Ring Thing website and register before the event (www.silverringthing.com).

Bring a van load, or even a bus load of teens! For more information, please call the Pregnancy Care Center in Grants Pass at (541)479-6264 or Youth for Christ in Medford at (541)779-3275.

Robin Fuller writes from Grants Pass, Oregon