“God, what can I do for you right now?  I long to serve you and know you have a special ministry for me someday, yet what can I do for you while I am single and just 19 years old?”  These are the questions I asked God on a Sunday morning in 1998 after a message had been given about ‘What can you do for God right now?’  I had no idea the change in my life that these two questions would make.

Immediately, as I sat back down in the pew, I began to think about the trials of love and dating. The teenage years are a very trying time of victories and mistakes.  The choices made at this point in life dictate the future ahead. At this moment, I knew someone needed to help these teens make educated decisions.  This someone would be me. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:10-12)

At the age of 17, I attended Girls State at Harding University through White County Central School. My roommate during that week wore a gold band that she called her “Purity Ring”.   Her parents had given her this ring when she was 12 to remind her to keep her purity for the man she married.  I thought this was a great idea.

When I came home from Girls State, I told my parents about this girl and her ring.  My mom had been very open to talk to me about relationships from the time I was old enough to ask tough questions, yet I had never had something to symbolize my purity. Feeling that I was too old to receive my ring now, I told my parents I would like to do that for my children someday.

My 18th birthday came a few months after that summer. On my birthday, to my surprise, I received my purity ring from my parents. My dad kissed me on the cheek and said, “We are glad that you are 18 and we can still give you a ring symbolizing that you have waited.”  This ring became a very special part of my life. A year later, I began teaching this concept to our youth at church.

I ordered ‘True Love Waits’ material and planned for a class in September.  The age range was set at 12 to 18.  We had five girls in our church that fit into that category. Feeling that I was dreaming big, I ordered fifteen books. I began posting flyers in the surrounding schools and stores. Not wanting cost to be an issue for those attending, the class was free. Every graduate that completed the requirements would receive a ring engraved “True Love Waits” on graduation night.

Orientation night came.  I realized that I had not dreamed as big as I felt that I had.  Our first night we had twenty girls, and the second night forty.  We met every Monday night for thirteen weeks.  Not only did they learn to make educated decisions, we grew to be sisters.

Eight years later, we are still meeting on Monday nights for 13 week classes. Classes are conducted in a ‘bunking party’ style.  We sit in the floor, eat our snacks, and have fun while we learn. Topics include how to set boundaries in dating and goals for the future, how to choose a mate, overcoming the past, and suicide prevention. Sexual abuse victims, post-abortive women, and former teenage parents are a few of the speakers each year.  The class is not only for those who are still virgins.  There is no better time to begin your commitment to sexual abstinence than now!

As support for the program increased, we developed a guys class.  They also meet on Monday nights in a separate room from the girls, and at times, around a camp?re. Games and activities are combined with the lessons.  Topics include how to set boundaries in dating and goals for the future, the truth about manhood, suicide prevention, and how to respect themselves and women.  Male speakers share trials and victories of their teenage years.  Last year our guys received a ring engraved, “A Man’s Strength is in His Character” at graduation.

Each year we have a float in the White County Fair parade.  We ask for past and present students to ride.  Last year 38 youth rode on our “Determined” float, and two years ago 42 youth covered our “Freedom Float” as we took first place in the Educational Category. Past graduates also join us for class every year.  After the completion of the first year, they become peer leaders in the next class.  A commitment to purity is not a one-time commitment, but it is a day-by-day decision.  We need each other to make it through.

That first year, graduation night was faced with many tears, and has continued to end the same way over the last eight years.  Each graduate is presented with a ring from the person of his or her choice.  What an amazing sight to see fathers break into tears as they place the ring on their sons and daughters fingers while admonishing them to stand strong in the face of temptation.

After completing my Master’s Degree in Family Life Education through Harding University, I spent 2 years teaching character and abstinence education in the Faulkner County schools, kindergarten through 12th grade.  I have relocated to White County in hopes of pursuing my dream to expand the program in my hometown. Workshops include character and abstinence education for teens in the White County Schools, marriage preparation and how to live a fulfilling season of singleness for college girls, and parenting seminars for adults in surrounding churches and civic organizations. For a workshop in your area, I can be reached at the number below.

“Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.” John 4:35

God has a plan for every child He has created, plans to give hope for the future.  Together we can give hope and direction to a hurting, searching generation.