Teen Pregnancy in the Church. What do we do?

Athough we teach abstinence in the church, and the fact that fornication is a sin, teenagers are still getting pregnant!!
How can we educate our members and get them pass denial ?
What alternatives are their for reaching our youth?

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Comment by Anointed Sister on March 22, 2009 at 10:54pm
I believe that this subject is one that we play and dance around so often (in the church as well as in community). I also believe that our children that are churched have a level of understanding as it relates to SIN. Very few people "sin not" because of fear. If it were so...the majority of us would most likely still be out there. There is something within us that says "surely that will not happen to me". I believe that the Body of Christ through the local church needs to have parenting classes for parents in dealing with their issues as they relate to personal healing and family health. Most of our children get involved in sexual activities not because they don't know, but because they are seeking to fill a void within themselves. Many of our children have a lot of "alone" time when they are playing with electronic devices and without supervision and constructive wholistic activities. We have teens that are caring for themselves because parents work more hours and further away from home/neighbor. The village no longer cares for its children...no one is watching to the point of caring. Watching is now done to keep the gossip lines heated. There was a time that when an adult even thought that a child was going in the wrong direction or looked suspect, that adult had them by the ear. Not only did the adult speak to the situation, but the parents, the teachers, and the church mother/father had input. Now we turn our backs expecting another person to respond and act. Meanwhile our children are exploring and experimenting with their lives only to learn that God's principles work. Having sex...will lead to being fruitful and multiply. The Body of Christ/local church has to be real...just saying "No" does not work. Loving our children to life through modeling healthy and holy relationships for them and teaching them how to interact socially will give set up standards in line with the Word. Also we as believers need to set boundaries and consequences through discipline that will offer our children more stability and problem solving abilities. They need to have opportunities of accountability, be empowered by knowing who they are and given tools to be successful as they develop relationships. A pregnant child does not a parent make…a child that knows their value does not gravitate so easily towards immediate flesh gratification looking for love in the wrong places.
Comment by T.L. Hawkins on March 19, 2009 at 8:20am
Thank ALL of you for your comments. You all have been helpful.
Comment by Martha Bruce on March 16, 2009 at 10:54pm
Thank you Sister Hawkins for this blog.
Comment by Martha Bruce on March 16, 2009 at 10:53pm
Here I go again. Martha's opinion is that some of us who are supposed to be the Church have stood before the world and pleaded the 5th Amendment instead of praying for boldness like the apostles did.
A call to boldness. Speaking the heart and mind of God. Using His Word to teach doctrine, to reprove, to rebuke, to expose the enemy's tools of deception.
Thank you for being instant in season and out of season.
Thankfully the truth of God's Word is never out of season.
Comment by Eric Hancock on March 16, 2009 at 7:50pm
Well just say NO did not work for her either,,Somethings just should not come out of Adults mouth until the time is right,,when I was young living with my Grandmother I never heard her curse and never heard anything related to sex,,I believe in this Microwave generation ,,,everything is fast,,and when things are too fast it is not worth it,,but I done a Bible study with the boys and girls and male and feamle leaders JUST TO HAVE that Balance,,and discuss the RATED X BIBLE and we talked about everything even masturbation and was suprise how many was guilty of it,,when I start talking why some females have all there finger nails except the index there is never a nail for that finger,,some of the girls started hiding there hands,,even the Boys I exposed them ,,some even said that they did not know that it was wrong,,,BUT that Balance was there,,so the conversation went deeper when the question came up WHY CANT WE HAVE SEX,,AND WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY THAT??They learned that day that I was the wrong person to pop that question to,,I laid it out to them and that curved the teen sex,,later I learned that the Pastors and Ministers was sexually active with the members and some even married,,So I really had some work to do
Comment by Martha Bruce on March 16, 2009 at 7:38pm
Thank you Brothers.
If we say we believe that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of God then, (my opinion) It is important that we teach the whole thing. Sex is important to that whole thing. Part of that whole thing is also reproduction. Reproduction is very important to God. I believe He takes it seriously. It is His creation.
I believe we must teach about sex from the Word of God. Our teens need to know what God thinks about sex aside from what we feel about it. I also believe we must be careful that our teaching is in balance.
When my children were teenagers we went to a church where the youth leader was in her early twenties. She was engaged to be married and it seemed that every week she was teaching on sex - just sex - for weeks. Some of the teenagers told me they hadn't been thinking about sex until she continued to talk about it week after week. They said it was making them very curious.
So how do we convince the adults that it is necessary to teach our children about what the Bible says about sex? Taking the Nancy Reagan stance of "Just Say No" is not working. It probably didn't work with most of us so I don't get why we think it will work with the teens.
When the world became more open about sex it seems that the Church became more closed mouth.
Comment by Eric Hancock on March 16, 2009 at 5:18pm
I tell the youth that they're the future therefore every step they make has to be an important on,,they must not be in a rush to experience something that will come naturally in time,and then I would explain that GOD loves for man and Woman to have sex,,But he wants them to be marriewd,,now before you all crucify me spiritually..GOD ORDAINED SEX,,,BUT,,,we must be married..I showed them sex in the Bible and taught on it,,thats right I did it,,I rather show them than the heathen do it,,the Bible can be RATED X,,, IF YOU STUDY IT!!! Once they seen the penalties and suffering from SIN it scared them,,we must teach them what is in the Bible since that is what we want them to read
Comment by Martha Bruce on March 16, 2009 at 2:34pm
Gentlemen,
Have we answered the question? If we have could I have a recap? Where are we? Do we have solid answers? Surely there is someone out there who has been successful with ministering to our youth and has curbed the tide of teen pregnancy in the part of the vineyard in which they work.
(I say our children because if WE ARE The Church and they are part of The Church then they are part of us.)
How do we educate our members and get them to come out of denial?
Sorry to be so persistent but this is one subject that truly interests me. I have my opinion - but then so does everyone else. If I'm not moving in the Truth then I want to know that so I can. Please educate me.
Comment by Eric Hancock on March 16, 2009 at 1:27pm
Delete Comment that is where I am right now,,,I feel the brook is dried here in DC and all avenues to me are closing ,,I am waiting for the Voice ,sign or wonder and I will leave DC with the Quickness..I like south Carolina,florida or Georgia,Or wherever..alot of powerhouse Preachers are here ,,but after twelve years in the vineyard I am ready to move ,,too much competitian and GAME,,and I dont like the game..I live one hour from West Virginia and that is where TD Jakes is from,,I NEVER KNEW HIM but know preachers that did and he heard the Voice and moved to Texas and look how God blew up his Ministry..from what I was told he is a powerful Preacher,,and he was better preacher when he was in POVERTY,,he use to use newspapers as pampers, and split grocerys with his members and did not know how he was going to make ends meet,,BUT when he hit the pulpit he was and ambassador for the Lord,,,under the leading of the Holy Spirit,,would tear up a Church,,before he knew it his calendar stayed full from speaking dates,,Again I never known him,,but network with Preachers that did
Comment by Scott R. Newman on March 16, 2009 at 1:25pm
Rev. Anthony Luckett

How did those men and women of faith even make God's Word?? As I look at the book of Hebrews in the Hall of Fame faith that's exactly what they did. Seems to me just by glancing at the bible either most were on exoduses, journeys or pilgrimmages of some sort. Allow God to order our steps if indeed we are called. Never does it say for us to only stay in Jerusalem which represents home. The Great Commission is only great when great ones of faith choose to "Go Ye Therefore....." That is not a suggestion for some, but for all. But can one follow Jesus who said, "birds have nexts and foxes have holes but the son of man has no place to lay His head?" These are hard verses to follow aren't they? Why we are called to "consider the cost" for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. The only reason why we have God's finished inerrant and inspired Word in our hands and in our language of understanding is because somebody left and went to do the hard work that didn't bring earthly fame. There are over 1.3 billion Christians in the world, how did this happen? It happened because in the book of Action called Acts those 12 Disciples who were once students who witnessed the resurrection of Christ became Apostles and sent ones to the world to preach boldly about the only one who has the power to redeem us from our sins. And they did it with a death penalty looming over their heads.

Welcome to the mission field where the harvest is still plentiful and the workers are still sho' nuff few. And trust the line is very short.

Scott

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