The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
Wearing a bridal-white gown and brimming with anticipation, Monica Preston slipped a wedding-style band on her ring finger at church on Sunday - and pledged not to have sex before marriage.
From Preston, 40, down to 12-year-olds, more than 90 youths and single adults at Calvary Revival Church Chesapeake promised to "stay holy" and embrace premarital celibacy.
"Abstinence is no longer a dirty word, a funny word or a joke," the Rev.
Carlton McLeod sai d during the 10 a.m. service at the Chesapeake Conference Center. "Abstinence is the call of God."
For Preston, an insurance claims assistant, it was a nuptial-like commitment.
"We're getting married to Jesus today," she said. "It's a covenant with Jesus today that we will remain pure and holy until we get married."
The Rize Up to Purity celebration was the culmination of a four-week abstinence educational program based on the curriculum of the Silver Ring Thing, a national, Christian-based abstinence organization in Pittsburgh.
Each participant received a ring engraved with a biblical citation, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, linking the wearer to the apostle Paul's teaching of sexual purity for Christians.
"Hallelujah!" yelled Shereen Osbourne, a 26-year-old hair stylist who asked her four children to slip the celibacy band on her finger. "I thank you, Lord, you're so good to me, Jesus.
"I don't see myself taking it off anytime soon," Osbourne said of the ring. "My desire is just for God to work on me and to renew me and make me a better person."
The pledges come amid recent headlines on the birth by 17-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears - sister of pop singer Britney Spears - and an alleged pact by 17 Massachusetts teens to get pregnant.
Calvary staff also cited national statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that about a third of U.S. girls younger than 20 get pregnant.
"With this wedding-ceremony-type of service, we want people to witness the visual beauty of holiness and purity," youth pastor Bobby White said before the morning service.
The service included an abstinence-themed spoken-word performance, Christian praise music, and a skit portraying girls debating chastity and their upcoming prom night.
"I may not have a date, but I'm not giving up this candy store to get one," a celibate character said, to hoots from the 600-member congregation.
In his sermon, McLeod warned promise-makers to resist a "godless" pop culture containing a "tide of sin" that lauds premarital sex.
"If you're going to be successful in this," he said, " there's some rappers you can't listen to. There's some parties your friends will go to that you should not go to."
The ring ceremony included pledgers and friends or family members who promised to help individuals stay celibate.
Regan and Camille Prince of Newport News stood proudly next to their 16-year-old daughter, Chanae Legrier, as she slipped on the ring.
Her dad praised the celibacy program for its spiritual focus and resistance to "bad influences outside the family unit," such as gangs.
When the three-hour service ended, Preston displayed her ring exuberantly. "I'm going to remain pure and holy until I get married or, even if I don't get married, until I leave this Earth," she said.
Steven G. Vegh, (757) 446-2417, steven.vegh@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Whaaat???
"to be told how to live your life by reading stories from a book written 1,000 years ago, you are in a sad state. here's an experiment for you...
take 2 people with no job, no home, no money and place them side by side. tell 1 he needs to pull himself up, get a job, and make something of himself. tell the other one "the lord will provide".....see which one stays broke longer"
That was so sad to even ask that..the person who had no job, no home, no money and has no faith in God much less him or herself will fail.
I'm a little confused about, this please clarify.
To me the person that believes in God and understands how he works would be more successful. When believing in God you don't just sit there you do what he asks and some things here on earth we may not receive, because it might not be good in his eyes. I believe this is mainly on how we live and what we ask for and what we do with what he gives us, negative or positive. Hey we might receive some stuff in heaven or even hell. The person who receives a lot might be getting stuff that he or she doesn't really want. Hint: there own will, not Gods' will. Some people just don't understand how God works. Good job for commi
What is Truth?
Many people on this blog page are asking what is truth? Is truth relative or absolute? God's moral law still remians. It is like the law of gravity. What goes up must come down. God's law says to flee from sexual immorality. His law protects us from making mistakes. How may people may have a baby out wedlock or sexual disease. God is like a father. He cares for us. As Pilate asked Jesus at the trail before His death on the cross, some you may be asking the same question about what is truth? Jesus stated that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus did come to do away with God's law. He came to fulfill it. You are asking if you can live life your own way i.e sleeping around. The real answer is can you pay for the conquences of your decisions.
we're only standing up for what we believe
For me, it was mainly a symbolic demonstration of a decision that I already made in my heart to stay pure until marriage. It's not so much that I needed to do this for purity, but I wanted to make my pledge known. It's sort of like baptism; the ceremony itself only represents the change that God has already done in the heart. But it definately wasn't a waste of time. Seeing so many people, some of whom are my close friends, make a stand made me proud, like we're actually gonna make a difference. Even if it's only a few of us, the fact that we're standing up for God's standard of righteousness in the midst of a godless culture is glorious to Him. It's a shame that so many people see this as a waste of time and useless when, in fact, it's an honor and a privilege.
You all are interesting
I think most of the comments on this post are hmmm, shall I say, interesting. It's interesting to me that when someone chooses a path that is not the norm, they get bad comments. Did you notice that many of the people vowing celibacy until marriage are older? Seems to me that they have tried the "sexually free" way and it has left them broken, empty, and unfulfilled, and many are single parents now. For those of you who are not Christians, I know it is hard to understand why someone would devote their life to Jesus or "the chance of an after life." But to those of us who do believe, WE KNOW. We do not need any convincing. We know Jesus is real and we want to please him by the way we live because of our love for him in response to the love he has shown for us. I think abstinence IS the answer to so many of society's problems. People are empty and looking for love in all the wrong places. Sex, like fire, is beautiful and hot, that's what I believe. But like fire, if used outside of its boundaries, it's ugly, dangerous, and kills (emotionally, spirtiually, and yes, physically.) Something to think about...
Marym
Why does it take some promise of "after life" or a "higher purpose" for one to exist? Why cant one exist for what is here on earth? We live, and we die, and its up to us to make the best of it, period. Being the best person I can be gets me up every morning, not 50 virgins or St. Peter.
Phrog
Yes, I do agree its admirable, however, I do not believe that there should be some forced link to religion. This seems to say that it takes "finding Jesus" or "marrying Jesus" to lead a moral life. That is complete balderdash. Whenever something like this is reported, there is always some religious turn on it. Im sure a similiar group with no ties to religion wouldnt receive any press.
Yep
Good luck.
Ever hear the one about the preachers daughter?
Hey, whatever works for you.
Hey, whatever works for you. I personally think it is not realisitc to abstain from sex before marriage. If that's what these people want to do, let them. The sad thing is they're doing it in the name of religion...Ugh! Don't get me started on that. Disease & unplanned pregnancy were enough to keep me waiting for "The One", even if we didn't wait until our wedding night.
Doing what is right is courageous
Coolguy81, aside from your personal view of religion, when these people make a personal stand based on their personal moral compass, you have to admit that it is an admirable thing. I welcome news stories like this. It is refreshing that among all the bad and corrupt things that the media reports on, there are still altogether good things that are happening. We lament the plight of the poor and indigent. But what does not get reported are the hundreds acts of compassion and kindness that everyday people show to these. Acts that give people a hope that is uncommon in today’s society.
You are correct regarding pop culture and how our children are bombarded with images and messages of promiscuity. But, there still is a message of hope out there that people can believe in. There are people who will help and encourage them to rise above pop culture. People are not perfect. We just try to live right.
Awesome
I think it is awesome that the lord has touched these souls to make this decision. God is great.
Note: There would be no term atheist without GOD. To say you are atheist means that he is real and alive. I am living proof as we all are.