[1] NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Teenagers who have made True
Love Waits pledges via an Internet web site established by
17-year-old Joshua Davis have electronically posted their
comments about sexual abstinence.
Following are the comments from four:
Courtney Anne Couch wrote: “I’m a 17-year-old and I
live in Wichita, Kan. I’m starting a club at Wichita High
School East for True Love Waits (we had about 15 people at
our first meeting) because I think there might be those that
are pressured by their friends and maybe need a little extra
help. I would like to start changing the social belief that
premarital sex is acceptable, because it’s not. Kids are not
‘going to do it anyway, so we might as well give them
condoms.’ I’m not going to do it, and what makes me so
different from other kids?! Sure, I might not get as many
dates for this, my senior year in high school, but I think
if I can change one mind, it would be worth it.”
Jerry Fowler of Branson, Mo. said he “heard about True
Love Waits in a book called 258 Great Dates While You Wait
(Broadman & Holman), then I accidentally stumbled across it
while looking at a Christian site on the web. I signed about
two months ago because I always felt this was of prime
importance. Sex prior to marriage leaves you feeling cheap,
sleazy and used. Being a part of True Love Waits is a
gratifying experience. It may not be the most fun thing now,
but when I get married, I know I’ll be able to say, ‘I made
this promise, and now I’ve kept it!’ I’ve always known that
I would wait until marriage, no matter what I said to the
guys at school, but being a part of True Love Waits made me
realize that it’s more than just abstaining, it’s about
trying to live sin-free.”
Amy Walker of Watseka, Ill., wrote: “I think that human
sexuality is a beautiful gift from God. I want to stay a
virgin until marriage because I only want to give myself
spiritually, mentally AND physically to my husband. I’m
proud that I’ve never had sex. It makes me feel special and
unique, and that’s the way I am. I’m willing to wait for the
right person to marry for as long as it takes. I don’t care
if I’m 22 or 50 when I marry. Being a part of True Love
Waits is helping me in an incredible way. I signed up to
show the world and myself, in writing, that I plan to wait
until marriage to have sex. Whenever I think about ‘making
out’ with a guy I like, I think of the promise I made to
myself, God and Jesus Christ through True Love Waits. That
calms me down and helps me keep myself under control.”
Anna Ruston of Beach Meadows, Nova Scotia, Canada,
wrote: “I heard about True Love Waits at a youth rally in
October 1994. I signed up the same day that I heard about
it. I was 13 at the time, I’m now 16 and still standing by
that commitment strongly. I’ve seen so many of my friends
give in to the pressure, even Christian friends. Maybe not
to go ‘all the way,’ but just compromising their purity and
giving away part of themselves to different guys. I’ve just
recently seen a 15-year-old girl I know find out that she’s
pregnant, and decide to keep the child. Her whole life is
going to turn upside down. I made the decision to protect
myself from these things, but also to save something. I
can’t wait to give my husband this precious gift, on our
wedding night — my virginity is a once-in-a-lifetime gift.
I want him to realize how long I’ve loved him and how I
prepared for him before I even knew who he was. Committing
to this has helped immensely. It’s made me more cautious of
how I date, and who I date. It makes me realize that this is
a serious world, with serious consequences. I’m careful to
date people who share my views, people who won’t try to make
me compromise my standards. It’s great.”