Making a case for abstinence

Mary L. Duke has a passion for helping young people.
The Howland woman especially wants to give them the truth and the necessary information about one of the most powerful urges in mankind: sex.
Duke is executive director of Teen Straight Talk, a program she began in 1989.
The TST Web site says Duke served as a volunteer counselor at a residential program for unwed pregnant teens in the 1980s, and saw first-hand how these young girls were deceived by their male friends through words such as "I love you." The girls also believed they would avoid pregnancy by practicing "safe sex."
She received early help from the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley in Youngstown, and, along with a group of others who shared her concern about reducing teen pregnancies, developed TST.
Its major message is abstinence. TST believes it is possible for young people to avoid sexual relations until they are married.
In fact, the program teaches that abstinence is a viable choice, and "purity until marriage is the greatest choice for every child for every place on earth," says a statement in the organization's October newsletter Veracity.
Defines abstinence,lists its benefits
The organization defines abstinence as refraining from any sort of sexual contact or any other behavior or activity done for sexual gratification.
The program lists these benefits of abstinence:
UNo risk of pregnancy.
UNo risk of deadly sexually transmitted diseases.
USecurity that you are not being pursued for sexual reasons.
UAn honest chance to develop more depth in relationships.
ULess worries about emotional betrayal.
UMore self-respect and more respect for each other.
UPeace of mind and joy in the knowledge that you are obedient to your Creator in this area of your life.
The faith-based, nonprofit program is funded through community donations and fund-raising events such as bake sales and its first walkathon held earlier this year.
TST representatives have carried the abstinence message to thousands of students in churches and schools in the Mahoning Valley, and now that message has gone to South Carolina and South Africa.
Jerry and Vilma Allen, formerly of Youngstown, are heading TST in Spartansburg, S.C. Vilma is director.
In August, TST went on a 10-day South Africa abstinence education missions trip. Duke said in the newsletter that abstinence educators spoke to 8,231 students at schools, churches, camps, street ministry and a youth rally.
The report, sadly, also contained information that thousands of children are orphaned and homeless there because their parents died of AIDS.
TST presentergets attention
I had a chance to watch a TST presenter in action at a Trumbull County high school a few years ago.
At first, the teenagers, though respectful, didn't pay much attention to the message about remaining a virgin until marriage.
When the presenter started showing slides of the effects of sexually transmitted diseases, however, you could hear a pin drop. Some teens even began crying, and others had to leave the classroom.
After her presentation, several students thanked her for providing information some knew little about.
The program is always looking for volunteers to serve as abstinence educators, classroom assistants or office clerks. Training is provided for the educators; classroom assistants help the TST presenter distribute and collect questionnaires; and office clerks call local and regional educational settings, parents' groups and churches to set up TST presentations. The program also offers teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS awareness, mentoring and family encouragement.
Congratulations to Mary and her dedicated volunteers for trying to make a difference in the lives of our youths.
ebrown@vindy.com
XTST is at 1393 Youngstown-Kingsville Road, Vienna. It has two Web sites: www.teenstraighttalk.cjb.net and members.aol.com/sexualabstinence.