Meeting a Need

 

Each day teens make decisions that will impact the rest of their lives. Many young people face the challenges associated with their choice to engage in sexual activity before marriage. They are unprepared and unaware of the dangers of STD’s, poverty, infertility, pregnancy, and addictions. They may never have thought they’d have to deal with the consequences of depression or suicide- teen girls who are sexually active are 3 X more likely to be depressed, 3 X more likely to attempt suicide. Teen boys are 2X more likely to be depressed and 8X more likely to attempt suicide. Just another reason why 72% of teen girls, and 55% of teen boys, say they wish they had waited. Now more than ever they need the information and encouragement that make it possible for them to protect their body and their future. Worth the Wait is here to meet that need. We present a lifestyle of abstinence until marriage as the best decision to not just reduce these outcomes but completely eliminate them. In addition we give them informational tools, to help them succeed in having healthy relationships all throughout their lives.

In 2007, Worth the Wait presented to over 13,000 students. After our presentations, we gauge effectiveness by surveying the group. In recent presentations, we found that almost 70% of middles school students and 50% of high school students say, whether or not they have had sex in the past, that from now on they will wait until marriage to have sex.