A
teen mother is showered with love and affirmation
at her High School graduation. Present in the
audience are her mentor, called an "Elizabeth",
her foster parents, and her beautiful one year
old child. Virginia Baptist women are addressing
teenage crisis pregnancy through a variety
of ongoing ministries and prevention education.
Compassionate Christian women offer themselves
as partners in non-judgmental relationships with
pregnant teenagers. They demonstrate that love
modeled through relationships is the most powerful
tool in bringing about effective societal change.
WMUV has available an effective pregnancy
prevention resource, "Cherishing God's Gift of Sexuality." This
video teaches parents how to talk with their children about human
sexuality from a Biblical perspective. In addition, if you are
interested in starting a Mary & Elizabeth Project, WMUV
has produced a training manual and video that will help
you.
Teen Pregnancy
in Virginia
In 2002
in Virginia, 13,586 teens ages 15-19 and 314 teens under
15 years of age became pregnant.
Teens who have
babies are less likely to marry or finish their education
than their peers and more likely to have additional children
Babies
born to teens are more prone to poor health, as well
as emotional, mental and social problems.
Society
pays the bill in several ways through the years of
care for mother and child.
How
Can I
Be Involved?
Women today are
searching for life-changing experiences. They want to make a
significant contribution to society and are concerned about the
destructive force of overwhelming social problems.
Through the Mary & Elizabeth Project, Woman's Missionary
Union of Virginia connects compassionate Christian women, willing
to offer themselves as partners in non-judgemental relationships
with pregnant teenagers.
They also facilitate ongoing ministry and educational
programs i.e., "Cherishing God's Gift of Sexuality".
A partnership
with the Virginia Baptist Children's Home and Family Services
has been formed to facilitate ongoing ministry and prevention
by:
Providing
a loving, non-judgmental home for young women who are
pregnant and unable to stay in their
homes
Teaching parenting skills and independent living skills
Training committed Christians to become maternity
Foster Parents
Providing information for a young woman to make an
informed decision whether to keep her baby or make an adoption
plan
Finding
homes for babies who will be adopted
Serving
as a licensed child care facility
Prevention
starts with parents knowing how to help their children understand God's
gift of sexuality. Home is where we should talk
about sex, starting with preschoolers. Materials and
classes for parents and church leaders are available
for every church in Virginia that chooses to include
this training in its education curriculum. A video
to explain such a program is available from the state
WMU office. For more information on this WMUV
ministry project contact the state office. The state office
number is 804-915-5000 or you may e-mail wmuv@wmu-va.org.
Mary
& Elizabeth