Merry Christmas

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
 
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. 

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

^{Luke 2 (NKJ)}

Purity Stolen/Purity Reclaimed

     90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed pornography online[1]  Please pause for a moment and let that data sink in.  Yes…it says 90 %...of 8 YEAR OLDS...to 16 year olds!  I don’t know what child you might be envisioning right now innocently sitting at their parent’s computer, typing in Pokemon or Barbie, accidentally misspelling it, and receiving the shock of their life.  It may be a picture so shocking it will be deposited into their mind forever.  Purity stolen!    

     Used to be that pornography had to be sought; hidden behind other magazines at the checkout counters, etc.  Now, Americans cannot even walk the streets of a city, drive the interstate, sit comfortably in their living rooms in front of a television, or surf the internet without falling prey the dark and sinister tentacles of pornography.  The result?  47% of families said pornography is a problem in their home.[2]  Think it doesn’t matter? 2/3 of lawyers at an American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers meeting stated that the internet played a significant role in divorces they facilitated, with excessive interest in online pornography contributing to over half such divorces![3] 

     Teens are shocked and amazed (I wish you could see their faces) when we reveal to this generation that they and their marriages are being exploited for a dollar. (At $13.3 BILLION the 2006 revenues of the sex/porn industry was more than the NFL, NBA & Major League Baseball revenues combined![4])  Outrage best describes many responses. The truth that purity matters and lays the best foundation for their marriage is never ignored.  We have to keep educating teens to guard their minds.  Their marriages depend on it.  

     The support you give the Pregnancy Care Centers of South Central Indiana allows us to minister the gift of purity to thousands of teens every year.  By the end of this year we will have spoken to over 6,500 teens in nearly 50 different schools. We could never do it without your help.  Thank you for allowing us to make a difference in the lives of this generation.  It is for such a time as this we have been called.  

Tracey Pike

Director of Abstinence Education

---

[1] http://familysafemedia.com/pornographystatistics.

[2] Focus on the Family poll, Oct 1, 2003.

[3] http://www.divorcewizards.com/divorcestats_porn.html

[4] Internet Filter Review, www.blazinggrace.org

Transforming Lives

Transformed is a scripture based, sexual integrity program which equips teens and their parents, attending together, to "be no longer conformed to the patter of this world," but be "transformed by the renewing of their mind" (Romans 12:2).  Participants are challenged to change their thinking from , "How far can I go?" to, "How pure can I be?"  When asked about the influence of Transformed on their future, recent participants stated:

"I will have more respect for women."  Teen male

"It makes me think of how I can change my thinking of things."  Teen male

"I AM beautiful.  I won't fish for compliments or complain about myself."  Teen female

"It makes me realize I do want to wait and I am beautiful.  it will make me dress differently."  Teen female

"It reconfirms my abstinence."  Teen female

"It ensured and encouraged me wanting to wait until marriage."  Teen female

"I came thinking this would be a waste of time--that if teens want to have sex, they'll find a way, but your message to the students is very powerful and now I'm questioning myself."  Adult female

 "Made me realize that I need to speak to my daughters more about relationships now.  I had just figured I would wait until they started to date."  Adult male

"Helped to make me feel comfortable about talking to my teen.  makes me open my eyes to being more of a mentor to the kids' friends who may not have parents to talk to.  Excellent!"  Adult female

For more information about the Transformed program contact Lisa Newton at lisan@pregcarecenter.org.