Rally promotes sexual purity

for teen-agers, college students

Staff Writer

A “True Love Waits” rally planned for Feb. 9 is designed to be a county-wide event for all high school and college students.

The rally will be held at the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church Ministry Center on Mt. Lebanon Road in Buffalo. It is hosted by the church's youth ministry It begins at 6 p.m. with a pizza fellowship. The rally will follow at 7 p.m. and will end at 9 p.m. A $5 donation will be accepted at the door to cover the cost of food.

Billy Wayne Ministries through Vision Productions of Fall Branch, Tenn., will be featured during the rally. Wayne is not charging to speak and sing at the event, but a love offering will be taken to help cover his expenses.

“Our goals as youth directors and the ministry department of the church is to get the message out to kids that the decisions they make regarding sexual purity will be a decision that will affect them for the rest of their life,” said Radawn Elmore, who serves as youth minister at Mt. Lebanon Baptist with her husband, Tim. “Billy Wayne is willing to step up to the plate and share that message with them just like it is.”

“True Love Waits” is one of several approaches to challenging teen-agers and college students to make a commitment to sexual abstinence until marriage, Mrs. Elmore said. Created by LifeWay Christian Resources, True Love Waits is designed to encourage moral purity by adhering to biblical principles. The youth-based international campaign utilizes positive peer pressure by encouraging those who make a commitment to refrain from premarital sex to challenge their peers to do the same.

Members of CenterPointe, the youth group at Mt. Lebanon, have been busy spreading the word about the rally to friends. Post cards have been mailed to youth leaders in churches across the county and posters advertising the rally have been placed in various locations around town.

“We've done a mail out and we're counting on students to spread the word,” Mrs. Elmore said.

The name CenterPointe was chosen to reflect the status of the youth that are represented at the church, Mrs. Elmore said.

“They are no longer in the children's department and have not yet achieved the title of adults,” she said. “Therefore, they are in the ‘center' of our church ministry. Also, most of them come for areas outside the Buffalo area. Coming from Union County schools, Spartanburg County schools and Laurens County schools, all are coming to a ‘center point” in the area.”

Mrs. Elmore said anyone wanting more information on the rally may call the church at 427-2844. Those planning to attending with a group are asked to let the church know the number of people so plans can be made for pizza and drinks.