The True Love Waits Program spreads in Kinshasa

Over half the population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is under 15 years of age! These young people, the country's most important resource for the future, want most of all to grow into responsible adults who can lead their vast nation into the new millennium. But they are bombarded from many sources with false information and half-truths concerning their own potential, poverty, sexuality, unwed pregnancy, abortion, AIDS and other vital topics. They hunger and thirst to know the truth that will set them free.

For the past three years, I have had the joy of working with a team of dynamic leaders in Kinshasa, holding seminars for young people, letting them know they are infinitely valuable as children of a loving God, and challenging them to live a life of integrity that will glorify God and ensure their own well being. Large rallies have been held several times each year, with hundreds of young people gathering to praise God and draw strength from the speakers and from each other to live as God would have them to live. The team has also been invited into churches and schools to present Christian teachings, which have had a positive impact on students as well as teachers!

These are some of the topics that have been presented:

Your choice: living with or without Jesus Christ in your life
Communication skills for successful living
Time and resource management
Take charge of your life: be a person of integrity
Responsible sexuality in an age of AIDS
Hygiene, for young men and young women
Preparing for a successful marriage: spiritually, medically, materially and socially
Abortion
Don't waste your youth
Know your biological identity: blood type & Rh factor; HIV test; are you a carrier of sickle cell anemia?
The importance of being a voluntary blood donor

True Love Waits
Under the leadership of Southern Baptist missionaries from Kenya, the True Love Waits program was introduced in Kinshasa in May 2002. Over 150 pastors, teachers and youth leaders received training in how to encourage young people to abstain from sex until marriage. For the past year, these leaders, from over 20 different denominations, have been spreading the word among their young people. The program uses methods that speak to young people in a way that is easy to understand, and provides for the formation of support groups so that young people will know they are not alone in their decision to refrain from sex. It's simply not true that "everybody's doing it!"

Pray for the hundreds of young people who have signed True Love Waits commitment cards over the past year, that they will be faithful to the Lord and to their decision!

Wendy Bernhard