STUDENT TESTIMONIAL

    I remember stepping into the Silver Ring Thing event as a sophomore in high school (four years ago) expecting to hear dry speakers put kids on a guilt trip. But I was blown away by how entertaining the show was, the insightful tips given to live a pure lifestyle, and most importantly the emphasis placed on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as the only way to hold an abstinence-until-marriage commitment. Sometimes I’m not sure if adults realize the extreme sexual pressure that people my age live under. Teens today are submersed into a sexual culture and bombarded with messages from advertisements, media, and peers that saving sex for marriage is a ridiculous idea. Silver Ring South Carolina takes a crucial step in giving kids hope for maintaining their purity commitment: they provide an environment that is a reminder that you’re not alone. After taking the pledge of a silver ring surrounded by hundreds of other kids making the same commitment, I can never be intimidated by the lie that all teens are having sex.

    I was blessed to be raised in a family where the values of abstinence and purity were taught, but I’ve seen many kids suffer through heart-wrenching pain because of sexual and relational decisions they’ve made. Silver Ring Thing is dead-on in recognizing not only the physical pain caused by premarital sex—which many abstinence programs dwell exclusively on—but the deeper emotional and spiritual pain. The event explains how having sex results in “giving a part of your heart away” and does an amazing job of being sensitive to kids who are dealing with starting over (because of mistakes in their past) and kids who have been victims of abuse. Silver Ring Thing is looking to reach the hearts—not just the minds—of the middle and high schoolers at their shows.

    My appreciation for the program grew exponentially when I became involved through an internship I did at the Silver Ring Thing office. The first thing I realized (through research for my position) was the severity of the Sexually Transmitted Disease epidemic facing youth. But the most impacting realization I had about the program was witnessing the passion the Silver Ring staff has for their ministry. From the follow-up emails to encourage kids in their commitment, to the Bibles kids get at events to deepen their spiritual growth, to the prayer newsletters sent out for requests of the kids, all the staff’s work spring from hearts of service. Because of Silver Ring Thing’s tireless efforts to reach kids with the liberating and life-changing message of purity, abstinence commitments are being made and lives are being changed one show at a time.

 Sincerely,

Elizabeth Tyler