Dear Youth Leader,
When I was first introduced to the ministry of Silver Ring Thing, I was a bit skeptical as to its approach. Although I believed in the important message of abstinence, I was weary of yet another ministry putting on a big “show” with lights, camera and action under the umbrella of hype with content and substance being sacrificed at the door. The first show I ever attended, I came alone and with a very critical eye to determine if this is something I could bring my students too – let alone promote to the youth pastor network which I oversee in my city. I left that night incredibly impressed on a number of levels:
1) It was on target. I knew I was going to hear an abstinence message but what I really wanted to hear was whether that message was linked with the message of the gospel, the fact that God loved them – had a plan for their life & sexuality (as revealed in the Bible) and that without a personal relationship with God (through Christ) and His Word, abstinence would lack the moral reason why one should & could abstain from sex until marriage. The only students who did not hear this message loud and clear were the ones who were not there.
2) It addressed the parents. Understanding that parents are ultimately charged and held responsible by God with the upbringing of their children, I wanted to see if S.R.T. would adequately address this truth. The parent’s seminar at the beginning of the night proved to me that they understood without the parent’s support and instruction in this area, these precious children were left open to the wolves of the world and their sexually driven message.
3) It was blunt. There are some things in life which we cannot afford to communicate via the use of innuendos and subtly. Abstinence is one of those issues. It must be addressed clearly, directly, and without embarrassment or giggles. Proper words (not worldly slang) need to be used with boldness to communicate to students that these things are not to be ashamed of – but rather enjoyed in the context of marriage under the blessing of God. Silver Ring Thing was appropriately blunt, talking about the issues as God would without getting overly graphic in the process.
4) It was creative. From the moment you stepped into the room to the time you left, creativity was everywhere. Video clips, interviews, drama, lights, smoke, chainsaws, speakers, audience participation, humor, sound, special effects, etc. Even if you hated the message, you would have been sufficiently glued to the stage to see what was going to happen next.
5) Follow up. Many ministries come to town in a blaze and leave just as quickly. One of the aspects that separates S.R.T. from the pack is how they handle follow up. For weeks (even months) after a student’s initial commitment to Christ or purity, S.R.T. follows up in the following ways.
a. The ring. The students who make a commitment to purity are able to purchase a ring to wear which serves as a constant, visual reminder of that commitment.
b. A Bible. Students who make a commitment to Christ are given a Bible laced with side-bar stories and resources helping them keep their commitment to Christ and purity.
c. Emails are sent for months after the show to encourage and challenge the students in the commitment they made that night and to provide a level of accountability in the process.
Anyone can show up and put on a great show for 3 hours. It takes a ministry truly committed to students to create a successful way to follow up as thoroughly as they do. Even as a youth pastor, I know S.R.T. has the resources I need to assist my students and parents in this area. Because they do their job so well, it frees me up to focus on my task of teaching God’s Word and building relationships with the youth.
Silver Ring Thing is worthy of everyone’s support, Christian or non-Christian. The message they are communicating is a life saving message. With the incredible spike in teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases – even in the “Bible Belt” of South Carolina – EVERYONE (Christian and non-Christian) benefits from the message of abstinence; schools, churches, businesses, parents and most importantly students.
Silver Ring Thing does an amazing job of communicating God’s truths of sexuality to an Attention Deficit Hyper Disordered (A.D.H.D.) sexually saturated youth culture.
It is my pleasure to fully support their work and I look forward to their long-term impact on our city and country.
Serving Him by serving youth,
Rodney Arters
Director of Student Ministries
(Christ Church of the Carolinas)
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