For teens, knowledge is power
By Minister Delita Johnson

“Where does your passion for teens come from? “ “Sexual abstinence until marriage is impossible for today’s teens, so why are you so concerned about teens who are going to have sex anyway? “ “And my all time favorite, are you obsessed with sex? “

These are just a few of the questions people have asked me over the last few months. Some were sincere and others were just plain churlish. I have decided to share my answers to some of these questions just in case anyone else is wondering, wonder no more. I have even decided to answer the question I deemed rude and disrespectful.

Here’s the answer to that question. “Am I obsessed with sex? Emphatically, no. I am however obsessed with Jesus Christ and knowledge. If sexual obsession is the only thing you get out of my articles when you read them, then you probably need to ask yourself if you perhaps are obsessed with sex. If my writing bothers you that much or make you think otherwise, then you may have a problem.

I write to empower teens and parents about the dangers of risky behaviors. Knowledge is power and it is the key to spiritual and natural success!

“Where does my passion come from?” My passion comes from wanting to make sure teens live happy and productive lives. Growing up, I knew my parents loved me, but my parents didn’t know how to talk to me about certain subjects and sex was one of them.

I believe that it’s important for parents to have a relationship with their children. Kids, whether they admit it or not, want their parents to talk to them and give them advice. They want the facts and they want honesty.

Teens especially, prefer the advice of their parents before their peers. If they don’t get it from their parents, they are going to get it from some other “parental” source who may or may not steer them in a positive direction. It’s vital that parents communicate with their children.

My passion also comes from knowing that teen sexual activity carries with it numerous risks. There are over 30 sexually transmitted diseases and most people don’t realize how dangerous and common some sexually transmitted diseases can be.

Teens and some parents don’t know that this year alone, 3.8 million sexually transmitted diseases will be contracted by teens in America. This is 10,000 teens per day (or one teen every 8 seconds)! And most teens and some parents don’t know that people who acquire a sexually transmitted disease in the United States are under the age of 25. This is why I am passionate about what I do.

“Sexual abstinence until marriage is impossible for today’s teens, so why are you so concerned about teens who are going to have sex anyway?” Sexual abstinence is not impossible for today’s teens, and I hate it when adults or anyone else tries to plant this negative seed into a teens head.

Teenagers can do anything they set their mind to do. If you believe it you can achieve it! It’s NOT impossible for a teen to be sexually pure until marriage.

If America would stop selling sexuality, things would be a lot easier for our teens and my job of empowering teens wouldn’t be so hard. I am, however; encouraged by that one teen who has saved his or her virginity for that one person who loves them enough to say “I do”.

I am here to equip teens with knowledge to make right choices. I will not stop doing what I do, nor do I feel like my time is being wasted. There are teens listening and there are teens willing to wait, because they know the importance and value of saving themselves for marriage.

They say opposites attract, but opposites never attract when it comes to integrity.