- December 16, 2025
Approximately 80 middle and high school students pledged Sunday, Feb. 5, at God’s Family Bible Church, to abstain from sex until marriage.
Leading up to the ceremony, the church’s youth group did a four-part study centered on the tough questions associated with this commitment inspired by 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4.
The youth discussed how to deal with temptation, what to do if they mess up and the importance of creating boundaries. A big emphasis was also put on using God’s strength to guide them instead of their own, said the Rev. Paul Cisneros, youth pastor at the church.
While the curriculum is the most important part, Cisneros said, the ceremony gives the youth a witness to their promise.
“(The ceremony) is a showing, to make it public,” Cisneros said. “Making a vow in front of parents, God and pastor — to be brave enough to say that I will go full force in this.”
This brave decision wasn’t made lightly. One youth who participated, Matthew Good, admitted the week before the ceremony that he was a little worried what other students at his school, Matanzas, would think.
“I realized that sex isn’t something that you throw out there to anybody,” Good, 15, said. “It’s waiting for this person that God has put out there for me. This (decision) isn’t for anybody else, it’s for God.”
Another youth said she is not worried what other people think, because it’s just an obstacle to overcome.
“People will talk regardless,” said Alexus Kinslow, 13. “If they cared about me, they would support me.”
The God’s Family Bible Church youth group meets Friday nights, 57 Town Court. Visit www.godsfamilybible church.com.
