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True Love Waits adds Bible outreach on Valentine's Day

The True Love Waits New Testament is a joint project of TLW and Holman Bible Outreach, both divisions of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, reports Baptist Press.

The TLW New Testament, which includes a salvation message, an introduction to True Love Waits and a commitment page, is being released to coincide with Valentine's Day, when many True Love Waits' abstinence-until-marriage commitment ceremonies are held in churches and other venues around the world.

In Africa, thanks to a major donation to LifeWay's A Defining Moment philanthropic campaign, 100,000 copies of the TLW New Testament will be distributed for free in places where True Love Waits International has staff in place.

Another 30,000 copies will be sold in the United States to churches, youth groups and individuals for $1.95 each.

Phill Burgess, executive director of Holman Bible Outreach, said the TLW New Testament "not only will help young people keep their commitments to remain abstinent until marriage, but also will provide spiritual guidance for a variety of challenges they face each day."

Jimmy Hester, cofounder of True Love Waits, meanwhile noted, "Having a New Testament available to compliment our abstinence message in Africa, a place that has been ravaged by AIDS, gives us an added dimension. For some young people in Africa, this may be the only New Testament they ever receive and may be the only opportunity to engage God's Word."

Hester said he expects youth groups to buy TLW New Testaments not only for individual and group use, but also for outreach to their friends and perhaps to send to students in Africa.

Sharon Pumpelly, lead consultant for True Love Waits International, said the TLW movement will be careful to make sure the project is for no gain than the blessing of being obedient to God.

"In areas where we have had New Testaments donated to us, we have seen a great number of youths make commitments to Christ in the follow-up of their abstinence commitment," she said.

"A New Testament may be given during counseling following a TLW presentation, based on the need of that moment," she noted. "We also are talking about encouraging young people who are in follow-up groups to memorize Scripture and then receive a New Testament."

More than 100 organizations and thousands of churches have adopted the use of True Love Waits throughout the world. The first True Love Waits national celebration took place in July 1994, when more than 210,000 covenant cards were displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Today, an estimated 2.5 to 3 million youth have signed commitment cards pledging sexual purity until their wedding day, and that number continues to grow worldwide.

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[02/16/2008]

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