Here are specific suggestions by Guy Condon, author of the article "Fatherhood Aborted," published in the February 17 Adventist Review, on how the local church can help youth and young adult males in practicing abstinence and encouraging healthy relationships with God, church, family, and friends. Following these five suggestions are various Christian facilities that offer counseling for couples dealing with unwed pregnancy and abortion.

1. SPONSOR A YOUTH PROGRAM SERIES SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUNG MEN that deals with sexual sin and virtue in a biblical context. The leader should encourage an open discussion about the temptations, fears, and pressures that teens are facing regarding their personal and sexual development. There should also be an opportunity for one-on-one interaction between the leader and teens who need to talk privately about their situation. Focus on the Family and Josh McDowell Ministries offer helpful materials for programs like this.

2. SPONSOR A BIBLE STUDY AND LIFE-APPLICATION SERIES FOR ADULT SINGLE AND MARRIED MEN that encourages sexual purity in behavior and thought. This could include discussions that range from how to avoid pornography while on a business trip to how to foster virtuous interaction with women, both inside and outside marriage, according to Jesus’ example. Promise Keepers is an excellent resource for programs and materials.

3. ENCOURAGE PASTORS TO SPEAK OUT CLEARLY AGAINST FORNICATION, ADULTERY, AND ABORTION, while communicating a message of compassion with specific directions for those who want to repent of these sins. Pastors should emphasize the responsibility that men bear for crisis pregnancy and abortion, while breaking the myth that these are mainly secular problems.

4. FIND OUT ABOUT THE NEAREST CRISIS-PREGNANCY CENTER AND THE SERVICES THEY CAN OFFER YOUR CHURCH, how to refer an unmarried couple faced with a crisis pregnancy, and how to do an effective abstinence presentation among your teens. Many centers will provide experienced abstinence speakers. You can also find out how the church can become involved in the ministry of the local crisis-pregnancy center. (You may wish to contact Care Net for information on the crisis-pregnancy center nearest you.)

5. ENCOURAGE A MALE LEADER TO SEEK TRAINING AND THE MATERIALS NECESSARY TO LEAD A POST-ABORTION BIBLE STUDY and peer-support group. Once this leader is ready, your church could publicize the symptoms of post-abortion syndrome among men and invite men within the community to take part in the Bible study. The invitation could be announced among area churches and even through local newspapers. (Care Net provides an annual training conference For leaders of men’s post-abortion Bible studies, as well as a Bible-study curriculum. Fathers and Brothers Ministry also provides helpful materials and training.)

WHERE TO GET HELP

Care Net
109 Carpenter Drive
Sterling, Virginia 20164
(703) 478-5661
72772.2250@compuserve.com

Fathers and Brothers Ministries
350 Broadway, Suite 40
Boulder, Colorado 80303
(303) 494-3282

Focus on the Family
8605 Explorer Drive
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920
(719) 531-3400
corrdpt@fotf.org

New Dawn post-Abortion Bible Study
1600 Coulter, Suite 203
Amarillo, Texas 79106
(806) 354-2288

Josh McDowell Ministries
P.O. Box 1000
Dallas, Texas 75221
(214) 907-1000

Promise Keepers
P.O. Box 18376
Boulder, Colorado 80308
(303) 421-2800
http://www.promisekeepers.org/

Gateway Pregnancy Centers
960 Springfield Avenue
Irvington, New Jersey 07111
(973) 399-8378
OR
700 North Broad Street, Suite LL2
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07208
(908) 353-0604
http://www.gateway.org/

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