Birth Control Plan Upsets UK Parents | 8th May 2010

Parents in the United Kingdom are angry over a government experiment to give birth control to teens. Southwark and Lambeth, two inner-city areas in London with the highest teenage pregnancy rates, are the first to try the approach. If deemed successful, the project could be rolled out nationwide.
The move is being promoted with eye-catching adverts, but critics say there is no evidence that providing the pill over-thecounter will reduce teen pregnancy rates. Dr. Andrew Fergusson of the Christian Medical Fellowship said. “The evidence in a range of issues like this suggests that the picture of teenage pregnancy will actually increase and not be reduced.” Parents of teenage girls are extremely concerned, particularly regarding their parental rights if this project is launched nationally.
Rachel Gardner is with the Christian youth abstinence organization Romance Academy. She’s also concerned that the project, which provides consultations for teenage girls, will remove parental involvement in this process. Gardner says, “We feel very much that for a safe sex message to work it needs to be embedded deeply within a much more robust, safer relationships forum and that’s where we come in.”

Source: CBN News

BIBLE STUDY: Proverbs 6:20-24

PRAY: That the experiment will show that it is misguided and that the authorities will realize they need to work with parents and churches on a policy.

http://revivalmedia.org/2010/05/07/birth-control-plan-upsets-uk-parents-8th-may-2010/

Birth Control Plan Upsets UK Parents | 8th April 2010

Parents in the United Kingdom are angry over a government experiment to give birth control to teens. Southwark and Lambeth, two inner-city areas in London with the highest teenage pregnancy rates, are the first to try the approach. If deemed successful, the project could be rolled out nationwide.
The move is being promoted with eye-catching adverts, but critics say there is no evidence that providing the pill over-thecounter will reduce teen pregnancy rates. Dr. Andrew Fergusson of the Christian Medical Fellowship said. “The evidence in a range of issues like this suggests that the picture of teenage pregnancy will actually increase and not be reduced.” Parents of teenage girls are extremely concerned, particularly regarding their parental rights if this project is launched nationally.
Rachel Gardner is with the Christian youth abstinence organization Romance Academy. She’s also concerned that the project, which provides consultations for teenage girls, will remove parental involvement in this process. Gardner says, “We feel very much that for a safe sex message to work it needs to be embedded deeply within a much more robust, safer relationships forum and that’s where we come in.”

Source: CBN News

BIBLE STUDY: Proverbs 6:20-24

PRAY: That the experiment will show that it is misguided and that the authorities will realize they need to work with parents and churches on a policy.

Christian Revolution in Rural Kenya | 7

Interchristian Fellowships’ Evangelical Mission (IcFEM) has developed a programme of community transformation in rural Western Kenya. It focuses on hand-ups not hand-outs, on “Holy Living and Hard Work”. Their philosophy is simple: For a long time people have been sitting in churches on Sunday listening and learning from the Word of God. Now it is time to take their practical Christianity into the communities to meet everyday needs with the gifts God has given them.

The community transformation starts with encouraging the Christians in the villages to meet together and agree to subscribe to Biblical values. Village fellowships study God’s word, and seek to identify the major needs and challenges that the village faces.

IcFEM provides the following training: evangelism – Christian growth; family – Christian values for parents and children; youth – developing the active ones who are the future of the community; elderly – harnessing their wisdom and resources; the disabled – helping them to participate in development; relief and welfare – helping the needy to move forward.

Churches and local elected representatives are joining in as they see the benefits in their communities. One elderly lady said that “much of their poverty has been one of choice and they can now freely choose to come out of it”.

“We believe that God is empowering Christians to take charge of their communities not only in Kenya but also in a way that is applicable around the world,” said Simon Daniell of IcFEM.

Source: IcFEM Mission; Revival Media

Bible Study: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

PRAISE: God that, in Christ, these African Christians are bringing peace and building their communities.

Are parents to blame for high teen pregnancy rates?, a spiritual dimension to Jade Goody story?, and the Oscars are boring

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint. Patrick Woodward talks to Catherine Butcher, editor of the Mothers’ Union “Families First” magazine (pictured) about the latest news from a Christian standpoint.  Today,with the news of the 13 year old father, are parents to blame for Britain’s high teenage pregnancy rate?  Also is there a spiritual dimension to Jade Goody as she prepares for her wedding, and the Oscars are boring – why do we watch them?

Story Links:

Teenage pregnancy:

The Sun newspaper Dad at 13

telegraph.co.uk Julie Henry’s blog

romanceacademy.org A novel approach

Jade Goody:

uk.reuters.com Dying Jade Goody to marry on Sunday

hindustantimes.com  Pray for Jade Goody, says Shilpa Shetty

Oscars:

oscar.com Official site

independent.co.uk  All ready for your Oscars gilt trip?