Teen girls made pact to get pregnant.

As many as 17 girls made a pact at Gloucester High School in Massachusetts to become pregnant.  Most of the girls, all under 16 years old, did so with men in their 20s.  Superintendent Christopher Farmer said the girls are generally “girls who lack self-esteem and have a lack of love in their life.”

We currently distribute a video by The Institute of American Values entitled, Hardwired to Connect.  This video talks about the general sense of disconnectedness among young people today.  This story of these girls is one more example of that disconnectedness and a desire to be connected.  The video sets a premise that we are, at least partially, to blame for this.  We are not providing enough opportunities for connectedness. In addition, we adults are not intentionally building relationships with enough young people which leaves them wanting emotional connection one way or another.  In other words, they are looking for love and often times in all the wrong places.

We encourage you to look for ways to reach out and connect with young people in your community.  What can your church do to provide for connectedness?  How can your church build healthy relationships with young people beyond its walls ?  What is your church doing to provide young people with a safe place that incorporates healthy Christian relationships where they know they belong?

Take steps today to connect young people to each other, to caring adults who act as role models, and to Jesus Christ.