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Faithfully Yours
Universal Chastity Education
Helping People Live Healthy Lives
E-Newsletter December 2015 Vol. 10 No. 4
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UCE featured in FIRST THINGS January 2016 issue
Ephraim Radner authors cover story, "Ministries of Life: How Christian Efforts in Africa Promote Dignity and Health"
This rhetorical essay contrasts the messages about sex that our American youth are receiving with the messages of the Christian Church being sent out on the other side of the globe, specifically through Universal Chastity Education (UCE) programs in Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania--all of which are described in detailed vignettes.
The article starts out by describing, "If you ride New York City's subways, you will see public service advertisements blaz�oned above you. Some come from "NYC Condom," a service of the New York City Health Department, some from other groups (like the BACCHUS Initiatives of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators). The messages come in snappy phrases and acronyms: "Take Pride. Take Care." "Be Sexy. Be Safe." Or the three "B's" and three "S's": "B Smart. B Sexy. B Safe." This is America's moral conscience at work: Have sex as you want, and wear a condom. It isn't only the "safe" part, don't get or give a disease, that constitutes the moral lesson. There's also the "sexy" part: to "be you," and to be "proud" of being you, do the sexy thing. They go together...."
First Things, with a circulation of approximately 30,000 subscribers, is an inter-denominational and inter-religious journal which represents a broad intellectual tradition of Christian and Jewish critique of contemporary society and is published by the New York-based Institute on Religion and Public Life. CLICK HERE to download a copy of the story about UCE.
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UCE Executive Director responds to sexting crisis in Colorado with a Guest Editorial published in The Pueblo Chieftain
ABSTINENCE A HEALTHIER CHOICE THAN CONDOMS by Andrew Dernovsek
"In the wake of the sexting scandal at Canon City High School, I have had many people ask what can be done to help young people make wiser decisions. The problem runs much deeper than exchanging explicit photos on cellphones. It is a cultural issue in a society seeking instant gratification instead of authentic love and happiness.
Each year on Dec. 1, which is World AIDS Day, I watch and mourn as college campuses across America promote safe sex to the youth by distributing free condoms. What is often not included in the message is that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are only 85 percent effective in reducing the spread of HIV...." You may read the full article here.
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Hope in Gulu through UCE Uganda
Nearly 7,000 commit to chastity as the message spreads
UCE Uganda reports, "The past months we have been working to spread the message of chastity in the new ground of Gulu where there is a plentiful harvest waiting to be reaped. In these past months, we reached 29 schools and established 13 new chastity clubs. 9,045 youth received the message, and 6,913 signed chastity pledges, committing to abstain from sex until marriage. We were also privileged to speak to 20 catechists from 20 Catholic churches in Gulu. The catechists translated the UCE message into Acholi (the local language). They are now sharing it in their schools and churches. Our presence and work in Gulu continues to bear good fruit and we thank God for the successful outreaches conducted and for our UCE supporters.
Here are some few of the many who also shared their testimonies during the outreaches:
"I want to be like Joseph in Genesis." 19-year-old Moses said he was quickly ruining his life and studies because of drugs and having sex with an older and powerful woman for money. He was living with guilt, knowing that he was not doing the right thing. When the UCE team emphasized that Jesus forgives sin, Moses responded to the chastity call and made a decision to accept Christ, stating that he wants to have a new way of living his life.
Charles gave his life to Jesus at one outreach after almost giving up on life. He said, "I am happy for the message of UCE. When it came to me, it could not have come at a better time. I am now growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and I am growing to love my life and my relationship with God." Charles said he is now trusting God for reconciliation with his parents. He said they got tired of him due to his violent and stubborn behavior towards them. He now feels restored and renewed because of the UCE message."
"Our students lack medical education but have become enlightened through the UCE program to keep away from sexual immorality. We wish that many more programs would be conducted in the future through the UCE to bring the medical information and the preaching of Jesus Christ. Your program has helped very much to drive away STDs and to usher in good behavior." -Head Teacher, St. Patrick Secondary School
Read the full story here. |
Universal Chastity Education, Inc. (UCE) is an educational organization established in 2004 and determined to be a public charity, exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its promotes through education sexual abstinence until marriage and marital fidelity as healthy lifestyles free from sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. UCE operates in rural Uganda. and launched in Burundi in 2007 and Tanzania in 2009 and in the USA in 2012. Visit the UCE website
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UCE reaching out successfully in USA
Chastity Exhibit Tables at Colorado Mesa University and Adams State University
UCE 10th Annual World AIDS Day Agape Meal and All Night Prayer Vigil
On November 30th the UCE Executive Director participated in an HIV panel at Adams State University in Alamosa, CO. He shared with panelists and gathered students the scientific and medical reasoning behind abstinence being the most effective method of HIV prevention. UCE also had a 'chastity booth' at Adams State on November 30th and December 1st.
On December 4th, the 10th Annual World AIDS Day Agape Meal and All Night Prayer Vigil was held at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Pueblo, CO. The evening was themed "Stories from Africa: Lessons on Overcoming Adversity." Different community members read testimonies that UCE members from Africa had sent in. Youth from several area churches served the Agape Meal. The All Night Prayer Vigil was also successful, with people taking an hour to pray during the night.
On August 21st Universal Chastity Education (UCE) and Mesa Catholic campus ministry joined together to offer students the opportunity to choose chastity at 'Safe and Sexy,' an event hosted by Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in Grand Junction. The event was designed to encourage students to protect themselves by using a condom during an upcoming "foam dance". Hunter Darrouzet, campus minister at CMU, recognized the need for an alternative message for his students. He and UCE Executive Director Andrew Dernovsek, teamed up by presenting chastity to the students as a wonderfully safe and sexy option.
Many students were drawn to the chastity table. Most popular was the display: how do I know if it is 'True Love or Infatuation.' A number of students took pictures of the display on their phones. One young man said, "See I'm here...(pointing to the True Love side). But I know my girlfriend is here (pointing to the infatuation side)." Hunter and Andrew talked with him about what to do if that was the case. Multiple students also commented on the 'condom statistics' display that gave accurate statistics on condom effectiveness. They also enjoyed reading quotes from celebrities who had chosen abstinence until marriage. Some students were interested in committing to chastity, and one young man took the opportunity to ask about coming back to his faith. Hunter and Andrew were pleased that they were able to offer chastity as a viable alternative to the students at CMU.
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Our UCE website updates monthly with posts, pictures and videos from UCE in Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and the USA. Check it out today at www.uceglobal.org
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