Purity Ceremonies

Kennedy Wynn, 10, prays at the altar during Christian concert at the Destiny World Church June 14 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Name tag cords worn by Holywood Retreat participants display "I Love Jesus" June 14 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Alexis Warren, 9, after the Purity Ring Ceremony at the Destiny World Church June 16 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Congregants pray at the altar during the Purity Ring Ceremony at the Destiny World Church June 16 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Associate Pastor J.R. Hall prays over the purity ring ceremony participants after they received their rings and "True Love Waits" commitment certificates on February 13, 2008 at the Full Life Assembly of God in Franklin, TN. The ceremony involves teenage boys and girls and their parents who take a pledge to abstain from sex before marriage. The participants complete 5 classes before graduating in the ceremony where they receive a ring as a symbol of their promise to God and their parents and a certificate.

Anthony Gladden holds a sexual exposure chart during a fellowship at the Holywood Retreat at the Destiny World Church June 15 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Young girls jump for gifts and goodie bags at the Destiny World Church June 15 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Teens head to the front of the church for the Purity Ring Ceremony at the Destiny World Church June 16 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Torrie Wilson, 13, cries at the altar during the Purity Ring Ceremony at the Destiny World Church June 16 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Tanyetta Hampton, 17, is comforted by friends during a Christian concert at the Destiny World Church June 14 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Virgins and "second chance virgins" release balloons into the air in celebration of their promise to stay chaste before marriage at the Destiny World Church June 16 in Austell, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Kennae Tisdale (left) and Julian Tisdale head to the Purity Ring Ceremony June 16 in Lithia Springs, GA. Young children, teenagers and their parents or guardians came together for three days to promote abstinence. Issues like STDs, peer pressure, teen pregnancy, molestation and abuse were also main topics of panel discussions. The Holywood Retreat concluded with a Purity Ring Ceremony where each participant pledged to keep their virginity or to no longer participate in sex outside of marriage by wearing a "purity ring" on their wedding finger until the day it is replaced by a wedding ring. The three day event featured ministers and lay speakers, a fashion show that illustrated how one can remain modest and fashionable, a religious concert as well as other activities that entertained a predominantly young and energetic group.

Scott Forhetz prays over his daughter as the family winds down after an evening at the church where their entire family participated in a purity ring ceremony on February 13, 2008 in Brentwood, TN. The ceremony involves teenage boys and girls and their parents who take a pledge to abstain from sex before marriage. The participants complete 5 classes before graduating in the ceremony where they receive a ring as a symbol of their promise to God and their parents and a certificate.

Fathers and daughters pray together in the ballroom of the Broadmoor Hotel on May 16, 2008 in Colorado Springs, CO. The annual Father-Daughter Purity Ball, founded in 1998 by Randy and Lisa Wilson, focuses on the idea that a trustworthy and nurturing father will influence his daughter to lead a lifestyle of "integrity and purity."

The Regal Daughters Ballet Company carry a wooden cross to the middle of the ballroom at the Broadmoor Hotel on May 16, 2008 in Colorado Springs, CO. The annual Father-Daughter Purity Ball, founded in 1998 by Randy and Lisa Wilson, focuses on the idea that a trustworthy and nurturing father will influence his daughter to lead a lifestyle of "integrity and purity."

The Regal Daughters Ballet Company dance around the wooden cross in the ballroom of the Broadmoor Hotel on May 16, 2008 in Colorado Springs, CO. The annual Father-Daughter Purity Ball, founded in 1998 by Randy and Lisa Wilson, focuses on the idea that a trustworthy and nurturing father will influence his daughter to lead a lifestyle of "integrity and purity."

Fathers accompany their daughters as they place a white rose representing purity at the foot of the cross on May 16, 2008 in Colorado Springs, CO. The annual Father-Daughter Purity Ball, founded in 1998 by Randy and Lisa Wilson, focuses on the idea that a trustworthy and nurturing father will influence his daughter to lead a lifestyle of "integrity and purity."

A father and daughter stand by the window inside the ballroom of the Broadmoor Hotel on May 16, 2008 in Colorado Springs, CO. The annual Father-Daughter Purity Ball, founded in 1998 by Randy and Lisa Wilson, focuses on the idea that a trustworthy and nurturing father will influence his daughter to lead a lifestyle of "integrity and purity."