Churches reaching out to pregnant teens

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, one out of three girls become pregnant at least once before the age of 20 .

Some segments of the population experience higher pregnancy rates, such as Latinos, where an estimated one in two girls will get pregnant.

So what do you do as a youth leader? While there's only one way to get pregnant, there are several ways to help.

Understand Why Teens Get Pregnant

Things from hormones to low self-esteem play a role in why so many girls chose to get pregnant. Uncovering the real reasons will provide valuable insights on how to reach out to her. Here are a few:

• Want someone to love
• Secure a relationship
• Have a reason to leave a bad home situation and move somewhere else
• Fit in with friends
• A child will force her to grow up
• Her mother was a teen mom

Infuse the love of Christ into your Youth.

Make it your priority to get your teens to talk to--not gossip about--the pregnant teen. The more they see a pregnant teen through Jesus' eyes, the more of Jesus she will see in return.

Don't confuse the messin' with the blessin'

While abortions numbers have decreased, there were still over a million in the US last year, making it a lot more common medical procedure than a tonsillectomy. Let the pregnant teen know she made the right choice (by not terminating her pregnancy) even if sex before marriage wasn't a good choice.

Challenge Teens to be Her Ruth

Ruth stuck by Naomi's side through some pretty rough stuff, from famine to the death of loved ones. The pregnant teen goes through rough stuff, from drama at home to gossip in the lunch room. Challenge teens to be an unconditional friend who'll talk to, not about, the pregnant teen.

Invite her to church

Organize a special outreach service for teen moms. Involve other churches, crisis pregnancy centers, and even local schools. Get a former teen mom to share her story.

If she's uncomfortable going to church, bring church to her

The Bible is full of stories of moms who had it tuff, so why not share them with the teen mom in a casual setting?

• Jochebed. She was the BC Juno who gave her son Moses up for adoption by placing him in a basket in a river.
• The world's most famous teen mom, Mary.

Get to Know your Local CPC

Many Crisis Pregnancy Centers offer support groups to moms who choose life. So instead of birthing your own teen mom group, partner with your local CPC to help with these programs. You can sponsor a car wash where the proceeds buy diapers or other supplies for the center. In exchange, the CPC can sponsor a seminar on abstinence in your youth center.

Work with high schools

It is estimated 2 out of 3 teen moms never finish high school. Offering daycare can get tricky, since you have to be licensed. By offering free tutoring or babysitting, you can detour a lot of red tape and still help the teen mom stay in school.

Life after Birth and SheWise workbooks have lessons to get teen and young moms talking.