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Besides Patterson and Brown, the Love Clinic camp workshops are taught by registered nurses, a speaker from Mothers Against Teen Violence, a sex-education instructor, an aids-awareness teacher, and a speaker from a domestic-violence center.

Enthusiastic financial backing comes from two major institutions: State Farm Insurance and Charlton Methodist Hospital in Dallas. The sponsors see that the program works in preventing teenage pregnancy and addictions, Patterson says, so "nobody's asking me to water down the Christian message."

On average, at a camp with 30 to 40 students, including some 15 who are "extremely sexually active because of their environment," about 20 students commit themselves to Christ and the majority make commitments to sexual purity, Brown says.

"They were not superficial commitments," Brown says of a recent camp. "Some of the girls were crying, their hearts were broken, and I was able to see the power of Jesus Christ moving in their hearts."

Lewis, Randolph, and Ward were among these students. "It will definitely be easier for me to say no to peer pressure," Randolph says. "Because now I know that I have all the power of God behind me as well."

Agnieszka Tennant is an assistant editor of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

For Christianity Today sister publication, Leadership Journal, Sheron C. Patterson wrote on the Love Clinic's outreach as part of a leadership symposium on reaching broken people. Previously, she wrote on church bullies and priming congregations for worship.

The Love Clinic Web site gives a good overview of the program and an explanation of this year's objectives. Also, see the Love Clinic Online Magazine.

See the home page for St. Paul United Methodist Church.

Patterson writes a weekly column that appears in The Dallas Examiner. Additionally, she has authored books including: The Love Clinic: There is a Doctor in the House, I Want to Be Ready, and New Faith.

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December 3 2001, Vol. 45, No. 15