Pastoral Strategies for Combating Pre-Marital Sex Among Pentecostal Youth
Abstract
Pre-marital sex among Pentecostal youth is rising, challenging church morals even among active members. This study examines pastoral strategies for addressing this issue, exploring the gap between church teaching and real-life behaviour. The aim is to propose Bible-based pastoral models that combine spiritual formation with practical sex education. The problem is the increasing rate of pre-marital sex despite existing church efforts; the gap is the lack of an integrated approach dealing with both spiritual decline and practical education. The study uses the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen, 1991), which helps explain how peer pressure, personal attitudes, and perceived control shape youth sexual choices in Pentecostal settings. The method is historical and descriptive-analytical, using the Bible, theological literature, and previous studies. The scope focuses on Pentecostal youth in African contexts, justified by the unique cultural and religious tensions there. The significance is offering practical pastoral models to bridge doctrine and lived reality. Findings show causes include peer pressure, social media, weak parenting, poor church sex education, and spiritual decline; existing strategies like fellowships and counseling are limited by judgmental attitudes, lack of trained counsellors, and poor youth engagement. Recommendations include age-appropriate sex education, mentor training, digital awareness programs, and family-church partnerships. In conclusion, combining spiritual teaching with honest sex conversations, plus collaboration between pastors, parents, and youth, strengthens sexual purity among Pentecostal youth.
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