Is it Possible To Transform the Lives and Legacies of Single Teen Moms?: Yes, it is. And Here's How!

by Gwendolynn Mitchell Diaz

Overview

More than two thousand teenage girls in the US will discover they are pregnant today! Of these pregnancies, 14% will end in miscarriage; almost one third will be terminated by abortion; only 1% will result in adoption. Most often, a pregnant teen decides to raise her own child-finding her life forever altered and her identity completely changed. She is no longer simply a daughter, a sister, a friend, or a student. She is a mom. And as her responsibilities and relationships change, she will find herself overwhelmed, exhausted, and lonely. At a time when teen moms are most vulnerable, few churches are equipped to provide the refuge so desperately needed. Many become pregnant again in less than two years, caught in a vicious cycle that destines their children to grow up and become teenage parents themselves. Here, author and teen advocate Gwen Diaz shares true stories of heartbreak and triumph. She presents disturbing facts, provides practical solutions, and challenges believers to take a new course of action. Diaz highlights the lives of three women who are doing just that. By following their examples, we can transform the lives and legacies of teenage moms. And we can reach our whole community with the love of Jesus Christ!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781940269245
Publisher:	Deep River Books LLC
Publication date:	10/16/2014
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Gwen Diaz grew up as a missionary kid in West Africa before moving to the US and graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in nursing. There she met Ed Diaz, and together they raised four sons, all of whom are grown, married, and following Jesus. Ten grandchildren help keep their house chaotic and filled with fun.When she isn't writing, Gwen stays busy packing diaper bags. As founder of the charity OH MY Baby, she desires that no new mother will leave the hospital without the items necessary to nurture her baby through the first few weeks of life. Gwen is passionate about teaching God's truths to the next generation and often speaks at Bible conferences. Gwen and Ed reside in Central Florida.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 Is It Possible … To Alter the Endings of Stories Like This? 1

Chapter 2 Is It Possible … For Us to Grasp the Statistics? 7

Chapter 3 Is It Possible … That God Is Preparing Us to Provide a Solution? 15

Chapter 4 Is It Possible … That God Is Preparing Others to Work Beside Us? 25

Chapter 5 Is It Possible … To Create a Program Just for Teen Moms? 39

Chapter 6 Is It Possible … To Help One Teen Mom Discover Hope? 47

Chapter 7 Is It Possible … For That Teen's Hope to Become Contagious? 57

Chapter 8 Is It Possible … That an Entire Church Would Join in the Process? 69

Chapter 9 Is It Possible … For the Surrounding Community to Embrace the Difference? 75

Chapter 10 Is It Possible … To Change the Statistics? 81

Chapter 11 Is It Possible … That God Wants You to Become Involved? 95

Endnotes 105

About the Author 109

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Despite great efforts to address the issue of teen pregnancy, the statistics remain alarming. Two thousand unwed teenage girls in the United States will find out they are pregnant today—and that blows my mind. Gwen Diaz does an incredible job of sharing the startling statistics and substantiating them with true-life stories. In her book Is It Possible . . .To Transform the Lives and Legacies of Single Teen Moms? Gwen provides us with practical methods and positive solutions. She challenges us to take a new course of action and follow the examples of three women who are impacting an entire community through their ministry to teen moms. This is a challenge we can't afford to ignore.

-Dr. Tony Evans, founder and president of The Urban Alternative; senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

Most churches hurt deeply for the people around them and genuinely want to step into their lives with substantive help and hope, but they often simply don’t know what to do. Case in point: what do you do with a teenage girl who finds herself pregnant and then a young mom—especially one who has no extended family structure prepared to walk her through this radical life adjustment? In her timely book, Is It Possible…, Gwen Diaz uses real-life stories to help churches move from having good intentions to actually becoming Jesus’ hands and heart to these fragile and often desperate young women.

-Dr. Tim Kimmel, author of Grace-Based Parenting and Grace-Filled Marriage

Two thousand teenage girls face an unexpected pregnancy each day. Statistics like that can seem irrelevant or distant until you hear the stories behind them. Every number represents a girl in need of something only our Savior can give. So how do we, and how does the church, reach out and offer it? How can we embrace sinners without condoning sin? This book is a touching but equally practical tool that will equip, motivate, and empower you to get involved in something life-changing. If you are pro-life, this is a must read.

-Lauren Beccue, speaker and certified sex ed instructor; author of UN-Expecting