Endorsements of Straight Talk's work Schools | Churches | Others
From Schools
From Dubbo Christian School NSW
Dear Jim and Faye
Thank you for your excellent presentation to Years 7, 9 and 11 in March 2008.
The parent evening was most informative and those who attended expressed their appreciation for access to such information. They were grateful to know what content their children were to receive and how to deal with it at home. Parents remarked at how clearly the information was presented and they were encouraged to see resources that were suitable to be used by the family.
The manner in which the presentation was made was engaging and gave great insight into the ways teenagers think about issues. Parents particularly commented about their own ignorance of some issues prior to the presentation and felt more equipped to open up the topic with their children as a consequence of hearing what was said.
Students found the presentation relevant, meaningful and engaging. The style of the sessions allowed students to see clearly the values that are fed to them by the world and could assess them against a Christian world view. The treatment of 'truth' in these presentations was most helpful to all the students and allowed opportunity to follow through points that were raised.
A number of students indicated that they would like following up in their Christian walk and would like to discuss issues finding that the DVD presentation by Pam Stenzel confronted them with a need to be pure and faithful until marriage. The opportunity to see that a person can change the direction in which they were headed was a thought provoking and healing concept for many.
I have no hesitation in recommending this presentation. If more parents were aware of tile content of this presentation, the issues could be discussed in a more informed and secure way at home. The more students are exposed to such worthwhile, balanced presentations as this, the more likely they are to heed the advice.
Once again thank you for your most informative presentations.
Yours sincerely
Linda Hampstead
Acting Deputy Principal
April 2008
From Concordia College Toowoomba:
Concordia College has been delighted with the response of students (Years 10, 11 & 12) and staff to your video presentation “The price tag of sex.” The video is confronting and informative, clearly presenting to students the physical, emotional and spiritual consequences of irresponsible sexual behaviour.
Many of the details given were not well-known to the students and the older students expressed the wish that they had seen it earlier in their lives. In addition, the video was set in the context of the Christian gospel indicating that there is love and forgiveness available for people even if they have made the wrong choices. Thus, although the video is designed to deter young people from sexual behaviour outside of marriage, it is not negatively legalistic but positively encouraging.
Jim and Faye's personal introduction to the video also was effective in establishing its relevance to an Australian context, and their role modelling of a happy married couple would have had an impact on the audience as well.
Ruth Butler
Assistant Principal, Curriculum
(Concordia College Toowoomba, QLD.)
From Brisbane Boys' College
Both presentations [of “The price tag of sex.”] were to approximately 100 boys firstly in Year 11 and then Year 12. The response from both groups was overwhelmingly positive.
This unique presentation creatively deals with a number of issues relating to sex and relationships. It covers issues such as the physical, emotional and spiritual cost of premature sexual involvement.
Our students certainly were challenged by the presentation and this has caused much positive discussion.
I would therefore wholeheartedly commend the presentation “The price tag of sex.” as a vital educational tool to be used with our young people. It is excellent.
Graham Cole
Chaplain
(Brisbane Boys' College, Brisbane, QLD.)
From Churches
From an Assembly of God Church - Toowoomba
We were delighted with the response of members to your video presentation “Sex Has A Price Tag.” This video was very informative and confronting. It clearly presented the physical, emotional and spiritual consequences of irresponsible behaviour. “The price tag of sex.” impacted many of the members, many of them had wished that they had seen it earlier in their lives.
The parents of our youth appreciated learning practical information about diseases and consequences of sex outside marriage.
Even some who had made mistakes were also addressed, giving them the chance to know that there is love and forgiveness for them. Even though this video is very high in Christian standards, non-Christians would benefit immensely from it. As it gives a very open and non-threatening message of God's love and of His forgiveness.
Thank you for your presentation to our church and we pray for your continuing effort in presenting this video to the young people of Australia.
Pastor Fred Evans, Senior Pastor,
Spring Street Assembly of God Church (Toowoomba, QLD.)
"Every person in Australia should see this!"
Roland Sondergeld,
Senior Pastor,
West Toowoomba Presbyterian Church.
From an Christian Outreach Centre - Sunshine Coast
After personally viewing the video with Jim and my youth pastor, we decided to run the video in conjunction with a Sunday night service. We felt that the subject matter was so relevant to the youth of today as well as to parents who are trying to communicate these values to their children, that we wanted to waste no time in presenting it both to our church and to our community.
The presentation is outstanding. Pam's ability to communicate to the young generation, coupled with her practical experience in dealing with the mistakes of youth today, gives her the credibility to hold the attention of young people while impacting their lives.
We had approximately 500 people at the service and the response was very positive. The presentation held the attention of young and old alike and the comments on the Comment Cards indicated that the audience was impacted. In fact, I am now eager to work with Jim and Faye in getting this wonderful presentation into all local schools.
I therefore recommend this presentation to your church and general community as a necessity.
Gary Hourigan,
Senior Pastor
Coastlands Christian
Outreach Centre (Noosaville, QLD.)
From others
From Fiona Simpsom MLA
The pressures on young people today are enormous. They are facing adult decisions at an earlier age and they expect to make their own choices without being 'told' what to do.
Increasingly, the information they use to make life-impacting decisions comes from the mass media. But how accountable - or accurate - is the information they are receiving? Do the people selling the media message of &quo;everybody's doing it&quo; have any responsibility to an audience who trusts them and who then makes irreversible decisions about sex before marriage without knowing the cost.
“Sex Has A Price Tag” is a 'non-preachy,' practical video that talks about the cost.
I believe that young people want to be informed and “The price tag of sex.” is an excellent resource for them and their parents.
At the end of the day, as much as we may love these young people and wish we could make the right decisions for them, they reach an age when they have to make their own way and choose their own path.
Life is too wonderful and young people too precious to leave them at the mercy of an uncaring media. It's time to give them the real facts of life.
Fiona Simpson
MLA Member for Maroochydore, QLD.
From Sam Heyburn
The “Sex Has A Price Tag” video seminar is the best sex education evangelistic resource I have ever seen. It's informative and confronting, yet gentle and sensitive. Everyone who is concerned about today's young people should find a way to see this excellent presentation by Jim and Faye Lyons.
Sam Heyburn,
Executive Director, Youth For Christ Brisbane
