A CMU Member Highlight:

Richmond Christian Medical & Dental Society

If there were ever a group of doctors that take their faith in Christ seriously, it would be the Richmond chapter of the CMDS. Their main catalyst and spokesman, Dr. James Anderson, has a surprisingly spiritual vision for this group of over 300 medical professionals: "Our goal is to address relational isolation between churches. We want to see relationships develop, particularly among pastors, to the point that cooperation bridging all boundaries within the Body of Christ is a natural outgrowth."

CMDS began on a national level in 1931 to “change the heart of healthcare,” and in 1985, Dr Anderson and his colleagues, while working together in a statewide project to reverse the number of abortions, began the local chapter. The leadership began early on to discuss and pray about what they could be doing to address abortion and other problems such as drug and alcohol use. CMDS believes that all these problems are related to the breakdown of the family and to the deterioration of basic Christian values. What emerged was an eight-point manifesto:

God has a purpose for every group—family, church, and community.

The reality of Christ in a community is reflected through local church-to-church cooperation (Jn. 17:23).

Hurdles of fear and mistrust must be crossed before church cooperation can replace church isolation.

Pastors are key players, because they are able to articulate the forgiveness and commitment required to rebuild the family.

Members of the medical community are in a strategic position to facilitate Christ-centered change in a local community.

The biblical relationship of Jonathan and David provides a model for medical/pastoral relationships.

The medical-dental community must model spiritual unity, cooperation, and interracial leadership.

The fruit of Christian leaders modeling love, trust, cooperation, and prayer will be increased cooperation, citywide prayer, service, and outreach to the community, and - by God’s grace - citywide revival.

A Three Point Approach

Communications. CMDS' communications network consists of an FYI that goes throughout Richmond over faxes and e-mail to churches and other ministries. This one page summary of Christian events covers meetings, concerts, and other major events that are going on in the city. In conjunction with CMU's calendar of events through its newsletter and web site, Christians now can readily find out most of the ministry activity around Richmond that is targeted beyond the walls of any one congregation.

Events. Some of the relationship building events that CMDS sponsors for pastors are:

Pastor appreciation banquets

Marriage retreats

Annual breakfasts on the National Day of Prayer

Monthly meetings to pray and strategize on race relations

Initiatives. The main project that CMDS is currently involved in is the citywide abstinence campaign (see below). This year's Abstinence Promotion Week is a component of that project. This March, CMDS bought billboards promoting abstinence until marriage. The theme of these billboards was: Teenagers are too valuable to use sex for acceptance. Tied in with these billboards is a program promotion called Abstinence Now Until Marriage in conjunction with the VA Department of Health

A Citywide Vision

CMU is working with CMDS to create a comprehensive initiative with a mission to reduce teenage sexual activity in Richmond by 50% through the cooperation of:

The church community: Not only will churches promote the standard of abstinence with its members, we envision a cooperative outreach into neighborhoods and at work to teach parents both at their felt need for parenting skills and at their need for spiritual food.

The school community: Abstinence is now the state standard to be taught in the public schools. CMDS will continue to work with local school districts to bring in speakers and groups to promote God’s standards for purity to students.

The health community: Not only is CMDS partnering with the VA Department of Health, but members of CMDS plan to promote abstinence in community forums and at local health clinics like Cross-Over Ministry, another member of CMU.

The ministry community: These include CMU members in the inner city like:

The four centers of the Richmond Baptist Association

Charity Family Life in Creighton Court

The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club

It also includes creative venues such as:

Sea of Sound, organizing music concerts that promote abstinence (and Christ)

U-Turn, Christian discipleship through sports

Young Life, turning kids on to Christ and nurturing them in His ways

Project Manhood, teaching men how to make boys men of God with only one true love

Jubal’s Café, a coffee house that impacts how youth want to spend their free time

Some Facts and Figures on Abstinence

(Call CMU for source citations.)

Teen sex : Over 50% of all high school students have experienced sexual intercourse.

Teen pregnancy: Each year, 10% of all 15-19 year-old females become pregnant.

Abortion: In Richmond, 40% of pregnant 18-19 year-old teens abort the child.

Individual problems associated with sex

SUBSTANCE USE. Non-virgin teens are nearly three times more likely to use alcohol, more than twice as likely to smoke, and over six times as likely to use marijuana.

EDUCATION. Only 30% of teen girls who become pregnant earn a high school diploma by age 30.

EMOTIONAL. In one survey of teenagers, over half regretted being sexually active. Long-term problems also include: 1) a shaken trust/fear of commitment, 2) rage over betrayal, 3) depression and suicide, and 4) stunted emotional development.

Family dynamics are affected and affect teen sexual behavior

SINGLE PARENT TEEN FAMILIES. Females from single parent homes are 90% more likely to divorce and 164% more likely to have an out of wedlock child than their two parent peers.

FAMILY OF ORIGIN. Daughters of teen mothers are 83% more likely to become teen mothers.

Society is affected by teen sexual behavior

POVERTY. More than eighty percent of teenage mothers end up on welfare.

CRIME. The best predictor of violent crime in a neighborhood is the percentage of fatherless homes.

ECONOMIC. In Chesterfield County, adolescent pregnancy costs an estimated $1.2 million /year.

Contraceptive failures

CONDOM USAGE. Nearly 50% of sexually active teenagers do not use condoms.

CONDOM FAILURE RATES in preventing pregnancy in unmarried 18 year-olds is from 18-44%.

CONDOMS OF LIMITED VALUE, particularly against HPV, Chlamydia, and bacterial vaginosis.

BIRTH CONTROL. Only 34% of inner-city teenagers and 55% of suburban teenagers continue to use birth control pills more than one year after starting them.

Abstinence only as the only viable strategy

INDIVIDUAL. More than three times as protective as any other factor in sexual behavior is the simple willingness of the teenager to make a pledge to remain abstinent until marriage.

PARENTS. Next most protective against sexual and other deviant behavior is parent and family connectedness.

SOCIAL. Community service reduces an individual’s risk for pregnancy.

In one year's time using the “CHOOSING THE BEST” curriculum, the number of newly sexually active teens fell 21% below predicted levels. Further, 54% of teens who had been recently sexually active before the program were no longer sexually active a year later. 73% of all high school students in DC are sexually active , but only 22% of participants in the “BEST FRIENDS” program are.