Churches Embrace Nondjudgmental Approach to Aid Teen Moms
Teen moms are typically hesitant to enter a church. An international ministry, however, is working to dissipate the feared judgment and help more young mothers feel at home at their local churches.
"I've never been in a church area where they accept teen moms," said Kourtney Zierath, an 18-year-old mother, according to KTTC TV of Rochester, Minn. "Most of the time you are shunned if you aren't married ... so it's interesting how they take care of the babies and support what you're doing and offer to help you with what you're doing. It's really ... cool what they have going here."
Zierath attended a Teen MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) meeting and started one at Christ Community Church in Rochester to help other young moms. MOPS boasts a faith-based, supportive and nonjudgmental environment.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
At Christ Community, Teen MOPS holds bi-monthly meetings that provide daycare, meals, support and companionship.
"We really want them to see that we care for them and we're there for them ... to answer any questions for them," said Jessica Williams of Christ Community.
Melissa Garcia, a member at First United Methodist Church in West Lafayette, Ind., also acknowledged that the church may not be a place teen moms feel comfortable at.
"I think they're afraid of being judged," said Garcia, according to the United Methodist News Service. "And if I were 16 and pregnant, a church might not be the first place I would want to go either."
Garcia currently coordinates the Teen MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) program at First Church where about two dozen teen moms and mothers-to-be are finding encouragement.
"They get funny looks in the grocery store - the 'babies having babies' comments that people make," said Garcia. "So it's nice for them to know that there are people out there that do want to help them."
Participants learn about writing job resumes, performing CPR on infants and balancing family budgets. They also enjoy meals and activities.
Candice Pigee, a 10th-grader, has an 18-month-old daughter. And while she is appreciative of the clothes and diapers MOPS aids her with, she expressed gratitude for having a place that accepts and understands her, especially when surrounded by other teen girls in the same shoes she is in.
"It's nice to actually talk to other teens that have kids, too, kind of going through the same problem you are-being pregnant, young, trying to get through school, and actually understand," said Pigee, who plans to continue with school and become a nurse.
A lot of teen mothers suffer from low self-esteem as many face rejection from their families, end up quitting school to take care of their child, and don't have good role models to learn from, Garcia pointed out.
A simple piece of advice Garcia gives the public is to show affection when they come across a young mom.
"If you see a young mom in the grocery store, just smile at her. Sometimes that makes a big difference," she said.
There are nearly 100 Teen MOPS groups in the United States and Canada that provide Biblically based teaching, leadership training and a positive environment for young moms and for children to receive Christian love and teaching, according to the ministry.
