Minnesotan develops innovative abstinence education banquet for California college women
More than 200 elegantly dressed California women began their evening April 20 with a three-coursed meal, listening to well-known celebrities talk about abstinence until marriage. The majority ended the night on the Pacific shore, making a promise of purity by candlelight.
The event, called the “One Knight Only Banquet,” featured a string trio and a performance of “Wait For Me,” as well as a variety of speakers, including well-known actor Kirk Cameron and former Miss Wisconsin Mary-Louise Kurey. It concluded with a commitment ceremony on the beach in which 125 women promised to remain— from that day forward— abstinent until their wedding day.
Minnesotan Jaime Rau initiated the One Knight Only Banquet, held at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Barbara, in an effort to promote abstinence until marriage to college-age females.
“The most powerful part of the evening,” said Rau, “was the sound of the crashing waves in the background as the ladies stepped up to the microphone on the beach, faces lit by their candles, and said, ‘I am _________, and I am Purely Committed.’”
One Knight Only was more popular than Rau said she had hoped when she instigated the concept.
“We [the planning committee] were frantic, not knowing what to do when we found ourselves over our limit of 250 one hour before the deadline. We had to start calling some and telling them we were full and we would have to put them on a waiting list. We then had to close down registration,” Rau said. “After registration was closed we still received 300 more hits on the registration web site! It was amazing!”
Purely Committed, the organization founded by Rau to plan and implement the One Knight Only Banquet, consists of 12 college-age women who say they are dedicated to the cause of abstinence. In fact, the banquet was so important to Rau that she put college on hold for a semester so she could raise the necessary funds and work harder on ensuring its success.
The group’s work seems to have paid off.
“I really like that there were speakers coming from completely different places. This is probably one of the best things I have ever been to,” said one woman in attendance. “It was informative, and I think more girls and young women should have this information.”
David Hernandez, a physician, spoke about the physical dangers of sex before marriage. And Whitney1 Hardin, a college student and member of Purely Committed, drew from personal experience while encouraging the women to choose abstinence from then on—even if they had already had sex.
“Whitney speaking was wonderful; it reached everyone in a different way. Her experience put a very special touch to the evening,” stated one attendee.
“The biggest problem is the fact that abstinence has been left in the shadows and ‘safe’ sex has stolen the spotlight,” group members said.
According to Purely Committed’s vision statement, “our society gives a lot of attention to teens that are sexually active, urging them to stop or at least ‘be safe.’ What about us, college women? Does the temptation stop after age 18?” Purely Committed also aims to encourage unmarried women who have already been sexually active to “reclaim” themselves.
“I didn’t know that I could regain my purity until tonight,” stated on attendee. “Thank you. I know this will change my life.”
Another woman said, “You’ve really impacted my life tonight. I’ve been struggling for the past few months with committing to secondary virginity. I’m going to now.”
“The message of purity was brought to those who may have never heard it otherwise,” Rau said. “Encouragement was given, and hearts were changed. Our goals were accomplished.”
1 Correction to spelling of name
Return to Newspaper Archive | Return to Purely Committed
