Bristol Palin to Talk Sex in Arcadia
Reality television star will discuss abstinence, her teenage pregnancy at Arcadia's Our Savior Lutheran Church’s LoveFest 9.
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Get ready, Arcadia. Bristol Palin, the daughter of 2008 vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, is heading this way.
Palin will be the keynote speaker at LoveFest 9, an event hosted by Arcadia-based Our Savior Lutheran Church that uses a Christian perspective to tackle tough issues teenagers face, such as abstinence, dating, depression, pornography, drugs and faith.
Alison Sweeney, a chairman of LoveFest, told Patch that she and fest organizers were batting around names of potential speakers when they realized Palin might be interested.
Around the time they were making the selections, Palin “had just decided to start talking about teen pregnancy, and how it changes your life,” Sweeney said.
In 2009, Palin became a Teen Ambassador for Candie’s Foundation, which educates youth about teenage pregnancy. She recently filmed a Public Service Announcement (PSA) with Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino on safe sex.
Palin is expected to discuss abstinence, faith and the hardships of being a teen parent at LoveFest 9.
Sweeney said Palin will receive a small appearance fee for speaking at the event.
Other speakers lined up for the event include author Chad Eastham and Dove Award-winning musical act Group 1 Crew.
Sweeney said tickets for LoveFest 9, which cost $20 and include lunch from In-N-Out and dinner from Peppers Mexican Grill, are going at a fast clip and the event will likely sell out its allotment of 1,000 tickets.
That's a remarkable turnout for an event that began modestly nine years ago. Only about 75 people came out for the first LoveFest, of which "50 were volunteers," Sweeney cracked.
LoveFest 9:Empowered takes place Feb. 12-13 at Our Savior Lutheran Church.
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Our Savior Lutheran Church
512 W Duarte Rd, Arcadia, CA -
In-N-Out Burger
420 N Santa Anita Ave, Arcadia, CA -
Pepper's Mexican Grill & Cantina
181 Colorado Pl, Arcadia, CA
Ross S. Heckmann
11:43 am on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I have a high regard for Our Savior Lutheran Church. I do think they made the wrong call on this one. Seems to me that people who headline conferences in which Christian values will be preached should be done by those who either have faithfully lived by them, or who, having fallen, have nevertheless lived a very steady life thereafter for a period of many years. There is always a temptation to bring on a big name or a celebrity despite their not having yet achieved full qualification. I personally would much sooner listen to a completely unknown person who has either been faithful or has demonstrably recovered over a period of many years.
Norm Orsan
12:03 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Listening to Bristol Palin talk about abstinence is probably like the wolf saying "I'm sorry," after he chewed off your foot.
Sheryn
3:32 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Bristol Palin seems quite eager to accept any media attention or celebrity status or money for her speaking engagements. I do not feel she is sincere when she volunteers to give a speech at a discounted rate for Christian groups. She does not practice what she preaches--speaking about abstinence looks good on her experience resume and she can play games with speaking fees being charitable deductions by her so she doesn't have to pay income tax on all the money she has earned this year--but in this year alone she has lived with three boyfriends: Levi, Ben Barber and the new beau from Wasilla. Bristol is profitting from being a teenage unwed mother and bears no resemblance to the typical young, unwed mother who is poor or multi-racial or has no family support and no education and no employment. Bristol is riding on Sarah Palin's coattails and gravy train.
Fernando Hernandez
2:00 am on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
These comments seem so judgmental. Where is the mercy of God that gives people a 2nd chance? Who among us hasn't sinned? What does Jesus say about this girl? Who among us knows her heart? David sinned yet was called a man after God's own heart. What if you sinned & realized the mistake you made & were given an opportunity to speak to others to help them avoid the same mistake you made. Peter was given that chance after he denied Jesus & 3000 people were saved.
Ross S. Heckmann
11:27 am on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
No, the comments are not judgmental. They are, or at least purport to be, based on objective facts, not subjective guesses at what might be in Ms. Palin's heart. As President John Adams so famously said, "Facts are stubborn things." Giving people a second chance doesn't mean recognizing them as leaders and main speakers & paying them thousands of dollars; a second chance means starting over, perhaps even from the bottom; here's a broom, go clean the church bathroom, and let's see what your attitude is and how good a job you do before you go any further. Jesus says that those who repent may be forgiven; Jesus can immediately see whether the repentance is sincere; we have to watch a person's life over a period of years to find out. David was forgiven but was severely judged by God and came within an inch of being executed by his own son in a rebellion. Peter quit the ministry and went back to fishing, and the risen Christ had to publicly forgive Peter in the presence of the other disciples before Peter would come back to the ministry, which by the way, paid Peter in the currency of persecutions, suffering, and death, not adulation and thousands of dollars; surely Ms. Palin does not claim an experience similar to Peter's.
mal
4:41 am on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wonderful choice of speakers. Bristol Palin did a wonderful job speaking at her last speaking engagement. She is a lovely girl with a story to share, which may help teenagers understand the complexities associated with bringing a precious child into the world, at such a young age. Bristol Palin wonderful young woman and mother. God bless her and her precious son, Tripp.
Ross S. Heckmann
11:34 am on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
No doubt she is pretty and her son is precious. I have not heard her speak and can't say how good a speaker she is. But the most important qualification is one that she does not have; a few years evidencing reasonable steadfastness in recovering from her fall. Until she acquires this credential, many people will feel they need to, at the minimum, suspend judgment about her, rather than regard her as being immediately worthy of being the principal speaker at Christian gatherings. Indeed, in general, the bane of American Christianity is leaders who have not demonstrated their qualifications for leadership.
Fernando Hernandez
12:42 pm on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
I wonder what Jesus says. Peter didn't have to spend years proving himself. I backslid for 7 yrs. When I came back to God, I was instantly received & loved at my church. God began using me immediately. I'm now a pastor of a church. The prodigal son didn't have to spend yrs proving himself. The Father instantly said "bring him the BEST robe" etc & then a party was thrown. The stone throwers had the facts about the woman caught in adultery, but walked away when Jesus asked who was without sin. He didn't condemn the woman, He loved her. We don't know the consequences Bristol has faced for her mistake. we don't know what she has done before her church or God. Apparently she has learned that she wants to spare other young girls from making the same mistakes. As far as having an experience similar to Peter, everyone can have the same experience, it's called forgiveness. We don't earn it by yrs of sweeping etc. It's given freely by God. I Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It sounds like some of us are holding her mistake against her, or coming against opportunities that maybe God has given her. If anyone feels Bristol isn't qualified because of her sins, what are you disqualified from because of your sins? It may be more about our attitude than her sin, just the way it was about the stone throwers attitudes. She would be welcome in my church. So would you be. So are all sinners. God bless you.
R Terry
12:30 am on Friday, January 28, 2011
It's not hard to see that all these negative comments are by liberals who have a special hate for this girl's mother. A hate they can't even define as they blindly follow a political party totally opposed to any opinion expressed by Bristol's mother. It's the mother remember. Britol is not running for office...nor is Sarah.
Maybe Sheryn and Ross H. should spend more time with the Bible than the National Inquirer. And Ross should consider trading some church time for time spent with anger management. You are not a good example of a Christian.
Ross S. Heckmann
7:04 pm on Saturday, January 29, 2011
To those for whom facts are important: (1) I am not a liberal; (2) I don't hate the girl's mother; (3) I am not a member of any political party; (4) I did not criticize Bristol until she decided to become a public figure in her own right and to speak out publicly about an area in which she had failed a short time ago; public figures and their supporters need to be able to take criticism, especially of the truthful and accurate variety; (5) I do not read the National Inquirer; (6) You have no evidence that I have problems with anger or that I am a bad Christian; my criticism is about as polite as it gets; if this causes people to make numerous unsubstantiated allegations, then those are the people that need to take a second look at themselves.
Millie
12:36 pm on Saturday, January 29, 2011
What better person to have to speak with our young people than someone that has been
through hell and I mean hell. She knows first handed what the price is for not practicing
abstanance. N o one should have to go through what she has had to endure and then be
critized because she wants to help others not make the same mistake.
I'll be willing to bet some of the ones that are so judgemental here have made the same
mistake, but they didn't have to be before the whole nation knowing about it. If you have
not LOVE ( and forgiveness) you have nothing. I agree with all that Terry the previous
commenter said about Ross H. and deffinantly recommend anger management therapy!
Ross S. Heckmann
7:09 pm on Saturday, January 29, 2011
If when I criticize somebody I am being "judgmental," then when you criticize me, are you also being judgmental? I believe in love & forgiveness; I don't think that means we need to give somebody who has fallen a very remunerative leadership role before they have demonstrated for a sufficiently long period of time that they are going to stay on the straight and narrow path. I am not angry, just disappointed at the poor judgment that is being shown.
Fernando Hernandez
11:41 pm on Saturday, January 29, 2011
I'm sure you are a good man, it's just that you can't make up the rules for other people and their redemption. What if God has opened these doors for Bristol? He opened the doors for me after I fell. When I went back to my church, a wise pastor said that my gifts should be restored immediately. I'm glad noone objected. I may not be a pastor today. I don't think we can determine how long someone like Bristol should demonstrate repentance, or how much she should be offered to speak about her experience. What in your opinion is poor judgement because she hasn't met your standards may just be the thing that saves another young girl from making the same mistake.
R Terry
11:46 pm on Saturday, January 29, 2011
I couldn't have said it better and Ross is just digging himself deeper.
Ross S. Heckmann
7:54 pm on Monday, January 31, 2011
Thanks for your comment Mr. Hernandez, obviously written from a Christian spirit. I am not making up rules for other people and their redemption any more or less than you are. I have a position on the subject that I believe is meritorious and hope other people accept it; so do you. One important different between your case and Bristol's is that before your fall you were found to be fully qualified as a Christian leader, so that it was a matter of restoration rather than initial qualification. However, as far as I am aware, Bristol had her baby out of wedlock before she was 18 and no Christian group that has ever made any determination that she was qualified to be a Christian leader, either before or after her fall. We should indeed seek God's guidance as to if or when to promote or restore somebody to leadership; but in the absence of any special revelation, we have to apply general Biblical & prudential principles; I Tim 3:10 states, "And let these also FIRST be proved; THEN let them use the office of a deacon, being found BLAMELESS" (emphasis added); I Tim 3:1, 6-7 states, "A bishop must be BLAMELESS . . . . Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil; Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (emphasis added). These principles apply generally to those who seek Christian leadership and disqualify Bristol.
R Terry
10:02 pm on Monday, January 31, 2011
I don't think that Bristol considers herself as a "Christian leader". I don't think a particular amount of time needs to elapse between her "fall" and her speaking of it to benefit those who might learn from her experience. I believe that it is a positive that she is able to speak as a young person to other young persons who may relate better to her as one of their peers than an adult. I just hope that the event is attended by some of those youths who might be benefitted rather than just those who want to see and hear Sarah's daughter.
Fernando Hernandez
3:02 am on Tuesday, February 1, 2011
True, Terry. Bristol just seems to want to help others avoid the same mistake she made. The Bible says to comfort others with the same comfort God showed us. I have a couple in my church who were addicted to drugs & sold drugs. They had served the Lord before & had fallen away. When they came to church, they were miraculously delivered. They immediately began to help me build this church. Now they teach a recovery class to help others in the same situation they were in. I have to work with them as they learn how to minister but I see the mercy of God in their story. The good thing is that God recreates us into new creatures. None of us are perfect, we all have rough edges, but as a pastor interested in helping people start over, I find it is best to err on the side of mercy. Jesus said, "I desire mercy rather than sacrifice." He is "Full of grace and truth". We should also mix grace with our truth! Mr Heckman, God bless you. I know you understand God's love for you & others. May we all find someone today to love in the name of the Lord!