Ten Thousand Students in Five Days!

Jason Evert's tour of the Niagara Peninsula.

Once upon a time someone had a vision, to think big and to trust in the Holy Spirit that all would be well... and it was! That sums up the beginning, middle and end of a five day visit from one of North Americas most sought after chastity speakers. Catholic Answers' Jason Evert, known for his dynamic and faith-based approach to chastity, was invited to come to our region by a chaplain of the Niagara Catholic District School Board, to address some of their students about chastity. What began as a limited visit to one school ended with Jason presenting sixteen talks to students from 66 elementary and secondary schools in the Niagara, Hamilton-Wentworth and Halton Catholic District School Boards.

This topic is not an easy one to present to teens of our time so there was some anxiety about how and if Jason would be able to reach the students. Well suffice it to say REACH THEM HE DID!

From one end of the region to another Jason wowed the students with stories of his own experiences, addressing issues such as pornography, premarital sex, societal pressures on teens to be sexually active as well as the many misconceptions of so called 'safe sex'. In talk after talk, amidst the gales of laughter, the profound truth was reasserted that being chaste is our only real option if we hope to be happy!

Girls and boys flocked to Jason after his talks were concluded to praise him for his message and to ask him for advice. At one high school an entire girl's gym class cornered him to share their concerns about how they have been pressured to live their lives. Jason, despite his hectic schedule did not cease to be present to them and to promise to send them more literature that would help them in their journey. It was not uncommon to have students in tears thanking him for understanding them. Teachers emailed me after the talks were concluded testifying to the receptivity of their students to his message. One teacher reported that this has changed the lives of many who will now approach sex with a totally different attitude. The grade eight students, about 2000 in number, welcomed his message as they prepare to enter high school in September. Jason succeeded in presenting chastity as a viable option.

As Jason's chauffer I traveled with him for all his speaking engagements and can attest that he is a deeply religious and humble man. His life based on prayer and daily mass attendance grounds him in what he has been called to do. Before each Jason talk could be found in the school chapel, in prayer, before the Blessed Sacrament.

I am amazed at how this situation evolved... one talk becoming 16, 1000 students becoming 10,000. As I reflect on Jason's visit I am convinced that we must shake ourselves free of our fear of 'going too far' in preaching the truth. Truth is truth and when we preach truth only good can come of it! Truly God was behind this past week and I pray that all the seeds planted by Jason's talks will continue to be nurtured by we who remain to carry on.

It is hoped that another chastity speaker through Catholic Answers will be booked for next year to address the students during Catholic Education Week 2009.

Kelly Stephen
Faith Animator of the
Niagara Catholic District School Board

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