RING CEREMONY

A True Love Waits Ring Ceremony is a special picture of the commitment to sexual purity shared between a parent and his or her teenage son or daughter. The ceremony typically takes place during a True Love Waits Commitment Service. In it a parent presents a ring to his or her teenager to wear as a symbol of that teenager's commitment to purity. The Ring Ceremony can be the most pivotal, meaningful event on your church calendar because it can impact the lives of students and families for generations.

Preparing for the Ring Ceremony

A few weeks before the True Love Waits Ceremony invite the parents to purchase a ring or some other gift for their teens. These rings will be a symbol of their mutual commitment to a lifetime of purity. While you can use a plain, simple ring, True Love Waits rings have been specifically designed for this ceremony. Click here for rings. Some churches choose to purchase matching rings for all members of the family. These rings serve as a reminder of the commitment of the family to sexual purity.

Some teenagers in your church may not have parents who will participate with them in the ring ceremony. Enlist a significant adult for each of these students to participate in the ring ceremony with them.

During the Ring Ceremony

Before the service photocopy the script on the following page and distribute copies to all participants in the Ring Ceremony. Make sure that each parent or significant adult has the ring to present to his or her teenager.

Begin the Ring Ceremony with prayer. A sample prayer is listed below. This could be read or used as a guideline for the person who leads in prayer.

“Lord, more than anything in this world we want an intimate, pure relationship with You. We want to glorify You in every aspect of our lives. Use this time to underscore our spiritual relationship. We are in You. We are Your body. We are the bride. You are the Groom. Before we can seek to be pure before each other, we must be pure before You. Thank You, Father that purity is attainable through the gift of Jesus on the cross. Teach us what it means to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. This is something we cannot do without You. So we claim You as our Lord and our Guide. In the pure name of Christ we pray. Amen.”

Use the script below to guide the congregation through the ceremony. After the charge to the students, conclude the ceremony with prayer.

After the Ring Ceremony

Invite parents, students, and the church family to a casual celebration in the fellowship area of the church. Decorate the room with old photos and family memorabilia. If you have had Ring Ceremonies in the past, create a display of photos of families participating in the Ring Ceremonies. As snacks are served, play a video or digital slide show of the ceremony you just held.

The Ring Ceremony script below may also be downloaded for use within your church: Ring Ceremony (22kb PDF)

THE RING CEREMONY

Leader: There was a time when many walked habitually in the pathway of the world. We lived according to the flesh, but God made us alive through Christ.

All: We commit to a life of purity.

Leader: God is rich in His mercy toward us, that while we were dead in our sins, through the grace of Jesus, we have been made alive forevermore.

All: Forgive us for the days and years we have spent watching, reading, listening, and experiencing vile and impure things.

Leader: We are each new creations today.

All: Create in each of us a clean heart, oh God.

Leader: Lord, cleanse Your church.

All: Restore Your glory.

Leader: Make the crooked passages of our lives straight today.

Students: Restore our joy.

All: We are Your children.

Adults: We will place no corrupt thing before our eyes.

Students: As students.

Parents: As parents.

All: As ministers and as a church family.

Leader: Hear, oh Lord, in this sacred hour, on this holy ground, our commitment to You and each other.

Leader: Lord be glorified as our students commit:

Leader: (Students repeat after the Leader) Believing that true love waits …I make a commitment to God, … myself, … my family, … my friends, … my future mate, …. and my future children … to a lifetime of purity … including sexual abstinence … from this day … until the day I enter … a biblical marriage relationship.

Leader: Lord be glorified as our adults commit:

Leader: (Adults and Parents repeat after the Leader) Believing that true love is pure, … I join these students … in committing to a lifestyle of purity. … I make a commitment to God, … myself, … my family, … and my community of faith … to abstain from pornography, … impure touching and conversations, … and sex outside a biblical marriage relationship … from this day forward.

Parents or adult mentors, present the ring to your student.)

Leader: Students, may this ring be a reminder of your commitment to purity. It was given to you by someone who loves you and supports you in this commitment. Wear it with the knowledge that your purity is for God’s glory. On your wedding night you are to give this ring to your spouse as a celebration of promises given and promises kept. May it also be a symbol of your continued sexual purity and the provision found in the gift of your spouse.

There are several companies that make TLW rings. Check out the jewelers listed on our True Love Waits Merchandise page.