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"Between Friends" Group Supports Teen Moms
by Chris Conti, Peru
9 December 2008

Two years ago, Abancay, Peru, saw an epidemic of teen pregnancies inside the churches. Instead of loving these girls, many churches and families either did not respond, or else severely disciplined them.

“We wanted to help them restore their relationships with God, their churches and their families,” said SIM missionary Cynthia Sundman. So she and Stacey Krohn set up Entre Amigas (Between Friends).

     
  Children of the Between Friends Group  
     

The group met regularly to build friendships, then worked through their spiritual, family and church situation to restore them. They also provided teaching on practical issues to do with pregnancy, motherhood, and family issues, all with a Christian focus.

“We felt it necessary to step in and teach these young girls not only how to care for themselves during their pregnancies, but also how to care for their babies and to work on restoring their relationship with the Lord,” said Stacey.

Some of the girls have now married. Others are still struggling with family, but they are better equipped to work through them. Some have stepped back into ministry and are serving in the church.

“They have truly become a small family within themselves. They talk about their kids, they support one another and, most of all, they have found forgiveness. They desire to raise their kids with values and give each other ideas and advice on parenting,” Stacey said.

A few of the new mothers have emerged as leaders. “We do not know yet how it will be,” said Cynthia, “but I have seen their interest in stepping out with each other, interest in keeping the group going and allowing new pregnant girls into the group. They see that it helped them and they want to help others.”


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