The Magazine of the Pennsylvania Family Institute

FeatureThe mission ofPure Freedom is toequip men and womenof all ages to live avibrant life of purity,to experience healingfrom past impurity if itexists in their lives,and to experience avibrant, passionatemarriage which portraysthe love Christhas for his Bridethe church.MINISTRY VERSE:Ephesians 5:31,32‘Not Even a Hint’B Y A M Y S M I T HDannah Gresh ispassionate aboutpurity — and the abundantlife teens can experienceif they are committedto pursuing it asGod intended.“We settle for too little,”she said. “Abstinenceis not not havingsex. It’s waiting to haveit right.”Gresh, the founder ofthe State College-basedministry, Pure Freedom,is also the best-sellingauthor of the book Andthe Bride Wore Whiteand other books.When Gresh speaksabout purity, she referencesEphesians 5:3-4which says, “Butamong you there mustnot be even a hint ofsexual immorality, orany kind of impurity, orof greed, because theseare improper for God’sholy people. Nor shouldthere be obscenity, foolishtalk or coarse joking,which are out ofplace, but ratherthanksgiving.”Gresh points out thatthese verses encompassmental and emotionalpurity and not just the“virgin thing.”Pure Freedom grewout of Dannah and herhusband Bob’s workingwith teens in the churchthey attended while livingin Missouri — andout of Dannah’s ownpain.At the age of 15,Dannah fell into sexualsin with her boyfriend.For the next 10 years,she did not believe thatGod had forgiven her.Finally, she confessedher sin to her husband,and in so doing, foundhis forgiveness and realizedGod’s.Her own healingmotivated her to reachout to teens as PureFreedom began. But hermotivation has changeda lot, she said.“It’s become moreabout obedience to Godas he puts a new thingin my heart,” throughScripture or friends oropen doors.Today, Pure Freedomconducts 60 events peryear, as different teamsgo out for differentevents. Dannah conductsabout two eventsper month but limitsher travels because ofthe Greshes’ twoteenage children, Robbie,17, and Lexi, 14.Most, but not all, ofPure Freedom’s eventsare targeted to teens.“We love teenagers.Satan has them in hiscrosshairs,” Gresh said.Pure Freedom’s websitesays, “Our events,the hallmark of ourministry, are about sexualpurity and yet theyare much more aboutthe totality of a life submittedto the will ofGod in a quest to enjoy5