The media has inundated us with information about the recent incident between pop superstars Chris Brown and Rihanna.
While there is debate from all sides, it is clear that Rihanna has no intention of ending the relationship at the present time. While I wish that I could be shocked by this choice, I believe it embodies the course of action that the typical teen girl takes today. With some statistics finding that as many as 1 in 4 teen relationships is abusive, how can we be surprised that even celebrities are proving the validity of the unfortunate numbers?
At our SAGE events two years ago, we included an entire segment during our dating session entitled Red Flags in which we tried to uncover some of the warning signs of an abusive relationship. So many of the girls who attended could relate to one or more of the red flags based on personal relationship experiences. If we do not continue in our efforts to highlight this violent epidemic and educate girls about the warning signs, I fear that we will be faced with the issue far closer to home than an Entertainment Tonight report on teen pop stars.
Q&A: Have you encountered girls in abusive relationships within your student ministry? If so, how did you respond?
Girls Ministry World 
First of all, I encourage her to know that the male in question was not showing love to her by harming and threatening her. I expressed with her the importance of understanding her worth.
That because God loves her, she is worthy of healthy love relationships. At the time she was
16 and had been with him for two years. He was 19 years of age. He had all the classic signs of
a abuser.
She finally ended the relationship with legal assistance and though she flashback with him from time to time, one day he showed up with a diamond ring. She did eventually turn her back on the unhealthly alliance.
I have been teaching on dating violence for over ten years with the generous help of the Liz Claiborne foundation. Last year, by the grace of God I created a hip hop brochure on what Dating Violence is and also wrote an article on it for Elementz of Life magazine (American Bible Society’s At-risk youth division). I send out flyers and brochures to churches engcouraging them to educate their teens on dating violence. This was prior to the Chris/Rhianna and I am grateful that God who knows all things…had prepared me to be a part of His awareness to this tragedy that many girls (1 out of 4) experience.
By: Rev. Regina Foster on April 30, 2009
at 4:49 pm