Our history
International history
The Silver Ring Thing program was created in 1995 by Denny and Amy Pattyn as a response to the escalating numbers of teen pregnancies in Yuma, Arizona, and was moved to Pittsburgh, PA in 2000. Since that time, Silver Ring Thing has hosted over 700 events in 8 countries, reaching over 417,000 total attendees. Of this number, over 137,000 students have received rings as a symbol of their commitment to remain pure until marriage with another 73,000 receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. The Silver Ring Thing leadership recognizes that the distribution of condoms or the practice of “safe-sex” will not ensure protection from the physical, emotional and spiritual problems resulting from sexual activity among teens. The only way to reverse the moral decay of any youth culture is to inspire a change in the conduct and behaviour from those within the culture. Therefore, every program and activity at Silver Ring Thing has been designed to inform, inspire, educate, and follow-up students and parents in this battle for purity within their families. Click here to link to the Silver Ring Thing international website.
Southern African history
Silver Ring Thing Southern Africa is brought to you by turn the tide 4 children (www.ttt4c.org) and operated by Walk Thru the Bible Southern Africa (www.bible.org.za). turn the tide 4 children serves the local church to impact vulnerable children their communities.
Silver Ring Thing Southern Africa launched in Johannesburg on 2 February 2005
The dream: To reach one million southern Africa young people with the message of abstinence.
During the launch year a team of 12 vibrant, enthusiastic and committed young people succeeded in bringing the message of sexual abstinence to 63,149 young people through 102 live shows. 41,046 young South Africans committed to sexual purity and abstinence before marriage.
Silver Ring Thing was initially launched in the live show format only. Silver Ring Thing’s high-tech presentation helps make this live show attractive. By featuring awesome lighting and video systems, hilarious skits, concert sound systems, high-energy music, TVs, computers and a faith-based abstinence message, young people become interested in the message being offered to them about their sex lives.
The silver ring is worn as an outward symbol of an inward decision made by the attendees and is a reminder of the abstinence pledge they made.
The vision for Silver Ring Thing Southern Africa was born in August 2004, when Martin Deacon, then Executive Director of Turn the Tide, saw a primetime BBC documentary regarding the Silver Ring Thing in America.
Silver Ring Thing was developed in the USA in 1995 by Denny and Amy Pattyn in response to the destructive effects of America’s sex-obsessed culture had on the youth. They intended to create a programme which would connect beyond community youth groups and school-based abstinence programmes and appeal to a typical 21st-century teenager.
Since the BBC documentary aired in the UK in January 2004, it has been televised worldwide. This sparked international interest and resulted in a 2-week UK tour in June 2004.
Denny Pattyn accepted an invitation from turn the tide 4 children for a short visit to South Africa in September 2004. During this visit, it was decided to launch Silver Ring Thing Southern Africa in 2005 and strong partnerships were formed with local churches and business people.
Over 8,000 young people attended the launch weekend in February 2005 in Johannesburg and almost 3,000 got the ring as a symbol of their pledge to abstinence.
During a 7-day tour to White River, Mpumalanga, in May 2005, 45 business people from Nelspruit pledged R10,000 each to sponsor Silver Ring Thing in reaching all 45 schools in their area.
Silver Ring Thing had their first South African national tour in June 2005, visiting 15 cities in 52 days. This was followed with a Kwa-Zulu Natal Tour in September 2005, reaching 9 cities in 21 days.
On 27 October 2005, the biggest show in Silver Ring Thing history was held in Vanderbijl Park, with almost 6,000 high school students hearing and responding to the abstinence message.
In 2005 the Silver Ring Thing presented 102 live shows in southern Africa to 63,149 attendees. Of these 41.046 young people pledged abstinence and 14,320 were able to put on the Silver Ring Thing silver ring. 2,155 young people trusted in Jesus Christ as their Saviour for the first time and 8,748 recommitted themselves to a relationship with Jesus.
In 2006 the Silver Ring Thing presented 88 live shows in southern Africa to 48,836 attendees. Of these 29,301 young people pledged abstinence and 6,080 were able to put on the Silver Ring Thing silver ring. 3,721 young people trusted in Jesus Christ as their Saviour for the first time and 9,950 recommitted themselves to a relationship with Jesus.
In 2007 the Silver Ring Thing presented 104 live shows in southern Africa to 39,292 attendees. Of these 30,029 young people pledged abstinence and 770 were able to put on the Silver Ring Thing silver ring. 10,410 young people trusted in Jesus Christ as their Saviour for the first time and 14,092 recommitted themselves to a relationship with Jesus.
During the years 2008 and 2009 Silver Ring Thing developed the small-group-based curriculum, Project 434. No live shows were presented in these two years.
In 2010 the new Project 434 curriculum was released in April 2010. Churches, schools, small groups and individuals are now able to facilitate the powerful Silver Ring Thing program in their own environments. Two live shows are presented in May 2010.
Media like E-TV news, Crux, Radio Pulpit, Beeld, Truth magazine, KykNet, Radio 702 and others have already covered the Silver Ring Thing shows.
The Silver Ring Thing is fast becoming a visible national abstinence programme and on its way, by God’s grace, to reach many southern African teenagers. We welcome the opportunity to bring this program to your community and partner with you to impact students and parents with the truth of God’s plan for purity.
Contact us at info@silverringthing.co.za for more information.
