Special silver rings engraved with Biblical verses, including, “Ye shall abstain from fornication” will soon be worn on the fingers of many UK youngsters.

Starting from 25th June, fifty members from an American Christian Group - Silver Ring Thing - will arrive in the UK to promote chastity before marriage among youths. The silver ring is available to those who are determined to commit to abstinence, and have signed an abstinence vow.

In Britain, both the government and parents are worried about the sharp increase in sexually transmitted diseases and its highest teenage pregnancy rate in Western Europe. Whilst sex education is highly promoted in an attempt to relieve the chaos, it turns out that such an approach fails to have a significant impact.

Despite of the reinforcement of sex education among youths, according to the Public Health Laboratory Service in Britain from 1992 to 2002 there was an 870 percent increase in cases of syphilis, while instances of clamydia and gonorrhea were up 139 and 106 percent respectively.

The “Safe-sex” education programme is prevalent in primary and secondary schools. On one hand, it is essential to teach youngsters about the knowledge. On the other hand, it tends to give them a wrong impression that sex is just a causal thing. A chemist in Claygate, Surrey, laments that nowadays teenagers are very knowledgeable on contraceptive products; they appear even more confident and courageous to purchase these products from the aisles than the middle-aged adults.

Silver Ring Thing’s British representative, Mrs Paula Jacobs, a mother of three teenagers, commented, “The Government is teaching ‘safe sex’ but the truth is dying to be told. We are truly plagued by sexually transmitted diseases and what we are teaching our kids is not working. I don’t know why we are not looking at the statistics. Abstinence is the only way to stay disease and pregnant-free.”

From 25 June to 4 July, the Silver Ring Thing Team will visit 6 cities in the UK, including London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin and Manchester. Orientated towards the 11 to 18-year-olds, the team will first reach out to the youths via a two-hour programme featuring spectacular lighting and video systems, hilarious skits, concert sound systems, high-energy music, TV's, computers, with a faith-based abstinence message presented in each of them.

For those who are inspired to commit themselves to abstinence, they can put the silver ring on their wedding finger and make the pledge. They will also be given a 'Silver Ring Thing' bible. Though the ring costs £10, it is not a lot of money to spend if it is considered as a symbol and reminder of an important commitment in life. After the pledge, they have to complete the 14-day gospel reading plan and keep in tight contact with their accountability partner. The accountablility partner is someone of the same gender who has the same belief and is trustworthy. A weekly meeting is recommended for counselling, support and praying together.

The Silver Ring Thing was founded in 1995 by Pittsburgh pastor Revered Denny Pattyn and according to the group's Web site was "designed to attract the attention of the typical 21st century teenager and offer them protection from the destructive effects of America's sex obsessed culture."

Between 2001-2004, the programme has been adopted by 45 U.S cities, over 40,000 teenagers will put on the Silver Ring and sign an abstinence pledge.

For updates about the UK Tour and programmes, please visit the website http://www.silverringthing.com .