03/16/2006

This Spring: Tens of Thousands of Teens Rally Against 'Virtue Terrorism'
Fueled by Their Faith, Teens Mobilize BATTLECRY—Taking Stand Against Pop-Culture Forces Contributing to Teen Sex, Drug Abuse, and Suicide

--March 23-24: San Francisco, AT&T Field

--April 7-8: Detroit, Ford Field

--May 12-13: Philadelphia, Wachovia Spectrum

DALLAS, March 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Some forty years after rebellious youth started a cultural revolution rejecting rules and boundaries, American teens are once again challenging societal norms. Only this time, the young rebels are in “reverse rebellion.”

“We’re sick and tired of pop culture telling us it’s cool to sleep around, dress like tramps, get high on drugs and alcohol, and behave badly,” said 18-year-old Amanda Hughey from Orange County, Calif., who, along with tens of thousands of other teens, will take part this spring in the BattleCry movement. “Life is not MTV, and if we continue to live like we’re starring in those outrageous music videos, our generation is doomed.”

TODAY’S TEEN REALITY:

MTV is profoundly influential in the lives of its young fans (watched by 73% of boys and 78% of girls ages 12 to 19) by glamorizing drug and alcohol use, sexual promiscuity, and violent behavior. MTV airs (on average) 9 sexual scenes per hour and more than 8 un-bleeped profanities per hour (Parents Television Council, 2004).

80% of 15 to 17-year-olds have had multiple hard-core porn exposures (Family Safe Media).

8,000 teenagers contract an STD every day (Heritage Foundation, 2003).

“It’s ‘virtue terrorism’ and teens have had enough!” said Ron Luce, founder of Teen Mania, one of the world’s largest youth organizations, which is advancing the BattleCry movement and message. “The media and retailers who peddle this garbage for the sake of cash and controversy are doing so at the expense of our kids.”

TEENS RESPOND THIS SPRING WITH BATTLECRY: An initiative of Teen Mania, BattleCry is a national movement of hundreds of thousands of teenagers who, fueled by their Christian faith, are taking a stand against the pop-culture forces contributing to the unprecedented spread of STDs, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, and suicide among the teenage generation.

Integrating high-voltage live stadium events (produced primarily by teens), interactive teen- inspired Web technology, and a powerful coalition of youth and adults, BattleCry is inspiring, empowering, and equipping teens to value godly character over culture. Stadium events feature:

Tens of thousands of teens declaring the rights to “reclaim the values that made this nation great” Dynamic speakers including Ron Luce, Franklin Graham, Miss America 2003 Erika Harold Chart-topping musical guests including TobyMac, Pillar, Jeremy Camp, KJ-52, and Delirious

Registration and coalition information available at www.BattleCry.com.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS (NAE) REPONDS TO THE BATTLECRY FOR TEENS IN TROUBLE: Designating September as National Youth Awareness Month, emphasizing opportunities to help teens rescue their generation.