CARROLLTON, Tex., May 10 – Grammy-award ® winning artist Rebecca St. James hosted the S.H.E. (Safe. Healthy. Empowered.) Conference at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, singing and speaking to more than 1,100 ladies who came to hear the message of purity and the value of abstinence until marriage.  The evening was emceed by Andrea, host of Night Light on KLTY.

St. James was invited to host the local event out of relationship with Bent Tree’s worship & arts pastor Scott Dyer, who wrote the song “Forgive Me” which is featured on her album “If I Had Once Chance to Tell You Something.”

“Mom, I want to encourage you to talk to your daughters about purity.  God’s way is beautiful.  God’s way is romantic,” St. James said and explained that after making a commitment at age 15 at a “True Love Waits Rally” that she wrote the love song “Wait for Me” for her future husband promising to wait for him, and asking him to do the same.

The conference is designed to be an intimate time for women to enjoy music, fellowship and some ‘talk time’ with St. James and Karlsson to talk about practical ways to live out purity in a culture that does not honor the concept.

During the question and answer session, St. James addressed the issue of modesty as a springboard into conversation that ranged from the familiar mother-daughter debate about two-piece swimsuits to age-appropriate reading selections.  In talking about current fashions, she pointed out that while many girls make the decision to remain a virgin, their attire is quite the opposite and sends mixed signals to the guys.

The evening featured Evie Karlsson, whose first album in 1974, launched her to the forefront of Christian music.   She has become a mentor to St. James over the years, and joins the SHE event addressing questions that come up about marriage and generational issues.

“Maybelline, Loreal, and Clinique can’t package radiance,” Karlsson said.  “Jesus is the only one who can give us radiance regardless of what is on the outside.”

Also, St. James’ younger brothers Joel and Luke took the stage performing their own songs and said that in addition to supporting their sister, they want to take a stand and call for young men to raise respect for young ladies.  They commented that girls are “princesses who deserve to be treated with honor, respect and dignity from us guys.  We really do believe that strongly, and something we endeavor to do in our own lives.  So many young ladies settle for second best and settle for men who do not honor and appreciate and respect.  Don’t settle for second best, because under God you deserve more than that.”

The final question came from a mom who thanked St. James for not only being a woman of God, but for being such a cool woman of God and then asked about St. James’ viewpoint on kissing.

“There’s a certain level of kissing that should be respected and saved for a deeper commitment level.  I am not going to let a guy take me there,” St. James answered.  “I am fine with kissing on the lips, but I don’t feel going to another level is right for me right now.  It leads so easily to crossing those lines.”

St. James’ general counsel was to ask one’s self, “Would he (God) be pleased with my actions?   What you put in your head and heart will come out in your life. So be careful.” 

Multiple Dove Award winner as well as America’s most prestigious musical Award—the Grammy®—Australian born St. James has been considered to be a major defining female voice in contemporary Christian Music. In January '08 she was named "Favorite Female Artist" for a 7th consecutive year by CCM Magazine. CRW Magazine has named her to the list of the “50 Most Influential People in Contemporary Music.” Her book, “Wait For Me,” now in a 9th printing reached the #1 spot on the CBA (Young Adult) book chart in 2003, with her passionate, and often controversial, challenge to young people to “stand strong” on issues of sexual purity. She closed out 2004 with the release of her new book, “SHE,” (Tyndale). An impactful “where the rubber meets the road guidebook,” for women of her generation, Rebecca gives an impassioned voice for a modern womanhood based on a return to biblical principles. The “teen” edition of the book—SHE TEEN—launched in Sept of ’05—reaching #1 on the CBA Young Adult Chart.

Bent Tree Bible Fellowship is located in Carrollton, Texas, and is a non-denominational, Evangelical Christian congregation led by Senior Pastor Pete Briscoe.  For more information about ministries, current events and worship times, visit www.btbf.org.