RUBGY league legend Jason Stevens will be in Brisbane next month to share the story behind his public promise to keep sex for marriage.
Mr Stevens, a former player for the St George Dragons and the Cronulla Sharks, will address the annual Real Talk fundraising dinner to speak about the turning point that led him to give up a life of casual sex for God.
At the height of his sporting career, he publicly vowed to remain celibate before marriage.
As well as making public his choice to keep sex for marriage, he also wrote a book exploring Christian and non-Christian reasons for living a chaste life.
Mr Stevens, who is a Christian, married Beck Ford in 2010, with both of them having decided to abstain from sex before marriage.
Paul Ninnes, who manages the Brisbane ministry Real Talk, said Mr Stevens’ story represented his organisation’s belief that sexuality was a gift.
“Jason will be sharing with the audience about his story but also answering a series of questions on life matters, his journey of faith, and journey of relationships and sex,” Mr Ninnes said.
“He doesn’t do much public speaking anymore so we’re just excited to have him joining with the dinner.”
Mr Ninnes said Mr Stevens was a faithful man who supported causes and organisations that stood up for goodness and truth.
“Like many young Australians of my generation, I grew up seeing Jason Stevens play football and also saw him on The Footy Show as a media personality but what was different about him was his strength of values,” he said.
“And to see him stand up for something he believes in, which happens to be what Real Talk believes in, that sex is a gift and something best placed in marriage, was counter-cultural at that time and led to him getting mocked a lot.”
The annual Real Talk dinner financially supports the organisation’s work in giving presentations to high school students across Australia and New Zealand.
By the end of the year, Real Talk would have spoken to more than 30,000 students in more than 100 schools, including Catholic and state schools.
The organisation also has an administration team in New Zealand.
“We’re excited to be growing both in numbers that we reach and the breadth of what we offer in programming and talks,” Mr Ninnes said.
Real Talk provides presentations and programs to young people on sex, relationships and personal identity from a Christian perspective.
Real Talk’s annual fundraising dinner will be held on September 8 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor from 7pm. Tickets cost $125 per person and can be purchased from Real Talk Australia on (07) 3368 3561, by email at admin@realtalkaustralia.com or on the website realtalkaustralia.com/dinner.
