In 1993, Leslee Unruh began networking with other abstinence speakers around the country through the Alliance of Chastity Educators (ACE). Leslee had already been involved with abstinence education for almost 10 years. In 1984 she founded the Alpha Center, a Crisis Pregnancy Center, and later developed her motivational abstinence presentation "Take Charge of Your Life," which she presented across the country.
The ACE goal was to exchange and coordinate abstinence-related ideas, projects and resources. As speakers, ACE members were bombarded by requests for trusted abstinence resources. It was obvious to all of them that a central location was needed where abstinence-until-marriage materials could be easily evaluated, accessed and the numerous requests be handled. The ACE members all felt a united effort was needed. The needs for abstinence-until-marriage education were greater than they could meet alone.
One day, Leslee was asked by a wealthy businessman, "If you had the money to do anything you wanted to do, what would it be?" Leslee conveyed to him the great need and their dream for a national abstinence resource clearinghouse. Within a few days, this dream became a reality. This same businessman provided the seed money to make such an endeavor possible. The ACE members, knowing of Leslee's energy and ambition, asked her to take the ball and run with it on this project.
In the spring of 1997 Leslee spoke in a church in Louisiana. During her presentation she mentioned the vision for a national abstinence clearinghouse and was approached after the service by a group of men who asked how they could help. In the summer of 1997 this group of five men from Louisiana, a contractor and four volunteers, traveled at their own expense to Sioux Falls and spent a week framing and enclosing the national abstinence clearinghouse facility. After this tremendous start, more than 100 local and area volunteers came weekly to finish the project. The clearinghouse facility was built almost entirely by volunteers. Pictures and plaques on the walls detail the people involved in this exciting venture.
The Abstinence Clearinghouse officially became operational in 1997. It was formed to provide a central location where materials and training to effectively convey the abstinence-until-marriage message could be provided. The mission of the Abstinence Clearinghouse is to promote the appreciation for and practice of sexual abstinence (purity) through the distribution of age-appropriate, factual and medically-accurate materials.
In its first year of operation, the Abstinence Clearinghouse hosted its first national conference, "Abstinence Works!" in Minneapolis, Minn. This conference gathered more abstinence speakers and materials in one place than had ever been together before. The Clearinghouse continues to host workshops, trainings and regional and international conferences.
The resource department at the Clearinghouse is home to thousands of abstinence-until-marriage resource materials, including books, curricula, cassettes and videos. Many organizations and speakers have submitted their materials for listing and promotion in the Directory of Abstinence Resources. This directory provides a listing of agencies, organizations and individuals who provide abstinence-until-marriage services or materials.
The Clearinghouse also houses the only Sex, Love and Relationship Store in the country, where posters, books, jewelry, pencils and numerous other items are available for purchase. Visitors from all over the country have visited this unique facility.
The National Advisory Council of the Abstinence Clearinghouse is made up of more than 40 nationally-known abstinence educators and supporters. In addition, the Clearinghouse has a Medical Advisory Council made up of more than 60 health professionals who do not promote or prescribe contraception to unmarried teens.
The Abstinence Clearinghouse has been cited in such prominent publications as The New York Times, Focus on the Family publications, the Associated Press, MSNBC, USA Today, the Washington Post and many, many more. The Abstinence Clearinghouse has also received requests for information from other continents such as South America, Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe. This has led to the development of the International Advisory Council.
The Abstinence Clearinghouse personnel are responsible for financial administration, assisting affiliates, critiquing resources, customer service, conference planning, research and publications. The Clearinghouse utilizes numerous volunteers to assist with clerical duties, correspondence, database maintenance, bulk mailings and more.
A special thank you is extended to the many abstinence pioneers, grass root efforts of pregnancy care centers, abstinence educators, curriculum providers, volunteers and abstinence speakers who have been a part of building momentum over the years in the abstinence movement. While we tame the flame in relationships, we will continue to fan the flame in the area of abstinence-until-marriage education!
In 1993, Leslee Unruh began networking with other abstinence speakers around the country through the Alliance of Chastity Educators (ACE). Leslee had already been involved with abstinence education for almost 10 years. In 1984 she founded the Alpha Center, a Crisis Pregnancy Center, and later developed her motivational abstinence presentation "Take Charge of Your Life," which she presented across the country.