A pastor in Virginia sparked controversy after publicly reprimanding a teenage girl for being pregnant out of wedlock. The emotional incident, captured in a viral video, highlighted debates about church discipline, forgiveness, and compassion. Social media responses reveal divided opinions on addressing sensitive issues within religious communities.
A controversial incident at True Vine Apostolic Church of Christ in Hampton, Virginia, has sparked online debate after Pastor Terry Jackson publicly reprimanded a teenage girl for being pregnant out of wedlock. In a viral video, the pastor instructed the visibly distraught young woman to apologize to the congregation during a Sunday service.
Standing before the church, the teen, in tears, said, "I want to apologize to everybody in here because I am pregnant. I’m sorry, y’all. I just hope that y’all forgive me. Keep on praying for me.”
Pastor Jackson responded by condemning her actions, describing the situation as "out of order." He declared the church would not celebrate the pregnancy with events like a baby shower, emphasizing that such occasions should not follow sinful actions. He stated, “When you have a baby out of wedlock, you don’t get a baby shower, and nobody at this church should attend one.”
The pastor's remarks have drawn mixed reactions on social media. While some praised his stance on upholding church values, others criticized his approach as harsh and lacking compassion.
The viral video has reignited discussions about how religious communities address sensitive issues like teenage pregnancy and the balance between correction and empathy.
