Rebecca St James became the role model for the modern young woman long before there was a ZOEgirl, BarlowGirl or Superchic[k]. That is not to take anything away from the aforementioned groups, but rather to give credit to the 28-year-old young woman from Australia who took a stance for sexual purity before marriage when others were still talking about more traditional themes in their concerts.

Pull up your chair and join me as I talk to the always-personable St. James, a woman who has worked tirelessly as a singer, songwriter, narrator, author, editor, spokesperson for Compassion Ministries and worn more additional hats than I have toes and fingers to count. She would be the first to tell you that God created the missive concerning sexual purity that she delivers to young women all around the world but she has carried the torch for the past twelve years of her life.

As we discuss her torrid pace during this past year she laughs at the suggestion that she might slow down sometime in the near future. She dispels that notion saying she doesn’t see that happening anytime soon.  Her bookzine, SheTeen, was released the First of September.  What exactly is a bookzine? “It’s a very new concept. Have you seen the Bible Revolve? It’s like a magazine, but it’s a Bible. It’s similar to that as it looks like a magazine but it’s a book. I’m really excited that it is in that format. Magazines are something that teen girls know. They know that format. It’s approachable to them. It’s an easy read and is not in any way intimidating. I think sometimes to a girl, a book seems like a book that they have to read for school and it is just another text book. SheTeen, being a bookzine, has the content that a book would have with the same depth. [It has] stories from my life, [the lives of] Biblical characters and teen girls sharing their stories. It also has a lot of pictures and is very approachable. I’m hoping Christian teen girls will pick it up and be really encouraged in their faith.” Rebecca also makes the point that this is not merely a bookzine for those already following Christ but she hopes it will reach those who have yet to make a decision.

St. James remains firm in her stance that not only do we serve a God that calls us to a life of purity, but he is a God of forgiveness who grants second chances. In SheTeen, “We are talking about being free from past hurts and not being caught in the web of the past and unforgiveness. We talk about our purpose as young women living for God. We talk about purity, dating and even things like cutting. Cutting is rampant in young girls’ lives today and that is just expressing the hopelessness that a lot of them are feeling. We want to bring hope and healing to these girls’ lives.”

I wondered aloud where this passion comes from. “I decided to remain a virgin, practice sexual purity and take a stance for God in that way and it began when I was probably about sixteen. I think what held me in there and why I continued to share about this issue is because I’ve seen so many young people hurt by not waiting. They share their stories with me in tears about how they wish they had waited. Now I have the joy of hearing people who are married (tell me) how my music or a song of mine or hearing me share my testimony about purity in my concerts really helped them to stay strong and wait.” Echoes of her song “Wait For Me” from the movie The Wedding Planner and featured on her album Transformed:

Darling, did you know that I
I dream about you
Waiting for the look in your eyes
When we meet for the first time
And darling, did you know that I
Pray about you
Praying that you will hold on
And keep your loving eyes only for me
‘Cause I am waiting for you, praying for you darling
Wait for me too
Wait for me as I wait for you.

The artist continues, “Now they (the young women) are reaping the joys of that (waiting). Also, I talk about forgiveness and second chances and if people haven’t waited they can start over from now on. I think there is a tendency to believe that once you have had sex, you have blown it and you might as well keep doing that. It is a lie from Satan and he wants them to stay in that sin. I am very passionate about wanting to encourage young people to be strong because I have seen kids having babies outside of marriage or struggling with diseases because of not waiting. It’s just not worth it.”

She says some of the more common questions her fans ask her concern, “How do I stay strong for God when there is so much pressure?” and, “How do I live a pure life when there is so much compromise in that area?

As she shares her answers with me, it isn’t simply rhetoric but she chooses her words thoughtfully, “The walk with God question I would probably answer, 'Just invest time in a relationship with God. It’s like a friendship or relationship you have with anybody.You don’t have a relationship unless you spend time with that person, coming to know them and speaking with them.'” She finds in her own life that spending quality time in prayer and reading the Bible lead to a clearer understanding of God’s character and therefore lead to a more earnest desire to be like Him.