Video went viral this week of a girl standing in front of her church, asking people’s forgiveness for her pregnancy. The unidentified teen became emotional while addressing congregants on Jan. 5 at True Vine Apostolic Church in Hampton, Virginia.
“I want to apologize to everybody in here because I am pregnant,” she said into a microphone, before pausing to collect herself. “I’m sorry y’all. I just hope that y’all all forgive me.” After requesting prayers, the girl returned to her seat while church members stood to applaud.
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Bishop Terry Jackson, the church’s pastor, had instructed the teen to stand directly in front of worshipers while speaking. After the girl apologized, Jackson addressed the issue from the pulpit, saying, “If you sin, you don’t wait…until the baby come to repent.”
Jackson added that the church wouldn’t be condoning the girl’s “sin” by holding a baby shower for her. “That’s what you lose out on,” he said.
Video of Pregnant Teen, Virginia Pastor Sparks Backlash Online
Reaction to the clip has been vigorous, with most comments expressing support for the pregnant teen. On the church’s Facebook page, where it frequently shares its CashApp information for donations, someone wrote, “Yes where can we send gifts to the young mother? Let the rest of the body of Christ help her since y’all won’t.”
Other people are upset that the church didn’t make the baby’s father stand up to apologize in front of the congregation. “Time to stop the oppression of our women by shaming them and giving the man a slap on the wrist,” someone wrote on Facebook. “Now we wonder why so many people are leaving the faith. It’s because of things like this.”
Journalist Jemele Hill, who shared the video of the girl’s apology, wrote in the Instagram caption, “The only person who should be ashamed in this scenario is the pastor. I hope [the girl] finds a new church home.”
In the comments, TV personality Sunny Hostin, who co-hosts “The View,” expressed support for the girl, writing that she will host a baby shower and the baby “will be celebrated and loved.”
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Teen’s Mother: My Daughter ‘Willingly’ Addressed Church Members
Dee Myles, who said she is the teen’s mother, went online to tell people to mind their own business. Her daughter “willingly approached the congregation and was welcomed and embraced with open arms,” wrote Myles. “I stand on what I’ve been taught, and I’m raising my daughter to do the same.”
On what’s known as “Black Twitter,” users of X largely condemned the church and pastor. “Extremist practices like this are seen within cults,” wrote one person. Another commented, “I hate how this will reach so many [people] and keep them turned away from the church.”
