Thousands of college-age students will learn about God’s true intention for sex tonight at Pure Choice ’04, an event organized by local churches and Christian youth organizations to teach the message of sexual abstinence before marriage.

Last year’s Pure Choice ’03 drew over a thousand middle and high school students to Corvallis High School’s auditorium in Oregon but organizers this year hope to draw a large crowd of college students as well by hosting the event at Oregon State University’s Gill Coliseum, according to Karen Tameling, executive director of Corvallis Pregnancy Care Center, one of the sponsors of the event.

Beginning at 7 p.m., speakers will discuss religious and medical reasons why waiting until marriage to have a sexual relationship is best.

Peter Kelley, the college pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church, will share the pure relationship God wanted to exist between a man and a woman beginning with Adam and Eve.

"Through the course of time, the meaning and design for sex has become confused and sometimes perverse. My aim is to speak the truth and share the intended relationship God had for a man and woman," he said.

God desired sex to be more than a physical act, according to Kelley.

“It involves the whole being — the body, soul and spirit — and it involves commitment, trust and a deep love," he said.

Other sponsors include three local churches — Calvary Chapel, Corvallis Church of the Nazarene and Grace Christian Fellowship — and several Christian youth organizations, including Real Life, The Hub and Young Life.

Worship leader at Calvary Chapel, Ryan Smith, will lead a contemporary praise band while youth pastor at Grace Christian Fellowship, Torey Campbell, will serve as host.

For more information, visit: www.purechoice.org.