In 2025, a church is still shaming their congregants for sin. The public repentance took place in Hampton, Virginia, at The True Vine Apostolic Church of Christ, led by Pastor Bishop Terry W. Jackson. In an Instagram clip, a 17-year-old girl is seen apologizing to her church family for getting pregnant.
The young woman stood vulnerably at the altar, giving her confession in a shaky, seemingly tearful voice.
“I’m sorry, y’all. I just hope that you all forgive me and that you all are praying for me,” she said.
According to the church’s Facebook page, the believers follow Acts 2:38, the doctrine of repentance. In their belief, it is the only way to “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Pastor Jackson emphasized this when he took the pulpit.
“You’ve got to repent. You already know what time it is,” he said.
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Jackson reiterated his position by stating that the young teen would receive no support from her spiritual family. He also appeared to give a directive to church members, urging them to withhold support.
“We aren’t going to condone your sin. There won’t be any baby showers. If you have a baby out of wedlock, that’s what you miss out on. Nobody from this church is going to attend one.”
The circulation of the video sparked a visceral response from observers, prompting an unnamed man to go to the sanctuary in an attempt to chastise Pastor Jackson.
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The outcry also led to the young woman’s mother Dee Myles to speak out in defense of the metaphorical flogging her daughter received. In a Facebook post, Myles called the public discourse an interruption of her peace. The soon-to-be grandmother also believes the outcry in support of her daughter is causing more harm than good.
“You are showing up disrupting my church, my beliefs, and disrespecting my pastor. I am where I want to be and where I chose to be. We were not forced or manipulated to stand before the congregation. My daughter willingly approached the congregation and was welcomed and embraced with open arms. I stand on what I’ve been taught, and I’m raising my daughter to do the same.
I stand with my Pastor!”
Myles may see no issue with this punishment, but the practice seems reminiscent of another time. A time when we as a community and culture shamed young girls for getting into “situationships” with older men. It’s reminiscent of a time when the Black community blamed young girls for being groomed and preyed on; A time where little empathy and compassion was bestowed on young women.
To be clear, we don’t know the circumstances surrounding the young woman’s pregnancy. There is no indication of who the father of the 17-year-old’s child is, he was nowhere to be found at the church altar. There was no pleading from the church to excuse his wayward behavior; admonishment from Pastor Jackson for his sin against God and the church. Just a young teary-eyed girl facing public scrutiny alone with a mother that condones it.
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