Across My Heart Ministries is a 501c3 non profit organization that equips the church with ministry resources on Christian discipleship and Biblical sexual ethics including events, speaking engagements, our online blog and podcasts.
A few key distinctives about AMH:
We still use the word purity because we think it tells the full gospel picture of the impurity of sin and our need for Jesus Christ to be made pure.
We believe that sexual purity is for everyone because it is about more than virginity. It’s about our body and soul. So we should live with sexual integrity in every stage of life.
We believe God made men and women to complement each other, not to be in competition with one another. It shouldn’t be the “feminists versus the patriarchy”. We should be brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging one another to run the race with endurance.
Our VISION
We want to see a generation who loves God with their whole lives, who lives lives of purity and sees God clearly, who upholds God’s design for sexuality whether single or married and writes His Word across their hearts.
We want the church to have a biblical sexual ethic… one that is truly holistic and focuses on more than just the physical boundaries but also encompasses positive body image, healthy relationships, mental health, and a passionate pursuit of God.
OUR STORY:
Across My Heart began in 2010 when Ashley and her sister Amber hosted a “girl’s night” for their church. Ashley was still in high school at the time. But she wanted to find a way to invest in the next generation with all the confusing messages about body image, sexuality, and self-worth. With the help of friends, they started hosting retreats consistently and today hundreds of girls have gone through their purity retreat curriculum. In 2018 they expanded their ministry to include events for young women in their teens and twenties. New members joined the team and together, they began regularly blogging and hosting online bible studies for women of all ages. They’ve had the opportunity to speak at conferences, universities, and even go on tour with True Girl Ministries. In 2021 the ministry began hosting conferences of their own. We are excited to see what’s next!
What We Believe
WORD OF GOD
How can a young woman keep her way pure? By living according to His Word (Psalm 119:9) We believe the Bible is the unchangeable, infallible Word of God. We are committed to writing His Word across our hearts through Scripture study and memorization as we passionately pursue God with our whole lives. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21)
GOD
We believe in the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1 , Deuteronomy 6:4). We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. His death and resurrection on our behalf guarantees new life for all who trust in Him. (John 1:1-18, Colossians 1:13-22). The Holy Spirit convicts, comforts, and equips us for ministry. (Genesis 1:2, Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:13-14)
SALVATION
We recognize our sinful human nature and our need for redemption through Christ alone, not by good works but through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9)
CHURCH
We believe that the church is made up of believers who live out the gospel and show the world who Jesus Christ is. (Matthew 28:19-20, Colossians 1:8, 1 Peter 5:1-5)
SEXUALITY
We believe that we were created as sexual beings. That God purposefully designed men and women uniquely to reflect His very nature and that our sexuality is a physical reality of a greater spiritual reality. We believe God designed sex to be pleasurable as well as purposeful, that sex is to be honored and enjoyed in marriage and the marriage bed kept pure. (Hebrews 13:4)
MARRIAGE
We believe that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman (Hebrews 13:4, Genesis 2:24, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11), reflecting Christ’s faithful love for the church. God created unique roles for the husband and wife within a marriage (Ephesians 5:22-23). Our earthly marriages serve as a symbol of a much greater spiritual reality that we as the church are the bride of Christ and we are making ourselves ready for the marriage of the Lamb (Revelations 19:7).
BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD
Biblical womanhood reflects the gospel as a whole and is not restricted to passages on women alone. But those passages do give us specific instructions such as Titus 2:3-5, 1 Timothy 2:9-11, and 1 Peter 3:3-4. It is our hope that women of the Lord will live out their womanhood according to Scripture, submitting not to the fear of man but unto the Lord.
THE ACROSS MY HEART APPROACH
The world has a lot of confusing messages, but only God can tell us what is truly good. Together, we’ve discovered that science supports scriptural truths, and that God’s way truly is the best way to live!
- Sex is a good thing God created. It isn’t an evil to avoid but a good thing to protect for the right context.
- Sexual ethics aren’t about “good behavior” but living out of love for God.
- We base our sexual identity in God’s Word, understanding our value as human beings with sexed bodies and souls.
- Our masculinity and femininity work together to fully reflect His Image.
- God’s ways are the best ways to live. His wisdom applies to every area of our sexuality, including our sexual brokenness.
- God’s love story is the foundation for understanding sexual intimacy and identity
- We are all designed to love and be loved. But the ultimate fulfillment of love isn’t in sexual relationships but in a deep, intimate relationship with God.
WHAT WE OFFER
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
We will tailor messages for teens, college students, youth leaders, or parents about God’s truths for holistic purity in our lives. From Father-daughter banquets to youth retreats and women’s conferences, Across My Heart Ministries provides a team of experienced speakers on the topics of Biblical sexuality.
ONLINE BLOG
We use this little corner of the blogging sphere to write about a grander vision for sexuality, a holistic purity that encompasses our whole self by passionately pursuing God with everything we have.
LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST
The first season of our podcast Yada Yada dives into purity culture, the history of the sexual revolution, the theology of the body, and so much more! Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
CONFERENCES
In 2021, we hosted our first youth conference and our first women’s conference, highlighting the intersection of faith and sexual ethics. These two day events equip the local church to know what they believe about sexuality and why they believe it. Break out sessions include LGBTQIA+, pornography, sex trafficking and other pressing cultural topics.