International Coordinator, STRAIGHT TO THE HEART Abstinence Ministry

Deanna Cathcart has served as the International Coordinator for Straight to the Heart Abstinence Ministry with OMS International since 1998. She encourages young people to reach for and attain their goals by living a holy life, pleasing to the Lord, by resisting the lies of the “safe sex” message.

The devastation of sex outside of marriage is all around us, but God’s truth can set us free and young people need to hear the truth. Deanna teaches sexual abstinence until marriage in the United States and overseas. She shares with teenagers, parents, single adults, university and seminary students, medical personnel and church leaders. Deanna also encourages pastors to stand and fight in this spiritual battle and trains national co-workers to teach and evangelize through this ministry.

OMS initially got involved in teaching abstinence when the people of Mozambique requested help with AIDS education. However, the need for this teaching is so overwhelming in every area of the world, particularly within the church, that Deanna was given permission to develop this ministry worldwide.

Her desire is to give the truth to young people concerning God’s plan, His love and their future so they can avoid the tragedies that so many people are facing. Those outside the church hurting from sexual sin or past sexual experiences are accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior when they hear of the Lord’s love, forgiveness and healing power through this ministry.

At present, Deanna has taught in Korea, Taiwan, the South Pacific, Ecuador, Brazil, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Kenya, Mauritius, Russia, England, Ireland and the USA. She has requests to return to all of those countries and to teach in many more. She has trained others who are now teaching in Colombia, Ecuador, Mauritius, Kenya and the South Pacific. Her desire is to get materials translated thereby equipping nationals to reach their own people more effectively. She was instrumental in getting material translated into Spanish, and is currently working on getting the material translated into Portuguese, Creole and Chinese.

The Lord blessed Deanna with a variety of experiences before joining OMS. She worked in Kenya for five years (three as a Peace Corps volunteer) where she was even charged by a rhinoceros and crocodile. She was the director of a homeless shelter, a publications/program coordinator for a local university and an instructor in International Humanitarian Law. A graduate of Ball State University, she is a free-lance artist, a Certified Program Planner and a certified facilitator for Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills.

Missionary ID #802044