Black, now a photographer living with her husband of little more than a year in Texas, insists she made the decision herself. She refused to date throughout high school and savored her first kiss on the altar.
"I see my choices as very liberating. I'm not bound by disappointment or the broken heart of past lovers," she said.
To those who wonder how good sex could be without previous experience, Black's sister Khrystian Wilson, who is now engaged and has also never been kissed, said, "I stood next to her at the wedding and it was electric."
The largest movement to spread the chastity is called True Love Waits, started by Richard Ross, now a professor of student ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He led a Tennessee youth group in the 1990s, just as the national rates of teen sexual activity were peaking.
Since then, those rates have dropped, which Ross calls, "an interesting correlation." But he argues that in secular settings, where there is no religious imperative and little parental and community support, many teens pledges fail.
"These programs are more limited in their ability to shape student decisions," Ross told ABCNews.com. "The massive difference is making the promise in a faith community, surrounded by the entire youth group."
Today, at his former youth ministry at Tulip Baptist Church in Old Hickory, students begin discussion of "the promise" in Sunday school and at weekend retreats in January. Just before Valentine's Day, those who pledge to virginity attend a special ceremony with their parents, who give their teen a special "promise ring."
"It helps them believe that this is a big deal and it matters to my church, my family and all my friends in the youth group," said Ross. "It's a concept, an idea, a promise to God. We acknowledge it's tough, but we also say one wonderful thing about being a human being you get to choose."
Alec Cort, who now serves as a student minister, said about 75 percent of the youth group takes "the promise." "It's not a cure-all," he told ABCNews.com. "But for the most part it instills values of God, and its utmost importance takes root."
Nathan David House, one of his students, pledged in seventh grade, on the heels of two older sisters.
"I think it's an excellent thing to do at such a young age," he said. "The basic principle of abstinence resonates a lot better. You are not tempted and you are more open to hear about things, more of a blank tablet."
"There's a great mindset in this country to follow your heart," said House, 17. "We are given two organs: The heart is for emotions, but our brains are to make decisions."
Do you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News.
