"Good sex can save our nation," announces sign at church with Jessica Ridgeway ties

The kidnapping and killing of Jessica Ridgeway, a ten-year-old Westminster girl, has spawned many calls for justice and change -- but arguably none so unexpected as the message that appears on a sign outside Grace Church of Arvada, which reads: "Good sex can save our nation." What's the Jessica connection?...

By Michael Roberts

November 1, 2012

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The kidnapping and killing of Jessica Ridgeway, a ten-year-old Westminster girl, has spawned many calls for justice and change -- but arguably none so unexpected as the message that appears on a sign outside Grace Church of Arvada, which reads: "Good sex can save our nation."

What's the Jessica connection?

The memorial service for Jessica wasn't held at Grace Church, as erroneously stated in the package below from 9News, which first reported on the sign. The actual setting was Arvada's Faith Bible Chapel.

However, Pastor Rick Long became a familiar face during the search for the missing girl, who disappeared on her way to school on October 5. And his ties to the Ridgeway family have kept him in the limelight even after the arrest of Austin Sigg, seventeen, for the crime. Note that he was introduced on the October 25 edition of Nancy Grace's Headline News program as "Jessica's pastor." And many of the posts on the Grace Church Facebook page pertain to Jessica's death and fundraisers for the family.

Moreover, Long links the "Good sex" sign with what happened to Jessica. "We have a ten-year-old girl who's gone," he tells 9News when asked about the sign, adding, "Sexual-assault charges were filed, as well as the other charges" against Sigg.

The implication, which will presumably be outlined in more detail at sermons on the subject this weekend: A healthy sex life can actually prevent the sort of violent deviancy that may lead to terrible acts like this one.

Here's the 9News report.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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