Round Table Lunch
A Special Pro-Life Event will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2010, at noon at the University Club in Rockford, Illinois. The Howard Center for Family, Religion, and Society will present a round table lunch with Dr. Theresa Okafor, pro-life leader from Nigeria.

Lunch is $12.50. For reservations call 815-964-5819.

The 2010 SpeakOut Illinois Conference,"Defending Life, Protecting the Future," will be held Saturday, January 30 at the Doubletree Hotel, in Oakbrook, Illinois. Featured speakers and their topics: Phill Kline, former Kansas Attorney General, “The Foundation of Liberty and the Rule of Law—the Need for Truth”; Lila Rose of Live Action Films, “Exposing the Truth About Planned Parenthood”; and Austin Ruse, President of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, “The UN Threat to Life, Faith and Family and How Christians Are Fighting Back”. Concurrent TeenSpeak Track for Pro-Life Youth. To learn more and register go to www.speakoutillinois.org.

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Lutherans For Life of Illinois

2010 Elementary School Essay Contest

sponsored by
LUTHERANS FOR LIFE OF ILLINOIS

All of us, as educators and parents, strive to teach our children God’s truth about the sanctity of life. There are very encouraging statistics that indicate the attitude and behavior of young people has shifted to be more pro-life. For the past 15 years we have been conducting this essay contest to give students an opportunity to witness to their values and opinions about God’s gift of life. We thank all that have participated in the past and encourage others to join.

Topic: “Speak the Truth of Life” (based on Ephesians 4:15) is the theme for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, January 2010. It is not necessary to write about abortion. The essays should reflect the student’s viewpoint, substantiated by God’s Word when possible.

Statistics: Whenever possible, the source of statistics used should be referenced.

Identification: All entries should be typed or handwritten in ink and must include the student’s name, grade, and school name. It would be very helpful if each teacher would enclose a separate list (preferably typed) of the names of the participating students.

Eligibility: Students must be in grades 3-8, be a resident of Illinois, enrolled in a Lutheran Elementary School and/or a member of a Lutheran Church. (Non-Lutherans enrolled in a Luthera n Elementary School are eligible).

Levels and Length: There are three levels and suggested lengths for the essays:

Grades 3/4 - 100 words

Grades 5/6 - 250 words

Grades 7/8 - 250 words

AGAIN THIS YEAR: Some teachers have asked if they could send in only their better essays. I encourage any teacher that would like to do so. There is no limit. All students who write essays will receive a sticker. Let me know the total number of stickers to send.

Awards: Three students, one from each of the levels above, will receive a $50.00 cash gift and will have their essays published in various newsletters and on our website. The second place winners at each level will receive a $35.00 cash gift.

Contest Dates: To coordinate with Life Awareness Week, please submit all entries no sooner than January 16, 2010, and no later than February 5, 2010.

Please direct all entries and inquiries to:

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Bringing Good News to Life

"Bringing Good News to Life" is the theme of this year's Lutherans For Life Conference to be held July 23-24, 2010 at the Tundra Lodge Resort in Green Bay Wisconsin.

Celebrating the Abundant Life was the 2009 theme as Lutherans gathered, July 24-25, from across the United States and Canada for the national conference of Lutherans For Life (LFL), the only pan-Lutheran pro-life organization in the nation. (Click on highlighted link for details.)

2009 Lutherans For Life of Illinois Conference Summary

Ninety or more LFL members, speakers and workers got together on a Saturday morning, April 25, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Joliet. The occasion was the spring convention, the speakers were outstanding, and the enthusiasm of one and all was heartening for everyone there.

The theme for this year was particularly fitting when we consider the directions the country has taken since the new president has assumed office. The question was asked: “Are you alive in a culture of death?” We have leaders who are consistently pointing to death as the answer to economic and societal problems both for the United States and the rest of the world. The speakers addressed the problems of what makes people think in this way and what can we as “For Life” Christians do about it.

Dr. Pless, professor from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, spoke on “A Lutheran Ethic of Life in a Culture of Death.” He contrasted the First Commandment –
“We shall fear, love and trust in God above all things,” with the proclaimed ethic of Planned Parenthood: “Man wills to be defined by self – “the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s self – our own concept of existence, etc.” This concept of self-determination directly defies the teaching that God created us, defends, guards and protects us through no merit of ourselves. “Before God autonomy cannot achieve comprehensive fulfillment. It remains merely a demand of the ego.”

Because of our wayward ego, we fell into sin and God then redeemed us. “You are not your own, for your were bought with a price, so glorify God in your body.” Christ suffered and died and rose again all so we might one day be with Him forever in Paradise.

We have been hallowed by the Spirit so as redeemed children of God our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit whom we have from God. “Do good to people even though they cannot repay you – for what humans cannot repay the Creator of Heaven and Earth did long ago when He created you, gave you His Son, and accepted and received you in Holy Baptism.” Christians are free to focus their lives on the service of their neighbors. He contrasted this with the world-view that “your body is your own – you are free to do with it as you please.” The products of this world-view are homosexuality, abortion, euthanasia, medical experimentation on humans, living wills and advance directives.

		Maggie Karner, the second speaker, is the Director of Life and Health Ministries, LCMS World Relief and Human Care. The topic was: “End of Life Issues . . . Reflecting God’s Glory or Man’s Folly?”
She returned to the theme of Dr. Pless, that when we are filled with self determination we are not willing to follow God’s will for our lives – we want to have that ending or death determined by our own desires and therefore we enter into written living wills stating under what circumstances our lives should end. This is not trusting in God and it is not giving ourselves totally into His care. She emphasized that there is a need for a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. The person chosen should be someone who shares in the faith of God’s power over our lives. With two states now legalizing euthanasia as the way to leave this life in a way and on terms dictated by humans and not God, we are sure to find pressures growing to make this the “normal way” to die. Instead as Christians we are to “commit our plans to the Lord.”

The next speaker was Lawrence D. Jacobs, Vice President of The Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society. His topic was “How to Encourage Springtime in the Midst of a Demographic Winter.”
Jacobs’ focus was on the declining fertility rate in Western industrialized states. In Europe the rate has fallen so low that populations there are diminishing. In the United States we are barely at the sustaining level – we are not yet declining but we are only sustaining the present level. When he showed the projected curve of growth of the world population it showed an astounding growth for the worldwide population of underdeveloped countries up to 2050. That is where the chart stopped. (Industrialized countries showed little or no growth – they flat lined and toward 2050 they were declining as a whole). Jacobs went on to explain that the chart past that date shows an alarming decline.

Some of the countries singled out included Russia, which will lose one-third of its population in the next twenty-five years. Germany is losing 140,000 to 150,000 people every year. In 2050 there will be fewer children under five than today. The Middle East is below sustaining population levels. Egypt is declining. The false assumption has been made that immigrants are maintaining Western population levels. This is not so.

Popular culture focuses on self – there is no value placed on children. Children have become a burden and are no longer considered a “gift from God.” Economists see dangers in an aging world population without a younger generation able to assume and sustain the world economy. The forecast is worldwide decline in prosperity with depopulation and depression. The United Nations will only show projections for 41 years – not 50 where decline is clearly evident. It is our duty to train our children in Christian values of family and faith.

After lunch, Dr. Alvin Schmidt spoke “The Culture of Death: Its Many Forms. Dr. Schmidt is a well-known author and a former professor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne. In his speech Dr. Schmidt pointed to the culture that endorses embryonic stem cell research as being one which will increasingly think of the unborn as objects for research and experimentation – not as the precious gifts of life from God
that we cherish, nurture and protect. He emphasized that we as lay persons and pastors need to see this as an overriding demand upon our lives – to preach, to teach and to practice in every way our faith in the sanctity of life and our reverence for it as a gift from our Creator and Redeemer.

The final event was a panel discussion where all speakers assembled on stage and answered questions submitted by the audience.

A moving candle lighting ceremony closed the day. St. Peter’s provided a wonderful place for the gathering. The ladies of the church decorated and furnished the food for breakfast and lunch. Planners, organizers speakers and all in attendance should be commended for a job well done.

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2009 Lutheran Elementary School Essay Contest

646 students representing 13 Lutheran elementary schools throughout Illinois participated in this year’s essay contest. Thoughtful evaluation of Life issues from a Biblical perspective was apparent in every essay submitted. Lutherans For Life of Illinois is thankful for the participants, their schools, teachers, and other adults who guided them in thinking and writing about a “life” issue important to them.

All Lutheran elementary schools in Illinois were encouraged to participate. The thirteen participating Lutheran Elementary Schools were: Altamont Lutheran Interparish School, Altamont; St Peter, Arlington Heights; St Paul, Chicago Heights; Immanuel, Elmhurst; St. Paul, Kankakee; Trinity, Lombard; Zion, Marengo; St. Paul, Milford; St Luke’s, Montgomery; St Andrews, Park Ridge; St. Peter, St. Peter; Trinity, Tinley Park; and Trinity/St. Paul, Worden.

Each Lutheran school student who submitted an essay was given a sticker as a remembrance of their participation in the contest.

Student essays were grouped and judged according to the following grade levels: 3rd and 4th grades; 5th and 6th grades; and 7th and 8th grades. First place winners in each grouping were awarded $50 for First Place, $35 for Second Place and $15 for Third Place. The first place essays will be published in various newsletters and are included here.

Following are the first place essays from each grouping:

1st Place - 3rd and 4th Grade
Trinity Lutheran School
Tinley Park, Illinois

(click here to view winning paper)


1st Place - 5th and 6th Grade
Zion Lutheran School
Marengo, IL

(click here to view winning paper)


1st Place - 7th and 8th Grade
St Peter Lutheran School
St Peter, IL

(click here to view winning paper)

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2008 Lutheran Elementary School Winning Essays
Sponsored by Lutherans For Life of Illinois

Over 650 students representing 9 Lutheran Illinois elementary schools participated in this year’s essay contest. Thoughtful evaluation of Life issues from a Biblical perspective was apparent in every essay submitted. Lutherans For Life of Illinois is thankful for these young authors, their schools, teachers, and other adults who guided them in thinking and writing about a “sanctity of human life” issue important to them.

All Lutheran elementary schools throughout Illinois were encouraged to participate. The nine participating Lutheran Elementary Schools were: Altamont Lutheran Inter-parish School, Altamont; Immanuel, Elmhurst; St. Paul; Kankakee; St. Paul, Milford; St Peter, Schaumburg; St. Peter, St. Peter; Trinity, Tinley Park; Zion, Marengo; and Zion, Staunton.

All Lutheran school students who submitted an essay were given a sticker as a remembrance of their participation in the contest. A reminder that each and every one of them is a child of God and that He has a plan for their life.

Student essays were grouped and judged according to the following grade levels: 3rd and 4th grades; 5th and 6th grades; and 7th and 8th grades. Winners in each grouping were awarded $50 for First Place, $35 for Second Place and $15 for Third Place. The first place essays will be published in various newsletters and are included here.

1st Place - 3rd and 4th Grade

4th Grader
Zion Lutheran School
Marengo. IL

(click here to view winning paper)


1st Place - 5th and 6th Grade

Zion Lutheran School
Marengo. IL

(click here to view winning paper)


1st Place - 7th and 8th Grade

7th Grader
St Paul’s Lutheran School
Milford. IL

(click here to view winning paper)

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