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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Life Sunday/For Life Resources

A short video, featuring Dr. Lamb, Executive Director of Lutherans For Life, is now available to help promote January 2009 Life Sunday!

The video is embedded on Lutherans For Life home page. You can also check it out at YouTube.

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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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Inspirational Christian Radio

If you have broadband Internet access you can find “Inspirational Christian Radio for the World” that’s Worldwide KFUO (AM 850 - Clayton, MO). “Proclaiming the Truth of Jesus Christ to the World” is the mission. Listen live to KFUO-AM “Bible studies”; “Issues, Etc.”; “Law and Gospel”; “Portals of Prayer”; “Front Porch Parenting”, and many other programs via your computer to enlighten and enrich your walk with Christ. Try it today! Just go to www.kfuoam.org and click on “Listen Now”.

In addition, on KFUO-FM you can listen 24/7 to fine music and other programming such as “Friday Morning with the Arts”, “St Louis Symphony Preview”, “Composer’s Datebook”, Classic Kids”, “Broadway Spotlight”, and “Live from the Garden”. Go to www.classic99.com and click on “Listen Now”.

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2007 Lutheran Elementary School Winning Essays

Over 700 students representing 16 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 these young authors in thinking and writing about a “life” issue important to them.

Each Lutheran school student who submitted an essay was given a bookmark as a remembrance of their participation in the contest, and a reminder that they are a child of God who 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. First place winners in each grouping were awarded $25 and second place essay writers received $15.

Following are the first place essays from each grouping:
3rd/4th grade winner
5th/6th grade winner
7th/8th grade winner





1st Place - 3rd and 4th Grade
3rd Grader
Zion Lutheran School
Marengo. IL

Jesus Comes to Everyone

One Easter a couple of years ago, my church was filled with people. When it was time for communion, an elderly couple walked toward the front of the church, but everybody was passing them because they were so slow and shaky. The woman had a cane and was holding onto her husband’s arm. Finally, they came to the rail and received the wine and bread. It may have hurt them very badly to come up to communion, but they did it, and I think they did it for God. It shows me that they must love God very much. It helps me want to follow their example.

An old man comes to my church and sits in a wheelchair. A kind lady helps him. His hair is gone, his head sinks down, and he is so weak he cannot sing the hymns. It amazes me that he comes to church, anyway, even though he is very fragile and cannot walk. He still comes to worship our Lord. My great-grandma is ninety-nine years old. She is in a wheelchair. Sometimes she understands things, and sometimes she doesn’t. Still she goes to church. For communion, these elderly people cannot get up to the rail because they cannot walk. So the pastor comes to them. That reminds me of how Jesus comes to us even though we are all weak, weary, and sinful. Jesus loves all of us. He does not wait for us to be strong enough to come to him. He always comes to us.

Seeing elderly people who love God, and seeing how much God loves them makes me see that God cares for everyone, both young and old, black and white, born and unborn, weak and strong.

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