Life Bulletin -- Summer 2007
In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10
Lutherans For Life of Illinois
Our Mission
The mission of Lutherans For Life
is to witness to the sanctity of human life through education based on the Word of God.
Board of Directors
President -- Allan Benson
President -- Jeanne Strubbe
Secretary -- Carol Stronsinski
Treasurer -- Brian Umbach
Spiritual Advisor -- Rev. A. Schmidt
Hon Board Member -- Diane Schroeder
Director of Education -- Joyce Fassig
Assistant Director of Education -- Donna Benson
Video Library -- Pat Garbe
Essay Contest -- Sandy Goss
Newsletter -- Corinne Thomley
Please address any letters of inquiry or information to: Corrine Thomley (email)
or
Life Bulletin
c/o Lutherans For Life
408 Price
Mattoon, IL 61938
Deadline for inclusion in the next issue is September 15, 2007
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Meet Your New Presidents
There comes a time when there has to be a leadership change. Lutherans for Life of Illinois began with Diane Schroeder as president. When she resigned in 2001 Corinne Thomley assumed the leadership role. Over the years it has become clear that Illinois is so diversified and so spread out it is difficult for one person to effectively lead all sections of the state. At the April 2007, State Board meeting, action was taken to install two co-presidents for the state. Allan Benson of Rockford will be most accessible for the Chicago and Northern areas of the state. Jeanne Strubbe of Chapin is more conveniently located for Central and Southern districts. Look below to find out more about them.
Allan Benson and his wife Donna have four children and ten grandchildren. A graduate of DePaul University in Chicago, Allan retired from a major interstate natural gas transmission company where he was manager of administrative services. Allan and Donna are active members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere, where he serves as a small group leader and has lead several "For Life" Sunday morning Bible studies. Residents of Rockford, both are active in the local Lutherans for Life chapter where Donna serves as president and Allan as treasurer. Allan is completing his three-year term on the board of the Rockford Area Pregnancy Care Center where he was instrumental in the recent opening of a satellite operation at Immanuel's new outreach center. Allan helped coordinate the implementation of the LFL of Illinois web site.
Jeanne Strubbe worked for nearly 30 years a the Jacksonville Journal Courier newspaper with her last position being Classified Advertising Manager. She retired in April, wanting to get further involved in the pro-life movement. Jeanne writes a weekly Life Lines article that is sent to area Lutheran churches for publication Sunday bulletins. She is secretary-treasurer for the Illinois Valley Lutherans for Life chapter. Jeanne and her husband, Richard, live on their farm near Jacksonville. They have a son, Craig, a grandson, Michael, and two married daughters, Sarah and Stephanie. Sarah is a Lutheran school teacher in Hubertus, Wisconsin, and Stephanie works for Target in Springfield, Illinois. They are members of Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, where Jeanne serves as Life Ministry Coordinator.
Other State Board members are Pat Garbe (Video Library), Sandy Goss (Elementary Essay Contest, Joyce Fassig (Educational Director), Carol Strosinski (Secretary), Brian Umbach (Treasurer), Dr. Alvin Schmidt (Spiritual Advisor), and Corinne Thomley (Life Bulletin and H. S. Essay Contest). Diane Schroeder remains an honorary member. To be an effective board we need to have representatives from all areas of the state. We now go from Dieterich in the south to Jacksonville in the west, Watseka in the East and Rockford to the north. In coming months efforts will continue to be made to reach all areas of the state with the pro-life message.
Illinois Elementary Essay Contest
(A letter from Sandy Goss, contest coordinator)
As one of the judges for the Lutherans for Life Essay contest, I would like to commend everyone who participated. We received so many deserving essays that choosing just a few award winners was extremely difficult. Almost 700 students from 16 schools participated this year. A list of those receiving special awards follows: (students' names have been eliminated to protect their privacy)
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3rd & 4th |
5th & 6th |
7th & 8th |
| 1st |
Zion Lutheran School
Marengo
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St. John's Lutheran School
Country Club Hills |
Trinity Lutheran School
Tinley Park |
| 2nd |
Salem
Jacksonville |
Zion Lutheran School
Marengo
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St. Peter
St. Peter |
| 3rd |
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St. Paul
Kankakee |
Trinity Lutheran School
Tinley Park |
Those of us who have read the essays were blessed by the thoughtful evaluation of the issues made by each of you. It is obvious that a great deal of effort went into creating these essays, and we are thankful for the teachers and other adults who have guided you young aut6hors towards looking at these issues from a Biblical perspective.
Please accept the enclosures as a remembrance of your participation in this contest as well as a reminder that you are a child of God and He has a plan for your life.
In Christian Love,
Sandy Goss
Third Grade Essay Winner
Zion Lutheran School
Marengo. IL
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.
Fifth Grade Essay Winner
St. John Lutheran School
Country Club Hills, IL
The Mentally Challenged
Helping and loving the mentally challenged is an important task God gave us. A mentally challenged person is just like any other person; he/she needs to be saved. God made them mentally challenged for a reason. He wants us to help them with the tasks that they cannot do, such as learning, talking, and communicating with others. People that are challenged cannot take care of themselves. Sometimes we ignore them, and treat them as if we wish that they were not around. God wants us to treat each other equally, whether we are challenged or not.
Many people in the world are challenged, but that does not mean they do not need to know about God. It may take awhile for a person to explain to them about God, but that does not mean you should give up. Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak up for the people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rlghts of all who are helpless.” According to this verse, we are to help people who cannot help themselves. When we help them, we are pleasing God.
A mentally challenged people, besides physical needs, can sometimes also need help with spiritual needs. They need to learn about God so they can be saved, like any other person who believes, if they have the ability to learn. God wants us to teach all people about him.
Mentally challenged people are a special gift from God. They give us a chance to teach them about God, His blessings, and other spiritual things. Even though sometimes we do not want to teach them about God, we should. “He who is not with me is against me.” Matthew 12:30.
If we do not help the mentally challenged or any other person, we are against God. Helping and loving the mentally challenged is an important task from God.
Eighth Grade Essay Winner
Trinity Lutheran School
Tinley Park, IL
As a Christian, I believe that all life is a gift from God. It is a gift that should be cherished, protected, and cared for. Abortion, however, does not value life as God’s gift.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 states, “The Lord spoke His Word to me. Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” God has planned every pregnancy and every life is very precious to Him. I believe it is the responsibility of Christians to defend and protect the life of the unborn. Someone who is faced with an unwanted pregnancy needs Christian love, understanding, and support. There are options available, such as adoption. God will always give them strength and be there for them. People in these situations can find comfort in Isaiah 44:2, which states “I am your Creator. You were in My care even before you were born.”
Just as the life of the unborn is precious to God, so is the life of the elderly. As Christians we should cherish and care for the elderly. There are some young people that feel that the elderly have outlived their value and usefulness. From my own experiences, I know what a blessing an older person can be. My Grandfather lived with us for the past six or seven years. I saw it as a privilege to have him in our home. Not a day went by that he didn’t share his knowledge, experiences, and love of Jesus with me. Even in his declining health, I never considered him a burden. When he died, last November, he said that he was eager to cross the last “t” in Christ and go to heaven. I feel that he led a very valuable life.
LFL Faithful Gather in Omaha
The week of the Fourth of July ended on a high note with LFL members from the United States and Canada attending the 25th National Convention. The theme for the week and the following year is "In the Hands of God."
David Menton of Answers in Genesis was on hand to explain the "Implications of Evolutionism -- Should the Christian Make Peace with Darwin?" Once a Christian has corrupted his faith by accepting the tenets of atheistic Darwinism there is little sound basis left for his faith and/or his commitment to the sanctity of human life. Dr. Menton used logic and biblical faith to explain that the literal six days of creation as explained in Genesis are most certainly true and are the basis for our Christian faith.
Buddy Davis of Answers in Genesis was on hand Friday afternoon with a children's program and in the evening with family-oriented entertainment.
Other speakers included Rev. Dr. Dean Wenthe, president of Concordia Theological Seminary; Rev. Dr. Francis Monseth, Dean of the Free Lutheran Theological Seminary, and Rev. Dr. Wallace Schulz, the Executive Editor of GOOD NEWS Magazine.
The message brought out so vividly was that as God's special creation -- made in His own image, we are most loved by Him. He has given His Son so we can all spend eternity with Him and so we treasure each human life whether 110, 60, 15 or still waiting to be born. God has created each one of us, He has a plan for each of us, and all life is to be treasured, protected and valued by us under all circumstances.
Next year the Convention will be held in Wisconsin. Watch for the announcements that will be coming regarding time and place and remember to set those dates aside so you can attend.
Creation Museum Opening Creates a Buzz in International Media
Secular newspaper, television, radio and magazine reporters from all over the world have already visited and reported on their impressions of the Museum. The reports appearing across Europe and other areas of the globe are in many ways surprising and certainly gratifying to the creators of the museum.
According to the Answers in Genesis Answers Updates, every reporter who came to the Creation Museum heard the authority of God's Word upheld, Christianity defended, and the gospel proclaimed. Many...(who) answered their questions and often walked through the museum with them (found) that some reporters became so involved in the museum experience, they even began asking questions that they personally wanted answered for themselves.
As the Creation Museum opening was reported around the world, many of the stories included details of what is taught at the museum and what Answers in Genesis believes about the Bible. These reports included details about the perfect world marred by sin with death as a consequence, the flood of Noah's day, the dispersion at the tower of Babel, and the message of Jesus' death and resurrection!
As a result of their reporting, the secular press ended up teaching the Bible and the gospel message to millions around the world!
Here are some direct quotes taken from Answers in Genesis:
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"It has to be seen to be believed! Truly excellent in every way. The science is very carefully researched and put together. It excels, in my view, many secular institutions in terms of the standard of presentation and factual content. It is breathtaking. I would recommend all churches -- as well as individuals -- to view the exhibits."
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| "I left with a lump in my throat and chills down my spine after touring the Creation Museum."
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Comments from other visitors:
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"My husband Rick and I visited the Creation Museum yesterday. It is just AWESOME! All the exhibits are so impressive, but we thought that the planetarium, which we saw first, really set the stage for all the rest. We can't wait to bring all our friends and family, especially the unbelievers, so they can see for themselves that our faith does have a firm foundation. May your impact on our culture be massive."
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| "We drove 522 miles yesterday (to the museum and back), and our socks were literally blessed off!!! It was worth every minute, and we didn't even get to the planetarium! We were moved to tears more than once, and are sooo excited about what God is doing! We are so grateful for your friendly staff and for the amazing way that God is using all of you! We are praying for blessings and protection, and that God would use this museum for His Kingdom."
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| "The museum is INCREDIBLE. It is our hope that it will be used mightily by our Lord to strengthen His sheep. We saw Ken on the O'Reilly factor (with a guest host) on the Fox News Channel the other night, and they sure didn't give him much of a chance to explain anything. Praise the Lord for Answers in Genesis' clear voice bearing testimony to the truth of God's Word."
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And finally, my personal experience when I visited the museum during the preview week was so rewarding that I am determined to return as many times as I possibly can -- and, hopefully, bring many others with me when I go. I hope all of you will take the opportunity to make the journey to Petersburg to see for yourselves. Go to Answers In Genesis for maps and directions for your trip.
Students for Life of Illinois
Statistics have shown that college is not a good place for a pro-life person. Polls have consistently shown that students are more pro-choice by graduation than when they entered as freshmen. Now we are hearing the sounds of change! Students for Life of Illinois is a campus organization that is well and growing on campuses throughout our state. There are now 21 schools listed on the network. Here are some of their pro-life events:
Life Week and Protests at U of I. During the week there were pro-life events every day. Included were talks on stem cell research, abortion methods, and firsthand abortion experiences. The students showed "In the Womb," a National Geographic documentary about fetal development. They also held a Cemetery of the Innocent display on the main quad and passed out over 1,800 informational fliers! When Planned Parenthood sponsored their national "Chaplain" Dr. Ignacio Castuera, to speak on campus during Fall Semester, 70 students, faculty and community members showed up and peacefully protested his presentation. Planned Parenthood had not expected this reception at all.
Serrin Foster and Cemetery of the Innocent at Northwestern. NU Students for Life held several events during spring semester including Cemetery of the Innocent. This event made quite an impact and even made it into several local newspapers. NU Students for Life also sponsored Serrin Foster, president of Feminists for Life, in her campus appearance. Her speech was entitled "Women Deserve Better Than Abortion."
There have been many other activites at other campuses around the state. Next will come the Students For Life of Illinois Conference October 27th at DePaul University. Some great speakers have already been lined up for this event.
Contact them at:
- Students For Life of Illinois
P.O. Box 2001
Champaign, IL 61825-2001
Thanks to All Who have supported Lutherans for Life of Illinois:
We want to thank everyone who supported LFL with prayers and with their dollars during the past year. With our change in leadership there will be some changes in the way things are managed. We hope to see more people expressing an interest in sitting on our State Board. Each chapter is supposed to have a representative. Just as important is to have every area of the state represented.
If you would like to have a speaker or event in your area, ask us to help you with it. Hopefully together we can come up with a program that will meet your expectations. Use the phone numbers and email addresses on this website to contact us.
Here is at least a partial list of supporters whom we wish to thank for their very generous recent contributions to LFL of Illinois:
Ralph Welch in memory of Esther Goesling Welch (wife) -- Springfield, Illinois
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Women's Missionary League -- Golden, Illinois
Thomas L. Schwalbe in memory of Edwin and Marcella Schwalbe (parents) -- Champaign, Illinois
Concordia Lutheran School -- Springfield, Illinois
Zion Ladies Guild -- McHenry, Illinois
St. Paul Lutheran Academy -- Skokie, Illinois
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