FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 16, 2006

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – Cherish the Children was the theme as over 200 Lutherans gathered, July 14-16, 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. LFL has 15 state/regional federations nationwide, along with local chapters and Life Ministry Coordinators.

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey A. Gibbs, Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, gave the Friday night keynote address on the theme Why Are They Greatest in the Kingdom? Jesus’ View of Children, based on Matthew 18:1-10.

Dr. Gibbs asked, "Why do we regard these children unborn as so in need of protection? . . . In Matthew’s Gospel, as in the rest of the Bible, to be ‘like a child’ is be to weak, in need of protection, unlearned, unable to fend for yourself, small, vulnerable . . . In God’s plan, the most important people are the least important people."

Earlier, LFL President Diane Schroeder shared how, through the pain of infertility, God had taught her and husband Carl "that children are not ours by right, but truly a gift given by Him . . . that children are not clones of parents, but unique individuals created by God for His purposes." Diane and Carl are the parents of four adopted children.

Chuck Asay, editorial cartoonist for the Colorado Springs Gazette, opened the first of two plenary sessions on Saturday. He said "We are supposed to warn the idle . . . encourage the timid . . . help the weak—who’s weaker than an unborn child? . . . We need to leave behind this idea that we are in charge and make the rules." He encouraged those in attendance to "be a blessing along the way. Get people engaged in a conversation" about life issues because "it’s about God’s children—He wants lots of them!"

In a second plenary address, Roberta Bandy, author of The Dance Goes On, shared her and her husband’s experience raising a handicapped son, Rob, their first born child, along with four other children. She said "each life has hope, meaning, and purpose" because through Christ that life was "bought at a price." Rob lived for 29 years. "We know his life had value because we saw evidence of it each and every day . . . to this day." "He made us stronger and wiser" and taught "duty, humility, self-sacrifice, grace, peace . . . [Rob] reflected Christ’s humility more than any other person I have ever known."

Saturday’s workshops focused on caring for the mentally and physically handicapped; engaging in conversation with those opposed to the pro-life position; daycare, Creation, chastity and relationships; building a culture of life; cherishing children in other lands, through adoption, in families, through LFL; cherishing moms in crisis, and post-abortion recovery.