Our culture doesn’t welcome children very much. They are looked upon as a burden, both financially and emotionally. They take too much time from careers and leisure activities.

Lutherans For Life is different. We welcome children because we know that children are not just haphazard "products of conception." No, they are people known by God before the world began, people for whom Christ died, people whom God wants as part of His family. Lutherans For Life welcomes children because they are precious to God.

The mission of Lutherans For Life is to "witness to the sanctity of human life, through education based on the Word of God." Through these efforts, God saves and changes lives. In the last issue of LifeDate, Grace Kern’s Word of Hope column touched the heart of another young girl who sent LFL the following letter.

"I just want to write and thank you for LifeDate. I read the article "A Teen’s Desperate Call for Help" by Grace Kern.

"I happened to find the magazine at my friends house. I was sitting there wondering what was going to happen to me and my life, when I picked up this magazine and opened right to the page, a story about a girl pregnant just like me. You see I am only 16. And I am also pregnant. I don’t consider myself a bad girl. But I made a dumb mistake having sex with a guy I hardly knew. He forced me to have sex I really didn’t want to do it. After I found out I felt like I had no choice but to have an abortion. It was scheduled for the next morning.

"When I read the article I thought this whole story is about me. My school counselor told me I should get an abortion. It would be the best thing for me. After all a baby would ruin my life. I hated the guy so much I didn’t even want to tell him.

"Well I stole the magazine. I stuck it in my book bag. I wanted the number of the woman Grace. [Word of Hope: 888-217-8679.] I never thought I would get her. But the first time I called she answered the phone. She is a really nice lady. Her voice made me feel like everything was going to be O.K. She spent a long time with me on the phone and made me realize that I had other choices. She gave me a number to a pregnancy center a few blocks from where I lived. I never even new it was there. She told me to call her back because she wanted to make sure everything went well there. I know she saved my baby’s life. She said she would keep me and my baby in her prayers.

"I am trying to get other girls in my school to call her. One of my friends already had an abortion and she isn’t the same. I wish we had someone like Grace in our school.

"I just want to thank you for the magazine. I know God reached out to me. I am not going to hurt my baby. I can not believe how close I came to doing something I would regret for the rest of my life. I am going to consider adoption. Thanks."

Lutherans For Life is involved in a spiritual battle against Satan and the forces of evil. The stakes are very high—life itself. Your support of the work of Lutherans For Life made a difference in the lives of this young mom and her baby. God’s child has been saved from an abortionist. So do not become weary in doing God’s work (Galatians 6:9), although sometimes we feel as if we are losing this battle. Let us be faithful to our mission and keep on witnessing. Lutherans For Life is God’s ministry and He will bless our work in His time and according to His plan.