From LifeDate - Summer 2007.

There are numerous groups involved in the many facets of the pro-life movement: education, crisis pregnancy centers, political activism and legislation, post-abortion healing, etc. In fact, when I became active in the movement in 1985, it was a mystery to me why there needed to be a Lutherans For Life group. After all, weren’t all Christians and Lutherans pro-life? Shouldn’t our emphasis be on impacting the secular world? Was I ever wrong! It soon became apparent that the pastors, church workers, and lay people within our Lutheran denominations were in great need of education not only on the issues, but on how God’s Word was connected to these issues.

What makes Lutherans For Life unique? First of all, LFL is a spiritual organization. Our focus is on connecting God’s Word to the life issues. Lutherans For Life recognizes the power of the Gospel to change hearts and minds. LFL knows that our people need to keep asking the question, "What has God done that gives value to human life?" Secondly, our target audience is Lutherans and the Lutheran Church. Our goal—our vision—is to reach Lutherans and through them transform the world.

Lutherans For Life is needed now more than ever. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, 70 percent of women seeking abortions identify themselves as Christian! The attack on life continues to intensify with assisted suicide, embryonic stem cell research and cloning. Christians certainly are not immune to the problems of life and death, but what makes us different is our Christian perspective when dealing with these problems.

Lutherans For Life wants to reach our Lutheran people before they make a decision that does not honor God as the giver of life. We want to be pro-active rather than re-active. We want to reach that Lutheran pregnant teen—before she gets to the abortion clinic—with the message that God created her baby. We want to reach that grieving family—before they speak to the doctor about removing Grandma’s feeding tube—with the message that God is still working through Grandma’s life. We want to reach that excited couple—before they learn the news of a possible handicapped newborn—with the message that God has a plan and purpose for their baby.

As members and supporters of Lutherans For Life, I know that you understand the importance of these connections. Our challenge is to help our fellow Lutherans understand and connect God’s Word of Life to the life issues. God tells us that His Word does not return empty. When a pastor preaches on the God-given value of life, a teacher instructs students on why God created them, and a Lutherans For Life brochure, speaker, or Bible study are used within our congregations, hearts and minds are changed, good decisions are made, lives are saved, and fellow Lutherans are equipped to impact their world.