LifeDate Summer 2026 – God Said … And It Was So
LFL’s Volunteer Relations team is dedicated to serving the Frontlines including Life Advocates, Life Teams, Life Chapters, State Federations, pastors, and congregations.
State Federations
The Lutherans For Life Council of Federation Presidents sponsors a national essay contest each year for students in two grade categories: 6-8 and 9-12.
This contest is available for students in all states who attend a Lutheran school or a Lutheran church. State essay contests precede the national essay contest. State essay winners in the two grade categories are entered into the national contest.
The 2026 Lutherans For Life essay contest Theme was That They May Have Life based on John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
We are excited to announce the 2026 national essay winners:
Grades 6-8
First Place – Connor Jones, Illinois – “Against the Odds”
Second Place – Lydia Nissing, Missouri – “Abortion: Stealing God’s Precious Lambs”
Grades 9-12
First Place – Olivia Brown, South Dakota – “That They May Have Life”
Second Place – Julia Koester, Non-Federation – “The Gospel Motivation For Life”
Congratulations to all the winners. The 2027 national essay contest rules will be available this fall on the Lutherans For Life website. Please encourage life-affirming essay participation within your churches and Lutheran schools.
Life Ministry
Volunteer Relations is here to guide, mentor, share ideas, pray for, and walk alongside you as a life ministry consultant and partner.
Volunteer Relations is dedicated to serving the Frontlines, which include Life Advocates, Life Teams, Life Chapters, State Federations, pastors, and congregations. These volunteers work to equip Lutherans and their neighbors to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life. These life ministry groups are across the country, which allows many opportunities to join their life-affirming work.
- A Life Advocate is a volunteer within a congregation who works under the pastor’s supervision and serves as a liaison with Lutherans For Life. He or she shares life information in the church’s communications, utilizes LFL materials, and assists in organizing educational opportunities for the congregation. LFL has 41 Life Advocates currently serving their church.
- A Life Team is a group of committed members of a congregation who are trained and equipped to help the pastor with life ministry in the congregation. The Life Team and pastor engage and inform the congregation about the importance of protecting the sanctity of human life at all stages. They organize educational opportunities and outreach programs that serve the church and surrounding community. LFL has 73 Life Teams.
- A Life Chapter is chartered by National Lutherans For Life. Life Chapters serve a larger geographical area and are made up of multiple churches, while some are smaller and serve their area just as well. There are 82 Life Chapters serving across the country.
- A State Federation is an organization that has been chartered by Lutherans For Life. We have nine State Federations, which consist of a network of individual entities formally associated with each other within their state. State Federations support the life groups in their states and expand the work of LFL.
Volunteer Relations enjoys sharing new ideas and materials with the Frontline. LFL has many resources to help you maintain a strong, healthy, and vibrant life ministry within your congregations and communities.
Some resources we regularly provide the Frontline which are available on the LFL website include:
- Directions – Bi-monthly newsletter with LFL updates, articles of interest, and life project ideas
- LifeDate – Quarterly journal of news and commentary
- Life Notes – Weekly email providing updated LFL information
- Life Quotes – Quotations on life issues that may be reproduced in church bulletins and newsletters
- Frontline Zoom Call – Quarterly Zoom meeting where we provide the Frontline with updates and life project ideas
We invite you to become involved in life ministry at your church and in the community. Please reach out to Volunteer Relations for more information on how to become involved.
Michele Hartshorn
Director of Volunteer Relations
612.816.6194
mhartshorn@lutheransforlife.org
Deaconess Amanda Nicks
Assistant Director of Volunteer Relations
231.622.2506
anicks@lutheransforlife.org