Starting to Plan Part 4
A quick review in case you are a new Life Advocate or you just forgot! Our training sessions flow from Dr. David Adams’ booklet “Implementing a Pro-life Theology in a Lutheran Congregation.” The basic outline is to have congregations establish a Plan to Teach, a Plan to Care, and a Plan to Witness. We are still working under the first, a Plan to Teach. We shared ideas on teaching the young children in Part 1 and on teaching the older children in Part 2. Part 3 dealt with teaching the youth. These first three can be found on the RFL website. Just click “Life Advocate Training” in the navigation menu. Dr. David Adams’ booklet is available there as well.
If you are a new Life Advocate or if you have not watched the DVD on Practical Applications, I urge you do so. You can find this DVD under “Media Downloads.” This can be an outline for you as you plan to do more within your congregation to connect the Word of Life to the life issues.
As you enter into this planning process, please remember it is planning. No one expects you to DO everything at once! But you can start planning to do them this year, next year, in two years. Look ahead. Work with other educators, teachers, DCE’s, etc. and see how you might coordinate some of your ideas into the congregation’s educational ministry.
Plan to Teach Parents
Dr. Adams writes, “We need to equip parents of young children to be the primary teachers of godly values and the Christian faith.”
Getting Ready
As with the youth, if you have organized groups of young parents or couples with regular meetings, these provide ideal settings. In many congregations, however, this is not the case. Therefore, you may want to have a special meeting or event to share resources. Have a picnic for young couples and young families, for example. Have games for the kids and a time to share briefly about the importance of teaching the value of life. Hand out materials and give resources. Another option is to dove-tail into other congregational events that involve young couples and families.
Remember, what you will have to offer is not a comprehensive course in parenting! You want to help them teach their children about the God-given value of each and every human life. And you do not have to be “the expert.” You are a resource person connecting people to the proper resources to aid them in this area. There may indeed be “experts” in your congregation, people who do teach or counsel young families. If this is the case, you need to make them aware of resources LFL has to offer.
So don’t panic! Do what you are able to do. Enlist others. A young couple with a passion For Life or young parents who are good examples of teaching their children are ideal people to help in this area. Who knows what the Lord of Life might do?
Checking Resources
Please note that because of LFL’s new website, various links from the Renewal For Life website may not be functional yet. So we have provided direct links below to the resources mentioned.
LCMS Life Library – This library has a section entitled “Child Rearing.” You may find articles here helpful. The link is – http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=14387
Brochures – There are also some brochures and studies in the Family Living section of our LFL site. I would recommend especially Biblical Manhood, Generations of Hope, and Men, Women, and Relationships. They may be found at:
http://www.cph.org/c-1023-family-living.aspx?REName=Shop by Category
Children’s Materials – Make parents aware of the materials LFL has available for teaching children and youth that were recommended in the previous training sections.
Titus 2 for Life – An excellent resource is former LFL president Linda Bartlett’s Titus 2 for Life website at http://www.titus2-4life.org/ There are links to other good resources on her site. You may also contact Linda to present on this issue. She can even train others to do so as well.
Guest Speakers – Guest speakers on these various topics can often be effective. Check with your district or regional church body officials for suggestions. You can also check our Speakers Bureau at http://www.lutheransforlife.org/about/speakers-bureau/
AND LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!!!