Starting to Plan Part 3
Starting to Plan Parts 1 and 2 can be found on the RFL website. Just click “Life Advocate Training” in the navigation menu. Dr. David Adams’ booklet is available here as well.
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Again, 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.
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Plan to Teach the Youth
Dr. Adams writes, “We must teach our youth to understand the temptations of their sexuality in order to care for their own bodies. We must teach our young adults how to respond to one another so they will learn not to view the members of the opposite sex as a means to the fulfillment of their own pleasure. We must teach them about God’s gift of marriage and how we may live in this holy estate in a God-pleasing way.”
Getting Ready
If you have an organized youth group with regular meetings and/or a youth Bible study, these are the ideal settings. Get them where they already are gathering rather than having special “life” events. You may want to enlist some youth leaders to go over materials. Get their input and ideas on what the “hot topics” are in this area.
Checking Resources
Chastity – Check the resources under the Chastity section on the RFL web site. Most are under Articles and Essays. Be sure to use the link LCMS Life Ministries library as there are several items there of interest.
Biotechnology – As with the older children, check out the resources under Biotechnology as well. This seems to be an area of interest. Our stem cell DVD “Stem Cell Research and Cloning 101: A Primer” could be used with this age group as well.
There are two films that would be a good resource to lead to discussion on biotech issues. You should be able to rent them at a local video store.
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Gattaca – This film is about genetic engineering. Set in the future, there are two classes of people, those who have been genetically engineered and those who have not. The plot revolves around a young man who is in the latter class who tries to conceal his true self to qualify for space travel.
*Rated PG-13. Christian Spotlight Movie Review to view content go to: http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/pre2000/i-gattaca.html?zoom_highlight=gattaca
The Island – The Island is about cloning. People living in an underground world believe the world above has been destroyed by war. The fact is, they are clones of people living in the world above and have been cloned to be used as spare parts. When their “parts” are needed, they win a supposed trip to “The Island” a paradise that survived the destruction. Except, there is no island!
Rated PG-13. For content review go to: http://www.pluggedin.com/videos/2005/Q3/Island.aspx
Marriage and Co-habitation – Living together before marriage is becoming more and more accepted. If you follow this link Marriage Statement you will get to LFL’s marriage statement and also on the same page a brochure about living together. Also, when you go to the LCMS Life Ministries library from our Chastity/Essays and Articles section you can click on “Marriage” on their menu and find more information.
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, there are several speakers who specialize in youth ministry. You may want to consider going in with other congregations in your area or community to sponsor a speaker.
Service Events – Young people like to DO things. Some suggestions:
- Organize a diaper drive for a local CPC
- Visit a CPC for a tour and explanation of what they do
- Have a prayer vigil outside an abortion mill or Planned Parenthood Clinic
- Participate in a Life Chain during the first weekend in October. This link will take you to the national Life Chain website for events in your area.
- Organize a trip to Washington D.C. for the annual March for Life on January 22
- Visit homebound members of the congregation or members in care centers
- Put up a cross display on your church lawn or other strategic place. Some of LFL’s state affiliates have displays that can be used. Give us a call.
- Organize an essay contest on life issues. We can put you in touch with others who have done this.
- Have your group put together a You Tube or Face Book video focusing on one of the life issues.