2025 LFL National Conference Booklet
Download: 2025 LFL National Conference Booklet
Lutherans For Life National Conference
September 24-26, 2025
Great Wolf Lodge • Colorado Springs, Colorado
2025 LFL National Conference Audio and Video
2025 LFL National Conference | Audio and Video
2025 Lutherans For Life National Conference
The 2025 Lutherans For Life National Conference reflected its Psalm 139:14 theme, “I Am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made,” in the remarkable testimonies of Christian witnesses to life through its vast array of keynote speakers, breakout presenters, and award winners.
- Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, shared the joy of being a Gospel-motivated voice For Life through the Focus on the Family ministry.
- Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop and Judge Ruth Neely of Pinedale, Wyoming, spoke of being witnesses to the Gospel, spoken in honesty and love, and trusting in the Lord even when persecution comes.
- Joy Pullmann, of The Federalist, highlighted the value of being a woman of the Lord and the obstacles faced in today’s culture of death.
Through the breakout sessions, we heard inspiring stories of embryo adoption and life issues involved in IVF, learned how to support those with dementia, and learned how to practically prepare for the end of life.
We were encouraged to invite our congregations to become safe places for women facing unplanned pregnancies by becoming a Congregational House of Refuge.
We learned to walk with those who have suffered from a loved one committing suicide and to have courageous conversations about gender with the young people in our lives.
Six award winners were recognized throughout the conference:
- Dominus Vitae Awards for Justice Tom Parker, retired Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court (present), and Gilbert Meilaender, American Bioethicist and Theologian
- Teaching 4 Life Awards for Melissa Hasamear and Julia Habrecht (both present)
- 2025 LFL National Essay Contest for Casey Steiner, Grade 9-12 (present), and Alexa Ulanoski, Grade 6-8
Pike’s Peak and Garden of the Gods were some of the favorite sites visited by the conference guests during the free afternoons, along with the Air Force Academy and the Focus on the Family Welcome Center. A handful of attendees even visited Planned Parenthood, joining the 40 Days for Life kick-off at the Colorado Springs location. Their prayers and presence encouraged the local life-affirming folks on the sidewalks and provided a loving Gospel witness to those who arrived at the clinic for services.
Overall, 207 Lutherans attended the conference, including 21 children and 12 teens. The Great Wolf Lodge and Colorado Springs were appreciated as a conference venue and location respectively, both providing ample activities indoors and out for conference attendees. Dozens of participants engaged in the friendly fundraising competition that helped to raise over $22,000 for Lutherans For Life, blowing past the initial goal of $10,000. As an incentive, LFL Executive Director Rev. Dr. Aric Fenske agreed to sample Rocky Mountain oysters if the goal was reached. LCMS Rocky Mountain District President Rev. James B. Maxwell and LFL Director of Development Dave Probst joined Dr. Fenske to conclude the conference with this culinary adventure, as the goal was amply surpassed.
We are grateful for the exhibitors who joined us at the conference, sharing their respective ministries. These included:
- Concordia Theological Seminary | Fort Wayne
- Institute of Lutheran Theology
- LCMS Life Ministries
- Lightwell
- Lutheran Classical College
- Lutheran Family Service
- Lutherans For Life
- Word of Hope
- Y4Life
And we most heartily thank all the conference participants who chose to spend three days immersed in life issues and fellowship, equipping themselves to be stewards of the Gospel message of Life.
Changing Hearts Together
Since its humble beginnings in 1979, God has richly blessed the work of Lutherans For Life (LFL) and expanded its outreach efforts to include three vital ministry departments:
- Word of Hope
- Y4Life
- Volunteer Relations
Through the dedication of our amazing teams and the tireless efforts of our executive and support staff, LFL has empowered thousands of congregations and tens of thousands of youth and adults to become Gospel-motivated voices For Life.
This year, financial donations and ministry gifts for Lutherans For Life are down. So, the development department of LFL created a friendly and “somewhat competitive” Lutherans For Life National Conference fundraising campaign—Changing Hearts Together—to raise $10,000 for the vital work of LFL.
Participants were divided into four teams and assigned a color, name, and LFL director to foster a sense of camaraderie and competition.
- Team Faith (yellow) was led by Michelle Bauman, Director of Y4Life.
- Team Hope (purple) was under the guidance of Chrissie Gillet, Director of Word of Hope.
- Team Love (red) was led by Michele Hartshorn, Assistant Director of Volunteer Relations, and Marie Fenske.
- Team Life (blue) was represented by David Probst, Director of Development.
The objective of our Changing Hearts Together fundraiser campaign was for each team to raise the highest total donations of all four teams before the end of the banquet on Thursday evening. To encourage participation, members of the winning team would receive an LFL gift bag with life-affirming resources. Plus, our Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Aric Fenske, agreed to eat breaded and deep-fried Rocky Mountain Oysters if the $10,000 fundraising goal was met.
Thanks to the generosity of our conference participants, the Changing Hearts Together fundraising campaign was an amazing success! In total, 215 conference attendees contributed 85 gifts, exceeding our initial $10,000 goal by Wednesday afternoon and surpassing $15,000 by Thursday afternoon. By the end of the conference on Friday morning, we had reached an incredible total of over $22,400! To top things off, the President of the LCMS Rocky Mountain District, Rev. James Maxwell, and David Probst, Director of Development for LFL, joined Rev. Dr. Fenske in eating the Rocky Mountain Oysters!
The Changing Hearts Together fundraising campaign was a tremendous success because of the ministry partnership and unwavering commitment our participants had to Lutherans For Life and our mission to equip Lutherans and their neighbors to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life.
Your support of thoughts, prayers, and generous gifts are allowing us to continue our efforts to proclaim the truth that all human life is created by God, redeemed by Jesus Christ, and called by the Holy Spirit.
You can still help by clicking on the DONATE button right now!
Thank you!
Questions?
Contact Events Coordinator Erika Peterson | epeterson@lutheransforlife.org
Past Conferences:
2024 Lutherans For Life Regional Conferences Audio and Video
2023 Lutherans For Life National Conference Audio and Video
2022 Lutherans For Life National Conference Audio and Video
Photo Gallery: 2022 Lutherans For Life National Conference
2021 Lutherans For Life Regional Conferences Audio and Video
2020 LFL Regional Conferences – From Invisible to Indispensable! (Archived Resources and Video)
What others are saying about Lutherans for Life Conferences:
“So much practical, inspiring information we can use to provide confidence in sharing the pro-life message.”
“This was my very first conference. I have been telling everyone how wonderful it was.”
“I was moved by the dedication of those present to champion LIFE and to give God the glory. The workshops were informative and helpful. It was worthwhile!!!!”
“This conference was excellent … Thanks for all the planning and thought put into this conference. Well done.”
“It was my first time in attendance at a national LFL conference. How wonderful to know that we have Christian people with such a wealth of knowledge on these important matters.”
Past Lutherans for Life Conference themes:
2023 LFL National Conference: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
2022 LFL National Conference: Blessed For Life
2021 LFL Regional Conferences: God Chose You
2020 LFL Regional Conferences: From Invisible to Indispensable!
2019 LFL National Conference: “Did God Really Say … ?”
2018 LFL National Conference: From Age to Age the Same
2017 LFL National Conference: Hope for Life
2016 LFL National Conference: Here We Stand
2015 LFL National Conference: Created – Redeemed – Called