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Lutherans For Life of Michigan

November.December.January 2016

Lifelines……….

The mission of LFL is to equip Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

02 – Board Members …’Thank You’

03 – Youth Purity Gathering – Our Savior Lansing

04 – Life Defenders Boot Camp – West MI HS Grand Rapids

05 – Diaper Shower Update -- 40 Days For Life

06 – What’s Happening…

07 – in Michigan?

08 – What’s Happening in Michigan? cont’d

09 – Heartbeat of Monroe PRC

10 – Legislative Update … Owen’s Mission

11 – Membership … Life–Affirming Resources

12 – Notes & Quotes

The Reformation was about more than some medieval abuses within the church. It had at its very heart the question of whether absolute authority rests in the Word of God or in the word and opinions of men. That same question still forms the basis for understanding what is going on in today’s culture as well.

The fallible word of humankind has led us to the point where it is now considered “wise” to believe that the earth is millions of years old, that we are simply animals that have evolved by chance from primitive beginnings over eons of time, that there is no God or higher power, and that we are masters of our fate. In this view, there is no absolute authority (unless it’s the State!) and no absolute values of right or wrong. Everyone simply does what is right in his or her own eyes.

This has led us to see human life as cheap. It places those in power in a position where they can wield authority over those whom they deem to be not worthy of life. Thus, we have the abominable massacre of our own babies (and even harvesting them for organs!) defended as a “right.” Planned Parenthood covers up its great evil with pious sounding phrases such as “reproductive rights.” But as the recent nightmarish videos have shown, it is impossible to cover up or disguise the horror of what really goes on inside those places of evil.

There is no right to murder a defenseless baby. There is no right to wield power over those who are weaker and more vulnerable. If there was, then the Nazi’s had a rationale for their slaughter of Jews and others who were deemed by the political “elite” as “unworthy of life.” But there is no such right. At least, not in what we would call a civilized society. Yet we as a nation tolerate – and excuse – the tyranny of abortion.

We are heirs of the Reformation. Blessed with the Holy Spirit in our baptism, we know that there is a Creator God. We know His name, and we call upon that name. We are His own, redeemed by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. We believe, teach, and confess the authority of God’s Word, as revealed in Holy Scripture.

Therefore, we who stand on the sure Word of the Lord must and will defend the unborn, the weak, the handicapped, the sick, the elderly, and the dying. We stand For Life.

The Reformation was about the truth of God’s Word. Will we continue to put God’s Word above man’s word? Will we stand for truth and for the sanctity of human life? Yes, for this is who we are: baptized children of the living God, walking wet, covered in Christ’s righteousness and holiness, forgiven of every sin. Here in Jesus is the hope for all sinners – including the woman who has suffered from the emotional scars of an abortion. Here in Jesus is shelter from the storms of life, and peace for the troubled conscience. Here in Jesus is Life.

God help us to be people For Life!

Pastor Paul Clark

Pastoral Counselor, LFL of Michigan

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Pastor Timothy & Betty Loewe, Temperance

Marvin & Patricia Warnez, Shelby Twp

Luc E Serriere, Williamsburg [thankoffering in honor of Jim Lamb]

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lewiston

Larry & Martha Huber, Frankenmuth [in honor of Art & Elaine Loesel’s 40th wedding anniversary]

Peace Lutheran Church, Warren [offering from special service on 9/12/15 in remembrance of

abortion victims]

Gary & Jean Peters, Bay City

Delphine Mallinson, Rochester [in memory of Dave Perry]

We praise and thank the Lord for you and for your

generous contributions to the ministry of Lutherans

For Life of Michigan. Because of your financial gifts,

we are able to provide life-affirming resource

materials -- such as this Lifelines newsletter,

brochures, pamphlets, etc --free of charge whenever

we host an exhibit.

Thank you… LFL Vision Statement:

Every Lutheran, both individually and in

community, upholding the God-given value of

human life and influencing society to do the same.

LFL-MI BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Spiritual Advisor: Pastor Paul Clark [517] 420-4826

President: Connie Davis [586] 949-9261

Vice President:

Secretary: Lauren Schaidt [586] 228-2348

Treasurer: Earl Iseler [616] 866-8026 Life Ministries Coordinator:

Urban Outreach: Susan Hill [586] 468-7871

Technology Coordinator:

Lutheran Schools Outreach: Chris Schultz [734] 241-1607

Post Abortion Healing Outreach: Laverne Santangelo [586] 945-4949

Legislative Reporter: Pastor Paul Clark [989] 593-2354

Board Members at Large: Dorothy Zink [517] 694-7189 Katrina Brundage [618] 975-8361

Life Issues Project Consultants: Lori Looker [Written Projects] [586] 557-7833 Jeff Davis [Artistic Projects] [586] 913-5993

Lifelines of Michigan LFL is mailed free of

charge to Michigan LFL supporters. Articles

may be reprinted with attribution to source.

Email address: lflmi@comcast.net

Website: www.lflmi.org

ATTENTION!!! Lutherans For Life of Michigan is in need of a

volunteer who is technology ‘savvy’ … someone to

administrate our website and Facebook page. If you

have been blessed with such talents, would you

prayerfully consider using them in service to our LFL-

MI ministry? Please contact Connie at 586-949-

9261 or email lflmi@comcast.net

We thank Cassie Makela for her years of service to

LFL-MI in this volunteer position … and wish her and

her family God’s blessings as they have relocated to

the state of Wisconsin.

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View our promotional video at: https://vimeo.com/135266681

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Life Defenders Boot Camp for High School & College Students:

“Making the Case For Life”

January 30, 2016

West Michigan Lutheran High School

10:00 am – 1:45 pm

Life Defenders is a one-day boot camp designed to equip high school and college students to become effective ambassadors for life. Many people today reject or are indifferent to the LIFE-affirming view, often because they have never heard the FOR LIFE position presented in a compelling manner. Life Defenders Boot Camp will prepare you to confidently communicate the FOR LIFE position to others. Using science and philosophy, students will learn to simplify the abortion debate by focusing on two crucial questions: What are the pre-born? and, What makes humans valuable?

Encourage students to come and learn to speak intelligently and graciously to the most pressing moral issue of our time: abortion. They will leave prepared to confidently persuade others by exposing the logical fallacies of the abortion-choice rhetoric without need for vitriol and angry dialogue. Trainer for the day is Mike Spencer of Life Training Institute. Mike travels extensively throughout the United States equipping life-affirming advocates on high school and university campuses. He is a gifted and much sought-after communicator who brings a compassionate heart to the often emotional and divisive issue of abortion in a way that is both gracious and compelling. The event will be held at:

West Michigan Lutheran High School, 601 - 36th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49509

It will begin with registration and greetings at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 30, 2016. Snacks, drinks, and lunch will be provided. Re-cap and dismissal will be at 1:45 pm. The camp is open to all men and women in the high school/college student age group. Please encourage your friends to attend with you. Please contact Earl Iseler at iselerea@comcast.net or 616-866-8026 for additional information and to register. Pre-registration is needed to determine the number that will be attending for materials, snacks, drinks and lunches. There is no charge to attend. A free-will door offering will be taken to help cover the cost of the camp.

The event is being sponsored by the Greater Grand Rapids Chapter of Lutherans For Life.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

1 Peter 3:15

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Pray for the Unborn

40 Days For Life is a Christian group active in 30 countries who pray and walk peacefully in front of

abortion clinics. The 40 day campaign is held annually in the Fall and Spring (during Lent) and was recently

endorsed by the LCMS Reporter as one of the means to offer hope to those who are contemplating, or

have had, an abortion. Many hold signs with the message “Pray for the Unborn” as they walk peacefully

and prayerfully. Lives are being saved and a new found awareness brought to light. We can all pray for the

lives of the unborn and their parents whether it is privately or at a campaign site.

The next campaign is February 10- March 24th,2016.

The 40 Days web site is: https://40daysforlife.com/ There you can find prayer locations, devotional

prayers to use as you march, general information and more.

There is great power in prayer. Please pray for the unborn. Contact Kathy Zappitell for more information.

(jkzapp@wowway.com) 586-997-1781

Statewide Diaper Shower Update

A number of additional congregations have reported their participation in the 2015 Statewide Diaper Shower. They

are as follows:

St Mark Kentwood Grace Wyoming Bethlehem Standish

St Peter & Paul Houghton St Matthew Holt St Paul Fowler

St Luke Ann Arbor Grace Auburn St Mark Flint

Holy Trinity Lakeview Hope Stanton

This brings the total number who reported their participation to 42 congregations.

The final tally of individual diapers collected was 51,224.

THANK YOU!!! for your generous gifts. Many babies and their families were blessed.

St Matthew Holt

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On July 21-24, a total of 914 youth, chaperones and church

workers gathered at Calvin College in Grand Rapids for the Higher

Things Lutheran Youth Conference under the theme Te Deum.

Youth learned about Te Deum and the Church’s historic liturgy,

among other topics, during the plenary sessions. Earl Iseler, LFL-

MI Board member hosted an exhibit table at the event.

Pictured from L to R are some of the youth who visited the LFL-MI

exhibit: Rachel Mueller (Our Savior Grand Rapids), Hanna

Biermann (Faith Grand Blanc), Sarah Stevens and Samantha

Geelhoed (Our Savior Grand Rapids)

LCMS members were urged to participate in a

nationwide protest against Planned Parenthood on

August 22nd.

LFL Michigan members who participated in the protest

and submitted photos of events in their communities

were:

Carolyn Burns – Kalamazoo

Earl Iseler – Grand Rapids

Pastor Paul Clark -- Lansing

In front of Kalamazoo Planned Parenthood

Peaceful protest in Lansing Pastors Terry Hoese (Our Savior Grand Rapids), Jonathan Krenz

(Epiphay Dorr), and David Rifner (New Hope Hudsonville) participated

in the Grand Rapids protest

Denouncing the actions of Planned Parenthood [PP] revealed in the recent series of videos, the LCMS issued a statement that reads

in part, “The infanticide that is occurring at Planned Parenthood must end. It is not simply time to defund that organization; it is time

to end abortion in the United States altogether…We can no longer claim that we didn’t know PP doctors killed children so ruthlessly

or that we weren’t aware human bodies were cannibalized for their organs…” Although the series of videos, and the most recent in

particular, “lay evil bare,” the statement offered hope and forgiveness as well, noting, “Our heavenly Father, it turns out, knows a

thing or two about hearts. We are the reason He allowed His own Son’s heart to stop beating for a time, so that ours may thrive for

all eternity. In so doing, He shows us His own heart, full of grace, mercy and compassion.”

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On Saturday, September 12th, Susan Hill, LFL-MI Board member

and Urban Outreach Coordinator, hosted an exhibit at the

Community Health Fair at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Flint. We

thank Pastor Randy Schultz, at Our Savior, for the invitation to

participate in this annual event … enabling us to reach into the Flint

urban community with LFL’s life-affirming message.

Members of the LFL-MI Board were among those attending “The Body of Christ

and the Public Square: Religious Liberty in 21st Century America” Conference

hosted by Our Savior Lutheran Church in Hartland on September 26th.

Speakers for the event included: Dr William Weinrich [Ft Wayne Seminary

professor], David Barton [founder and president of WallBuilders], MI Senator Patrick

Colbeck, Rev Rafael Cruz [an ambassador for Religious Liberty], William Wagner

[previously served as a federal judge in the U.S. Courts], Bob Dutko [Christian

apologist and Detroit talk radio host on WMUZ], and MI Representative Lee

Chatfield. Pictured on the left are: Mary Walden [St Matthew Walled Lake],

Lauren Schaidt & Connie Davis [LFL-MI Board members], Donna Zuehlk [Our

Redeemer Washington], Pastor Paul [LFL-MI Board member], Abigayle, and

Elizabeth Clark.

Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod President,

Matthew Harrison, invited LCMS members to

gather on September 12th to participate in a

“Day of Remembrance” for aborted children.

The event was intended to take place not just

at Planned Parenthood locations, but at

LCMS churches, schools, homes and by the

gravesides of children who have been

aborted. “…pausing to remember the deaths

of these babies, to pray for those who are

plagued by guilt over the deaths of their

children, to come alongside women in crisis

pregnancies is worth it because each one of

them is of worth to Christ,” Harrison stated.

Pictured on the left are members of Trinity

Lutheran in Utica as they observed the “Day

of Remembrance” in front of their church.

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Upcoming Events in 2015

October 11-13 – Exhibit at All Pastors’ Conference in Boyne Falls

October 24 – Speaker at Bay Area LWML Zone Rally at Zion in Bay City [Connie Davis]

November 7 – LFL-MI Board meeting at St Matthew in Holt

November 8 – Youth Purity Gathering at Our Savior Lansing

January 17, 2016 – Life Sunday

January 30, 2016 – Life Defenders Boot Camp at West Michigan Lutheran High School in Wyoming, MI [see article on page 4]

February 10 – March 24, 2016 – 40 Days For Life in various locations in Michigan [see article on page 5]

April 16 – Let’s Talk Life Conference [co-sponsored by MI District & LFL-MI] at Our Savior Lansing

Life Issues Contest – Projects due March 15, 2016. For more information, go to our website at www.lflmi.org

“Employing Truth and Logic in the Battle For Life” was the topic of Pastor Paul

Clark, LFL-MI Spiritual Advisor & Michigan District Life Coordinator, as he

addressed those in attendance at the Lutheran Laymen’s League Rally in

Michigan City, IN on September 27th. Pictured with Pastor Clark are Ron

Potratz and Pastor David Solum.

Photos below were submitted by congregations who participated in the annual Life Chain event on October 4th. Christians

nationwide gathered to give public witness to the value of the lives of the unborn, and to offer hope to women, and men, who've

experienced the pain of an abortion decision. From L to R: St Luke Clinton Twp and St Peter Macomb. This was a ‘kick off’

event for the new Life Team at St Luke.

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History: Heartbeat of Monroe was started in 1973, just months after Roe vs Wade, and has been open continuously

since then. For years, Heartbeat has offered help to women who are in a situation where they consider their pregnancy

a crisis in their lives.

Mission: Our mission statement is “The purpose of Heartbeat of Monroe is to give free and confidential assistance to

anyone who is dealing with a pregnancy or the parenting of infants and toddlers.” There is never a charge for any of our

services.

Services Provided: We provide diapers, formula and baby food on an emergency basis. We offer a Newborn Care

Class once a month for expectant moms who receive a large bag of over 100 items that she will need bringing the baby

home from the hospital. The items range from diapers to baby bottles, outfits to blankets, etc. We also offer a class in

dealing with toddlers. This class is available by appointment only. We also offer parenting classes. Our material goods

area is stocked with many of the items necessary for babies, toddlers and children. We carry clothes from newborn to

size 6x. Last year we had over 900 client visits.

Volunteer Opportunities: We have volunteer opportunities from counting and sorting items for our material goods

area. We need volunteers to work with our clients during the parenting classes. We need someone to work as a

receptionist. We need a bookkeeper.

Material Needs: We need diapers especially newborn, sizes 4, 5, and 6. Gentlease formula is needed. Newborn items

for our layettes are also needed.

Financial Needs: We need help with operational expenses. Monies should be sent to:

Heartbeat of Monroe

PO Box 1624

Monroe, MI 48161

We are very strong in our faith in Jesus Christ. We are a non-denominational agency and have volunteers from

Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Nazarene, Evangelical, Methodist and Episcopalian denominations. We want to make a

difference in our community and serve Him well.

[Information provided by Margaret Horvath, Executive Director of Heartbeat of Monroe]

Pregnancy Resource Centers help save lives! Is this PRC near you? Read how you and your church can help.

Heartbeat of Monroe, Inc. 123 West First Street

Monroe, MI 48161

734-243-6550

www.heartbeatofmonroe.org

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Michigan Legislative Update Recently, the House Criminal Justice Committee reported two bills to implement the Coercive Abortion Prevention Act

(House Bills 4787 and 4830). These bills will define coercing a woman to have an abortion as a specific crime. The bills

are now pending on the House floor for a vote by the full chamber.

Also pending on the floor is House Bill 4481 - the Rape Survivor Child Custody Act. This bill will protect the courageous

women who reject abortion after conceiving a child through rape by giving them the ability to keep the rapist from

asserting his parental rights. This legislation was inspired by the real life story of Shauna Prewitt. (If you have not yet

viewed Shauna's story, you can see it at http://www.rtl.org/compassion/ ).

Several legislators are also working on bills that would redirect state and federal funds away from Planned Parenthood,

prohibit the exchange of any money for the transfer of organs or tissues from aborted babies, ban fetal tissue research

in Michigan, and get PP out of our public schools as "sex education" instructors. These bills will come on top of a bill

already introduced in the state House to ban the heinous practice of dismemberment (D & E) abortion.

Please pray for and help support such legislation in the days ahead to further the cause of protecting the lives of babies

here in Michigan!

[submitted by Pastor Paul Clark, LFL-MI Spiritual Counselor and Legislative Reporter]

Owen’s Mission

Owen’s Mission is a very special project of Lutherans For Life. The goal of this project is to honor Jesus by presenting a set of Touch of Life fetal models to every Lutheran elementary and high school in the country. (That’s 1078 schools affecting 139,000 students!) We want students to understand the God-given value of each life from the moment of conception. We want students to be motivated by what God has done as our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier that gives value to life. We want students to value themselves and to value others as persons because of this God-given value. Where did Owen’s Mission come from? From a very small and special baby named Owen. Rev Dr James Lamb, Executive Director of Lutherans For Life, shares his story:

“I held my little grandson, Owen, in the palm of my hand. He died at twenty-one weeks during pre-natal surgery to remove a large tumor. The nurse brought him to our son as we waited in the recovery room for Owen’s mother. I find it difficult to describe what I felt when I was able to hold him. I had held the twenty-week Touch of Life fetal model in my hands hundreds of times in front of students from preschoolers to seminarians. Holding Owen revived in me the reality behind those models. I will never hold them in the same way again.”

As Owen’s grandpa, Dr Lamb wanted to do something special to remember Owen, honor Jesus, and help others

understand the value God gives to even the smallest of lives. With the help of Owen’s family, Owen’s Mission was

born. We are training facilitators to present these fetal model sets along with a DVD message from Dr. Lamb.

This is a mission opportunity for individual, congregational, and/or school offerings. For more information on how you

can obtain a set of these fetal models for your school, contact Chris Schultz at 734-241-1607 or

ckay.schultz@gmail.com

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Life Sunday Materials Available

The “official” Life Sunday is January 17, 2016. However, LFL materials may be used anytime during the year. Click link below for new resources for 2016 including bulletin inserts, Bible study, children’s message, worship service, and sermons.

Our culture says human value comes from looking good, feeling good, and doing good. Our culture bases human value upon what we are able to do or not do. But God bases human value upon what He has done—created, redeemed, called!

www.lutheransforlife.org/store-life-sunday-2016/ife Sunday 2016 Resources • Created • Redeemed • Called

Check out this brochure available through Concordia Publishing House (www.cph.org):

Planned Parenthood: It’s Not What You Think! – Here’s the inside scoop on Planned

Parenthood’s shocking agenda for our children. This brochure exposes the truth using excerpts from the organization’s own material.

Item LFL129T; $0.50 ea. with quantity discounts

available.

WORD OF HOPE …

LFL’s Post Abortion Healing Ministry If you are in a crisis situation, have had an abortion, are

pregnant right now, or have been hurt by someone,

here you will find hope.

Please contact Word of Hope

1-888-217-8679

www.word-of-hope.org

help@word-of-hope.org

I WANT TO SPEAK OUT FOR LIFE!

I want to become a member of LFL (Please select a membership category.)

____Annual: $35 $50 $75 Other $____ (A donation of any amount will enroll you as an annual member of LFL.)

____Sponsor: I commit to a monthly gift of $______ (Annual & Sponsor contributions to LFL are tax-deductible.)

I’m not interested in membership, but am enclosing a contribution of $______ to support the national efforts of LFL.

Name_____________________________________________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip___________________________________________ Phone #___________________________

Chapter Name/# (if applicable) _____________________ Occupation ________________________________

Congregation_______________________________________________________________________________

Church Body (Synod) AALC_____ AFLC _____ CLBA _____ ELCA _____ LCMS _____ Other _____________

Clip and send to: Lutherans For Life, 1101 – 5th Street, Nevada, IA 50201-1816

1-888-364-LIFE * (515) 382-3020 * E-mail: info@lutheransforlife.org *

WebSite: www.lutheransforlife.org

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Lutherans For Life of Michigan 23775 – 24 Mile Road

Macomb, MI 48042

NON PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

PERMIT NO. 321

Notes and Quotes

* “More Americans have died by being aborted than have died

in all the wars we've fought combined. A generation of talent is missing. Where's the outrage over Planned Parenthood's selling of aborted baby body parts while being funded by your taxes? Read this shocking report in USAToday: http://usat.ly/1ROh0qo [Pastor Rick Warren, Facebook page]

* “We’ve distorted things to the point where people believe that anyone who opposes mothers killing their babies is waging a war on women. How can we be so foolish to believe such a thing? One must be able to recognize the depravity to which we have sunk as a society when valuing a baby’s life is frowned upon.” [Ben Carson, http://LiberalLogic101.com]

* “Those murdered in the name of choice are more than human beings. They are human beings created by God’s own hand. They are human beings for whom Jesus stretched out His hands on the cross. They are human beings God wants to call into His kingdom through Holy Baptism so He can hold them by the hand. We are not FOR LIFE because we live in a culture that isn’t, but because we serve a God who is.” [Rev Dr James Lamb, Executive Director of Lutherans For Life]

A Story from Venezuala: Making a Point [shared by a Lutheran missionary]

A reporter [R] was interviewing a Catholic bishop [B] on the

subject of abortion.

R: Well, what would you do in the case of rape?

B: Kill the rapist!

R: We can’t do that! We live in a civilized society where

capital punishment is against the law.

B: That’s curious. We refuse to kill the perpetrator of the

crime (the rapist), but we promote the killing of innocent life

(the child in the womb).

* “The people of God have to do the work of ending abortion

– providing alternatives, educating minds, changing hearts,

changing laws…One of the key characteristics of the

Christian religion is that it urges us to ‘get involved’, and not

just to sit back and be passive observers. This actually flows

from our teaching about God Himself. He is not a passive

observer of the world He created. Rather, He became one of

us and gave His life on the cross. God mixed in dramatically

with the things of the world. So do we His followers.” [Father

Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests For Life]