By Deaconess Amanda Nicks

Lutherans For Life has a Frontline of volunteers that serve as members of State Federations, Life Chapters, Life Teams, and Life Advocates. These volunteers work to equip Lutherans and their neighbors to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life. These groups are scattered across the country, which allows many opportunities to join their life-affirming work. Volunteer Relations supports these groups as they serve their congregation and community.

Here is a brief overview of each group that makes up the Frontline:

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 both in print and online, and assists in organizing educational opportunities for the congregation. For more information and short video, visit our Life Advocates website on the Frontlines tab here: https://lutheransforlife.org/life-advocates/. A sign-up form can be found here also. This is a wonderful starting point when starting life ministry at a congregation where starting a Life Team is not feasible at the time.

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. Here is a short video overview: https://lutheransforlife.org/sermon/what-is-a-life-team-video-introduction-short-version/.

If the church you are attending doesn’t have a Life Team, it’s easy to start one. The first thing you’ll want to do is speak with your pastor to ask for his support and blessing. LFL offers training for the Life Team Leader and members at a minimal cost. The material is available digitally and can be completed at your own pace. Following are the simple steps of getting trained:

Step 1: Choose a leader. The Life Team Leader reviews Tool 1 (Overview), Tool 2 (Life Team Leader Training), Tool 3 (Life Team Member Training), and Tool 4 (Resources). Only the Life Team Leader needs to complete Tool 2. There is a one-time cost of $25 for Tool 2 only (the Life Team Leader training). Life Team training is online at volunteersacademy.lutheransforlife.org.

Step 2: Life Team members are recruited. They will complete Tool 1, Tool 3, and Tool 4. Training can be completed individually from home or as a group. It will take 3 to 4 hours (or a little more depending on how much discussion takes place). It is often done in more than one session. We ask all Life Team members to be trained and certified.

Step 3: Upon competition of the Life Team Leader training, you are ready to become an active Life Team. LFL will print certificates for each of your team members.

A Life Chapter is charted 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. Most Life Chapters engage in projects that are unique to them and especially suited to their communities. Each has a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer to keep the group organized and support the important life-affirming work of the Life Chapter. More information can be found on our website: https://lutheransforlife.org/frontlines/life-chapters/.

A State Federation is an organization that has been charted 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 groups in their states and expand the work of LFL. The Essay Contest is organized by the State Federations as well. More information can be found here: https://lutheransforlife.org/frontlines/state-federation/.

Under the Frontline tab on LFL’s website, you can find a map on the pages for Life Advocates, Life Teams, or Life Chapters. The Volunteer Relations Team of LFL would be happy to assist you in finding a group to join or starting something new in your area. Our contact information can be found online (https://lutheransforlife.org/volunteer-relations/).

Volunteer Relations enjoys sharing new ideas and materials with the Frontline. We pray these resources maintain a strong, healthy, and vibrant life ministry withing the congregations and communities served by Life Advocates, Life Teams, and Life Chapters. Here are some resources we regularly provide the Frontline:

The Lord has called us to serve in many vocations. He may have provided groups to join and serve in roles in existing groups. Maybe He’s calling you to serve as a Life Advocate until others take note of the wonderful life-affirming work you are doing. There could be a current Life Team you are able to join. Or you could be the one to be the Life Team Leader and get a group organized at your church. Volunteer Relations is here to guide, mentor, share ideas, pray for, and walk alongside you on this journey.