By: Rebekah Wolfmueller, Co-President of Tornadoes4Life
Concordia University Texas (CTX) had the pleasure of welcoming several speakers on campus during the month of January to bring about awareness of the importance of life from fertilization to forever. We were blessed to have Pastor Scott Licht who discussed Human Trafficking and how we can navigate helping the victims in our world today. He spoke to two classes on his campus visit, and at the end of the month we were able to circle back and watch the movie Sound of Freedom, which displays the evilness of human trafficking, especially toward children in poverty-stricken countries. We had over thirty students watch the movie, and afterwards we had a great discussion and debrief.
Our second speaker was Deaconess Chrissie Gillet, and she brought along her beautiful dog Phoebe. They blessed our campus by spreading awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. Chrissie informed us of the Word for Hope Hotline which is available to anyone and helps those who are struggling to get counseling from a Gospel-motivated person.
Michelle Bauman was our last speaker. She gave a wonderful message on the sanctity of life using the story of Esther. Like Esther, we as students, faculty, and staff were truly made for a time like this. We are indispensable in the eyes of God, and we should share His love and message with the whole world. After Michelle’s chapel message, several students gathered to make signs for the March for Life in Austin, Texas.
On January 27th, CTX students had the pleasure of attending Life Magnified – a pro-life event held at St. Paul Lutheran church before the march in the afternoon. We participated in Matins and an amazing Bible Study message from Pastor White, who traveled from Houston. He discussed the severity of life issues happening across the world and how abortion is only the tip of the iceberg. He encouraged us to continue being Gospel-motivated voices for life and to look not only at issues that are at the surface of controversy but at all life issues that lead to the travesty of abortion.
We had the privilege of marching with the LCMS around downtown Austin. We sang hymns and prayers until we ended up at the Capitol. There were about thirty different tables that were handing out resources and information about Crisis Pregnancy Resource Centers, and the MC announced that over 20,000 diapers had been donated that would be dispersed to the different centers around Texas.
It was a joy to make signs advocating for life and march with fellow believers. To finish out Life Month at CTX, we had one last speaker. Kristi Kirk, our Provost here at Concordia. She spoke about adoption and foster care and her experience with an unexpected pregnancy. She chose love and joy in life, and she continues to do so through an organization called UpBring which helps children find safe and loving homes.
We are extremely thankful to Y4Life for all of the speakers and resources, to our campus ministry team, and to everyone who came and participated in our events. We are planning on making tie blankets in March for UpBring and Crisis Pregnancy centers, and we are looking forward to our next “Everyone Deserves a Birthday” cupcake event.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5