Four winning essays from a recent “Free to be Faithful” contest — written by college students and centered on life, marriage and religious liberty — are now available for free download.
Earlier this year, “Free to be Faithful,” the Synod’s education and awareness initiative regarding those three key topics, hosted its second essay contest. In 2014, the challenge was geared toward church workers and the winning pieces were published as downloadable Bible studies, which are available here under “Religious Freedom Toolkit.”
In 2015, college students were invited to participate, discussing ways in which Lutherans can remain faithful on campus, despite the pressure of academia, their peers and the culture.
Of some 30 entrants, four winners were chosen:
- Isaiah Armbrecht (a student at Concordia University Nebraska, Seward)
- Bethany Glock (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
- Claire Houser (Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn.)
- Joshua Lacey (University of Wyoming, Laramie).
“They are articulate and eager to confess the faith,” LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison said of the ambassadors when he met the four at a Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty event held in Washington, D.C., in September. “One of my greatest joys during the week was interacting with these Millennials. And there are thousands more just like them in our church body.”
Thanks to their winning entries and throughout the upcoming year, the two men and two women will serve as “Free to be Faithful” Young Adult Ambassadors, speaking and writing on behalf of life, marriage and religious liberty, while also defending the faith on their own college campuses.
The essays are available for download here, and more information on how the four young adults will advocate for key issues can be found here.
Posted Nov. 13, 2015 / Updated Nov. 24, 2105
