By Kevin Armbrust
The LCMS Life Conference promotes life from God’s perspective and provides encouragement and instruction for those working in their congregations to serve people facing life issues.
As the Body of Christ, the church reflects God’s view of life from conception to natural death.
LCMS Life Ministry invites all to “come and learn to live Christ’s love in a culture of death” Jan. 17–19, 2019, at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Va.
Attendees will gather under the theme “Joy:fully Alive — Body & Soul” to learn more about living as people and congregations who value life.
“We’re alive, built of the same flesh and blood as the Son of God. Christ has placed His people in the center of a tremendous struggle between life and death — just as He was on the cross,” says the Rev. Robert Zagore, executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission.
“You see great anger from the proponents of death — just as at the cross. We don’t share that. Our victory is in life, love and mercy. That’s Christ’s way.”
The biennial conference provides opportunities to explore the issues related to questions of life and death in our culture and our lives.
LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison will address the conference on what it means to be “Joy:fully Lutheran” and pro-life.
LCMS Chief Mission Officer Rev. Kevin D. Robson will deliver the plenary address, exploring Eph. 2:4–5, the conference theme verses.
Breakout sessions will feature speakers from various LCMS Recognized Service Organizations and congregations that work and advocate for life issues.
The conference schedule includes an opportunity to participate in the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 18.
Members of the LCMS will march with “Eyes of Life” signs, singing praises to the One who conquered death and the grave and marching peacefully to testify to this world that God creates and treasures life.
In addition to speakers and times of fellowship, the conference provides opportunities for worship.
The Rev. Christopher S. Esget, LCMS sixth vice-president and pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Va., will lead Divine Service on Jan. 18 prior to the March for Life. Daily offices at the conference will include Matins and Evening Prayer.
The church has a message to share with the world. That message, says Zagore, is that “babies are not a mistake. The elderly are not a problem that has to be fixed. Quality of life is not defined by our ability to do work.
“We, the living, need to take heart, but we also need to take action. We need to learn to use our resources effectively. We need to learn to ‘speak the truth in love’ in a winsome way. We need conferences like this one. We need times together like this. We need to ‘come and learn to live Christ’s love in a culture of death.’ ”
Register onlineMore information
To learn more about LCMS Life Ministry, visit lcms.org/life.
For the LCMS presence at the National March for Life, visit lcms.org/marchforlife.
Dr. Kevin L. Armbrust is director of Editorial for LCMS Communications.
Posted Oct. 23, 2018
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