‘Free to be Faithful’ sponsors essay contest for college students

College students who are members of LCMS congregations and are at least 18 years old are eligible to enter an essay contest offering them a chance to serve as a “Free to be Faithful young adult ambassador” and attend a Sept. 8-10 conference in Washington, D.C., on “speaking the truth in the public square.”

Sponsored by the Synod’s religious-liberty education and awareness campaign, “Free to be Faithful,” students are invited to submit essays on one of three topics:

one-man/one-woman marriage;

the sanctity of life — from conception to natural death; or

the importance of religious liberty and the right to worship, live and work in accordance with your faith.

Each essay should “share a story of a time when you’ve witnessed that truth attacked or ridiculed — in school, at work, among your friends, in the media. Then explain to us why you believe what you do — specifically as a Lutheran Christian — about that topic,” referencing “what you’ve learned in the Bible and your catechism.”

Essays must be 1,000 words or less and submitted by June 30. Students are asked to email each entry as a Word document — and include name, address, email address and name of school — to freetobefaithful@lcms.org.

Ambassadors will be announced by mid-July.

Those chosen to serve as ambassadors will receive free transportation, lodging and meals for the fall conference in Washington, where they will hear speakers — and take part in discussions — on safeguarding marriage, life and religious liberty. They also will have opportunities to write for the “Free to be Faithful” blog, be interviewed on KFUO Radio and be involved with LCMS U, the Synod’s campus ministry.

For more information on how the LCMS is already bearing witness to Christ in the public square, visit lcms.org/freetobefaithful.

Posted June 8, 2015