Youth4Life

Like the episode? Let us know!What does biblical marriage look like? How does biblical marriage reflect the Gospel? What should you look for in a future spouse? Michelle chats this week with Pastor Brett Simek about marriage and how it reflects Christ's marriage to His Bride, the Church.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pastor Brett Simek is the pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD. Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!What do you look for in a spouse? How long should you know someone before you start dating? How long should you date before getting engaged? Should you have a long engagement? Most importantly - how do you date in a way that upholds God's gift of LIFE? Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Intern Emma talk all things dating, relationships, and preparing for marriage.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Assistant Cori chat about what dating looks like in our current culture and how Christians can navigate dating, dating apps, looking for a spouse, and more.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Media Resource Assistant Diana chat about the importance of friendship, how worldly friendships differ from Christ-centered friendships, how to have conversations about life issues with friends, and more.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!After a baby is born, we immediately think about caring for the new baby. But what does it look like to care for mom and the rest of the family? Michelle chats with Deaconess Rachel Geraci this week to talk about postpartum mental health and what it means to uphold the lives of mother and baby.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Deaconess Rachel Geraci is a wife, mother, and most importantly, Baptized Child of God. Living in Milan, MI, Rachel supports her husband, Coleman, who is a called Pastor to two LCMS congregations as well as to the US Army Reserves as a military chaplain. Together, they delight in the raising of their three children, Augustana (6), Simeon (4), and Magdalena (2), and daily marvel at the richness of God's goodness. Rachel is a deaconess in the Lutheran Church and previously served as the Mission and Ministry Director at Lutherans For Life from 2018-2020. Her Masters in Deaconess Studies degree came from Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort Wayne, of which she is a proud 2017 alumnus. She also has a background in nursing and graduated from Indiana University with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!When we encounter the life issue of abortion, we often wonder how to best help the mothers choose life for their unborn children. Operation Saving Life offered a tangible solution to those wondering how they could help mothers with unplanned pregnancies or who were in situations where they felt forced into abortion. Rev. Patrick Darnell was a driving force behind Operation Saving Life, connecting pastors and congregations in Tennessee with abortion minded women who desired to choose life for their babies. Join us this week as we chat with Rev Darnell and learn more about Operation Saving Life and the work it carried out in Tennessee.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rev. Patrick Darnell is a Lutheran pastor based out of Nashville, Tennessee. He is ordained with the North American Lutheran Church as well as the Lutheran Church in Mission for Christ. He has served congregations across the United States, led multiple non-profit organizations, and has spoken on several national platforms. Until recently, he also served as the Executive Director of Operation Saving Life - a faith-based non-profit committed to providing physical, financial, and Spiritual support for abortion minded women who have chosen life. This organization, recently acquired by a national partner, continues its mission today for women and families across the country.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!What does God's Word say about organ transplant and organ donation? How do we as Gospel-motivated voices respond to questions about organ donation and transplant? What can we do to uphold the live of those waiting for organ donation? Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Intern Emma answer these questions and more in this Y4Life Staff Chat!Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!What does it mean to be human in the digital age where we can get lost in online worlds and create internet identities separate from our bodies? And what about transhumanism and AI? In this episode, Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Assistant Cori chat with Vicar Josh Pauling, analyzing these challenging issues, how we must ground our identity in the wonders of the created and redeemed body, and how the incarnation of Christ is the ultimate answer to such questions. From this proper foundation, Vicar Pauling gives practical tips to help better serve and love our neighbors in body and soul and be prepared to sacrifice and suffer, too.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Joshua Pauling is vicar at All Saints Lutheran Church, contributing editor at Salvo, columnist at Modern Reformation, and has written for a variety of other publications including Areo, Forma Journal, Front Porch Republic, Logia: A Journal of Lutheran of Lutheran Theology, The Lutheran Witness, Mere Orthodoxy, Merion West, Public Discourse, Quillette, The Imaginative Conservative, Touchstone Magazine, among others. He is a frequent guest on Issues Etc. Radio Show/Podcast. Josh also taught high school history for thirteen years in the public school setting and now spends a portion of his time as a classical educator and running his own business making custom furniture and restoring vintage machinery. He also speaks and writes at the intersections of Christianity and culture. He studied at Messiah University, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Winthrop University, and is continuing his studies at Concordia Theological Seminary.Read Are We All Cyborgs Now?: Reclaiming Our Humanity from the Machine by Josh Pauling and Robin PhillipsOther books referenced in the episode:The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan HaidtAmusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil PostmanDiscover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!As the loneliness epidemic continues to spread, a new trend of AI powered friendships, familial relationships, and even romantic affairs is sweeping the globe. Sounds like a sci-fi novel gone wrong, doesn't it?The truth is, artificially generated images, text, voice (and soon video) present major challenges for distinguishing what is real from what is false. AND...as more and more of the essential activities of all human relationships are conducted through the disembodiment of a screen, the difference between a genuine human interaction and its artificial replacement becomes harder and harder to distinguish.Join us as we chat with Rev. James Neuendorf about the not-so-impossible world of AI relationships and hot to respond to the reality from a Christian perspective in this episode of the Youth4Life Podcast.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Originally from Michigan and a graduate of both Concordia University Ann Arbor and the Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, the Rev. James Neuendorf is a missionary and church planting pastor in Puerto Rico serving with the LCMS Office of International Mission. He lives in Ponce on the south of the island together with his wife Christel who serves alongside him as a deaconess. The Neuendorfs have worked in Latin America as LCMS missionaries for more than 15 years.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Technology is just a tool, they say.  We should make good use of tools, and almost all tools have a good use, they say.  But, what about artificial intelligence? Is artificial intelligence just a tool, or is there something more we should consider?You are made in the image of God. You are one for whom Christ died. All else flows from this, including our use of technology, but especially our use of artificial intelligence.  If you do a concordance search for “artificial intelligence,” you won't find those words in your Bible, but God actually has much to say about this ever-changing technology. Mrs. Jocelyn Benson joins us to teach us about the theology of technology this week on the Youth4Life Podcast.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jocelyn Benson grew up in Fort Dodge, Iowa, attending Lutheran school through 8th grade. She has a B.A. in English-teaching and an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa. She also completed three and a half years of doctoral work in Educational Psychology with emphases in Technology and Education and History/Foundations of Education at the University of Iowa. She loved teaching English and coaching many sports at the high school level before returning to school full time. Jocelyn lives in Chatfield, MN, with her husband, Justin, and their four children—Asher, Malachi, Ephraim, and Miriam.In her free time, Mrs. Benson enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching sports (especially college football), and spending time outside. Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Social media was created to connect us, to make communication easier. But one quick glance at X, Instagram, or Tik Tok, and we see how easily social media divides us. What are some best practices for engaging in life-affirming ways on social media? How can you be a Gospel-motivated voice for life? How can you be a witness of God's grace and goodness as you interact with others? Join us as we talk with Rev. Trevor Sutton, an expert author on the intersection between social media and Christianity, to discover some of the best ways you can uphold life in public and on-line forums.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rev. A. Trevor Sutton is Senior Pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church, a multi-campus congregation with locations in downtown Lansing and Meridian Township, Michigan. Sutton began his path toward ministry with a soccer scholarship to play at CUAA. At CUAA, Sutton earned an English degree (2008), served as captain of the soccer team, and was a proud resident of Hannah dorm. Sutton went on to earn an M.Div. degree from Concordia Seminary (2012), an MA degree (Digital Rhetoric and Professional Writing, 2017) from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. (Doctrinal Theology, 2023) from Concordia Seminary.  Rev. Sutton has written several books including Redeeming Technology (co-authored with Dr. Brian Smith, MD, 2021), Clearly Christian (2018), Authentic Christianity: How Lutheran Theology Speaks to a Postmodern World (co-authored with Dr. Gene Veith, 2017), and Being Lutheran (2016). Sutton's writing has appeared in Houghton-Mifflin's Best American Essays Anthology, the Washington Post, Relief Journal, Christian Century, Concordia Journal, Religion and Liberty - The Acton Institute, Faith and Leadership - Duke Divinity, and Religion New Service.  In addition to serving as pastor and writer, Sutton also occasionally teaches courses at Concordia University – Ann Arbor, Concordia Seminary, and Lutheran Theological Seminary in Twshwane (Pretoria, South Africa) and is a frequent speaker at conferences.  Rev. Sutton is married to Elizabeth Sutton and they have two daughters, Grace and Hannah. The Sutton family enjoys fly-fishing, hiking, literature, and dance parties in their living room. You can connect with Rev. Sutton through his website, www.atrevorsutton.com.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Recorded live at the 2024 Y4Life in Washington, D.C. conference. The panel discussion titled “Just As…I Am as Male or Female” featured panelists Katy Faust, Rev. Brian Barlow, Rev. Jonathan Petzold, and Christa Petzold. The four address questions and discuss the life issue of identity, focusing on gender and sexuality, from a biblical perspective. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Katy Faust is Founder and President of Them Before Us, a global movement defending children's right to their mother and father. She publishes, speaks and testifies widely on why marriage and family are matters of justice for children. Her articles have appeared in Newsweek, USA Today, The Federalist, Public Discourse, WORLD Magazine, The Daily Signal, the Washington, Examiner, the American Mind, and the American Conservative. She is on the advisory board for the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Katy helped design the teen edition of CanaVox which studies sex, marriage, and relationships from a natural law perspective. She detailed her philosophy of worldview transmission in her book, Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City. She and her pastor husband are raising their four children in Seattle.With over 20 plus years ministering to the sexually and relationally broken, Rev. Brian Barlow addresses the necessity of keeping a clear gospel when walking along side individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and those who desire freedom in Christ. His personal journey out of a disfigured life is a testimony to Ephesians 3:20. God in His mercy continues to do more than Brian and the world could imagine. He married his bride Nichole in 2012 and together they are raising their four sons ages 10, 8, 4, and 1. In addition to pastoring, Rev. Barlow serves with many local and national ministries, including Lutherans For Life, Y4Life, and LINC-LA. Pastor Barlow is invited often to share his story and give hope to both large and small venues across the U.S.Rev. Jonathan Petzold holds an MDiv from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He serves as the sole pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Antioch, Illinois. Christa Petzold holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and Lutheran secondary education from Concordia University Wisconsin, an MA in theology from Concordia University Irvine, and is currently pursuing a PhD in church history through Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. She works as a stay-at-home mother, homeschooling their four children. Jonathan and Christa have been married since 2010 and enjoy learning and teaching God's Word together. They also love coffee, Star Wars, traveling, and quiet evenings at home.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!The sinner divides his neighbors into groups and factions and classes that keep "those" people over there and "these" people over here. While the sinner can and does divide people based on many things, one of the most egregious ways in which it is done is based upon what society would call "race." But to know someone only by their race is to no longer see him or her as an individual but as a caricature; and our Lord would not have this of us because our Lord knows nothing of race except the human race, of which He has made Himself one in nature. Join Y4Life Director Michelle and Rev. Eli Lietzau as they have a conversation about the evils of racism, hatred, bigotry, and the ways in which Christ has overcome this by His human nature and delivers the victory through His Body, the Church.Check out the resources mentioned by Michelle and Pastor Lietzau:Y4Life Lesson Plan 4 Life: Racism Part 1 (Part 2 coming soon!)The Graff Theses on Marriage - Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller & Rev. Warren Graff (specifically interracial marriage)Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Young adults are identifying as "spiritual" rather than "religious." Why is that? Have new age influences started to creep into Christianity? How important is it to be together as the Body of Christ? Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Media Resource Assistant Diana chat this week about new age idols and how we as Gospel-motivated voices 4 Life should respond.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Humans are part of creation. God created not just our atoms but also our reason and all our senses. We use these senses to perceive the Word and Sacraments and also to understand the created world. But can our senses be trusted? Can we use science to understand God and His creation? What are the commonalities between God, humans, and the rest of creation? How can an infinite God communicate with us as finite beings? Learn how to use your reason and senses as Godly Gifts, serving our neighbors and being stewards of creation with Dr. Michael Young.Follow along with Dr. Young's slides here.LCMS CTCR Report "Together With All Creatures"---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Michael Young is a faculty member at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, Wisconsin.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Where do intrusive thoughts come from? Are intrusive thoughts connected to life issues? How should we as 4 life Christians go about navigating intrusive thoughts? Join Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Media Resource Assistant Diana this week as they chat about intrusive thoughts and how to respond as Gospel-motivated voices 4 life.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!The world will tell you that there is no order or purpose in life and that your life has no real meaning. This is simply not true. God created the world with order and design, and every part of creation serves a purpose. You also were created for a purpose, and your life has real meaning and an eternal goal. Rev. Thompson guides us through Psalm 104 in this episode, discussing the revealed purpose of God in creation and what it means for us as Gospel-motivated voices 4 Life.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pastor Matt Thompson was born and raised in Romeo, Michigan and has earned degrees at Hope College, Holland, Michigan; Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia; and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. Pastor Thompson served for seven years as the Associate Pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church, Park Rapids, Minnesota and for two years as a church planter for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Bismarck, North Dakota, founding Holy Cross Lutheran Church in 2010. Pastor Thompson now serves the Dual Parish of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Bismarck, North Dakota, and St. John's Lutheran Church, McClusky, North Dakota.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Youth4Life Podcast Favorite - Surrogacy with Rev. Dr. Scott StiegemeyerGuest Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer returns to talk about where surrogacy came from, the different ways surrogacy is used in our culture, and the practical and ethical issues with this practice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reverend Doctor Scott Stiegemeyer teaches theology and ethics at Concordia University, Irvine, California. Scott is originally from Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan (B.A.); Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (M.Div.); Trinity International University, Deerfield, Illinois (M.A.); and Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois (D.Bioethics). Prior to coming to Concordia University, he served as a pastor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Director of Admission at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, and as pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, Illinois. In addition to teaching at Concordia, Scott serves the students at his university in a variety of capacities, writes, and speaks regularly across the Church.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Youth4Life Podcast Favorite - Beginning of Life Bioethical Issues with Rev. Dr. Scott StiegemeyerTalking about in-vitro fertilization and other assistive reproductive technologies can be confusing. In this episode, Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer, Associate Professor of Theology and Bioethics at Concordia Irvine, breaks down some of the big ethical concerns in the conversation about IVF, egg donation, etc. and explains why for-life Christians should care.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reverend Doctor Scott Stiegemeyer teaches theology and ethics at Concordia University, Irvine, California. Scott is originally from Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan (B.A.); Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (M.Div.); Trinity International University, Deerfield, Illinois (M.A.); and Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois (D.Bioethics). Prior to coming to Concordia University, he served as a pastor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Director of Admission at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, and as pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, Illinois. In addition to teaching at Concordia, Scott serves the students at his university in a variety of capacities, writes, and speaks regularly across the Church.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Youth4Life Podcast Favorite - Godly Womanhood with Deac. Rose AdleDeaconess Rose Adle is on the podcast this week to teach us about what godly womanhood looks like. She starts in Genesis with Eve, who she was created to be, and how the fall into sin altered her relationship with Adam and with God. She also talks to us about how first and foremost, a woman finds her identity as a daughter of God, and that doesn't change even if her roles in life do. Rose wraps up by talking about how women can support each other as sisters in Christ and as friends. Whether you are a woman or you know a woman, this is an episode that is important for everyone to listen to and understand God's role for women in the world.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Deaconess Rose Adle began her deployed work as an online instructor for Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, in 2010. She serves as assistant director of Deaconess Studies, working primarily with the distance program. She graduated from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso in 2003 with a BA in Spanish. She earned an MA (2006) in Deaconess Studies and Systematic Theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. She and her husband, Rev. Scott Adle of Zion Lutheran in Imperial, NE, have six children.Find the booklet Deaconess Adle wrote for Lutherans For Life here.Learn more about being a Gospel motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Youth4Life Podcast Favorite - Biblical Manhood with Rev. Jeff HemmerPastor Jeff Hemmer, author of the book Man Up!, joins us on the podcast this week to teach us about Biblical manhood. He presents his definition of masculinity, then takes us to Scripture to dive into what it says about masculinity and manhood.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jeffrey Hemmer is the husband of (in his opinion) the most wonderful woman in the world, the father to the five most delightful children he's ever met, the pastor of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois, a wannabe farmer, maker of some things, fixer of some other things, grower of beards, and general curmudgeon. His big truck is probably a sign of his insecurity.You can find Pastor Hemmer's book Man Up! at Concordia Publishing House.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Youth4Life Podcast Favorite - Addressing Gender Brokenness with Rev. Brian BarlowPastor Brian Barlow (vicar at the time of recording) discusses gender identity, homosexuality, and what role the Gospel has in addressing the brokenness of sexual confusion. He shares his testimony with us and gives us the hope that can be found in the Gospel.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rev. Brian Barlow offers a clear voice of hope and perspective to pastoral care having been called out of a life disordered by homosexuality. With over 20 plus years ministering to the sexually and relationally broken, Rev. Barlow addresses the necessity of keeping a clear Gospel when walking alongside individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and those who desire freedom in Christ. He and his wife have four boys ages 11, 9, 5 and 8 months. Brian is the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Banning, CA. In addition to pastoring, Rev. Barlow serves with many local and national ministries including Lutherans For Life, Y4Life, and LINC-LA.Learn more about how you can be a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

It's time for an update! Where do states stand on the abortion issue? Which laws are being challenged and which challenges have been overturned? And have there been any other major victories since the Dobbs case? And our questions don't end there! What about medication abortion? What is the current status of this pill? What is the argument for its restriction, and will those restrictions be upheld? We have lots of questions, and our guest speaker Carol Tobias has the answers!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Carol Tobias is the President of National Right to Life Committee (NRLC). A native of North Dakota, Carol Tobias has served on the NRLC board of directors since 1987. From 1983 to 1991, she was executive director of North Dakota Right to Life, and in 1991 was hired as National Right to Life's political director, a position she held until 2005.During her tenure as political director, pro-life majorities were elected to both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. In 2000 and 2004, she oversaw the efforts of National Right to Life's political action committee on behalf of George W. Bush.In 2014, she testified before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary in opposition to the so-called “Women's Health Protection Act.”Tobias has been seen on most major national news networks and several internationally. She is regularly quoted by various news outlets around the nation and across the world.Learn more about National Right to Life and how you can be a voice for life at nrlc.org.Learn more about using your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Life issues have a tendency to become controversial topics. Take, for example, the issues of abortion, co-habitation, promiscuity, pornography, and gender ideology - they're probably not the first topics you'd broach at the lunch table. It's easy to remain silent. If we do, there's no accusation of hypocrisy or self-righteousness, no one implying we should mind our own business. And don't we all struggle with sin anyway? Yet, no matter how easy it might be to remain silent, we know Christians are called to be light and salt in the world. Even more, the Gospel reminds us that God has showered us with such an abundance of love that it overflows onto others. We get to be Gospel-motivated voices for life! Join us as we talk with Dr. Gene Veith and explore whether or not a Christian is called to a confession, especially in the realm of life issues, and, if so, how he or she should carry out that calling.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Jr., is a writer and a retired literature professor.  He is Provost Emeritus at Patrick Henry College and the Director of the Cranach Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  He previously served as Culture Editor of WORLD MAGAZINE and Professor of English and Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences at Concordia University Wisconsin. He is the author of 28 books, including Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture, The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals, Classical Education, and God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life.Dr. Veith graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1973 and received a Ph.D. in English from the University of Kansas in 1979.  He has honorary doctorates from Concordia Theological Seminary (2005), Concordia University California (2014), and Patrick Henry College (2016).  He has taught at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and was a Visiting Professor at Wheaton College, Gordon College, and Regent College (Vancouver).  He was also a Visiting Lecturer at the Estonian Institute of Humanities in Tallinn, Estonia. He and his wife Jackquelyn have three grown children and twelve grandchildren.  They live in Blackwell, Oklahoma.Read Dr. Vieth's article from Tabletalk magazine here.Learn more about using your Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

Table Talks 4 Life are BACK! This week the Y4Life Team is joined by Lizzie Gatchell from CUC4Life to talk about what's been in the news recently. From the 'Dignitas Infinita' recently released by the Vatican to a 28 year old woman opting to end her life through euthanasia to what actor Aaron Taylor Johnson has to say about fatherhood, we'll discuss a wide variety of life issues from a Gospel-motivated perspective. Join us as we talk about what's on the table!Michelle's news stories:Vatican's 'Dignitas Infinita' Draws 'Clear Line' on Gender Theory, Receives Widespread PraiseDeclaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity, 08.04.2024Lizzie's news story:Woman, 28, Opts for Euthanasia Rather Than Living with Mental Illness: 'I'm a Little Afraid of Dying'Cori's news story:Hollywood Actor's Fatherhood Reflection: 'It's Your Duty to Be Their Role Model'Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

What's all the fuss with Alabama? Perhaps you've heard about a court decision in Alabama that's just a little bit (okay, more than a little bit) controversial. Perhaps you've heard  that the court's decision declares embryos created through IVF are human beings. And perhaps you're wondering, What exactly does that mean? Join us as we talk with Pastor Michael Salemink, Executive Director of Lutherans For Life, about the topic of IVF and what the Alabama court decision really means.Pastor Salemink has served Lutherans For Life since 2015. His prior parish experience includes a decade at a large congregation with a vibrant day school and lots of catechism classes, chapel services, and Bible studies. A father of three boys, fan of sports and music, and avid runner, he writes regularly and speaks nationwide - including youth gatherings and teachers' conferences - equipping Lutherans and their neighbors to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life. Learn more about Lutherans For Life at lutheransforlife.org.Find the resources referenced by Pastor Salemink below:A Snowflake Named HannahThem Before UsCheck out our Y4Life resources about IVF below:In Vitro Fertilization: The BasicsA 4Life View of IVF Learn more about how you can be a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

Homelessness. Visit any major city (and most smaller ones!) and you'll find people struggling with housing insecurity. Perhaps it looks like a high school student floating from one couch to the next. Or maybe you see evidence of homelessness under an overpass or on a park bench. In some places, homelessness has become so prevalent that entire communities exist. How do we support those who are experiencing housing insecurity? Pastor Tyler Crokright joins us on the podcast this week to tell us how we can serve and support the homeless populations around us.Rev. Tyler Cronkright lives in Mt. Clemens, Michigan with his wife Brandi and serves as the Associate Pastor of both Family of God Lutheran Church and St. Stephen Lutheran Church in southwest Detroit, Michigan. As a complement to teaching, preaching, and writing, he also co-hosts the Suffering Servants podcast. In his down time he loves cycling, reading and learning, traveling up north, and cheering for the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, and Michigan Wolverines.Learn more about Family of God's ministry at fogdetroit.com.Listen to the Suffering Servants Podcast, hosted by Rev. Tyler Cronkright and Rev. James Hill.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

"Our suffering reminds us that Jesus has suffered in our place." -Rev. Bryan WolfmuellerThe Gospel is dangerous to those who would rather reside in the dark, but Christians are called to be carriers of the light, and to carry that light even unto death. Countless confessors of the faith throughout history have suffered for this confession. And their suffering, their martyrdom, affirms life. This week we're going to study the life-affirming confessions of martyrs. Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller joins us on the Youth4Life podcast to share with us the stories of the martyrs for the faith. Join us to be affirmed and strengthened for life by the martyrs who have gone before us and now surround the throne of heaven.Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller is pastor of St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX. He is the author of Take They Our Life: Martin Luther's Theology of Martyrdom (2019), A Martyr's Faith for a Faithless World (CPH, 2019), Has American Christianity Failed? (CPH, 2016) and Final Victory: Contemplating the Death and Funeral of a Christian (CPH, 2010). He is host of What-Not, The Podcast, posts videos on YouTube at wolfmueller1, and has a number of other theological projects that all end up on his blog, www.wolfmueller.co. Bryan is a member of the Doxology Collegium. He and his wife Keri live with their children in Round Rock, TX.Find Pastor Wolfmueller's work at his website, wolfmueller.co.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

Being for life can be risky, and that risk sometimes comes with very real consequences. Just ask Melanie Standiford, a for-life Christian who lost her job because of her for-life views. Was it worth it?Join us this week to hear Melanie's story and find out how you can prepare for and stand with hope in the face of persecution. Be reminded of why you are called to be a Gospel-motivated voice for life!Melanie's Bio:Melanie Standiford is a life long Nebraska girl, born on an Army base in Texas after her dad was in Vietnam. At one month old Melanie and her parents went to their home in Nebraska where the family grew with two more daughters. Melanie has nine biological children and four bonus children from a second marriage. She homeschooled for years and was a freelance journalist and professional portrait photographer before deciding to encourage her children by finishing her associate degree at age 30. It became a bit of a challenge between her and her children to keep going in her own studies, particularly with her son Lukas. She would get her bachelor degree before he graduated high school, her master degree before he graduated college and so on. She got a Bachelor of Science in Leadership in 2017, and a Master of Science in International Security and Intelligence in 2019. She is now a PhD student in Forensic Psychology. A fun side note, Lukas graduated with his Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice in 2022 and is now a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army stationed in Georgia USA. She has stories similar about all her children too numerous to share. In 2017 Melanie started a job with KNOP-TV, a GRAY Media station in Nebraska as a multimedia journalist. In 2017, Melanie lost her mom to cancer. In December 2019, she lost her oldest daughter, 25-year-old Brooklynne and her unborn baby (she was 8 months pregnant). COVID hit right after that and by May 2020 Melanie was the News Director of the television station in North Platte. She continued to edit, produce, report, plus take on all the sole responsibilities of managing the station. With over 700 published stories, approximately 30 of those written over the years by Melanie were about the abortion topic, each of which were acceptable to be published and considered non biased. In fact, local prolife groups thought she was pro choice because she was careful to quote both sides. In September 2022 a Nebraska news outlet included her activities from her small Nebraska town (as a private citizen not as a journalist) in their coverage of towns looking to possibly become “Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn.” When the article made its way across her employer's desk Melanie was fired for “practicing partisan politics.” A week after being fired, each of the stories Melanie wrote on the topic of abortion in any manner was removed from the Gray Media websites. Melanie now manages her own media platform called, Midwest Media by Melanie, covering a plethora of Nebraska issues and topics and when faced with the topic of abortion she is unapologetically pro life. She believes 100% and without exception that life begins at conception and is precious through natural death. Melanie lives in Curtis, Nebraska with her husband Shawn and four youngest children still at home, Louie, Giavanna, Kael, and Houston. She also has six living grandchildren.Follow Melanie on Facebook at Midwest Media by Melanie.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

This week, Aimee Cima joins us all the way from Cambodia! She and her family have been serving in southeast Asia for more than 15 years where they are actively involved in upholding the lives of those they serve.  Aimee will show us what life and mercy work looks like in Cambodia and Asia as a whole.J.P. and Aimee, along with their children (Celeste, 16; Bella, 13; and Isaac, 6), have served in southeast Asia for more than 15 years, currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. J.P. serves the Cambodia Lutheran Church (CLC), a growing collection of Lutheran congregations. J.P. travels throughout Cambodia to equip and empower the leaders of the CLC with informal mentorship and formal theological education, that they might boldly announce and demonstrate the Gospel to the people of Cambodia.Aimee serves as the Mercy Manager for the Asia region. She supports the other personnel serving in this region and works with local church partners to coordinate mercy work. The rest of J.P. and Aimee's time is spent learning Khmer language and whizzing around on motorbikes with their children.J.P. was born and raised in Richmond, Va., and received his undergraduate degree in theology from Lenoir-Rhyne College in North Carolina. He received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where he is now enrolled as a Doctor of Philosophy student. Aimee (Crawford) was born in Tulsa, Okla., and raised in Richmond, VA. She has both a bachelor's and a master's degree in dietetics from James Madison University in Virginia.Learn more about how you can support the Cima family in Cambodia at LCMS.org/Cima.Learn how you can be a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

India is a land of more than a 1.5 billion people and 333 million gods. Its people speak 1,652 different languages and endure caste discrimination. The vast majority of Indians are Hindu or Muslim; only 2% of the population is Christian. Yet Christians make a visible impact on society through their approach to life issues – an approach that depicts the Gospel truth that every life is valuable because every human was made and redeemed by God.Interested in finding out how this takes place? Join us to learn how one pastor, Rev. Benerjee Duggi, cares for both body and soul as he upholds life.Learn more about how you can be a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

The transition from high school to college or from college to career, is an exciting one. Yet, it can also cause uncertainty, especially when those transitions change relationships within our families. Society would suggest that transitioning into adulthood precludes and even exempts us from responsibility to family. Is that really true? What role does family play in our lives as we become more independent? And are there any lessons we can learn as we contemplate starting a family of our own? We are joined by Josh Pauling this week to answer these questions and more!Josh Pauling is a contributing editor at Salvo Magazine, a columnist at Modern Reformation Magazine, and a frequent guest on Issues, Etc. Mr. Pauling previously taught history in a public school setting prior to becoming a Classical Lutheran Educator. Josh also runs his own business making custom furniture and restoring vintage machinery. He and his family attend All Saints Lutheran Church where he serves as head elder.Amusing  Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil PostmanLearn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

How can having a large family be a blessing? How do children help to create strong marriages? How do parents mold and shape children in a large family? Rev. Adrian Sherrill and his wife Linda join us this week to help answer these questions and more.Rev. Adrian Sherrill is senior pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado. He and his wife Linda have been married for 25 years, and together they have thirteen living children, ages 4 to 23.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Have you wondered what it might be like to be a birth doula? Do you have questions about midwives versus OBGYNs? What does it look like to be in a vocation that upholds life at birth? We'll explore all of these questions and more in this special edition of the Youth4Life Podcast! April Ann Wofford, a birth doula, joins us at the table this week to talk all things midwives, doulas, and more.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

Chad Bird joins us on the podcast this week to talk about when families face loss. He tells us about his son Luke, who died unexpectedly as a young adult, and the changes it brought about for his family. Chad will tell us about the ways that he finds strength in the midst of grief and how we can comfort and support those who are experiencing the loss of a family member.Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master's degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has contributed articles to Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Modern Reformation, The Federalist, Lutheran Forum, and other journals and websites. He is also the author of several books, including The Christ Key & Limping with God. Learn more about 1517.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

This week, we head back to the table to discuss stories in the news, except this time, we're joined by two of our Y4Life college leaders! Emma and Anna join us this week as we discuss abortion laws, IVF, and the modern U.S. family. Emma is a student at Concordia University Nebraska and is active with the Bulldogs 4 Life Y4Life chapter on campus. Anna is a student at Concordia University Wisconsin and is active with the Students For Life group on campus.Emma's news story: Right to Life sues to block Michigan abortion rights lawAnna's news story: First IVF baby born in the UK with DNA from three parents in major trial to avoid defective genesCori's news story: Almost 90 % of Americans think families should have multiple children, but it's increasingly expensive to raise a childMichelle's news story: Beautifully moving song about brother with Down syndromeLearn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

What does a family look like at its beginning? What does a couple do to prepare for the gift of a newborn? What are the gifts and joys a new baby brings? What are the difficult realities?  Emilyann Wert, deaconess and teacher in Grand Rapids, Michigan, joins us to help answer these questions. Emilyann Wert teaches 1st and 2nd grade at Our Savior Lutheran School and also serves as Deaconess at Our Savior Lutheran Church. She graduated with her BA in Liberal Arts and Culture from New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho and graduated in May of 2021 from Concordia Theological Seminary with her MA in Deaconess Studies. Emilyann is passionate about instilling a love of learning into her students, and introducing them to the wonderful world of great books. She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband, Jake, and daughter, Ella. She enjoys reading (everything), exploring farmers markets and thrift stores, and the Pacific Ocean when she can get there. She is thankful for the opportunity to teach the students God has entrusted to her care, and excited to learn and grow alongside them in the knowledge and love of their Creator! (Emilyann's bio is from the Our Savior Lutheran School website.)Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

We often think about the right that all children have- the right to life. But what about a child's right to his or her biological parents- both mother and father? Katy Faust, author of Them Before Us, joins us this week to discuss the life issues that surround children, marriage, and families.Katy Faust is the Founder and President of Them Before Us, a global movement defending children's right to their mother and father. She publishes, speaks, and testifies widely on why marriage and family are matters of justice for children. Her articles have appeared in Newsweek, USA Today, The Federalist, Public Discourse, WORLD Magazine, The Daily Signal, the Washington Examiner, the American Mind, and the American Conservative. She is on the advisory board for the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Katy helped design the teen edition of CanaVox which studies sex, marriage and relationships from a natural law perspective. She detailed her philosophy of worldview transmission in her book, Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City. She and her pastor husband are raising their four children in Seattle.Find Katy's book Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children's Rights Movement  here.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

Have you ever been involved with your local pregnancy resource center? Would you like to be involved with your local center? Join us as we talk with Katie Willman, pregnancy resource center director in Indianapolis. She'll teach us about the gift of pregnancy resource centers and how they serve moms, dads, and babies, especially in our Post-Roe world. ⁠Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 life at Y4Life.org.

Have you ever thought about participating in foster care? Rev. Robert Franck, pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minnesota, joins us to teach about the importance of foster care in our society today. He gives us a variety of ways that we can serve foster children, whether it is becoming a foster parent, supporting foster parents and children in your communities, or praying for foster families. Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Pastor Dennis Di Mauro joins the podcast to teach us about how life has been viewed by the church for the past 2000 years. He will use his book “A Love for Life: Christianity's Consistent Protection of the Unborn” to guide us through the timeline of how society has viewed abortion and how the church fathers responded. Find Pastor Di Mauro's book here.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

How can we prepare for dating and marriage in a society that doesn't prioritize either? Pastor Jonathan and Christa Petzold, co-authors of “Male & Female: Embracing Your Role in God's Design” join the Y4Life Team this week to help answer that question. The group will discuss the societal views of men and women, sex, and love, then contrast that with what God has to say about those things. The group will also give tips for how young men and women can prepare to be life affirming spouses when the time comes.Read the Petzold's book "Male & Female: Embracing Your Role in God's Design"Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

What is sidewalk counseling and how can we as for-life Christians get involved? Rachelle Highley, Chief of Staff with Coalition Life, and Pam Nielsen, Director of Community Engagement with Coalition Life, join the Y4Life Team this week to answer that question. Rachelle and Pam will help us navigate sidewalk counseling, how to engage with the women who are seeking abortions, and how we can support sidewalk counselors. They will also give guidance as to how you can get training to become a counselor yourself!Learn more about Coalition Life and training to be a sidewalk counselor.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 life at Y4Life.org.

Pastor Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church, joins the Y4Life Team to answer the question, “What's so great about my body?”. The group will discuss how society views the body versus how God views the body, as well as address the issue of Gnosticism when it comes to our bodies. Find "Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body" here.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

This week, the Y4Life Team dives back into the news this week and takes a look at two more news stories. The ladies will discuss the newly FDA approved Opill, the over-the-counter birth control pill, and the social media trend of “lazy girl jobs.”  Story #1: FDA Approves First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control PillStory #2: Antiwork Trends Like 'Lazy Girl Jobs' Show How Young People Are Rallying Against Burnout CultureBirth Control Resources: AAPLOG WebsiteLearn more about how you can be a Gospel-motivated voice 4 life at Y4Life.org.

Is sex and gender just a construct? Pastor Michael Salemink, Executive Director of Lutherans For Life, and Pastor Brian Barlow, pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church, join the table to work to answer that question this week. They will help the Y4Life Team uncover the truths behind sex and gender and how we as life-affirming Christians should share that truth with those in our lives.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 life at Y4Life.org.

This week the Y4Life team takes a break from the tough topics to talk about their life-affirming favorites. From books and movies to activities, the ladies of Y4Life will cover it all. Check out our Instagram page to see the full list of each person's favorites mentioned in the podcast!Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.Check out the Y4Life Swag Store.

Pastor Hans Fiene, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Crestwood, MO, creator of Lutheran Satire, and up-and-coming stand-up comedian, joins us on the podcast this week to discuss what it looks like to be in a family. The group will talk about when the gift of family was established and how God's design for families is the best design. The group will also discuss the trend of pet “parents,” how families are uniquely life-affirming, what it means to be in a family, and the importance of foster and adoptive parents in the lives of children who need them most.

This week, the Y4Life Team takes another look at what's in the news. The ladies will discuss mental health, the new movie “The Sound of Freedom,” and Demi Lovato's new song “Swine.” The second half of this episode may not be suitable for young listeners.Learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.The Teen Mental Health Crisis Also Afflicts ParentsDemi Lovato Drops New Song 'Swine' Inspired by 1-Year Anniversary of 'Roe v. Wade' ReversalAnxiety and the Sacraments

Pastor Harrison Goodman, Content Executive for Higher Things joins us at the table this week to talk about how for-life Christians should engage the culture. He and the Y4Life team will talk about what culture is, how we interact with it, when we should stand outside of culture, and how to wade through the gray areas that culture presents. Learn more about how you can be a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE at Y4Life.org.

The Y4Life Team is joined this week by Lutherans For Life CFO/COO Pastor Scott Licht to talk about Y4Life as a whole. The group will discuss the history of Y4Life, the resources that Y4Life offers, the updates to Y4Life in the past year, and the favorite resource of each Y4Life team member.To learn more about being a Gospel-motivated voice 4 LIFE, visit Y4Life.org.