Farg Mrhead Lutherans fr Life Farg Mrhead Area LFL Spring 2015 IN THIS ISSUE SHANDA LOVES LIFE LFL Life Thughts in the Church Year fr June 7 Secnd Sunday after Pentecst Tday s epistle frm 2 Crinthians 4 is filled with hpe fr the death f a Christian and thse they leave behind. There awaits a glry beynd cmparisn (vs. 17). But there is als hpe fr the ill and dying Christian as lng as Gd gives them life. Fr Gd s Spirit is at wrk in the inner self (vs. 16). We never knw what that wrking might be, and we must prtest vehemently any attempt t cut it shrt. Prayer: Father, help us understand that as lng as Yu give life, Yu give life meaning. Amen. SHANDA LOVES LIFE by Brad Yungquist Six years ag when my wife and I were expecting twins, ur unbrn daughter was diagnsed with Trismy 18. Unlike Dwn syndrme (which is Trismy 21), ur dctr tld 2015 us babies with Farg with Trismy Frce 18 rarely live t birth r ften live nly a few Players days after birth. Our dctr shwed us the ultrasund pictures f ur daughter; she was abut half the size f her twin brther; there was als an bvius heart cnditin visible frm the abnrmal bld flw thrugh her heart; she als had hydrcephalus which is excess brain fluid. Nrmally everyne has a small percentage f fluid in the center f their brain, but the ultrasunds shwed the center f ur daughters brain as mstly fluid, with a small percentage f brain tissue surrunding it. One ultrasund view als shwed her head disprprtinately shaped. Since ur dctr was uncertain in her diagnsis, we were sent frm ur Farg ND hspital t a Twin Cities hspital fr a high level ultrasund. My wife and I bth knew right away that even if ne f ur twins had majr cmplicatins that we wuld never cnsider abrtin and that we wuld d everything pssible fr ur daughter. We were already a family; plain and simple. We prayed a lt fr ur daughter. During the high level ultrasund visit, dctrs strngly suggested amnicentesis. They did nt actually mentin "abrtin" but instead MARCH FOR LIFE REPORT NATIONAL LFL CONVENTION 2015 CHAPTER NEWS FM LFL DESSERT BANQUET DR. JEAN GARTON AWARD ANNUAL MEETING June 28, 2015 3:30 PM WITH SPECIAL PRESENTATION See Flyer inside and please pst in yur church bulletin and / r bulletin bard.
As fr the hydrcephalus, she des have a much larger area f brain fluid, but she did nt need a shunt, and it appears t have n negative side effect. She was well under 4 punds at birth and spent a little ver 2 weeks f excellent care in the NICU at Farg's Merit Care Hspital. At 6 mnths f age when she was nly 5 punds, she was in heart failure and underwent pen heart surgery t repair hles in the chambers f her heart. Luckily, ur Farg hspital has ne f the mst gifted heart surgens in the wrld wh perfrmed the peratin. 2015 With Farg Frce Players SHANDA LOVES LIFE (cntinued frm page 1) wrded it, "take the amnicentesis test, and then yu can decide what yu want t d." Since we knew that this meant a 1 in 300 chance f premature delivery, we said "N," but the dctrs did nt want t take "n" fr an answer and kept pushing us. I then tld them that, "It did nt really matter t us if ur child had Trismy 18 r Trismy 21, we lved her just the same, and since the amnicentesis is nly t determine that and serves n ther purpse but t cntemplate abrtin, that NO we wuld nt take that risk." They further pushed us and tld us they thught we were wrng and said we shuld recnsider and take the test, "S at least ur Farg dctrs wuld knw." I knew that since we had twins it meant that we culd lse them bth (real dds were 1 in 150) s we finally insisted, "NO" and they finally left the rm. A few mnths later my wife, Jlene, gave birth t a by and a girl. Since we knew Shanda wuld be frail, ur dctr tld us a cesarean delivery wuld likely be best. Dctrs gave Jlene medicatin t stp her labr, while a rather large team f medical persnal were gathered fr the peratin. There was even a heart specialist n hand in case Shanda had cmplicatins. Indeed, I was quite impressed! Everything went smth as clckwrk. There was n trismy 18, and while ur daughter Shanda des have Dwn syndrme, she is the cutest and funest little girl any parent culd ever ask fr! Tday, Shanda is ne f the mst utging kids in her preschl, and lves life. This fall she starts kindergarten with her twin brther Zachary. Like many kids, she will have sme special Ed help, but we're tld that mst kids with Dwn syndrme nw graduate frm high schl with the rest f their peers. Shanda lves puppies and her baby dlls and just learned t peddle her trike abut a year ag, and rides it mst every day. I've always believed that Gd values everyne's life equally, and I dn't think that any peple are better than thers; while everyne has their gifts and talents, n ne is perfect. Shanda is prbably the mst lving little girl anyne culd ever meet! She cnstantly puts a huge smile n mst any stranger she meets when ut in public; few peple can d that which she can! I'm tld that 80 t 90% f parents will chse abrtin if they find they are expecting a child with Dwn syndrme. T many chse abrtin fr ther cnditins because they think they want nly a perfect child, which is impssible (n child is perfect)! These chices have nthing t d with a mther's life being in danger, but mre s the fear f unknwn in raising a special needs child. While Shanda des have sme special needs and care (mainly with her eating habits) she's really much mre like any nrmal everyday kid, than unlike them. I hpe that smeday abrtin becmes illegal; until that happens, if pssible Shanda and I culd maybe help change sme minds. Whether yu simply read this stry, r even if yu want t meet Shanda in persn, it's easy t see why she's s likeable and we're s prud f her. (Shanda is currently 12 years ld. She's active in hckey, hrse riding, baseball, sccer, and lves t sing in church.)
FARGO MOORHEAD LUTHERANS FOR LIFE INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION Our Life in Christ A Pr-Life message inside and utside the wmb BY PASTOR LYLE KATH FM LFL Pastral Advisr Sunday, June 28 th, 2015 3:30 PM Beautiful Savir Lutheran Church 2601 23 rd Ave Suth Farg, ND 3:30 pm Cffee and Snacks 3:45 pm Special Presentatin by Pastr Kath 4:15 FM LFL Annual Chapter Meeting Yu will als have the pprtunity t view a 30 minute vide entitled 180 What changed their minds... in secnds? This award-winning new dcumentary had ver 1.2 millin views in its first 30 days n YuTube! The DVD cmbines histrical ftage with cutaways frm numerus brief interviews in which a messianic Jew, Ray Cmfrt, explains t mdern yung peple what the Hlcaust was. (Many had never heard Adlf Hitler r the Hlcaust, r had been taught it didn t really happen!) Cmfrt then briefly explains what sin is, and with just a questin r tw cmpares the Hlcaust t the abrtin mvement in the USA. The rapid change f heart frm prchice t pr-life amng thse interviewed is amazing! All are invited t attend. Fr mre infrmatin, e-mail FMLuth4Life@gmail.cm r call Gail Waagen at 701-306-6283
MARCH FOR LIFE 2015 By Jacinda Neustel In January, I was blessed with the pprtunity t g t Washingtn D.C. t participate in the March fr Life. The issue f abrtin is smething that Gd has laid n my heart, and I lked frward t meeting mre peple wh actually shared the same view as me abut this issue, since mst peple in my age grup are n the ther side f the spectrum. I hnestly feel that it was Gd's will fr me t g because between all f yu at FM Area LFL, my hme cngregatin, and Natinal LFLs "Y4Life", my whle trip was cmpletely paid fr. On the trip I made imprtant cnnectins with the peple frm St. Luis that I needed t make in rder fr it t be pssible t mve dwn there this fall. I thank yu all frm the bttm f my heart fr making this trip pssible fr me, and fr allwing me t be s encuraged in pursuing a life devted t speaking up fr the unbrn. I cannt thank yu enugh, yu have blessed me tremendusly. 2015 LFL Natinal Cnference Octber 30-31, 2015 Petersburg, Kentucky Here are the wnderful speakers scheduled t jin us in Octber: Ken Ham n The Gspel in Genesis Dr. David Mentn n Fearfully and Wnderfully Made Cl. Jhn Eidsme n Evlutin vs. the Sanctity f Human Life Timthy Geglein n Faith in the Halls f Pwer Buddy Davis with a Creatin Cncert This year s cnference will als ffer yu plenty f time t explre the Creatin Museum! Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb n Created, Redeemed, Called The Trinitarian Value f Human Life Jhn Hawkins n estate planning Lri Trinche n Life Teams But nw thus says the Lrd, he wh created yu Fear nt, fr I have redeemed yu; I have called yu by name, yu are mine (Isaiah 43:1). T qute Dr. Lamb, the "theme fcuses n the value Gd gives t human life. Yu cannt find three better wrds t encapsulate that value. Every human being is smene created by Gd, smene redeemed by Jesus, and smene Gd either has called r desires t call int an eternal relatinship with Him. When yu have the very pwer f the Triune Gd giving life value, nthing else really matters!"
WELCOME PASTOR LYLE KATH! We are very pleased t welcme a new pastral advisr t ur chapter executive bard. Rev. Lyle Kath is a 2nd career Pastr. He is n the active rster fr LCMS Pastrs but due t his disability, he is unable t receive a call. He recently mved back frm Eyta, MN. t his hmetwn f Wahpetn. He has a wife-jdy f 39 years and they have 2 grwn children and 2 Grand-children. PK (as he was knwn by his parishiners) was frmerly Wahpetn s first Parks and Recreatin Directr ( 74-78) and Nrth Dakta State Schl f Science Activities Crdinatr ( 78-88) befre he left fr the ministry. His first call was t Our Savirs Lutheran-Eyta, MN. (12 mi. east f Rchester). He served there 9 years befre accepting a call t St. Jhn s Lutheran in the rural Cambridge, MN area fr 3 years. Then he served 2 years at St. Martins Lutherans in Winna befre having t resign his call due t thrat cancer. PK cntinues t lead wrship via an ipad with a speaker app and a pwer pint presentatin (BTW-LCMS Pastrs / churches may cntact PK at his email address belw fr pulpit supply / substituting). He als writes Christian devtins and petry. He has written 10 bks; 3 f which are published; Cnquering Cancer Thrugh Faith in Christ (devtins that reflect n his but with cancer), Psalm Psnnets (a bk f pems-1 fr each Psalm including numerus persnal pems that he has written thrughut his life) and Standing n the Prmises (a bk f bth devtins and pems based n the prmises f Gd-t be ut in May). PK vlunteers at his church visiting shut-ins and leading wrship when their Pastr requests. He als writes weekly devtins fr LCMS Missin Central website and des a daily email ministry called, Pearls (ljkath@midc.netcntact him if interested in receiving. Yu may view his persnal website fr mre infrmatin at www.pastrlylekath.cm DON T FORGET... t send in yur natinal LFL membership renewal when yu receive yur reminder letter this mnth. Be sure t write in ur chapter name and / r number (#037) s we receive a prtin f yur dnatin back int the chapter. If yu are nt currently a natinal member and wuld like t be, please cntact Gail Waagen fr a membership brchure CAN YOU HELP? It is again that time f year when we ask each f yu, ur LFL members and friends t prayerfully cnsider hw yu wuld like t be invlved in ur lcal chapter ver the cming year. There are a number f pprtunities fr yu t cnsider as we start a new year. We have penings n ur electin ballt fr persns willing t serve n the executive bard. We meet 3-4 times a year and d the planning fr chapter events and use f resurces. We are lking fr 1 r 2 persns t serve as crdinatr(s) fr the 2015 banquet event, usually held in Octber. We als need smene wh culd serve as ur resurce and educatin persn. This invlves keeping an inventry f ur resurces, rdering new supplies as needed and setting up a display f ur materials at chapter events. Please lk ver the frm n the back page f this newsletter and send in t let us knw hw yu can help. If yu have any questins, cntact Gail Waagen at 701-306-6283 r e- mail gl_wgn@msn.cm. I wuld like t thank each and every ne wh is serving r has served n ur executive bard, speaker s bureau, banquet cmmittee, as church cntact, helped with newsletter, resurces, r being faithful in prayer fr ur chapter and pr-life issues. CHURCH CONTACT CORNER: A reminder that we have available several CDs with the LIFE Sunday materials if anyne wants t use in their cngregatin. These materials (bulletin insert, Just Fr Kids insert, sermns, wrship service, children s message and Bible study) are great t use at any time thrugh the year. Or yu may want t cnsider the use f Life Qutes, cngregatinal bulletin blurbs with a fr Life message every week. Life Thughts in the Church Year may be anther resurce; each are available n www.lutheransfrlife.rg. Or cnsider Life News, a free, mnthly dwnlad fr cngregatins. Als, ur chapter keeps a gd supply f educatinal pamphlets, bklets and ther resurces, such as ur tuch babies r fetal mdels, n hand fr use in yur cngregatins at any time. Dn t frget abut ur speaker s bureau, with a speaker available t make a pr-life presentatin as well. Please feel free t cntact Gail Waagen at 701-306-6283 r e-mail at gl_wgn@msn.cm.
BANQUET MISSION PROJECT 2014 Dear Lutherans fr Life Farg Mrhead Chapter, Birthright has gratefully received yur dnatin f $1750.00 n December 15, 2014. Alng with ur sincere thanks fr yur supprt ges ur pledge t use yur cntributins wisely as we cntinue t assist thse wh are in need f Birthright s services. Birthright f Farg- Mrhead is well int its furth decade f prviding alternatives t abrtin. Wmen are ften uninfrmed r misinfrmed abut the develpment f the baby in the early stages f pregnancy, and abut the risks and dangers assciated with abrtin. We can t place a financial value n ur wrk. We can t quit. We are wrking fr the mst vulnerable peple in the wrld, thse unable t speak fr themselves: the unbrn. Our Birthright vlunteers are cmmitted t staying the curse t the end, t the time when all life is prtected and valued. We truly appreciate yur help and cncern fr Gd s littlest peple. The fundraiser yu spnsred was awesme. The gift f $1750.00 was a real surprise and welcme gift. We have assisted ver 640 wmen, children, and men during 2014. The numbers keep rising. Last year we served 585. On behalf f all f us at Birthright and mst f all, the wmen, children and families wh cme t us fr help Thank Yu Birthright f Farg-Mrhead, Inc is a ttally vlunteer rganizatin and we are always lking fr cnscientius peple wh wuld like t vlunteer with us. We assist the clients wh cme t us fr frmula, diapers, clthing, blankets and ther needs. We have used maternity clthing if a wman has need and we give free pregnancy tests. Thank yu again fr yur generus heart. Sincerely yurs, Birthright f Farg-Mrhead was the rganizatin chsen by the banquet cmmittee members as ur missin prject in 2014. Using the funds raised thrugh generus dnatins by attendees at the banquet, Gail Waagen and Sctt McAllen were able t present a check fr $1750.00 t LaVerne Seefeld at the Birthright ffice in Mrhead. 2014 2015 FM - LFL President Gail Waagen Vice President Dean Snnenberg Secretary Gail Steele Treasurer Sctt McAllen Pastral Advisr Pastr Lyle Kath Educatin/Resurces vacant Banquet Crdinatrs Kathy Carl and Elsa Richardsn Prayer Warrirs Yvnne Timian Speakers Bureau Beth Schaible Jerry Kensk Linda Frslie Kim Wagner LaVerne Seefeld Birthright Bard f Directrs member, Vlunteer
Dessert Banquet 2014 The 26 th Pr-Life Celebratin was hsted by Triumph Lutheran Brethren Church in Mrhead n Octber 19 th. Our keynte speaker was Janna Myrdal, ND State Directr fr Cncerned Wmen f America, the natin s largest wmen s public plicy rganizatin. Janna spke n What is the Value f LIFE as she shared her enthusiasm and experiences as Chairwman f ND Chse Life, wrking fr passage f Measure One, the Human Life Amendment. A wnderful selectin f pian music was prvided by Lri Cline and Gd Knew Yur Name, a special music number presented by Kim Wagner. Participants als enjyed delicius pies and several dr prizes dnated by lcal merchants. BOB ROSENVOLD RECEIVES DR. JEAN GARTON AWARD Bb has dne s much t supprt the missin f Farg Mrhead Lutherans fr Life since the chapter was frmed in 1982. He has shwn his lve fr LIFE thrugh invlvement with several Pr- Life and ther Christian ministries ver many years, ging back as far as when the Billy Graham ministry came t Farg. He als participated in bringing a Christian Radi statin t the Farg- Mrhead area that was geared specifically fr yuth, has been invlved with Yuth fr Christ, and served n the bard fr AAA Pregnancy Clinic (nw First Chice Clinic). Bb was recgnized as a persn wh affirms the wrth f the weak, the pr, the handicapped and the elderly by reaching ut t meet the needs f thers in the church and cmmunity. He has prvided help fr refugees, and thers in his cngregatin, befriending them, picking them up when needed t bring them t church and t varius activities in the cmmunity He has als shwn his faith in Jesus Christ as Lrd and Savir thrugh active participatin at Triumph Lutheran Brethren Church. As an attrney, Bb has been a strng advcate fr the rights f unbrn children thrugh helping many pr-life and Christian rganizatins establish their 501 (c) 3 status. This included F-M LFL when we incrprated in 1987. He cntinued t serve as the legal advisr fr the chapter fr several years. And ver recent mnths, he has again prvided his legal expertise regarding several IRS dcuments. He researched fr the infrmatin needed and als prvided members f his staff at Onstad Twitchill law firm t assist in preparing an amendment t ur rganizing dcuments and getting it prperly filed with the secretary f state. This was all dne withut expectatin f any cmpensatin fr his wrk. FM LFL was certainly pleased t present the Dr. Jean Gartn award fr 2014 t Bb Rsenvld.
Lutherans Fr Life P.O. Bx 1202 Farg, ND 58107-1202 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID FARGO, ND PERMIT NO. 91 Farg-Mrhead Area Lutherans fr Life Equipping Lutherans t be Gspel-mtivated Vices Fr Life Name: Phne: ( ) Address: E-Mail: Hme Church: Check all that apply: YES Cntinue t receive F-M LFL newsletter: Prefer Mail r E-mail Please cntact me regarding a presentatin fr my church, schl, r ther grup I wuld like mre infrmatin abut being a Church Cntact Please send me a CD with 2015 LIFE Sunday materials I can help LFL in the fllwing ways (check all that apply): Banquet cmmittee Making phne calls Prayer Warrir Serving n the exec bard Resurce and Educatin Writing fr Newsletter Staffing Pr-life displays at marketing events Cmments and/r infrmatin requests: Please fill ut the frm abve and return t: Farg Mrhead LFL, PO Bx 1202, Farg, ND 58107 r email at FMLuth4Life@gmail.cm