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.