By Joleigh Little, Teens for Life Director, Wisconsin Right to Life

In the months since the November election, there has been an awakening in the right-to-life movement.  Previously supportive but not necessarily active people are volunteering and putting feet to their convictions – and it is happening all across the nation!

This is especially true among young people who realize the twin horrors of abortion and euthanasia and are aware of the danger they pose for our nation and their generation.  More and more, these young people are stepping out, taking a stand, and learning how they can play a role in changing hearts and minds.

In January, an all-time record number of young people attended the National Teens for Life Summit, a training program sponsored by National Right to Life for teenagers and college students who are leaders for the pro-life cause.  Thirty junior high through college-aged youth descended upon Crystal City, Virginia (just outside Washington, D.C.) for the event's fourth year. 

During their three days together the students learned what it means to be an advocate for life as well as the background information they will need to take the pro-life message back to their homes, schools and communities.  Well-educated on the basics--from abortion's history to the looming threat of euthanasia and assisted suicide–these young people learned how to debate the issue with friends and family… and win!  They truly understand that the key to saving lives is to educate others to understand that killing the innocent is never the "solution" to any social problem.

True change comes when every life from conception to natural death is protected and defended. These dedicated young people now have the tools they will need to share that message from California to Pennsylvania and beyond!

As we look to our task of fighting the Obama Abortion Agenda in the weeks and months to come, there are a number of other opportunities to train these young people who will protect and preserve the lives of the defenseless in the decades to come. 

From March 22-25, Oregon Right to Life will host their Camp Joshua to train and equip future pro-life leaders.  Camp Joshua provides basic pro-life information, games, and field trips for teens to who want to learn how they can take a stand for life. For more information on this quality event, please visit www.ortl.org and click on the Camp Joshua link at the top of the page.

Then, as summer approaches, National Right to Life will host the 23rd annual National Teens for Life Convention, June 18-20 in Charlotte, NC.  The NTL Convention brings young people, ages 12-19 together for three days of pro-life education, motivation, inspiration and… FUN! 

Along with workshops geared directly toward teens--sessions which will equip and empower them to carry the pro-life message back to their home states--the NTL Convention also offers a chance for participants to meet other young people who share their pro-life views and passions.  There is also a chance to relax and unwind in beautiful Charlotte with a Teens for Life sightseeing outing on Friday night, as well as the traditional closing pizza banquet and dance on Saturday night.

Later in the summer, Wisconsin Right to Life will host its Wisconsin Teens for Life Summer Leadership Training Camps, Camp Esther and Camp Nehemiah.  During the months of July and August, these camps will equip young people from junior high through college age to articulately defend their pro-life views in a variety of settings.

Jokingly called "pro-life boot camp for your brain" these two, week-long camps will train young people from around Wisconsin, as well as the rest of the United States.  For more information on these camps, email jlittle@wrtl.org or visit www.WisconsinTeens4Life.org. While these are some fine examples of the training that is available, this list is by no means exclusive. 

Please check with your NRLC state affiliate for youth activities in your home state – you might be surprised what they have to offer!  If no specific youth training is available close to home, please consider sending teens to attend something in a neighboring state.

While we have always stressed the importance of this training, the need for new, young, passionate pro-life champions is greater than ever.  Truly, lives hang in the balance. These teenagers and college students who live and work on the front lines of the battle MUST be equipped to share the message of life with anyone who is willing to listen!

So send one or two from your state to Oregon or Wisconsin's Teens for Life training camps!  Or bring a car, van, or busload of them to the National Teens for Life Convention in Charlotte. 

Whatever you do, don't just sit there and do nothing!  We need your help, we need as many highly educated, well-trained, passionate pro-life young people as we can find, and we need to spread the word that abortion is never the answer to the fear and uncertainty of an unplanned pregnancy.

Please send your thoughts to daveandrusko@gmail.com.