Life = Freedom: Defend Theirs, Preserve Ours

By Derrick Jones
Youth Outreach Coordinator

I like to talk on the phone...sometimes too much. But every so often, one of my extended phone conversations provides not only a reconnection with an old friend, but great ideas for NRL News stories.

One such recent conversation was with my dear friend Joleigh Little, a former board member of National Teens for Life (NTL) and currently the advisor for Wisconsin Teens for Life. Jole and I talked about everything from massage therapy to our need for a vacation to a time not so long ago when we were on the NTL board.

In addition to reminiscing about our time in NTL, we discussed how exciting and invigorating this year's National Teens for Life convention (held last month in conjunction with NRLC 2003) was for everyone who attended, including us "old-timers."

Jole remarked that this year's convention was "one of the most exciting conventions in recent memory." We talked and found that we agreed why: the excitement came from the fact that the roughly 100+ teens who came from all over the country brought with them a thirst for knowledge matched only by what seemed to be unending energy to protect our unborn peers.

Truly it was a great time. But it wasn't only the teens who benefitted. Jole and I agreed that spending time with this remarkable group of teens has helped to re-energize our own pro-life work.

Under the theme Life = Freedom: Defend Theirs, Preserve Ours, the NTL convention was three days packed with workshops, general sessions, games, and mixers. This year's attendees definitely received plenty of information and helpful hints to take back to their communities and made lasting friendships at the same time.

Teens had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of how to jump-start a Teens for Life group in their own communities from Joey Patton of Topeka, Kansas, and Beth Haworth of Superior, Wisconsin, both of whom have worked to keep their local TFL movements strong and active.

NRLC Senior Congressional Liaison Lori Kehoe and Minnesota State Sen. Michelle Fischbach informed teens that they truly have a voice in their state assemblies and that teens can play a vital role in lobbying for the passage of pro-life legislation.

In her annual visit to the NTL convention, NRLC President Wanda Franz, Ph.D., told participants of something probably none of them had considered. They weren't just the future of the pro-life movement, they are the movement of today.

"You can have such a huge impact on your friends and classmates," Dr. Franz said.

Norma Jean Center, a former maternity technician and childbirth instructor, shared a testimony of her own experience with a crisis pregnancy. She told us that her daughter, now 23, is one of the reasons Norma Jean is so active in the fight for life.

The highlight of the convention was the good-natured craziness and powerful motivation provided by former Survivor contestant, Dirk Been. He encouraged attendees to stand strong in the face of pro-abortion adversity in their communities. Dirk reminded them to never give up sharing the truth about abortion and its impact on our generation.

Joleigh and I agreed that after running around non-stop for three solid days, we needed some sort of rest, knowing that it's rare in the pro-life movement to have a "vacation." But, on second thought, we realized knowing that the influx of youth into the pro-life movement has never seemed stronger or more pervasive had provided an energy boost of its own.

What would be the best news coming out of the convention? That teens who attended this year's convention showed us that they have the energy, drive and commitment to help unborn babies and their mothers. And that was the case, as obvious as the enthusiasm that characterized every gathering.

We left the convention with new memories and friends, and most importantly, a sense of urgency to continue in our pro-life work. Whatever the tasks and obstacles ahead, we came away with a renewed dedication.

A former president of National Teens for Life, Derrick is an advisor to NTL. For more information on starting a Teens for Life group in your area, contact Derrick at djones@nrlc.org or at (202) 378-8853.