Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National
Newsletter
Volume 18, Number 2
December 2007
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"I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”
In 1620, the Pilgrims endured a bitter two-month sea journey from England to Plymouth Rock. Upon landing, they gathered for a prayer service before setting out to prepare their homes. Unfortunately, they were severely unprepared for the harsh winter that would soon be approaching. During the first winter season, almost half of their population died. In the spring they were befriended by Indians who taught the Pilgrims survival skills. In the fall of 1621, they reaped a bountiful harvest which provided enough food to allow them to survive the coming winter. As an expression of their thanks to God, they hosted a Thanksgiving feast to celebrate the provisions and harvest that would allow them to survive another winter.
Many in the years to follow endured sea journeys from England to America. Many also sacrificed their lives during these difficult journeys and early years in America. In the midst of blessings and hardships, our forefathers were very open about thanking God for His blessings and for shedding His grace upon our nation.
This Thanksgiving we need to take time to openly thank God for shedding His continued grace upon our nation. And then we need to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for the preservation of the lives of the unborn and of our nation. This January the annual March for Life falls on a Tuesday (the day after the Martin Luther King holiday). Depending upon contract language, for some educators it will mean taking a day without pay in order to make that trip to Washington DC. I have already requested and have been granted a day without pay in order to take a stand for life. What are you willing to sacrifice this year to be a “Voice for Life”? Think about it as you take time this Thanksgiving to give thanks to God for His many blessings upon our lives and families.
Fostoria is a town of about 14,000 citizens located in northwest Ohio. I teach at St. Wendelin Catholic Junior High and High School in Fostoria, so I am able to work with students all the time. I had talked for several years with Mary Boes, an officer in the Fostoria Right to Life adults group, about starting a group here for teens, but never quite made the time to do it. During the spring of 1999, though, I knew it was time to put those ideas into action and I felt inspired to get something very important started here. I had no idea at the time how large this group would grow or the amazing differences they would make in the movement to promote life.
In March of that year, my oldest daughter and I attended a meeting of a Teens for Life group in the nearby village of New Riegel, Ohio to see how a typical meeting was run before we started our own group in Fostoria. They had about a dozen students there, and we saw the enthusiasm they had for promoting respect for life and got an idea of some of the activities they did in their small community.
A few weeks after Mandy and I went to that group’s meeting, we had our very first meeting of the newly formed Fostoria Teens for Life. That first meeting was held at our public library, and ten students attended. We decided that these busy teens could get together most easily on Sundays, so we moved our meetings to the St. Wendelin Parish meeting facilities. We have had to change from smaller rooms as the group grew, and we now have to meet in the large parish hall because that is the only space that will hold all of the teens who attend!
We have grown from that small start to over NINETY active members from seventh graders up to seniors, and we are very blessed to have a number of our “alumni” attend meetings and help as chaperones for trips and activities! For about six years, our goal was to fill a charter bus when we take the group and our chaperones on trips. We have now far surpassed that, and at this rate, will soon be able to fill TWO busses with just our members and the parents we take along!
This group of students is nothing short of amazing! Since the normal attendance at our meetings (held on Sunday afternoons) is around 60 members, we have decided this year to have the first hour of each meeting be about sharing news, listening to a speaker, and making needed plans, and split up into four sections for the second half of the meeting so all of the students’ energy can be devoted to doing something proactive. There are four areas of work we have chosen. One group is doing research about pro-life issues so we will have current information available to anyone who wants it for their own knowledge, to write a report, or simply to be able to talk to others and have facts to back up their opinions. The second group is knitting and crocheting items to donate as a sign of our support for all ages of people in our area. A third group is making wooden crosses which we will display at our parish church on the weekend before the Roe v. Wade anniversary, then move to our high school, which is on a busy highway, that week. We were blessed to have a gentleman in the parish who volunteered to cut out the wood pieces so the students can spend their time gluing, nailing and painting to prepare what is going to be a very effective display. The fourth group is focusing on preparing interactive, multimedia presentations for junior high and high school students so we can offer to travel to different schools throughout our area and put on presentations to help in the promotion of a greater respect for human life.
These students have lobbied Ohio legislators, prayed at an abortion clinic, marched in parades, taken part in silent prayer vigils, and shared with each other the incredible value of standing up for what we know to be right. From wearing buttons to handing out bumper stickers to praying for and talking to people, the students in Fostoria Teens for Life work every day to promote life in all stages, from the moment of conception until natural death. Here are four of their own testimonies.
Why I Got Involved: This is my fifth year being involved with Teens for Life. I've been in it since the 7th grade. Obviously it's very important to me since I've been in it and stuck with it this long. I think that this group is really important for people to know about. We stand up for the things we believe in and we don't just sit around and talk about it, we actually go out and do things and try to get involved with the community.
I decided to join Teens for Life in 7th grade after both of my sisters had been in it and talked about how great it was. I ended up loving it myself and continued to get more involved. I think it's so important to be part of a group like this. I love having the chance to stand up for my beliefs surrounded by people who feel the same way. I'll do anything I can to help and Teens for Life gives me the opportunities to do so.
By LeeAnn Doe, high school junior, Fostoria Teens for Life Secretary
Fundraisers: In Fostoria Teens for Life, we have a couple different fundraisers that we do to make money for our treasury and for ourselves so we can go to Washington, D.C. for the National March for Life, or Columbus, Ohio for the Ohio Youth Rally for Life in January. One of our major fundraisers is the Rockathon. This is where we sit in a rocking chair and rock back and forth all night for a total of ten hours. The way we raise funds through this is by having people pledge money to us for however many hours we rock. An example would be that a person will pledge a dollar for every hour that we rock. This activity also raises awareness because it is hard to ignore 60 teenagers all rocking away in rocking chairs to promote life! Our other fundraiser is through our candle sale. We get a packet and we sell candles and other items such as candle warmers, candle stands and candle lighters. All the money that we do make is put toward our trip that we take every year and bumper stickers, books and other things that help us in our fight for everyone’s Right to Life.
By: Tony Kuhlman, high school senior, Fostoria Teens for Life Co-Vice President
One of Our Activities - Knitting for Babies and the Elderly: Our group is currently in the process of forming a knitting group. There are about one dozen members of the group who have committed their time and efforts to this new project. We plan on making hats, scarves, and other knitted objects for newborn children, their mothers, and nursing home residents. All of the yarn and most of the needles that we’re using have been donated out of the incredible generosity of members of our parish. The amazing magnitude of the response is sufficient proof that what we’re doing is good.
By Abby Statham, high school junior, member of Fostoria Teens for Life
Trips We Take and Why: The experiences I have had in my Teens for Life group are amazing! Each year it is tradition to go to Columbus, Ohio or to Washington, D.C. in January on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. In Columbus for the past two trips, we have gone to an arcade called Magic Mountain. They have laser tag, games, and a virtual rollercoaster. We stay overnight in a hotel there, and later that night, we go to the large IMAX Theater and see a movie. The trip to Columbus isn’t just fun and games, though. We attend a Mass at the cathedral in Columbus, praying along with other young people and adults from around the state. Then, we go to the rally that takes place in front of the Statehouse. Two years ago, we even participated in the event as presenters, singing an original song made by the members of our group. Even though it is a small task to go and have fun on this trip, it is an even bigger task to stand up for what is right. And what is right is to hope and pray that the Supreme Court and Congress make decisions to have this awful decision changed and create laws that respect life.
The other trip that we take is to Washington, D.C. on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The trip to D.C. is always interesting. We get on the bus quite late at night, about 10pm, and drive overnight for the next 10 hours plus a stop for breakfast. It’s tradition among the kids to see how long we can stay awake, but we all know that is the worst idea EVER. When we arrive in D.C. it is about nine o’clock in the morning. After we check into our hotel we spend the day sightseeing. There are plenty of options for us to do. Many of us choose to go to the Smithsonian, the National Holocaust Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, or walk around the city getting lost (only temporarily!). Later that night, if we so choose, we may go on a tour of the national monuments. It is such a splendid sight. It truly makes you appreciate the country we live in. The next morning, we go to the Verizon Center for an incredible Youth Mass and Rally attended by about 20,000 people. That event has become so large that they have had to start another event like it on the other side of town! Next, we prepare ourselves for the National March for Life. We often place our large group somewhere in the middle of the march. We have to carry a big sign on long poles so we don’t lose each other in the crowd, which numbers anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 people. Walking up the hill to the Capitol building is amazing. You can look down and see just how many people are involved with this important issue. It’s simply breathtaking. On the ride home from our trip everyone pretty much sleeps, tired but confident that we have demonstrated our views.
Though we may not realize it now, our small group was able to contribute A LOT. I don’t think many people truly realize the effect people who stand up for life have on the United States. One day when we look back on all the things we’ve done within our group, I think it’ll really impact us how we shape our lives and the lives of others. This is because we know right from wrong. And it is wrong to continue taking the lives from innocent children everyday.
By Molly Huth, high school sophomore, Fostoria Teens for Life Co-Vice-President
These students I am so privileged to advise have touched my heart again and again with their love for others, especially the unborn, and their firm commitment to work hard to right the wrong of abortion in our country. I admire their dedication in taking an active part in improving society, and hope that they are an example in motivating other teens and adults to do likewise.
Editor’s Note: Mrs. Peggy Ward is a teacher at St. Wendelin Catholic Junior High and High School in Fostoria Ohio. She has taught for 12 years and currently teaches Language Arts and Religion.
For complete details concerning the events of January 22nd,
please contact your local Right to Life Chapter or State Right to Life office.
For those pro-life teachers and school employees who can't go to Washington DC,
it is suggested that you attend the pro-life marches or rallies being held in your own local areas.
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