Joshua Leadership Institute inspires pro-life youth

BATON ROUGE – Today’s youth are constantly being told that they are the generation that will abolish abortion and bring about a greater awareness of the sanctity of life, but they often are left wondering how to take on such a daunting task and important responsibility.

  The Joshua Leadership Institute (JLI), hosted by the Knights of Columbus and Louisiana Right to Life July 14-18 at the Bishop Robert E. Tracy Center in Baton Rouge, was dedicated to equipping students with the necessary resources, skills and passion to boldly face society and spread the news that life – all life – is sacred.

  JLI gave more than 40 students the chance to learn how to dialogue in defense of life and put those newfound skills to work.

  “We spent most of the day Monday teaching the students how to move from debate to dialogue when talking about abortion and then give them the opportunity to put it into practice on Tuesday at LSU’s campus,” said Cody Reed, youth programs director for Louisiana Right to Life. “Many of the students had great conversations on campus and left with a positive experience. Most of the students identify this as their favorite part of the week.”

  “When we went to LSU to survey in pairs just to talk with people and see their view, there was a huge impact, because most of these kids are high school age,” counselor Caitlin Denley explained. “But to watch them say, ‘I’m not too young to go out and change the world’ and to see them talk to people who are older than them and go to a college campus – that is a big thing. And for them to come back and say, ‘I didn’t know I could do this, but now I know I can.’ It was amazing.”

  The week spent at JLI was non-stop action for the students, with an opportunity to visit the Governor’s mansion and the chance to experience firsthand that the fight for life does not end with the unborn.

  “Wednesday, our main event was the opportunity to truly express that being pro-life is not just about the unborn, but about all life,” Reed said. “We went to Regency Nursing Center and spent time with the residents, then heard from Ryan Verret about medical ethics.”

  Over the course of the institute, many speakers shared their testimonies and passion for the pro-life movement, including Bobby Schindler, brother of Terri Schiavo. Schindler shared with the students details about his sister’s life and the circumstances that surrounded her death.

Other speakers included Louisiana Sen. Sharon Broome, who explained the legislative aspect of the pro-life debate; a woman who shared her journey as a post-abortive and adoptive mother; and St. Elizabeth Foundation, an adoption agency that went into detail about the process of adoption.

  “What sticks out to me most was the talk on human value, given by Mary Nadeua,” counselor Alyssa Lessing said. “I think that the breathtaking beauty and dignity of every human being – from the unborn to children to adults to the elderly – is key to being pro-life.”

  Hearing from these speakers gave students invaluable information on life issues and how to defend their pro-life stance.

  “JLI has definitely made me a more confident leader and more comfortable talking to others, because I know more about it now,” student Jason Hood said. “I’m definitely going to try to get more involved with pro-life groups.”

  At the end of the institute, each student received a certificate of completion and a horn, representing the “trumpets that brought down the walls of Jericho in the book of Joshua.”

  “This program is called Joshua, based on the Joshua who became the leader of the Israelites after Moses’ death,” Reed explained. “He was a young leader who acted upon God’s call immediately. We use this story to inspire the students to take a stand so that they can bring down the walls of the culture of death.”

  The 2014 Joshua Leadership Institute will be held July 27-31. Visit campjoshua la.org for JLI registration and for information on other pro-life camps and events in Louisiana.

  Lindsey Frechou can be reached at lfrechou@clarion herald.org.