Generation Truth
In September 2003 (23 YEARS AGO!), Right to Life – LIFESPAN’s Oakland/Macomb Chapter office began a long journey of accepting the names and addresses of high school students (10th-12th grade) and youth group leaders who wanted to be kept informed on what was happening in the local area related to pro-life issues.
LIFESPAN received an invitation to be a vendor at a special event at Shrine High School, as they began their new school year. It was an event where students could go and learn more about various non-profit organizations in the area, so they could determine where they would like to be involved as volunteers.
It was a delightful experience as the new LIFESPAN youth leader and what a wonderful surprise, 55 students wrote their names and addresses on the signup sheet that was on our vendor table! These names and addresses began a brand-new Youth Mailing List for LIFESPAN!
Since that time, the list of names has changed and grown so much! And, of course, the way to reach the young people is different than before – it first started with monthly mailings through regular mail (envelopes and stamps, delivery to mailboxes – ancient nowadays to our younger generation), then we went to email. You can now find us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
LIFESPAN’s Youth Outreach currently covers Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne Counties, the city of Detroit, the Port Huron area, and some cities north of Oakland County and west of Wayne County.
We do whatever we can to encourage young people to continue their mission of making abortion unthinkable through education, facts, and Truth, so they can continue to uphold the sacredness of Life! It is a beautiful thing to see the younger generation so full of energy, hope, love and Life! They are an inspiration to all of us at LIFESPAN! We know they will continue to press on and move forward carrying their candles, burning brightly, lighting the way in the darkness that is trying to overcome them, to snuff them out.
Some of our activities:
Here is a list of activities and events we currently offer young people, their families, and their friends through your support:
- Celebration of Life Dinner in May
- Mother’s Day Flower Offering in May
- Father’s Day Candy Offering in June
- 2000 Crosses Display in the Spring, Summer, and Fall (hosted at various locations throughout Metro Detroit)
- CIDER Walk for Life in early Fall (hosted in Wayne County area)
- Michigan March for Life Bus Trip in November (first time was in 2023, second time in 2025, next time in 2027)
- “Movement in Motion” Bus Trip in January to attend the Post-Roe March for Life in DC
- Be the Change in March, a pro-life apologetics style training for 7th-12th grade students, college students/young adults and all other adults who want to learn how to grow in pro-life advocacy (Protect Life Michigan assists LIFESPAN with the training)
- Sponsorships for 11th-12th grade students, college students/young adults up to 25 years of age to attend the Protect Life Michigan Life Advocate Intensive training (one three-day training program in July, one three-day training program in August)
- Baby Showers at local parishes/churches to benefit local pregnancy help centers in March and at other times throughout the year
- Pro-Life Vendor Booths at local schools and churches where there are conferences, fairs, and festivals
- Baby Bottle Project (“Change for a Future”) throughout the school year
- Volunteer opportunities throughout the year in the office, at home, at events like the dinner in May
- Regular Monthly Youth Mailings via e-mail
- Support to Pro-Life Youth Groups, College/University Student for Life Groups, and Young Adult groups for their Pro-Life Events
- Pro-Life Materials and Sources including bracelets, Precious Feet pins, envelope stickers, bumper stickers, and literature.
- National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Babies, National Life Chain, National Pro-Life Chalk Day, National Pro-Life Silent Day of Solidarity, National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day (we advertise these events)
The young people are spreading the message of love for Life courageously with great hope and expectation – telling others that Life is precious, that it must be protected, that it must be nurtured, that it deserves our deepest respect from the moment of conception till natural death, no matter what, with all its imperfections and whether or not that Life is here just until after birth or until 101 years old!
Elementary, junior high and high school students, and college students/young adults have volunteered their time in helping us in a variety of ways, including data entry; phone calls; taking our Baby Bottle Project to their faith communities and schools (this benefits our Wee Care outreach to pregnant moms in need of assistance and our Youth programs); counting and sorting LIFE Chain signs; working at conferences, fairs, and festivals; working at our annual dinner; cutting ribbons and tying them to tags for the Mother’s Day flower project; labeling candy bars for the Father’s Day Candy project; stuffing and labeling envelopes for mailings; and putting packets of information together for activities and events. We always enjoy seeing their smiling faces and appreciate their energetic support!
If you know any Jr. High/High School student or college student or young adult who would be interested in learning more about what we offer and how they can be a part of Generation Truth, please have them contact Lynn Gura, Youth Director, at oakmac@rtl-lifespan.org or at 248-816-1546.
