PPL eNews| Life Teams: What, Why, How

Compelled by the Gospel, PPL equips Presbyterians to champion human life at every stage.   PPL E-NEWS Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2024! Life Teams How to Champion the Culture of Life in Your Church “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4   Why Life Teams? Life Teams can help the Church regain its biblical voice and be at work in restoring lives by the help of the Holy Spirit.   At PPL, we believe that a Life Team can help equip your church to address the most urgent social issues of our time. That’s why we help Presbyterian and Reformed churches create Life Teams to help pastors and congregations champion a culture of life. With Life Teams, the Church can be on the front line of the “life” issues, all along the spectrum from fertilization to natural death, offering grace, compassion, tangible help, truth, and protection.   What is a Life Team? “Life Teams, led by lay leaders in the church – not pastors – can help congregations champion life in their own contexts and in their own communities."  Rev. John Sheldon, PPL Board President   A Life Team is a group of like-minded people within a church that serves as a leadership team with the purpose of equipping them as disciples and enabling them to disciple others in the life arena. The term “life arena” encompasses all issues pertaining to life – from conception to natural death. Marriage Sexual purity Human trafficking Aging/end of life Unplanned pregnancies/unborn babies Post-abortion healing The treatment of widows, orphans, and the elderly People with disabilities and more… Do you sense the Holy Spirit calling you to “speak up for life” and start a Life Team? Need mentoring, discipleship studies, topical materials? Contact us! Recommended Life Teams Resources

When God Weeps, by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes, is a great book to support Life Teams ministries in your church.   The inside jacket cover of the book sums up the book exceedingly well: "[It] is not so much a book about suffering as it is about God. It tackles tough questions about heaven and hell, horrors and hardships, and why God allows suffering in this life. ...[This book] offers dependence on His love and mercy in spite of our doubts, fears, longings, and questions.” Get the book

The Night Song (feat. Colin Buchanan) can be a song for Life Teams to offer their congregation for worship or to meditate upon for personal worship. "In the shadows you are with me...for the mighty King is here." This is a song to sing God's truth and teach our children to sing along to.   Colin Buchanan writes children's worship songs and City Alight led worship at The Gospel Coalition Conference in 2023. Listen to the song on YouTube

PPL Resources

Share Your Story! How has God worked in your life, leading your heart to be passionate about advocating for human lives? It can be a story with a theme of lament or of celebration, We’d love for you to upload a video or draft a document and we’ll add it to our website and/or share it with others in person at events. For guidance, check out our web page at the button below! More information

Get Involved!

How do I start a Life Team in my church? Assemble a group of people passionate about life issues. PRAY about where God is leading you. Find out how your church starts ministries. How is your church governed? Build trust with church leaders. What is your church’s “culture” about life? Go to PPL’s Life Team web page to learn more. Then contact us through our website with identifying information about your Life Team. Churches for Life has an E-book “LIFE TEAM BASICS” you can download. This will help you get started building a Life Team in your church with field-tested training resources and methods that are Bible-based and gospel-centered. Download the e-book

PPL Recommends...

Crafted by God: From Fertilization to Birth By Dr. Georgia Purdom and Stacia McKeever   This children's book has interactive illustrations and text appropriate for upper elementary age youth. From the product description on Christianbook.com: "Kids will understand that they were made in God's image and that each life has extraordinary value. This book provides details of the different stages of [fetal] development including scientific terms, which body parts are being formed at that stage, and the size of the unborn baby. Also discussed, is why abortion is not God's way, the uniqueness of people who demonstrate special needs, ... and the beauty of adoption." The mention of how Christians can offer food or clothing to help a pregnant mom and baby helps to instill a heart of service in our youth. Buy the book

PPL depends solely on contributions from individuals and churches--YOU--to accomplish our mission. The members of our staff and Board of Directors believe strongly that the Gospel compels us to stand up as champions for human life at every stage. PPL Board members give generously of their time and are also among our most generous financial donors. However, we cannot do this without you. Will you partner with us today? Just click the donate button below and make an eternal difference!

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Other ways to give To donate via text from your phone: Text "give" to +1 (844) 717-8755. Follow the prompts on the page that opens to make a gift to equip Presbyterians to save human lives! To donate by check, mail your check to: PPL, PO Box 5239, Lancaster, PA 15606-5239. Online bill pay: Set up a monthly recurring check through your bank. Easy, no-fee way to give. Give an IRA disbursement and avoid paying income tax on it. Call us for information about giving stocks.

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