March 2025
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 held opportunity to honor and celebrate the sanctity of life as the Illinois Pro-Life March was held in Springfield, IL for the third consecutive year. An estimated 2,500 pro-life advocates from across the state gathered to worship, pray, and show united support, demonstrating peacefully with a speaker rally followed by the March around the Illinois State Capitol building.
Rev. Cory Estby currently serves as chairman of the LCMS Northern Illinois District’s Life Task Force. He attended the Illinois Pro-Life March with a small crew from his congregation at Zion Lutheran Church in Grant Park, Illinois. He was thankful to be able to once again attend this annual event and shared, “It was another gratifying day to proclaim life with friends and voices united across Christian denominations among others to be able to say ‘life begins at conception!!’ We are affirming motherhood, caring for women, speaking up for babies, and supporting pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes.”
The days’ activities began with an 11:00 a.m. Matins service at Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Springfield. Rev. Dr. Allan R. Buss, LCMS Northern Illinois District President served as the preacher for the service. After lunch, a 1:00 p.m. rally was held on the Capitol steps in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln, with speakers including Adam Niemerg from the Illinois State House of Representative, and Erin Andrews, Executive of We Care Pregnancy Clinic, among others. Rev. Michael Mohr, president of the LCMS Central Illinois District, concluded the rally with a brief message, benediction, and prayer, having introduced the other two LCMS District presidents in attendance, Rev. Heath Curtis, from the Southern Illinois District, and Rev. Dr. Allan Buss, from the Northern Illinois District. Participants walked around the Capitol singing hymns and displaying hundreds of signs in support of the sanctity of life.
Many LCMS Northern Illinois District congregation members participated in the day, including Logan Rausch and Titus Berndt, both from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois. Logan stated, “The whole event was good, and I pray it served well in giving glory to God…Praise be to Jesus Christ, Amen!” Titus shared, “I was blessed to experience three aspects of fellowship. First, the joy of fellowship, singing and praying together with my brothers, sisters, and mothers in the house of God. Second, the encouragement of fellowship, standing firm together and exhorting one another to continue. Finally, the comfort of fellowship, walking together in prayer and song as a reminder that I do not walk this way alone.”
Kayla Paul, a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Grant Park, said, “I was raised in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod by a passionately pro-life family. I have always wanted to go to the March, however, I was unable to attend until this year. I found it incredibly inspirational to see so many people from all walks of life and expressions of faith standing united for the rights of the unborn. It is very discouraging in our culture to see such a loud support for abortion. It is reassuring to recognize that we are not alone in [supporting] life.”
Pastor Estby is always encouraged by the unity shown during the rally, “The three Illinois LCMS District presidents present together (Heath Curtis – SID, Michael Mohr – CID, Allan Buss – NID) show once again that we are “Stronger Together” as we support life from the cradle to the grave.”
The Education Executives for the three Illinois LCMS districts were also present (Trip Rodgers- CID, Jeffrey Fick – SID, Lois Stewart – NID), standing together, Stronger Together, for life. Lois shared, “Beginning the day with worship among fellow believers was uplifting. The day was filled with joy as we celebrated and supported the gift of life as God created it to be. To have so many people gathered for that reason encourages me and is a reminder to all that all life is important and should be valued.”
The Illinois Pro-Life March is a one-day-a-year event spotlighting a concern for life, protection of the unborn, and care for pregnant mothers, but in what other ways do we, as members and congregations and ministries of the LCMS Northern Illinois District, show our ongoing love and care for those in need in our communities? How do we continue to work and grow together every day, in regard to any number of pro-life programs and opportunities?
One individual often feels there isn’t much they can do to make a difference for a particular cause or in someone else’s life. They don’t feel effective to make change by themselves. However, when we work together, we find a strength that one person alone doesn’t have. Examples of that strength can be found through our District’s partnerships with Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries, Phil’s Friends, and Voice of Care, among others. Additionally, numerous congregations in the NID host “Breakfast with Baby” events, provide supplies for mothers and their little ones, stock food pantries, help the unhoused, work with immigrants, and serve young families. Each of these are ways in which we work together, to serve together, to effect change, because we are “Stronger Together: Co-Workers for His Kingdom.”
May God bless the fruits of these many labors.
We are thankful to the LCMS Central Illinois District and Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield for once again serving as hosts in conjunction with the Illinois Pro-Life March. Plans will soon be underway for the 2026 Illinois Pro Life March. Organizers look forward to seeing even more people taking the opportunity to show their conviction about, and support for, the sanctity of life! Stay tuned for more information in the months to come.
WITNESS: Encouraging personal witnessing, congregational engagement with their community, support of our NID partnerships and missions, and sharing in a world mission field together.