The STOPLight

Lutheran women saving kids

Adults Saving Kids is partnering with Women of the ELCA synodical organizations to prevent the exploitation of young people. In this STOP Light, seven synods share what they have been doing.

Each of these synods is seeking to rebuild the walls of safety for youth. Adults Saving Kids has developed a three-pronged approach to doing this:

1. Training speakers to spread a message of prevention in churches, schools, and community groups;
2. Having each congregational unit pray for youth in the congregation; and
3. Having each congregation use Wise as Serpents with the confirmands.

Each synod is asked to have a team of three people, each responsible for a different aspect of the project.

Synodical organizations who are interested in being involved with this effort are invited to contact Adults Saving Kids.

Northeastern Minnesota 3-E

The children in our synod live in a sheltered environment; they are not street smart. When they get exposed to manipulative, crafty people, they can get drawn into deep water before they know they are in trouble.

We as Christian women have an obligation to these children because they belong to the same family, created by God. Our kids are too valuable to let predators have a chance at them. If we educate the kids, make them street smart, with love and acceptance not condemnation, we can make a difference.

About ten years ago, Al Erickson was the keynote speaker at our convention. We have had workshops most years since then as well as other educational events. Many conferences and congregational units have supported Adults Saving Kids financially. It has been difficult to get women to commit to working on a long-term project, however.

That changed recently when a local TV station did a story about the prostitution of young women on ships in the Duluth harbor. All of a sudden this was our problem, not someone else's. Women from our churches started to say, "We can't allow this. Something has to be done."

Now we have put together a team of two, a Speaker Coordinator and a Wise as Serpents Coordinator, who will focus on the Duluth area. We would like each conference to have one, preferably two complete teams working to bring information to the churches and communities. Out of our convention, we have additional names of women in other conferences who would like to work on this.

We need to make our churches a safe place where children can learn the truth and know that they are loved, protected, and valued. We can't let the predators have our kids anymore.

For more information, contact Ilene Chapman, 218/568-5782.

Northern Great Lakes 5-G

Our synodical board, after sending two women to Minneapolis to learn about Adults Saving Kids, voted in March 2001 to get involved in the saving of our kids from sexual exploitation.

Amy Hartman was our keynote speaker and workshop leader at our Synodical Convention in October 2001. Amy gave Ruth Snyder (Speaker Coordinator), Dolores Bardon (Wise as Serpents Coordinator), and Nicole Bardon (Dolores' daughter) a chance to share their involvement. Nicole told her story of being raped shortly after starting college, by someone who slipped a date rape drug into her soda. Her story brought the message of sexual exploitation home to the audience, letting them know that this happens in their synod.

Since that convention, Jeanette Kuzeij joined the team as the Prayer Coordinator. In April, we held a weekend training event for speakers, prayer, and Wise as Serpents. In November 2002 we are having another training using the same format.

Six women attended the speaker training. Speakers have done two "temple talks," as well as presentations at congregational units and cluster training events. Ruth and Marie Fries spoke at Women and Kids week in June. We did a workshop at the Synod Assembly and will do more at the Synodical Convention in October.

We have a prayer group established in at least two churches and have some names to start another one. We have done a couple Wise as Serpents introductions. We have one congregation that presented Wise as Serpents to the youth at a weekend retreat, which received good reviews from the youth.

We have also been working with the Synod to start a subcommittee under the Synod Justice Advocacy Committee. The Bishop and his Assistant are working very closely with us. We really look forward to expanding our activities within our Synod.

For more information, contact Ruth Snyder at 906/387-3120.

Montana 1-F

In October of 2000, two synodical board members attended an Adults Saving Kids training in Minneapolis. They returned "on fire" for a project to prevent the exploitation of our youth. The synodical board voted to partner with Adults Saving Kids and spread the word throughout our synod. Pastor Al and Ina Erickson gave a presentation to officers of each cluster in March of 2001, and these officers shared with their groups, laying the groundwork for workshops at the biennial fall convention. At t. convention, the Ericksons presented prayer and informational workshops.

Interested people signed up to start prayer projects in their units, to be trained as speakers, and to encourage churches to use Wise as Serpents.

At the present time, we have four persons trained as speakers. We ha. given presentations to a number of groups. We gave two workshops at the Montana LYO gathering in November 2001, and we spoke to Bible study groups and spring gathering events for the women. A "senior citizens" group invited our speakers because they wanted to know what they could do as seniors to educate the young people and help them to be alert to the predators in our made a presentation to parents from various churches in a small community. They in turn are interested in a speakers' training and prayer projects.

At the present time, 47 units (1/3 of our churches) have begun prayer projects in their congregations. Some churches are praying daily not only for teens, but for children from the cradle through college. Every unit in our synod is encouraged to include a prayer project for their youth, and by year's end we hope to be up to 100%. Another goal is to have speakers in each cluster.

For more information, contact Dawn Petty at 406/373-6673.

North Carolina 9-B

We have a clear message from Jesus ­ children are precious. There are many people who choose not to heed the word of the Lord, and they exploit children by luring them into the "sex" industry.

In response to this exploitation, the North Carolina Women of the ELCA have formed an alliance with Adults Saving Kids to support and promote the "wall of safety" for kids across North Carolina. Three board members, Sharon Johnson, Carrie Graves, and Cathy Sell, attended a training for synod teams May 16-19, 2002. They returned with much information and dedication teachers, parents and kids to the perils of commercial sexual exploitation.

Rev. Al and Ina Erickson, who founded Adults Saving Kids, presented an awareness session at our Synodical Women's Gathering, June 8. They also held two informational sessions ­ one for youth advisors and another for pastors and anyone interested in "Prayer Project Lifesaver." While in NC, the Ericksons visited several people and agencies that also work on this problem.

Our Adults Saving Kids team is creating a plan of action. We are concentrating our efforts in the Southern Conference. We will contact congregations to set up "Prayer Project Lifesaver" with the goal of having someone praying for every child in the conference. We will hold sessions for pastors, youth directors, and teachers to introduce Wise as Serpents. In January, 2003 we will have a training session for speakers, who will be available to speak to congregations, community groups, and schools.

Together we can build this "wall of safety" for our children and grandchildren. It is vital to their survival ­ and ours ­ for our children are our future.

For more information, contact Cathy Sell at 704/938-5029.

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but the one who sent me." Mark 9:37

Western North Dakota 3-A

Our synod has approximately 29,000 students, ages 12-18. They are our future, and we care about them as God's children. Because of this, we are concerned about materials that once would have been considered immoral are now acceptable and are printed in women's magazines, shown on television and in the movies, and used in advertising.

Out of this concern, the Women of the ELCA of WND worked with Adults Saving Kids to start the SEE (Stop Exploitation Early) Project. We want to make our people, young and old, aware of what is happening and help them become part of the solution in prevention.

Our progress has been exciting. We have traveled hundreds of miles, speaking to approximately 800 people. We have written articles in newsletters, sent letters, and distributed hundreds of copies of the ELCA Message on Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

We have found pastors, leaders, women, and men who are supportive of our project. We have found people who remain "on the fence." Sexual exploitation is not an easy topic for some people to discuss or even to hear about.

A woman made a donated a quilt to our SEE Project. One church has started a Friday prayer connection. Many churches have purchased the Wise as Serpents materials, and about three dozen have started prayer projects.

Our future plans involve speaking to youth groups, providing training for speakers, encouraging more churches to purchase Wise as Serpents, and involving more churches in the prayer projects.

Our SEE team has three members, each with a specific role. Any of us may be contacted for more information about our project.

Barb Gullickson -- Speaker Coordinator, 701/537-2866

Leone Bolinske -- Wise as Serpents Coordinator, 701/839-5442

Sharon St. Aubin -- Prayer Coordinator, 701/537-5713.

Southwestern Minnesota 3-F

Our synodical women's organization has been working with Adults Saving Kids since 1995. During this long partnership, we have supported this program financially, attended trainings, assisted with training events for pastors, had speakers give presentations in churches, schools, and workshops at synodical conventions.

Last year we formed a team of three women to implement prayer for youth in every congregation, train additional speakers, and have congregations use Wise as Serpents with their youth: Janice

Franck (Prayer Coordinator), Mata Carlson (Speaker Coordinator), and Ilene Penk (Wise as Serpents Coordinator.)

The best way to rebuild the walls of safety is to be praying for the youth. It is a challenge to get this

project into every congregation. We made a brochure explaining the prayer project, which we made available at the synodical convention. Carol Etter and Janice are willing to speak about the prayer project at unit meetings in the Watonwan Conference.

We also need people to speak about the dangers in prostitution. We have been raising our children to be nice to all people and haven't realized that doing this can make our kids vulnerable.

Mata has been speaking in schools and other places about what young people are exposed to and how easy it is for them to become trapped. When students first hear her topic, they snicker and laugh. But by the end, they want more information and wonder why more isn't being done to stop this from happening.

Our synod has several congregations that already have Wise as Serpents. Ilene has led the Wise as Serpents course with the youth in her congregation. A neighboring congregation invited her to lead it with their youth. We are working with Adults Saving Kids to develop a team of pastors who can help get other pastors trained in using this resource.

For more information, contact Janice Franck at 507/632-4201.

LaCrosse Area 5-L

The Adults Saving Kids movement really picked up steam after the fourth Women's Triennial Convention when some women from the LaCrosse Area Synod heard Heidi speak about how she had been lured into the sex industry. After that our women's synodical organization board decided to go forth boldly and send women to be trained to address the dangers of sexual exploitation.

In November 2001, two women went to the "Leading for our Kids" training put on by Adults Saving Kids. Karen Birkedal and Mary Molstad, who had never met, made a weekend journey begun by faith, with complete faith that the Lord was in control. After that training, we identified Karen as the Prayer Coordinator and Mary as the Speaker Coordinator.

We met with the assistant to the Bishop to plan a course of action. First we presented to conference pastors, so they would have an understanding of the program and its objectives.

Since those meetings, our efforts have been led by the Spirit in many directions. We have started prayer projects in churches. We have spoken to units of the Women of the ELCA, adult forums, adult studies, youth at our Synod Assembly, Adult Vacation Bible School, Women's Night Out, and had displays at both the Synod Assembly and the Women of the ELCA Synod Convention.

On one Sunday we were humbled to be asked to present at a worship service in lieu of the sermon ­ God be praised!

In January 2002, the Lord blessed us with the addition of Rev. Steve Meyer as our Wise As Serpents Coordinator. Our team was now complete and this addition enabled us to schedule a pastors' training.

We are constantly overwhelmed at what God has done and have realized that even roadblocks are turned into great opportunities. May God be glorified!!

For more information, contact Mary Molstad at 608/634-2367.

Thank you...

To Wheat Ridge Ministries and Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Minneapolis for supporting the Wise as Serpents Alliance Project.

To Thrivent Financial Services for Lutherans and those who donated to our challenge grant last fall, for supporting the training of speakers in the synods mentioned in this article.