'Life Guards' seminar educates teenagers about sanctity of life

NAPLES (FBW)-Last November, 72 middle school and high schools students at First Baptist Church in Naples became "Life Guards," not rescuing drowning victims in the Gulf of Mexico, but preserving life.

Life Guards is a seminar for teenagers "to be a voice for the unborn and vocal witness for Jesus Christ," according to creator Bob Block.

A few years ago, while teaching an adult Sunday School class about the sanctity of life at First Baptist Church in Naples, Block said he realized that if there was going to be a change in society's attitude about abortion it would have to begin with young people.

"It is a well known fact that any movement that hopes to have a lasting effect on society must engage young people as early as possible to believe and champion its cause," Block told Florida Baptist Witness.

Block said he believes teenagers needed an evangelistic tool to teach about pregnancy and abortion, so he created the four-session seminar.

The seminar covers the biblical view of the sanctity of life, fetal development, abstinence and effective witnessing. Block said at the last session, students role play various scenarios about pregnancy and abortion. Once trained, students are equipped to advise their friends and, if needed, refer them to a local evangelical pregnancy care center.

"We must reach this generation," Block said. "Their collective voice can make a difference if we can energize them to stand against the slaughter of the next generation."

For more information, call 239-594-5923 or e-mail rom131@aol.com.

For related coverage, see Sanctity of Human Life Archive