What About Clubs? Bulldogs4Life, Lighthouse educate and raise awareness about life issues
Bulldogs4Life sets up a cross display in the quad every spring semester to spread awareness of the lives lost to abortion.
Photo credit: Bulldogs4Life
By Mi-Ree Zwick
Concordia has many student clubs, reflecting the different interests of a diverse campus. This is the fourth in a series of articles highlighting different clubs, their mission and their plans. This article is featured in the February print edition of the Sower newspaper.
Bulldogs4Life is focused on issues related to conception to end of life, including abortion, the homeless population, physician-assisted suicide and mental health.
President Emma VanTol said that Bulldogs4Life is a part of the Y4Life, or Youth for Life Group Organization, which is a part of Lutherans for Life. Y4Life primarily serves high school and college age students and similar to Lutherans for Life, Bulldogs4Life’s goal is to be a gospel-motivated voice on many life issues.
“This isn’t some argumentative, politically motivated group,” said VanTol. “This is a gospel-related group. We want to share the hope and educate ourselves in both the facts and the gospel.”
Bulldogs4Life is not a club only meant for exclusivity. It is a club meant for everyone. VanTol said that joining the club would be beneficial “especially in the education aspect” to learn how to interact as people with different life issues.
“Everyone has come across a life issue,” she said.
Vice-President Jack Hagan said that most people believe that “because of the March for Life,” Bulldogs4Life is “focused around abortion, but it’s not just abortion.”
“The main purpose is to spread awareness and share the importance of life at all stages from the unborn to end of life, and everything in between,” Hagan said.
Ali Galchutt, the club’s Student Senate representative, said the group wants to share a message that all life is important and do so in a way that is motivated “by the love of Christ and what He has done for us.”
VanTol said she hopes that through Bulldogs4Life, people can educate themselves and learn how to respond to life issues in the future.
“We like to focus on four different areas: celebration, worship, education and service,” said VanTol.
The group typically holds prayer vigils every semester. This spring’s prayer vigil is set for 7:30 p.m. on March 23 at the Borland Recital Hall. There also will be a cross display.
“I believe it’s like 1,200 crosses that we put out in the quad,” Van Tol said. Each cross represents two babies who have lost their lives to abortion.
“It’s a life-opening experience for people who walk by, and an opportunity for prayer for the mothers, families and dads who have to deal with the long-term ethics of abortion,” she added.
Hagan said each event the group holds has some educational aspect and can include speakers. The group works with Seward Lutherans For Life. There will be a tie blanket event this month to give out blankets to homeless shelters.
To join the email list or get regular updates, contact VanTol or any other officer via email or message them on Instagram at bulldogs4lifecu.
Lighthouse members participated in “Dressember” in 2024, dressing up every day of December to raise funds and awareness of human trafficking. Photo: Greta Corneliusen.
The Lighthouse Club raises awareness and educates students at Concordia about the need to fight human trafficking.
“Our goal is not to only educate ourselves but also learn what Biblical advocacy looks like,” said President Greta Corneliusen. The club uses Biblical advocacy to “impact and help stop the multi-billion dollar industry that is forced labor, human trafficking, and child pornography trafficking.”
Communication Director Ellie Jander said human trafficking is a “unique side to the pro-life movement” but faces stigmatization.
“Most think it’s women only, or only young girls, or that only happens in other countries,” Jander said, but it occurs “even on I-80 in Nebraska” and in most, if not all, major U.S. cities.
Vice-President Ramona Ojeda said that she likes Lighthouse because the club is full of members who want to help people, spread God’s love, and share the dangers of modern day slavery.
“We’re at Concordia trying to advocate for those who feel as though they haven’t been heard who are victims of human trafficking,” Ojeda said.
The club recently held a movie night, showing “Sound of Freedom,” a film about human trafficking.
The club raises money to support the effort to fight trafficking.
“All of our money that we’re raising and all of the events that we are putting together is directly affiliated and sponsored by the International Justice Mission,” Corneliusen said. “They work in several countries, and in the U.S., to put people on the ground to change laws and wordings around different legalities regarding trafficking. They also bring people to freedom.”
Jander said the IJM rescues victims of human trafficking and provides counseling services or resources to help them recover.
“I am very glad that I had the opportunity to participate in this year’s Lighthouse,” Ojeda said. “I feel like I’ve, in one way, grown as a person.”
Jander encouraged people to get involved but said the club does not require a big commitment.
“There are little steps that you can take that make a difference,” Jander said.
Anyone interested in Lighthouse can contact Corneliusen at her email or message Lighthouse on Instagram at lighthousecune.
