Our Responsibility to the Next Generation

Recently, I heard a speaker say that it doesn’t matter who you vote for … Democrat or Republican. What does that even mean? Was he saying that voting along a particular party line doesn’t matter? Was he saying that it doesn’t matter who you vote for? Or was he saying that it doesn’t matter whether you vote at all? I’m not sure. But I can confidently say this, your vote does matter and it does matter who you vote for. Here’s why. Women are being harmed by abortion, babies are dying, and there are four bills in the Michigan House of Representatives that support physician-assisted suicide. And if that isn’t reason enough, here’s another one … voter apathy. In 2024, 750,000 Republican voters did not vote in Michigan’s general election.

I read devotional by Joni Eareckson Tada. She was talking about King Hezekiah’s illness and that he was near death. Hezekiah pleaded with the Lord to save his life and the Lord heard his prayer and granted him another 15 years. A son of a neighboring Babylonian king heard about his illness and sent him gifts. In response, Hezekiah gladly showed him all the storehouses of his kingdom. The prophet Isaiah confronted Hezekiah and warned him that the Babylonians would one day carry off his treasures, his people, and even Hezekiah’s own children. Can you imagine? Men, women, and children would be overcome with suffering, slavery, and death.

Hezekiah was unfazed by the prophet’s pronouncement and was concerned only for self-preservation when he thought (Isa. 39:8), “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.” Joni’s conclusion serves as a huge reminder of our responsibility to the next generation. She wrote … “There is no room for selfish rationalizations … Just because we live in dangerous days does not give us an excuse to ignore the next generation … Each of us must protect our storehouse of faith and ensure through whatever means available that we make decisions beyond our lifetime. Our words, our wallets, our votes, our prayers—all must be harnessed to protect our descendants from captivity to a reckless world.”

The RLM PAC endorsed 87 pro-life candidates who confirmed their commitment to life-affirming values and principles. Your vote mattered when 84 of them won the primary election. In November we will have the privilege of voting again. Before that vote, you will have to opportunity to meet some of the candidates who represent Berrien County at our next event called Cookies & Conversation (wherein cookies and coffee will be served). It will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 6:30 pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 9650 Church Street in Bridgman. We also invited guest speaker Danny Earl from Right to Life of Michigan to talk about our mission and messaging that encourages women to make the courageous choice for life. In addition, we are hosting a Diaper Drive that benefits LifePlan. If you would like to participate, LifePlan Benton Harbor needs diapers--sizes 4, 5, and 6. Please bring them with you to the event.
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Make a plan to vote in November’s general election. You can retrieve your own personalized pro-life ballot at www.rtl.org/get-involved/elections/. Come to our event so that you can be informed and stand with us and the endorsed candidates for life … because voting really does matter.