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The mission of Christian Life Resources is to use life and family issues as
bridges to convey the love of God and to share the message of salvation through
Christ. This organization educates people on what God's Word has to say about
the value and sanctity of human life. The intent is to mobilize Christians to make God-pleasing decisions about life and family issues. We focus attention on many issues such as: abortion, infertility, birth control, post-abortion syndrome, infanticide, medical directive statements, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. More information can be found in our topical library. You may also access CLR's Position Statement on Abortion by clicking here.
When the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion nationally on January 22,
1973, members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Libertyville,
Illinois, saw the need to do something. Working with their pastor and with
members from area Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) congregations,
they opened the first WELS Lutherans for Life pregnancy counseling center. As time passed, more and more independent centers
sprouted up around the country until 1983 when they united to form the national
organization that exists today as WELS Lutherans for Life. In 1999, the
name was changed to Christian Life
Resources, Incorporated.
The national office provides counsel to clergy, teachers, and lay people on a
wide range of life- and family-related topics. It is a resource center of
materials and services on these issues. Most importantly, the national office
educates others on the perspective of God's Word as it relates to these issues.
Through its official publication, Clearly Caring, lending library, email services and resource
files, the national office seeks to answer the question, "What would God have me
to do?" based on the direction found in God's Word.
To date, the organization consists of 22 chapters
which operate 21
pregnancy
counseling centers across the United States. These centers are visited by
approximately 4,000 clients each year. In addition to these regional chapters
there are currently 25 congregational branches (including one in Canada, as well as 1 college and 7 Teens for Life affiliates). For an overview of the pro-life work accomplished by Christian Life Resources, click here.
Christian Life Resources also helped to organize and fund most of the work of
New Beginnings - A Home for Mothers located in the Denver, Colorado, area. This
program began in 1993 in response to the needs of single mothers and their
newborns by providing residence and assistance in spiritual, academic, and
vocational concerns. It is currently staffed by two full-time house parents and one part-time relief staff members.
Christian Life Resources subjects itself to the doctrine and practice of the
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, but it is not supervised or funded by the WELS budget or its administrators. To view the WELS Resolution on Abortion,
click here.
When the national office opened in May 1983, it operated from the church
office at St. John's in Libertyville, Illinois. In time it was moved to
Plymouth, Wisconsin. From there it moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when Pastor
Robert Fleischmann was called to be the first national director of the
organization. For six years the office occupied two different locations in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area near Mayfair Mall. In January 1995, the office opened
the doors to an expanded office location next door to the WELS Administration Building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Beginning July 10, 2008, Christian Life Resources moved its headquarters to a an even larger location at 3070 Helsan Drive, Richfield, Wisconsin. The new location allows CLR to expand its ministry, develop a Life Center, and provide a suitable area for the Family Treasures and Gifts store. We invite you to visit when you are in the area!
You can also contact the CLR office by phone at 1-800-729-9535 or by email by clicking here.
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