Life Defenders
What is Life Defenders?
Life Defenders is a youth-focused educational program of Right to Life of Northeast Indiana designed to train and equip students and young adults to confidently and compassionately defend human life. The program exists to help the next generation understand the value of every person—born and unborn—and to communicate the pro-life position with clarity, compassion, and conviction.
Life Defenders provides apologetics-based training, helping participants learn how to discuss abortion, human dignity, and life related issues in ways that are persuasive, thoughtful, and rooted in both science and ethics. Life Defenders emphasizes respectful dialogue, practical conversation skills, and a strong understanding of human development.
Life Defender Programs
• Life Defenders Summer Camp
Life Defenders Summer Camp is a three-day immersive apologetics experience designed for high-school and college-aged students who want to strengthen their pro-life advocacy. Hosted on the University of Saint Francis campus in Fort Wayne, this camp provides in-depth training from national speakers, interactive discussions, and real-life practice sessions.
Students learn how to communicate the pro-life message effectively, respond to common questions with grace, and build confidence in sharing their beliefs. Life Defenders Summer Camp includes meals, housing, camp materials, and a community of like-minded young leaders.
This event is ideal for teens and young adults seeking transformative, faith-aligned, and skill-building pro-life training.
• National March for Life Participation
Life Defenders plays a significant role in preparing and guiding students during the National March for Life. Each year, high-school and college-aged participants travel with Right to Life of Northeast Indiana to Washington, D.C., where they join thousands of others in marching publicly for the protection of unborn children.
This experience allows young people to put their training into action, engage with a nationwide community, and witness firsthand the impact of peaceful pro-life activism. Students gain confidence, build friendships, and understand the importance of being a visible voice for life on a national platform.
• Ongoing Engagement
Life Defenders offers year-round opportunities for students to stay engaged in the pro-life mission beyond major events. Through internships, volunteer roles, student leadership opportunities, and community involvement, young people can continue developing their skills while making a real impact in Northeast Indiana.
Whether assisting with local events, supporting education efforts, participating in outreach, or helping with organizational projects, these opportunities help students grow as compassionate leaders and advocates for human dignity. Life Defenders is committed to fostering long-term growth and equipping teens and young adults for meaningful involvement in the pro-life movement.
Testimonials
"Coming to Life Defenders for the first time, I learned from a variety of topics—not just abortion, but eugenics, gene editing, and so many different things—and it really expanded my views and challenged me in my thinking too."
- Makella, 2025 Student
"I can't think of any other place that's doing this—or doing it better. This is just the premier camp to send my kids so they can get this kind of training."
- Pastor Phil, 2025 Camp Chaperone
"I came as a student to the very first camp, and then the next summer I came back again as a student leader. The camp started small—maybe a couple dozen students—but it has grown larger over the years, even having to find new locations, and that’s great news, right? What’s so exciting is coming back year after year now as one of the speakers, seeing how we can go deeper and learn better answers to complex objections—and that’s why I come back."
- Seth Drayer, National Pro-Life Speaker
