LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 121

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
proclamation with a global network of partners. We work in areas
where other Christian organizations are often not present and use
local staff and volunteers who know the language and culture to
create contextually relevant programs that most effectively share
the Good News with individuals living in these regions.

God’s Blessings upon LHM’s Outreach in the
Past Triennium
As we build upon LHM’s 105-plus-year history and move forward into the mission field, great opportunities abound.
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More than three billion people have yet to hear the saving
message of Christ.

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Technology allows us to engage with each other more efficiently and effectively than any other time in history, especially as people crave a relationship with God and each
other.

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We can use our gifts to make a real difference right where
we are, among people we know and see every day. Our faith,
put into action on a local level, can make an immediate and
personal impact in our neighborhoods and beyond.

The following strategic priorities support our vision for the future and Christ’s call to reach the world with the Gospel.

Impacting People Globally
As we navigate a shifting world culture, we know the saving
message of Christ does not change, but the way we share it does.
LHM continues to assess and adapt current ministry approaches
while developing new ones as needed to allow hurting people
around the world to find answers and relief in the Gospel.
A global pandemic like COVID-19 presented enhanced opportunities for staff in our more than 30 ministry centers to expand
radio and television broadcasts as well as digital approaches instead of focusing on traditional in-person ministry activities. These
changes were made to not only conform with government regulations concerning quarantine and social distancing within each
country or region but to also keep staff members, volunteers, and
individuals reached through ministry safe. At a time when individuals around the world, both Christian and non-Christian, needed to
hear Christ’s messages of hope and comfort more than ever, these
modified approaches through our unique global ministry model allowed us to continue sharing the Gospel without interruption. Locally produced broadcasts on topics of interest attract a variety
of audiences and invite viewers or listeners to contact the local
ministry center to receive resources that address the topic from a
Christian perspective. Respondents also have opportunities to take
a Bible Correspondence Course and connect with a local Christian
community.
LHM continues our partnership with SAT-7, the first and largest
Middle East and North African Christian satellite TV network, to
share Christ’s love throughout the region through satellite television programming. Broadcasting in this region potentially reaches
millions of viewers in more than 20 countries. In addition to the
three seasons of the New Light talk show that discusses pertinent
issues related to youth and young adults on SAT-7’s Arabic channel, LHM has expanded our program support on the SAT-7 PARS
channel to reach Persian-speaking individuals of all ages in Central
and South Asia. We also initiated a partnership with the PAK7 media ministry to support new television programming as well as the
production of videos and social media content.

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Holistic outreach is an effective way of demonstrating to people the love of Christ. These programs have a comprehensive impact in reaching both body and soul as a ministry to the unchurched
in word and deed where both physical and spiritual needs are addressed. In African nations like Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and
Liberia, our successful holistic programs continue to reach at-risk
young adults, especially women, through medical camps, prison
ministry, vocational training, and spiritual guidance and fellowship.

Impacting People through Digital Engagement
In today’s digital age, people increasingly go online to learn,
connect, and build relationships. The launch of THRED® in the
United States several years ago served as LHM’s first significant
move into this digital mission field, and our successful extension of
digital engagement into places like Latin America, the Middle East,
North Africa, and Asia confirms our belief that we can successfully foster similar digital strategies in other areas of the world. As
the digital mission field continues to grow, emerging technologies
will offer unique opportunities to communicate with audiences in a
broad variety of ways, with content that is specific to the individual
platforms on which people are engaging. Our continued focus on
digital engagement worldwide will rapidly increase the capacity for
the priesthood of all believers to connect more and more souls to
the saving message of Christ.
Vivenciar.net continues to be an instrumental platform for
reaching Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking individuals worldwide,
including an increased focus on connecting with Hispanics living
in the United States. More people than ever are searching online
for guidance on topics like stress, anxiety, depression, fear, guilt,
toxic relationships, and other relevant issues. Vivenciar.net assists
these individuals through live chats, blog posts, articles, e-books,
and courses. It also offers a safe space where trained volunteers can
listen to what people have to say about specific situations in their
lives and accompany them in these moments with biblically based
support and guidance.
Our new CPTLN app (Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones) continues a “by Hispanics for Hispanics” approach to connect with
growing Hispanic audiences in the most culturally effective way.
The app serves as a mobile hub for all LHM Spanish resources,
including sermons, sermon notes, daily devotions, booklets, Bible
studies, reflections, Vivenciar.net, a Bible app, and a chat function.
Our successful Online Mission Trip transitioned to a new program called Gospel Adventures™ beginning in 2019. Following
up on our Passport to Peru, Go Mongolia, Thailand Trek, and
Zambia Bound adventures, the 2023 program is focused on the
Asian nation of India. This interactive virtual experience includes a
five-day curriculum, videos, theme music, hands-on activities, and
more—all working together to provide participants with a deeper
understanding of the work of the Gospel in their own lives and how
God is at work in people’s lives in another part of the world. More
than 40,000 elementary and middle school students typically participate each year, but the experience offers something for people
of all ages.
The Lutheran Hour® continues to expand its reach through
digital means beyond traditional radio stations in North America.
While it currently airs each week on more than 1,800 stations as
well as the American Forces Network, the program is also available as a podcast and on new media platforms like Amazon Alexa,
Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Home, and Sirius XM satellite radio.
2023 Convention Workbook