LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 23

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 23

R1-03
Lutheran Hour Ministries

Lives are being transformed with the Good News of Christ
Jesus, thanks to the Holy Spirit and the efforts of “Bringing Christ
to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church.” That's the essence
of mission for the International Lutheran Laymen’s League and its
Lutheran Hour Ministries.

In the current broadcast season, thousands of individuals have
been saluting the 70th anniversary of “The Lutheran Hour” and the
10th anniversary of the popular “Woman to Woman” radio pro-
gram. Over the years, a changeless Gospel has been applied to
changing times and new technologies. The Lord has blessed the ef-
forts of a wide range of formats from radio to television, the printed
word to the Internet, and from the witness of young adults to the
activities of congregations throughout The Lutheran Church——Mis-
souri Synod.

Since the last convention, there have been many opportunities
for spreading the Word of God. Here are examples.

Outreach Is Growing

¢In recent years, “The Puzzle Club” series of animated television
specials has brought the impact of the Gospel in practical ways
to young viewers. Tens of thousands of people have responded
and received Christ-centered booklets to promote the Good News.
Many have been placed in touch with local congregations.

¢ TV classics such as “This Is the Life,” “Easter Is. “Yeshua,”
“Three Days,” “Christmas Is,” “The City That Forgot about
Christmas,” and “The Magic Boy’s Easter” have made their im-
pact on the screen or as video offerings for home and congrega-
tional use.

* “On Main Street,” the weekly syndicated television program, ed-
ucates and motivates thousands of viewers as it presents issues,
specialists, and prominent individuals such as former President
Jimmy Carter. Program participants often provide a solid witness
to the Lord. In 2001, the program had spread its signal to 90 over-
the-air stations and | 33 cable outlets.

¢ Revitalized outreach to Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian
Americans has involved renewed interest in radio, television, and
print methods.

*Recommitment to motivating young adults with the saving
Gospel became a major emphasis for Lutheran Hour Ministries
as new avenues were explored. Implementation of various new
concepts includes the debut of a break-the-mold activity of life-
changing proportions at the 2001 LCMS national youth gather-
ing.

¢ “The Lutheran Hour” graces airwaves each weck over more than
1,000 radio stations in North America. Each broadcast carries a
Gospel-directed message, hymns and spiritual songs, plus prayers
and a question-and-answer segment.

* More than 400 radio stations carry “Woman to Woman,” whose
encore broadcasts are also available in streaming audio via the In-
ternet. The program heightens interest among thousands of lis-
teners who receive advice and tips from experts on diverse sub-
jects ranging from good health and family relations to money
management and abuse. Among notable guests have been Mau-
reen Reagan, daughter of former President Ronald Reagan.

*The World Wide Web site (www.lhm.org), “Wired with the
Word,” presents a wealth of witness tools, uplifting materials, and
wholesome activities. Like “Woman to Woman,” “The Lutheran
Hour” can be heard on demand through the technology of Re-
alAudio. International Ministries (www.lhmint.org) provides the
light of the Gospel through Web sites hosted around the world,
serving people of many cultures and languages.

¢ Various programs produced by international offices have in-
volved creative formats in reaching the young as well as the old
and special segments of society, such as prisoners.

Advancements Have Been Made in Other Areas

* On Oct. 20, 2000, the new World Headquarters for Lutheran Hour
Ministries was dedicated in suburban St. Louis, MO. The facility
enables the organization to grow in this fast-paced and changing
electronic age and is proving to be a blessing in general opera-
tions that foster the spread of the Gospel in North America and
through more than 50 sites worldwide.

Hundreds of affiliated groups are serving their congregations by
providing Bible study and topical materials from Lutheran Hour
Ministries and by coordinating special service projects.
“By Kids ... For Kids” has involved thousands of children in fill-
ing and shipping more than 100.000 boxes of much needed mate-
rials with a Christian witness to counterparts overseas.

Parish Media Teams have trained a multitude of congregational
representatives in how to network within the church and how to
utilize local and regional media opportunities. Well over 1,900
congregations and about 7,500 individuals have participated.

“Servants to the Nations” has involved hundreds of individuals
in work projects overseas.

The formation of the Lutheran Hour Ministries Foundation in
2001 allows for more advance planning to meet future financial
needs of ministry.

The Hoffmann Society and its Gospel Acolyte participants con-
tinue to add to their numbers as a means of supporting outreach
ministries beyond their lifetimes.

Under aggressive, strategic international evangelism initiatives,
new ministry centers have been established. These include Yu-
goslavia, Nicaragua, the Bahamas. Cameroon, Madagascar, Viet-
nam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and others.

A series of key anniversaries were marked, such as the 60th an-
niversary of international broadcasting through the office in the
Philippines and the 50th anniversary of outreach efforts through
the office in Lebanon. Last year also marked the 20th anniversary
of the league’s Research Center Archives, the second largest
archival reference collection in the LCMS and the largest collec-
tion on Lutheran broadcasting.

* Demonstrating that the entrepreneurial spirit that gave rise to the
foundation of the Int’] LLL in [917 is still thriving, today a moti-
vated force of volunteers numbering in the thousands explore cre-
ative means to be positive influences in their congregations,
zones, and Districts.

Districts foster the spread of the Gospel through special projects
such as scholarships, fund-raising events, religious retreats,
camps, and social gatherings. Among the largest totally self-
funded District projects is the Lutheran Hour Float in the Tour-
nament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA, which celebrated its
51st year of parade involvement and annually draws 5,000 vol-
unteers who witness for Christ through this unique labor of love.
¢ Numerous congregations are using “Project: Connect” booklet

racks supplied with Lutheran Hour Ministries brochures on an
ever-expanding menu of crucial topics.

“Living for Tomorrow” continues its multi-faceted media cam-
paigns with radio, television, and print outreach coordinated and
supported by local congregations and volunteers in select locations.

An Activated Laity

The vision of the Int'l LLL is captured in these words: “We will
become a growing number of involved and enthusiastic supporters
who evangelize to an increasing number of people worldwide, con-
necting them to the church.”

More and more, people who sense the urgency of the times and
want to make a difference in the name of Christ are joining the
Lutheran Hour Ministries mission. “It is an amazing and wonderful
outreach program, especially for people who don’t know God. I
think it’s wonderful,” says Nancy, a middle-aged woman in Alaska.

She is not alone in her conviction. Edwin, who lives in the Mid-
west, carried a burden for those of his family who were not mem-
bers of any church, says Al Koepke, who directs the Development

2001 Convention Workbook