Changing Lives with the
Gospel
through You
2017 Annual Ministry Impact Report
CONTENTS A Year in Review .................................. 2
Ministry by the Numbers ............. 10
Impact Stories .................................... 12
Consolidating Statement of Activities ......................................... 20
Board of Directors & Foundation Members ................ 21
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 2017 has been a time of great excitement throughout the church as we not only celebrated 100 years of mission and ministry through the International Lutheran Laymen’s League/Lutheran Hour Ministries, but also the historic anniversaries of the Reformation and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. While these remembrances have allowed us to celebrate past blessings, they’ve also provided a chance to look at new opportunities on the horizon to share Christ’s love with lost and hurting people around the world. For the past 100 years, God has used Lutheran Hour Ministries to bring messages of hope to the downtrodden, the lonely, the lost. Decade by decade, we have risen to challenges to proclaim the Savior. Each milestone required a bold step of faith. Today, with billions of souls in danger of entering eternity apart from Christ, the need to boldly proclaim the love of Christ is greater than ever. Lutheran Hour Ministries will not rest until we proclaim the Gospel to as many of these souls as possible, in ways they can understand. We rejoice that you made the decision in the past year to partner with Lutheran Hour Ministries. Your support allows us to share the Good News with more than 71 million people each week in more than 50 nations around the world through a variety of culturally-relevant outreach programs and resources. Your gifts, prayers, and volunteer involvement allow hurting people to find answers and relief in the Gospel. Please explore this year’s ministry impact report to see some of the ways God is working through you. I hope you are humbled to see how God uses our talents and treasures to make His Gospel known. Thank you so much for your faithful support and for allowing us to support and encourage you in your daily life. May God bless you richly in the coming year!
In His Service,
Kurt Buchholz President & CEO Lutheran Hour Ministries
A Year in Review
How Your Gifts Helped LHM Share the Gospel in 2017 Lutheran Hour Ministries witnessed exciting progress in 2017 for each of the four strategic ministry priorities outlined in our comprehensive five-year strategic plan. Following are some of the ways in which LHM was abundantly blessed by God during the last year thanks to your generous support.
ENERGIZE, EQUIP, AND ENGAGE LAITY FOR OUTREACH Our new LHM Learn website (lhm.org/learn) went live Aug. 1 and provides free outreach resources that help individuals reach out with the love of Jesus Christ in their everyday lives. In just the first few months, more than 1,800 people signed up for an account and more than 1,350 course hours were completed. Courses are developed under five categories: Christian Foundations, Cultural Concepts, Everyday Insights, Outreach Essentials, and Spiritual Reflections. 2
A new partnership with the Barna Group provides LHM with vital information about the beliefs and needs of both our own constituency as well as non-constituents. This research-based model not only positions LHM to provide timely and relevant offerings, but also situates us as an emerging thoughtleader within the U.S. Christian church. LHM is developing outreach workshops for identified congregations based on this research. The design and writing of a monograph based on qualitative and quantitative research under the theme of Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age has begun, and the finished product will be offered in 2018 for church leaders around the U.S. Just in time for this year’s Reformation celebrations, A Man Named Martin – Part 3: The Movement wrapped up LHM’s three-part video Bible study series on the life and impact of Martin Luther. This final installment showed how the Reformation accelerated the transformation of a world already in flux. While armed conflicts, theological disputes, and heated controversies marked segments of society throughout medieval Europe, the march of the Reformation left its imprint on the face of culture and citizens alike. 3
GROW GOD’S KINGDOM THROUGH EXPANDED MEDIA OUTREACH LHM’s flagship ministry, The Lutheran Hour®, reaches more than 1 million listeners each week through traditional radio, a mobile app, and its website. In a year where we celebrate LHM’s 100th anniversary, we are pleased to honor the legacy of The Lutheran Hour program by having Rev. Drs. Ken Klaus and Dale Meyer behind the microphone while we search for our next speaker. LHM is launching a podcast network that will eventually include 10 offerings. Three podcasts are currently in the works: Digging Deeper: a weekly webinar that delves into outreach topics covered through courses on LHM Learn; Action in Ministry: inspirational stories about LCMS congregations doing interesting outreach in their local communities; and Sentido Latino: a broadcast offering guidance for the cultural, moral, and relational challenges facing the Latino community today and connecting listeners to LHM’s Gospel-based resources.
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As technological advances evolve, LHM wants to engage the next generation in using their God-given gifts in media development for the sake of the Gospel. In order to do this, LHM is creating the Walter A. Maier Award. This award honors exemplary media projects produced by students of the Concordia University System. The annual competition will also allow submitted entries to be used and shared within future LHM offerings to help bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Nine episodes of This is the Life – Classics are available on Pure FlixŽ, a Christian film and television studio that produces, distributes, and markets Christian-themed entertainment and family-friendly films. While this is the first outlet for online streaming of the beloved classic television show, we continue to seek additional opportunities and formats. The syndication efforts for our animated Christmas television specials were especially robust during December 2017, with more than 825 clearances being secured for our various programs. This number more than tripled the airings from 2016. The Trinity Broadcast Network was one of the more significant clearances, along with airings on NRBTV and Inspiration TV.
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BRING THE GOSPEL TO THE UNREACHED AROUND THE WORLD LHM signed a partnership agreement with SAT-7, the first and largest Christian satellite network in the Middle East and North Africa, to co-produce and air a weekly variety TV program for youth and young families in the region. This new programming will potentially reach tens of millions of viewers in 20 countries, spanning from as far west as Morocco to as far east as Iraq and the Persian Gulf. In addition, more than 300,000 individuals are now following our new Facebook page in Lebanon that shares short videos and inspirational messages and are often asking to have this content feed into their personal timelines. Individuals throughout Latin America who are seeking answers to some of the common issues of today now have a new online resource available, vivenciar.net. Once visitors arrive at the website, they can look deeper into their selected topic and start an online dialogue with trained volunteers from LHM ministry centers in Latin America. The recent repurposing of the stunda.lv website in Latvia also provides expanded opportunities to share the message of Jesus with people looking for answers. 6
Widespread access to radio allows this medium to continue as an important outreach strategy for LHM globally. That’s why recent increased funding designated for additional proclamation programs around the world led us to invest in a new radio program in Kenya following a 15-year hiatus. The program, called That’s It!, dramatizes common struggles and offers a biblical perspective in resolving conflict. It is unique in the region by using actors to modernize parables in vernacular languages.
Here in the U.S., around 50,000 students from nearly 500 Lutheran schools participated in the Online Mission Trip to Madagascar during National Lutheran Schools Week 2017. This virtual mission adventure enriched students’ world-view as they watched engaging daily videos to expand their awareness of the world and how God’s church is at work. Beyond the videos, classes interacted with LHM– Madagascar staff by posting questions on Facebook and Twitter.
LUTHERAN H OUR MINIST R
IES on li ne m is si on tr ip
JANUARY
2 3 - 2 7, 2 01 7
R eg is te r to d ay ! lhm .org / o n l inem
is s io n t r ip s
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ENGAGE COMMUNITIES IN THE DIGITAL MISSION FIELD In today’s digital age, people increasingly go online to learn, connect, and even build relationships. LHM launched THRED Feb. 1 to share the eternally-relevant message of Jesus in this digital space. Through THRED, we are creating engaging content, like blog posts, graphics, videos, and more, that discuss real issues of life and faith. The message of Jesus is core to the content, but THRED also allows different perspectives to be shared. By fostering open and honest dialogue between people from different backgrounds, LHM believes the Holy Spirit will work in these types of interactions. Over the course of its first nine months, THRED has generated a total reach of nearly 3.5 million (a weekly average of 79,825), more than 734,000 video views, and more than 108,000 likes, comments, and shares through its platforms of Facebook, YouTube and THRED.org.
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It’s easy to get excited about the large groups being reached by THRED, but LHM does not lose sight of the fact that these numbers represent real people— people like Jeremy for whom God may be using THRED to show them His love:
Honestly as a nonbeliever, I was blown away by the format of the conversation. Absolutely perfect idea; I wish I would have discovered this sooner, and perhaps could find a way to be involved in the future.
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MINISTRY BY THE NUMBERS
50+ Countries Reached Through Our Ministry
71 million+ People Reached with the Gospel Globally Every Week
1,800+ North American Stations Airing The Lutheran Hour
63,104 New Bible Correspondence Course Students Enrolled Annually Around the World
492,115 Annual Responses to Outreach Efforts
4,500+ LCMS/LCC Churches Using LHM Resources 10
1 million Listeners to The Lutheran Hour Each Week
21,494 People Connected with Christian Communities Last Year
119,000 Video Plays in the Last Year on LHM’s Vimeo Page
108,701
58,283 Annual Referrals to Churches
Engagements (likes, comments, shares, etc.) through THRED platforms
317
75,000
Staff Members Worldwide
LHM Volunteers and Supporters
55,596 People Trained in Evangelism Last Year
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SHARING THE GOSPEL IN UNEXPECTED PLACES
Many Lutherans found it significant to observe the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. Some did it by visiting Wittenberg, Germany, in the months and years leading up to Oct. 31, 2017, since Wittenberg was the birthplace of a movement that changed the worlds of religion, education, society, politics, and science. It is significant to see how this historical event was celebrated around the world, sometimes with even more interest and vigor than in the “Christian West.” Indeed, the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation provided many opportunities to present the meaning of the Gospel in places that are not considered to be the usual strongholds of the Protestant movement. In Indonesia, LHM’s ministry center director arranged a special lecture in November about the history and significance of the Reformation at a surprising location—the Masjid Rahmatan Lil Alamin Mosque (one of the largest mosques in southeast Asia) in West Java. Rev. Dr. Douglas Rutt, LHM’s executive director of international ministries, served as the guest keynote lecturer in front of university students, faculty members, senior-high students and teachers, parents and guardians, staff, and board members of the Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School. “It was an incredible but fearsome honor to have been asked to give a three-and-a-half-hour lecture on the Reformation to more than 4,500 attendees,” says Rutt. “Not knowing what to expect and feeling insufficient for the task, I remembered the verse from Luke 12:11-12 and prayed that God would give me the words to present the lecture in such a way that not only the historical facts would be covered, but the significance of the Gospel for Christians would also be heard loud and clear.”
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LHM–Indonesia staff distributed two booklets in the Indonesian language, A Treasure Revealed: Martin Luther and the Reformation and The Reformation Twelve (12 Reformers), and souvenirs such as pens and thin notepads which also included LHM’s ministry center contact information. Attendees were very interested in Rutt’s message and enthusiastically participated in a question and answer session. At the closing ceremony, the founder and leader of Al Zaytun, Syaykh Panji Gumilang, joined with their board members to show their appreciation and respect by presenting a miniature model of their mosque to Rutt. In return, LHM presented a plaque with the Hebrew home blessing. “It is clear to me that the Reformation certainly does not belong only to Germany, nor does it belong only to the West, but that the fruits of the Reformation will spread throughout the world as God continues to open doors for His message of love, hope, and forgiveness in the most unexpected places,” says Rutt.
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SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH ROAD WARRIORS
While Project Connect topical booklets and display stands are frequent fixtures in church narthexes, business offices, and other places where people gather, you might not expect to see them at truck stops. Well, Gene Mackay from Nebraska is changing all that. Mackay, a lifetime member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and long-time fan of Lutheran Hour Ministries, has found an outlet for these powerful little booklets—and it just might be a stroke of inspired genius. He teamed up with Bill Sapp, a friend of his and CEO of Sapp Brothers Travel Centers, who gave Mackay the green light to place Project Connect’s standing display racks in each of his 17 locations. Altogether, they stretch from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Fairfield, Pennsylvania, with locations in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois, in between. Envisioning the multi-location arrangement went something like this, according to Mackay. “I was talking to Bill, and he believes in putting out the Word of God. I showed him what Project Connect looked like, and he was very impressed. He was going to have a meeting with all his managers and see what they thought. It turns out that they all very much approved of them.” Mackay sees the trucker’s need—and the lonesomeness of this lifestyle. “They’re out there pretty much by themselves. There’s a lot of spare time and just being away from home a lot. It’s a rough life, really,” he said. He’s also a believer in the value of Project Connect booklets that cover dozens of topics. “I’ve got two of them in my home church (Good Shepherd Lutheran in Gretna), and I’ve also put display stands in a couple of other churches” (nearby Lutheran churches in Papillion and Plattsmouth).
From left to right: Bill Sapp and Gene Mackay
To date, 10 Project Connect display stands have been set up at Sapp Travel Centers. At sites remote from Mackay’s home in Gretna, the stands are placed on company trucks heading to the various Sapp locations. Upon arrival, they are assembled and loaded with booklets. Mackay is personally funding the stands and booklets. He anticipates all 17 will be in place in about a year. “I’ve had to restock at least four of them already; they’re going out so fast. Two were totally empty; the other two were halfway depleted,” Mackay said. Sapp is more than happy to help Mackay in his quest to share some words of hope and encouragement with the truckers and travelers who visit his travel centers. “Give him all the credit; it’s his idea. He’s putting up these display stands for truck drivers to read about topical issues from a Christian perspective,” he said.
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SHARING THE GOSPEL WITHIN THE DIGITAL MISSION FIELD
Michael and Annie are trained volunteers tasked to respond to comments left by participants on the Facebook page of LHM’s THRED digital ministry. One of their recent engagements was with a participant who took part in a long discussion thread on the topic of hope. “Hope is a lie we tell ourselves,” wrote Robert in response to a video posted on THRED’s Facebook page. Annie countered by asking Robert whether he might think otherwise if he were told that hope is “being certain of things you can’t see.” “I’ve already read Hebrews 11,” answered Robert, establishing himself as someone acquainted with the Scripture to which Annie had alluded. This was shaping up to be a deeper conversation than you’ll see in most social media. Then Michael joined in and ventured that “Placing one’s hope in the wrong things can lead to disappointment … When I put my hope in the things that Jesus has promised, I won’t be let down.” Then he reengaged: “What are your thoughts on that?” “Not everybody believes in the sovereignty of Christ,” Robert replied. “Not everyone shares your experiences with hope.” Michael persisted. “My hope in Christ can be true for all those that believe. Do you believe in the sovereignty of Christ?” “I choose to believe despite my lack of hope and certainty,” Robert confessed. Then, in a surprise move, Robert “pulled back the curtain,” so to speak: “Michael and Annie, who trained you guys? You are clever by making comments to interact with me, feeding my ego as though I’m important enough to create a conversation around.” 16
Undeterred, Michael acknowledged Robert’s insight: “I’ll level with you … I do volunteer for THRED. My goal is to be a Christian witness by responding to comments and engaging in relationships with people. I’d say that’s been successful, because we’ve made it this far (in our discussion). And I’m not trying to force anything on you; that’s not my job. I can merely plant seeds.” The THRED moderator joined in soon afterward to affirm what Michael had explained and to thank Robert for “so articulately sharing” his thoughts. “I enjoy the conversations,” Robert concluded. In a nutshell, this demonstrates that THRED is operating as designed! Our volunteers work hard to give participants the assurance that they are “important enough to create a conversation around” (because they are); they encourage participants to share their heartfelt concerns; and they respond to each participant with genuine respect and compassion. Relationships often result—relationships into which the Gospel can be planted. For some participants, this may be the clearest Gospel witness they will ever have received.
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SHARING THE GOSPEL THROUGH ENGAGED VOLUNTEERS
Alfred and his twin brother have encountered many obstacles that started early in life. When their parents found out the boys were blind, they initially wanted to abandon the twins before ultimately placing them in a school for the blind to continue their education. Both boys are now grown up and in their early 20s but have found difficulty locating jobs following their college graduation. However, Alfred has found great joy in sharing the Gospel with others. Some time back Alfred encountered Lutheran Hour Ministries— India while their staff was distributing free materials at a local event for the blind. Even though his parents were followers of a different religion, he wanted to learn more about Christ and would frequently travel a great distance to take bundles of tracts produced in Braille to continue studying the Word of God. As he learned more, he began participating in the ministry center’s Bible Correspondence Courses. Eventually he and his brother were baptized and now attend church services regularly. But Alfred’s story with LHM does not end there. He has begun volunteering for the ministry regularly and eagerly distributes Gospel booklets and cassettes on trains traveling throughout the country. While most of the people he meets are interested in hearing more about the Gospel, he sometimes faces opposition that places him in uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situations. In one case, a passenger tried to push him off the moving train. “His stories and experiences with tract distribution bring tears to our eyes,” says the director of LHM—India. “But he says the Lord is always with him and he will carry out our ministry as long as the dear Savior allows him to live in this world. We praise God for giving us the opportunity to meet Alfred and partner with him in sharing the Gospel with those who do not yet know Christ.” 18
God’s Word brings joy to those in darkness—spiritually and physically. An LHM official at left gives Braille material to Alfred and his brother.
In addition to holistic events such as eye clinics where tracts are distributed, LHM—India broadcasts a weekly radio program in the southern portion of the nation that is produced in two major languages: Tamil and the national language, Hindi. Recognizing the cultural influences of music, song, and drama, the India ministry also brings the Gospel to listeners through devotional songs, dialogues, stage plays, dance, and rallies for large audiences in big cities and remote villages. To see the culturally-relevant ways that other LHM ministry centers share the Gospel in more than 50 nations, visit lhm.org/international.
He says the Lord is always with him and he will carry out our ministry as long as the dear Savior allows him to live in this world.
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25% - E STA T
TR
IS I
N
-M
-C
%
76 %
66
17% - FUND DEVELOPMENT
Consolidated Operating Income
Y
Consolidated Operating Expenses
ON
T RI B U TI O
S IFT EG
7% ADMINISTRATION
9% OTHER INCOME
NS
International Lutheran Laymen's League and Subsidiaries Consolidating Statement of Activities (in thousands) Year ended May 31, 2017, with comparative totals for 2016 OPERATING SUPPORT AND REVENUE
2017 INT’L LUTHERAN LAYMEN’S LEAGUE
2017 LHM FOUNDATION
2017 CONSOLIDATED TOTALS
2016 CONSOLIDATED TOTALS
Donor support Other income, net
$28,874 940
$1,611 2,195
$30,485 3,135
$29,284 150
Operating income
29,814
3,806
33,620
29,434
Ministries 25,024 Administration and Fundraising 7,619
- 162
25,024 7,781
24,138 7,398
Operating Expenses
32,643
162
32,805
31,536
Operating Income in Excess of Expenses
(2,829)
3,644
815
(2,102)
OPERATING EXPENSES
Non-operating income
1,344
-
1,344
1,320
Non-operating expenses
1,026
341
1,367
1,268
Non-operating Net Income
318
(341)
(23)
52
Endowment and other fund distributions
932
(932)
-
-
Change in Net Assets
(1,579)
2,371
792
(2,050)
Net Assets, Beginning of Year Net Assets, End of Year
30,103
15,613
45,716
47,766
$28,524
$17,984
$46,508
$45,716
Lutheran Hour Ministries is the registered d/b/a name for the International Lutheran Laymen’s League. A copy of the full audit report is available online at lhm.org/report.
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LHM Board of Directors (As of December 2017)
CHAIRMAN Phillip Johnson
VICE CHAIRMAN Gene Partlow
SECRETARY Janice Wendorf
TREASURER Paul Pettit
Maplewood, Minnesota
Williamsburg, Virginia
Grafton, Wisconsin
Lincoln, Nebraska
DIRECTORS Londa Borer-Skov Sacramento, California
Jack Ficken Fairview, Tennessee
Richard “Dick” Gast Mission Viejo, California
Kay Meyer
Andreas Schwabe
St. Louis, Missouri
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Michael “Mick” Onnen Davenport, Nebraska
Leonard Pranschke St. Louis, Missouri
Weldon Schwiebert Westland, Michigan
William Snow Watertown, South Dakota
Gretchen Jameson Muskego, Wisconsin
The Lutheran Hour Ministries Foundation (As of December 2017)
OFFICERS John “Jack” Kidwell
Jeffrey Craig-Meyer Loren Podoll
Lois Engfehr
Chairman
President
Assistant Secretary
Secretary
Bay City, Michigan
St. Louis, Missouri
Brian Mitchell
Rev. Jay DeBeir
David Lanius
Vice Chairman
Vice President
Treasurer
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
TRUSTEES Kurt Buchholz LHM President & CEO
St. Louis, Missouri
Riverton, Wyoming
Collinsville, Illinois
St. Louis, Missouri
Glenn Gerber
Calvin Neeman
Katy, Texas
Waterloo, Illinois
Phillip Johnson
Lynn Scudieri
Int’l LLL Chairman of the Board
Naples, Florida
St. Charles, Missouri
Phil Daniels Chesterfield, Missouri
Jack Ficken Int’l LLL Board of Directors Representative Fairview, Tennessee
Maplewood, Minnesota
Kelly Keithly
Shawn Sny Saginaw, Michigan
Yuma, Arizona
David Leege
Karen Soeken Ellicott City, Maryland
Alexandria, Virginia
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