The Lutheran Layman — Fall 2021

Fall 2021

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS in a Post-Pandemic World

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Advent Devotions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Nurturing Your Faith. . . . . . . . . . 9-10 Vivenciar in the U.S.. . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Gospel Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Ethiopia Flood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Changing Lives Globally. . . . 20-21 Rose Parade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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THE WORD Turned Toward God is turning toward you.

Are you turning toward Him?

by REV. DR. MICHAEL ZEIGLER, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour

O

nce there were two prospectors who keys?” Strike two. One more chance. “I finished went hunting for gold. The first searched painting the kitchen,” she says. And I say, “Nice high and low for a large golden nugget. lines on the trim work.”

When he passed along a mountain stream or See, the words “I finished the kitchen” are through a cavern with his lantern, he would see not merely relaying information. They are a flecks of gold in the cave wall or in the stream bid, a request for connection. The first response bed. But they were so small, so insignificant. turned against that bid, “took you long enough.”

Why waste his time? The second prospector The second turned away, “Have you seen my took a different approach. He stopped to scrape, keys?” The third turned toward, “Nice lines.” sift, and scrounge for every fleck of gold he The research showed that these miniscule could find. In the end, all those tiny, seemingly moments of turning toward each other again insignificant specks added up. He accumulated and again in the everyday interactions accrued. ten times as much gold as the first.

Over time, they build up a storehouse of Dr. John Gottman performed hours of emotional credit in the relational bank. clinical research Sometimes people treat a … our whole life long, God is relationship with God like a to determine what makes a relationship hunt for a gold nugget. As long turning toward us in Jesus. healthy. His team as I collect a few mountaintop learned that emotional connection—a heartfelt moments, I should be set, right? But the truth bond of trust and mutual respect—is the gold is, our whole life long, God is turning toward us standard for any relationship. Through his in Jesus. Through His life and teaching, through team’s research, they busted the myth of the His death on the cross and resurrection from relationship gold nugget. This myth tells a the dead, Jesus won a great treasure—goldtroubled couple that they can heal their conflict standard forgiveness, love, and commitment. with a romantic getaway. The myth tells a And by the Holy Spirit, He is turning toward us. disconnected family that they can make things God is like the second prospector. He is right with an extravagant vacation. Gottman’s sifting and scrounging, capitalizing on every research, recorded in his book, The Relationship seemingly insignificant interaction, always Cure, showed that while these big events turning toward you. Through the Bible, through have a place, they are not the key. The key to the water of Baptism and the bread and wine building that bond of trust is the accrual of the of Communion, through every conversation seemingly insignificant moments of chit-chat centered in Jesus, God is turning toward you. created by words turned toward.

Are you turning toward Him? Martin Luther For example, let’s say my wife paints our said that when we receive Jesus, “through faith kitchen. After it’s done, she says to me, “I we are bound to Him.” We are made to be “like finished painting the kitchen.” And I say, “Took the Word,” the Word who turns toward. Amen, you long enough.” Now, how would that go for let it be so. = me? Okay, let’s try again. She says, “I finished Adapted from a message for The Lutheran Hour aired January 6, 2019. the kitchen.” And I say, “Have you seen my car

Vol. 92, No. 4 Fall 2021 Chad Fix, Editor

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Andrea Thompson, Layout

Subscription: $5. Printed quarterly. Send color photos for use. Photos sent to the paper may not be returned. Lutheran Hour Ministries, The Lutheran Hour, Bringing Christ to the Nations, BCTN, This is the Life, Ayer, Hoy y Siempre, Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones, Esta Es La Vida, Para el Camino, THRED, and The Hoffmann Society are ® registered marks, or SM service marks. The Puzzle Club is a service mark and trademark of Int’l LLL. All rights reserved, 2021 Int’l LLL.

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Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church

Gittimook is a student at a Christian high school in Thailand who has grown up practicing a non-Christian religion. Through a church in her area, she received an LHM–Thailand booklet with the Gospel message, which led her to enroll in the ministry’s Bible Correspondence Courses. The LHM staff introduced her to a local church where she has been attending services and a Bible study group. Through the power of God’s Word, Gittimook became a Christian and is working on growing in her faith.

Thank YOU for bringing the Gospel to people like Gittimook.

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS

Over the past year and a half, online searches for Bible verses and encouraging words like hope, comfort, and prayer have skyrocketed.

in a Post-Pandemic World

A

by CHAD FIX

n ongoing crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic sometimes leads to unanticipated effects. One of the positive outcomes from this troubling situation has been the realization that more people are open to hearing about the Gospel and then exploring their own spirituality during these times of uncertainty. Over the past year and a half, online searches for Bible verses and encouraging words like “hope,” “comfort,” and “prayer” have skyrocketed.

This should not be entirely surprising. In times of need, spiritual matters often rise to the forefront for anxious people who would not typically turn to religion under normal circumstances.

As we prayerfully begin to move beyond the unprecedented experiences of COVID into what many term as a “new normal,” our individual efforts to share the Gospel may feel stuck in neutral. As Christians, we want our unchurched neighbors to know we care for them. So how do we spread God’s Word and invite others into the priesthood of believers moving forward?

“Sharing our faith is not simply about knowing the biblical and theological content of our conversation; it starts with ‘how do you have a conversation?,’” shared Rev. Dr. Tony Cook, LHM’s vice president of Global Ministries, during a recent online presentation to ministry leaders at the Inspired to Thrive Conference hosted by Siebert Lutheran Foundation. “How do you build to the point of gaining a hearing for the Gospel and then convey that Gospel message in a way that is relatable and understandable to the hearer?”

Understanding the Cultural Contexts for Sharing the Gospel In 2017, Lutheran Hour Ministries began a partnership with Barna Group, a worldrenowned, premier Christian research firm.

The resulting research findings helped form an outreach philosophy to guide the ministry’s outreach initiatives and equip individuals and churches to share the hopeful Gospel message through spiritual conversations, deepen faith in households, and impact neighborhoods with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“While there is only one Gospel, there are an infinite number of ways of proclaiming that Gospel and gaining a hearing for it.”

The research showed that the ways Christians share, how often they engage in spiritual conversations, and their goals for sharing faith are different than they were 25 years ago. The attitudes and responses of those who hear the Gospel have also evolved. Technology and rapid cultural shifts, including the impact of the internet and social media, have redefined the ways

we communicate. The initial research topic, Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age, focused on this shifting definition of evangelism and the perceptions of faith sharing from both sides of the conversation: the sharer and the hearer.

“When we started this work, the pandemic did not exist yet. We developed our philosophy, were teaching it, and then COVID came around and very quickly the context for communication began to change,” says Cook. “When we look at gaining a hearing for the Gospel and sharing our faith today, we really can’t do it in isolation to the context in which we live. The Gospel does not exist in isolation to society.

In fact, the Gospel is most powerful when it is planted in the soil of the culture of a society and is allowed to express itself in a way that really addresses the issues of that particular culture. While there is only one Gospel, there are an infinite number of ways of proclaiming that Gospel and gaining a hearing for it.”

Here are just a few cultural contexts to consider as we begin to navigate spiritual conversations in a post-pandemic environment. see next page The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 3

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS …

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Post-Christian Growth:

Rusty Social Skills:

Acknowledging the transition from a predominantly Christian context in North America to a growing post-Christian context is something that must be explored to gain a hearing for the Gospel in a post-pandemic world. About a quarter of adults in the United States now consider themselves to not be affiliated with a religious creed. This means that instead of people having no introduction to or knowledge of the Gospel, they have heard it and might have even been brought up in a Christian environment. However, they have chosen a unique perspective on the world. Many of these people may have even had a negative experience, either personally in their faith or by someone in their family, with the Christian church.

Months of quarantine, ongoing social distancing guidelines, increased time on social media, and growing numbers of individuals working from home means that a lot of us have not had deep face-to-face conversations for quite a while. Plus, when we are hurting, it is often easier to withdraw and retreat into isolation. For many, that means that events that used to be commonplace, like going to work, meeting friends for dinner, or attending parties, have been difficult to return to. We can find healing through reestablishing these faceto-face, personal relationships—even if it takes time. Like the apostle Paul once said, we are called to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

people’s views rather than immediately dismissing them. These diverse perspectives are not created to challenge us or make us feel uncomfortable; they are literally the way that people interpret the world and cope with what happens around them.

We can find healing through reestablishing face-to-face, personal relationships.

Loss of Meaning in Daily Lives:

Perspectivism as Personal Truth: Each of us has different perspectives on daily life that are based on a variety of things. From our physical embodiment to how we were raised by our family, and from our economic or political backgrounds to our personal life experiences, the lens of how we view and interpret the world is shaped by these various influences. When we attempt to gain a hearing for the Gospel, we must acknowledge that these differing perspectives are real and gain skills in understanding other

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The meaning of our existence is something that in a post-pandemic world is becoming of real importance to people. While Christians understand there is a greater purpose in life, this is often not the case for our non-Christian friends. Look no further than the recent trend of people leaving certain occupations because they want to have a greater purpose than working a low-paying job day-after-day for the rest of their lives.

Hybrid Christianity: Christianity has increasingly become untethered from individuals simply attending worship services at the physical location of their local church. With the rise in online worship options, individuals are choosing the Christian messages they hear in the same way they decide which series to watch next on Netflix. This means people are increasingly now aware of a multitude of different perspectives and theologies.

The Spiritual Conversation Curve

Based on the research findings uncovered in partnership with Barna, LHM set out to find a practical way to equip Christians for spiritual conversations. If we are to be Christ’s witnesses, we need to be able to engage in spiritual conversations in natural, winsome, and fruitful ways. This desire to equip the church led to the careful development of a practical tool for reluctant conversationalists: The Spiritual Conversation Curve. This conversation model is simple, but not simplistic. The Curve illustrates the relationship between three important questions:

1. What is the spiritual posture of the person I want to talk with?

2. How can I be in prayer for them given their spiritual posture?

3. What type of conversation would be most fruitful to pursue?

Of course, there are a multitude of religions, spiritualities, and philosophies within today’s spiritual landscape; that is one of the striking features of the age we live in.

But relative to the Christian faith, there are actually three basic spiritual camps in our culture today: those who are unreceptive to Christianity, those who are receptive to Christianity, and those who are seeking clarity about Christianity. You can see these three basic camps along the bottom of the Spiritual Conversation Curve.

The corresponding prayerful responses to each posture (gain a hearing, give Good News, and guide toward faith) can be found in the arrows along the top of the Curve.

As you can see if someone is unreceptive, the wise approach is to pray God would help us “gain a hearing.” If someone is receptive, we pray God would help us “give Good News.” And if someone is actively seeking clarity about faith, we pray for help to “guide toward faith.”

Applying the Curve in a Post-Pandemic World

But what do you actually talk about? Notice the six different conversation types found at each point along the Curve. Each distinct conversation type is helpful, but it is the spiritual posture of the non-Christian that determines when each type of conversation is most helpful. Knowing where someone is in their spiritual journey helps you discern whether it is most helpful to chat, relate, share, connect, explore, or clarify.

Following are practical tips and resources for contextualizing your spiritual conversations in a post-pandemic world.

UNRECEPTIVE

Gain A Hearing

CHAT Chatting about life builds trust RELATE Relating to each other’s joys and pains deepens connection After living through a year and a half of COVID, many people have run out of things to talk about.

Here are some helpful tips to start a conversation: • • • • • •

Find common ground Be observant and curious Look forward Do something different Cut out distractions Pass the ball often

• • • • • •

Think: What can I learn?

Limit the complaints Prepare some topics Focus on asking Keep a sense of levity Emphasize kindness

Resources: Neighborhood Bingo Looking for a fun way of getting to know your neighbors and neighborhood better? Try playing a game of Neighborhood Bingo! This game features dozens of questions and activities designed to help you naturally get to know your neighbors better. Buy the game or download a card at lhm.org/together.

LHM Learn Courses (lhm.org/learn) Chat and Relate: A Curve Short Course: Examine the important and loving act of building trust and deepening connection with a friend or neighbor who is unreceptive to the Gospel. This course will equip you to do this through chatting and relating conversations.

Open Doors: The Art of Hospitality: Take a deeper dive into the vibrancy characteristic of Christian hospitality. Learn what the Bible says about welcoming the stranger and join us in the Open Door Challenge.

Love Thy Neighborhood: Get to know your neighbors and love them not just with words but also with deeds. Dig into Scripture, hear neighbors’ stories, and get ideas to try in your own neighborhood.

We need to be able to engage in spiritual conversations in natural, winsome, and fruitful ways. see next page The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 5

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS …

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RECEPTIVE

Give Good News

SEEKING

Guide Toward Faith

SHARE Sharing Jesus at work in your life affirms His relevance

EXPLORE Exploring questions about faith encourages searching

CONNECT Connecting Jesus to daily life reveals Good News

CLARIFY Clarifying costs and rewards of following Jesus prepares for faith

These individuals are searching for identity, fighting anxiety about how to live in today’s world, experiencing loneliness, and wondering about their purpose and what matters beyond them.

These individuals are searching for information on topics like faith and reason, church and state, the practice of prayer, love of neighbor, Christian ethics, understanding of worship, the comfort and power of the Gospel, and Christian identity.

Resources: Vibrant Conversations Deck This is not your average set of playing cards. Each Vibrant Conversations Deck is equipped with 52 thought-provoking questions with each suit being a different category. Not only can these cards be used to play your favorite card game, but they can be used to spark spiritual conversations wherever your household is gathered. Visit lhm.org/households.

THRED Join an open and honest conversation with people of all backgrounds about life, faith, and Jesus. Visit thred.org for articles, blogs, and videos that start better conversations in more places.

LHM Learn Courses (lhm.org/learn) Share and Connect: A Curve Short Course: Examine how we can affirm, to our friends and neighbors, Jesus’ relevance through sharing and connecting conversations. Its goal is to help learners share Jesus with their receptive friends and connect Him to their everyday lives.

The Power of Stories: Connecting God’s Faithfulness to Everyday Life: God has been faithful to you, right? There is power in these stories ... when you share them with others.

This course explores faith stories as personal narrations of a life event in which God demonstrated His faithfulness to you. It will prepare you with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond confidently to others by sharing your personal faith stories.

Discover the delight of spiritual conversations with a full kit of tools.

Visit lhm.org/conversations.

Chad Fix oversees the corporate communications of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

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Resources: The ‘Sharing Jesus’ Bundle This booklet series tackles honestly and head-on the questions that people have been asking for more than 2,000 years. The bundle includes a Project Connect Junior display with 10 copies each of Who is Jesus?, Why Did Jesus Die?, What is Faith in Jesus?, and the children’s booklet, Do You Know Who Jesus Is? Visit shoplhm.org.

Podcasts (lhm.org/podcasts) Speaking of Jesus: Hear real people having a real conversation about life, Jesus, and what He means to them. We encourage you to invite Jesus into your everyday conversations, too.

The (Im)Partial Church: Discover how Christians embrace different cultures, celebrate diversity, and live out their faith.

Nurturing Your Faith Bible Studies (lhm.org/studies) Forgiveness: This four-part Bible study considers how our first sin required God’s pardon to re-establish the broken God-man relationship caused by our original rebellion. Along the way, it looks at how God works through the forgiveness we seek and offer in our lives, and it reminds us that where there is love mercy can triumph.

Spoken: Discover the power of spoken words in God’s mission in the world. Through spoken words of the Creator, nothing became something; through spoken words of the Son, demons scattered, winds died down, and sickness disappeared; through our spoken words, the Gospel advances, relationships are mended, and people experience forgiveness.

LHM Learn Courses (lhm.org/learn) Explore and Clarify: A Curve Short Course: Learn about the powerful act of encouraging, searching with, and preparing, a seeking friend for faith through exploring and clarifying conversations.

The SENT Life: Study the Gospel of John where the language of being sent can apply to all Christians. It will equip you to affirm that all Christians are sent by God into the world.

Embracing the Whole Gospel: Explore the Gospel as the good news, the kingdom of God, has come in Jesus, and through Him, all creation is restored. Be equipped to embrace the whole Gospel narrative and more deeply appreciate its impact on your daily and eternal life. =

Celebrating the

True Meaning of the Season

by KURT BUCHHOLZ, President & CEO, Lutheran Hour Ministries

… remember the peace and joy God gave the world through His Son.

W

hile we continue to navigate challenging and uncertain times around the world, the opportunity to celebrate Jesus’ birth in the coming weeks helps us remember the peace and joy God gave the world through His Son. Taking time to honor our Savior and the salvation He brings strengthens our faith and renews our hope.

As we prepare to prayerfully be able to return to normal in-person gatherings with family and friends this Christmas, here are four ways to make the season even more meaningful in your heart and in your home.

1. Practical ways to share the love of Christ this Christmas Sometimes celebrating can take the form of intentional everyday gestures. From considering others to carving out time in your day to pray, you can share Christ’s love in these thoughtful ways.

CARE: The needs all around us are immense—that single mom struggling to make ends meet, the elderly widower still mourning his beloved, and so many more.

Consider how you can help serve people. Join with outreach efforts through your church. Buy a gift or card for someone in need.

HONOR: Too often those who sacrifice the most are rarely appreciated. Think of ways you can honor those who give so much— teachers, pastors, first responders, healthcare workers, and others.

REMEMBER: As you pray, ask and listen for the person God puts on your heart to pray for.

Remembering to pray and spending time praying for others is one of the most generous gifts you can give.

INTRODUCE: The Christmas season is the perfect time to introduce others to Jesus Christ— the Child who came to save the world from sin. Be intentional about sharing your faith with others

so that even more receive the gift of eternal life and discover the joy of a relationship with Christ.

SUPPORT: The last two years have been incredibly difficult for many businesses, organizations, and people who carry out the work there. Make a point to support a struggling small business in your community. Add an extra tip for a restaurant worker. Donate to nonprofit organizations doing good in local communities and around the world.

TIME: Give the gift of your time— your presence—to that teenager, senior citizen, coworker, or others who need advice, a listening ear, or just silence. Your physical presence will comfort them.

For extra guidance during this glorious season, I encourage you to check out our variety of Christmas resources at lhm.org/christmas.

2. Sacred screen time

Gather with loved ones, prepare snacks, and watch a Lutheran

Hour Ministries holiday television special. Visit lhm.org/guide to find an LHM holiday broadcast showing in your community.

3. Reflect on the biblical Christmas story Sometimes we hear the story of Jesus’ birth so much, we forget the God-ordained details. Reflect and meditate on the full Christmas story found in Luke 1:5-2:20.

4. Throw a birthday party for Jesus Whether it’s Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the birthday boy is Jesus! Spend time planning a celebration, complete with a birthday cake and decorations. As you enjoy the party, everyone can share what Jesus means to them.

Thank you for your partnership, prayers, and support of our global mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. May God bless you and your family this Christmas season. =

Coming in January 2022!

Learn more and register for free at GOSPELADVENTURES.ORG The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 7

The goal of PAK7’s ‘Bedtime Stories’ is to share Bible stories and Pakistani cultural stories to engage children with Bible truths.

Share the Child of Promise with Others This Year

by PAUL SCHREIBER

draws near, we remember this season can Encouraging Children with New Video A sbeChristmas hectic for many. Holiday hassles like relationship disagreements, too little money, and too many expenses Programming in Pakistan can fray our mental wires. That’s where the real message

by MEGAN MCDANIEL

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fter the more than 25 years of success that SAT-7 has enjoyed with satellite broadcasts in the Middle East, a former SAT-7 executive started a sister ministry in 2014 called PAK7 to do video, social media, and satellite programming in the south Asia nation of Pakistan. Beginning this past spring, LHM initiated a partnership with PAK7 to support new children’s programming. Other aspects of the partnership include producing videos and content for social media.

PAK7’s video content producer had the idea of taking a successful SAT-7 Arabic Channel program called Bedtime Stories and producing a similar program for children in Pakistan. The goal of PAK7’s Bedtime Stories is to share Bible stories and Pakistani cultural stories to engage children with Bible truths.

The addition of co-host Mintu adds to the storytelling format of the program.

Mintu is a voice for children on the show.

A bold puppet that can get away with asking questions kids want to ask, Mintu gives the host the opportunity to explain stories clearly, and to focus on the lessons they want children to hear and take away.

There are three ways children can watch television in Pakistan. Most children watch national television 8 | The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021

networks where religious content is not allowed. Some children have access to uncensored satellite television, and a small but growing number of children have access to YouTube.

To make sure Bedtime Stories can be viewed and enjoyed by children both Christian and non-Christian, PAK7 created 14 episodes. In half of the episodes, the host shares stories from the Bible which are intended to be shown on Christian TV channels. In the other half of the episodes, the host shares Pakistani cultural stories with Christian values that are able to play on the national television networks.

All episodes of the show have beautiful animation, lively songs, and Mintu who asks questions about what the stories mean. In addition, every episode is available on the PAK7 kids YouTube channel. PAK7 hopes that children who watch Bedtime Stories on national TV will love the program so much that they search for the Bible story episodes on YouTube for additional content.

Bedtime Stories is available now and we look forward to seeing how God works in the hearts of the children who watch. = Megan McDaniel reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work around the world.

of Christmas comes in. This year’s LHM Advent devotions, Child of Promise, are written by Dr. Kari Vo, LHM’s theological writer. They will help you focus on the Messiah and not get derailed by the messiness.

With many still grappling with COVID-19 restrictions and uncertainties, Child of Promise offers comfort and hope with its focus on the birth of God’s Son. “During this pandemic, it’s been hard for a lot of us to feel connected to God’s gift of Jesus. We don’t have all the usual blessings we’re used to—Advent services in person without worries, concerts, and children’s programs, for example. I hope that these Advent devotions can help just a little with the need we all have to draw near to Jesus and hear God speaking to us in love and mercy,” Vo says.

As a way to help others draw closer to Jesus, Child of Promise can be easily shared. Available to read online, print off as a PDF, and personalize for congregation use, these brief messages make an ideal outreach resource. Like our regular Daily Devotions, each Advent message features three reflection questions to spark thinking about wider day-to-day applications of God’s Word on a personal level.

“The questions are meant to get people thinking, and to help us relate the Bible text to our own lives. I try to write questions that people in all stages of life can use, even those who are not believers yet. The first question is usually pretty easy. By the third question, we are looking at very personal ways that God has acted in our own lives,” Vo says.

Child of Promise can be read or heard, beginning November 28 at lhm.org/advent. You can also receive it as a daily email during the Christmas season. A Spanish version, Hijo de la promesa, will be available to read, listen to, or receive as a daily email, beginning November 28. Rev. Hector Hoppe reads the texts. Spanish Advent devotions can be downloaded and printed for personal use or group sharing, too. Visit paraelcamino.com/adviento for all the details. = Paul Schreiber reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work in the United States.

NURTURING YO U R FA I T H : PA R T T W O

Holying Hope

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elcome to this Nurturing Your Faith study on the Christian life together. With your Bible and journal at the ready, begin reading below.

After reading the commentary and studying the Word, you’ll be prompted to watch a video online. May God bless your study!

INTRODUCTION

LEARNING FROM THE WORD

Life is filled with rumors. From conversations, social media, TV, news, and entertainment, we can’t escape rumors. Some seem unbelievable, but what about subtle notions that can slip into your mind? Here’s one of eternal consequence: Are your sins really forgiven? Are you really going to heaven? A nineteenth century theologian, C.F.W. Walther, wrote, “Every person has heard a vague rumor that God has pardoned him, but he cannot arrive at any certainty about it.” (The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel, Dau edition, 179.)

Mission Central in Mapleton, Iowa, teaches and funds mission work for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Sunday after Sunday, Mission Central’s Director, Gary Thies, likes to ask church people if they will go to heaven when they die. Here’s an answer he often gets, “I hope so. I’ve tried to lead a good life.”

Read 1 Peter 1:13-21.

REFLECTION

How do you answer the question? How rock solid is your confidence in the promises of heaven?

The purpose of our study is to replace vague rumors with holying hope.

Let’s reflect on, as Paul Harvey used to say, “The rest of the story.” One of the most important passages in the Gospels is called the “Passion Prediction.” Jesus told His disciples ahead of time that He was going to die and rise. “‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And when He is killed, after three days He will rise.’

But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask Him” (Mark 9:31b). It’s easy to blame those long-ago disciples for not understanding their Messiah was going to die and rise, and the fact is, they didn’t get it. The first disciples never understood until the resurrected Jesus appeared to them. Do we get it in our time?

A Bible-believing, Christ-confessing church will indeed talk about the resurrection of Jesus.

It happened. It’s history, blessed history, but is there more to the story? How often do we stress that Jesus is now alive, now at the right hand of God, and soon to return in glory as the Judge of all? Of course, we don’t deny that. We recite it in the Apostles’ Creed almost every Sunday. “He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.” But how often do we leave worship filled with awe that Jesus is living, His Spirit is in my life, and I can’t wait to see Him face-toface? What Jesus did in history is absolutely necessary for the forgiveness of our sins and the hope of heaven, but that history is incomplete without “the rest of the story.”

The verses of our study show why only Jesus can give us confidence about going to heaven.

A key word in verses 13-17 is “holy,” which means God is totally different from us. God is Creator; we are creatures. God is divine; we are human. God is eternal; we are mortal, dying.

God is pure; we are so often impure. God is sinless; we daily sin much. “I am who I am” is God’s name (Exodus 3:14b) and there is no one like the holy God (see 1 Chronicles 17:20).

We can agree God is holy, but it gets worrisome when God demands holiness from every one of us. He says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (v. 16, quoting Leviticus 19:2). It doesn’t say “do holy things” but “be holy.” Is your every thought holy? How about those deep feelings you have that would shame you when they become known? “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Before the Judge who searches the heart (see Hebrews 4:13), we come up eternally short. “I hope I’m going to heaven. I’ve tried to lead a good life” just doesn’t cut it.

And yet, though God is holy, He is also our Father through Jesus our Lord. Peter begins verse 17, “If you call on Him as Father.” The word “if” can also be translated “since.” Even though God is so far beyond us, and even though we have reason to be terrified by His judgment, God continued on next page The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 9

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wants us to come to Him as our Father. Jesus shows us when He teaches us to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven” (see Matthew 6:9-13). Dare we come to God as our Father? Not according to the Law, which predominates in verses 13-17, but “Yes” because of the Gospel, beautifully spoken in verses 18-21.

These great Gospel verses begin, “Knowing that you were ransomed” (v.18). “Ransomed” would have made those first Christians think of the exodus from Egypt or being set free from slavery in the Roman Empire. Whichever association the first recipients of the epistle made, freedom from bondage was the point for them and is the point for us. Our human destiny is bondage under death because of our sin. Jesus enters our destiny by dying, a just Man for us who are not by nature righteous, and transforms our destiny, leading us back to the Judge, to the embrace of our Heavenly Father (see 1 Peter 3:18-19).

The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything for the first disciples; it took them from wishywashy hope to sure and certain confidence in the Savior. From cowering in fear Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the resurrection gave them such hope of heaven that they were willing to lay down their lives to confess their Lord. The transformation is for us as well. “Through Him [you] are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (v. 21).

This is our “holying hope.” You won’t find “holying” in the dictionary; it’s a catchy way to understand the old theological word “sanctify.” Sanctify means “to make holy.” A sainted professor of Concordia Seminary, Dr. Robert Bertram, liked to talk about the “holying” Spirit because the Spirit sanctifies our sinful, unholy nature. Just as God the Father is holy and Jesus is holy (see Mark 1:24; 1 Peter 3:15), so the Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son is named the Holy Spirit (as in 1 Peter 1:11), but it’s more than a name. This is the Spirit’s work, to fit us for God and heaven. “You were washed [by the Word of God in Baptism], you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11b). Our faith and hope is based upon saving history, it must be; there is no salvation outside of Jesus’ cross and resurrection. Holying hope orients us consciously toward our future, “the rest of the story.”

• How can the call from God found in Scripture to “be holy” create uncertainty and doubt in people?

REFLECTION

• What does it mean to “be holy”? How are we made “holy”?

• Explain in your own words your “hope.” What do you hope in?

Watch the video at lhm.org/studies from Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour, and then come back here to finish the study.

CONCLUSION If you rely on your good intentions and efforts, including your best religious efforts to make you right with God, you’ll never know if you’ve done enough.

Certainty of forgiveness becomes, as C.F.W. Walther said, “a vague rumor.” But when the Holy Spirit works “holying hope” within us, we look beyond ourselves and solely to Christ.

Thy works, not mine, O Christ, Speak gladness to this heart; They tell me all is done, They bid my fear depart.

To whom save Thee, who canst alone For sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

(LSB 380:1) The Holying Spirit instills confidence that every sin, every dark thought and feeling has been forgiven by the Father for Jesus’ sake, and you now have sure and certain hope of everlasting life in heaven, to an “inheritance ... kept in heaven for you ... a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice” (see 1 Peter 1:4-6). Dr. Walther make a very commonsense appeal: “Can you imagine that the loving, kind, gracious, and merciful God has done nothing to make us certain that we have the forgiveness of our sins and that in yonder world we shall enter the mansions of eternal peace and rest? It is impossible to imagine that, having done all this, He would during our whole life leave us in a dreadful state of ignorance” (Law and Gospel, 179).

We join with the saints singing in praise: Jesus lives! To Him the throne High o’er heaven and earth is given.

I shall go where He is gone, Live and reign with Him in heaven.

God is faithful. Doubtings, hence!

This shall be my confidence.

(TLH 201:2)

P R AY E R REFLECTION

Read 1 Peter 1:13. What does it look like in your daily life to prepare your mind for action?

All praise and Glory be to the Father for what He has given us in Jesus. Amen.

D O W N LO A D S T U DY G U I D E A N D V I D E O AT L H M . O R G / S T U D I E S 10 | The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021

Relatable Topics Presented by LHM Staff at Best Practices Heartland

by MEGAN MCDANIEL

Evangelism for Exiles:

S

ince it began at Christ Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Arizona, the goal of the Best Practices for Ministry Conference is to help other congregations most effectively use their God-given gifts. Best Practices for Ministry Heartland started in 2015, when what is now Cornerstone Lutheran Church brought the concept of the conference to Indiana to make it more accessible to congregations in the “Heartland.” The conference has always been free of charge for those who attend, and participants are greeted with warm hospitality, great speakers, and practical workshops.

This year Best Practices for Ministry Heartland was held September 19-21 at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Michigan. “Although Michigan greeted us with fall rains, hearts were warmed over a whirlwind couple of days of presentations, impromptu conversations in the courtyard and exhibit hall, and of course outside of conference trips to Bronner’s, the Bavarian Inn, and many other wonderful Frankenmuth businesses,” says Nicole Heerlein, associate director of external relations for LHM. Following the cancellation of Best Practices Heartland in 2020 due to the pandemic, this

How to reach out in a Secular Age

year’s presentations and dialogue focused on the importance of continuing to reach out to others.

“While pre-pandemic presentations had merit, there was greater intentionality and timeliness to the exchanges at Best Practices Heartland,” Heerlein continues. “The reminder was great— that we have much to do and not all of it occurs within four walls.”

Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies, LHM’s regional director for North America, twice presented a breakout session to full audiences on “How NOT to Let Issues Prevent Relationships.” Dr. Lakies also opened the second day of the conference with a keynote. His keynote message spoke to reaching out post-pandemic but also within our post-Christian world. At right are the title and description to Dr. Lakies’ relatable keynote, including thoughts many of us have had.

New Children’s App Developed by LHM–Myanmar by CHAD FIX

C

OVID-19 continues to infect many individuals throughout Asia and has caused most of LHM’s ministry centers on the continent to close their offices and staff to work from home. Due to continued government lockdowns, face-to-face ministry activities have mostly been prohibited.

Though this ongoing situation has provided challenges over the last year and a half, it has also opened doors for LHM ministry centers to use innovative strategies through mass media and digital programming and platforms to reach people with the Gospel during this time of stress and uncertainty.

In addition to dealing with the effects of the pandemic, LHM–Myanmar has been forced to adapt its ministry efforts due to ongoing unrest and violence within the country in response to last winter’s military coup. Although Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and some websites are currently banned, LHM staff has been able to share the Good News with followers and subscribers on these platforms through a virtual private network (VPN).

Now, LHM–Myanmar has launched a free app for children that can be installed on Android mobile devices through the Google Play store. The Hope for Kids app, which does not require VPN to use, debuted Sept. 30 and includes reading, video, and audio options for content such as children’s Bible Correspondence Courses, children’s songs, puppet shows, and children’s booklets. The courses and booklets contain moving images and can even be downloaded to read offline. We thank and praise God for providing this new way to share the Good News with children in Myanmar while churches and schools there remain closed. =

We live in a secular age. The culture is hostile. We weren’t trained for this, and we feel unprepared. We’re frustrated and exhausted in trying to figure out how to offer a winsome and effective witness. These are just some of the common sentiments we express as we try to minister faithfully in our time.

What if there’s a better way? What if we can understand the culture better?

What if there are helpful strategies for better sharing our faith?

Mixing research, cultural analysis, and stories, this presentation will help you better understand how to tap into the openness to the Gospel that’s all around us and teach you an effective strategy for approaching outreach.

To learn more and dig deeper into these topics with Dr. Lakies, visit lhm.org/ourlhm. =

November 30, 2021

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

PSALM 62:8

LHM.ORG/GIVINGTUESDAY The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 11

Expanding Our Digital Presence with Hispanic Ministry in the United States

God continues to open doors for LHM to reach people with the Gospel …

by MEGAN MCDANIEL

L

utheran Hour Ministries’ is excited to announce the expansion of Vivenciar.net into the United States as part of our Hispanic ministry outreach program. Pioneered and developed by LHM ministry center staff in the Latin America region, Vivenciar.net is a bi-lingual platform that reaches Spanish and Portuguese speaking individuals.

The digital platform offers guidance, support, and direction to individuals seeking help through live chats, blog posts, articles, e-books, and courses.

“Vivenciar.net is a space where we listen to what people have to say about specific situations in their lives and accompany them in these moments,” says Deaconess Noemí Guerra, LHM’s program developer for Hispanic ministry.

Since it began in 2017, the purpose of Vivenciar.net has been to start conversations with non-Christians who are looking for help and guidance about relevant topical issues on

the internet. Young adults are gravitating to the internet seeking help, including millions who are curious—or have doubts—about Christianity.

The Vivenciar.net website serves as our hub for digital outreach throughout Latin America.

Through Vivenciar.net, staff and volunteers enter into digital conversations with individuals and provide biblically based answers for their lives.

“We have a team of Christian volunteers ready and willing to talk to everyone who interacts with us confidentially, to offer biblical support and guidance. We are very excited to be able to be with people and talk to people especially during difficult times,” Guerra explains.

We hope that if someone searches words like “anxiety,” “depression,” or even “suicide,” the Vivenciar.net website will come up and they can find all kinds of resources or choose to chat live with someone. By using a digital platform, volunteers can respond to messages as soon as

they come in, ensuring timely feedback for those seeking conversation.

There have been thousands of interactions with individuals on Vivenciar.net through the Latin America efforts so far and the number of interactions and e-book downloads have been increasing on the United States platform since it launched in August.

God continues to open doors for LHM to reach people with the Gospel in the United States and around the world through digital resources.

A woman who recently moved from Cuba to Florida visited the United States Vivenciar.net website. She was suffering from anxiety and relationship problems, and after talking with volunteers for several days, she agreed to be connected to a local Lutheran church. We are thankful for our relationship with her, and we are encouraged that she is taking steps to learn more about Jesus. =

YOU can share the Gospel this Christmas season! To make your giving easier, here is some quick information on 2021 end-of-year giving opportunities:

Give the Greatest Gift this Christmas by CHAD FIX

Y

ou are a gift. We could not be more blessed to have you as part of the Lutheran Hour Ministries family.

This Christmas, the greatest gift you can give is the Good News of the Savior’s arrival. Who would have expected the King of kings, the embodiment of the Father’s love, to be born in a manger? The Christ Child came to redeem us from the curse of sin and death.

You can help us proclaim Him with a year-end Christmas contribution. Your generosity helps ensure that Lutheran Hour Ministries’ work will continue to reach people in more than 60 countries, often connecting with people in places where they have no other opportunity to hear of Jesus.

12 | The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021

1. Make a cash gift through 9 p.m. CST on Dec. 31! You can donate online via credit card or PayPal at lhm.org/give or by calling 1-877-333-1963. Or mail a check to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141—just make sure it’s postmarked for Dec. 31 or earlier to take advantage of extended tax breaks created by last year’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Individuals who use the larger standard deduction can also reduce their 2021 taxable income by up to $300 ($600 for couples) when they give cash gifts to qualified charities. In addition, those who itemize will find normal limits are eliminated for gifts of cash up to 100 percent of adjusted gross income.

2. Give a Christmas gift to LHM in honor of a special friend or family member.

What a wonderful way to keep Christ in your gift-giving this year!

3. Support ministry through a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA. Or consider other popular giving options such as the establishment of a charitable gift annuity, donation of appreciated securities, or creation of a donor advised fund to receive potential tax savings. Find out more at lhm.org/giftplan or by calling our gift planning staff at 1-877-333-1963. =

Encouraging Others to Share the Good News

by MEGAN MCDANIEL

P

When LHM’s Project Connect booklets were introduced in 1996, Paul and Dorothy knew they wanted to utilize them to share the Gospel with others.

“When the first Project Connect booklets were produced, I purchased two stands, set them in the church narthex, filled them with booklets and continued purchasing additional booklets. When the church redid the narthex and moved the stands, I took them and the booklets and found other locations for them.”

Paul put one of the booklet racks right outside the chapel at a senior living facility in Fort Wayne.

The other rack went to a local resale shop where people donate and buy clothing and household items at a discounted price. Both of these locations are high traffic areas for people who might be looking for hope and may not know about Jesus.

Photo from Paul and Dorothy Doenges Paul has also reached out to his pastor about purchasing LHM’s children’s “I want booklets to include in Christmas cards to to be an share the Gospel message with children. encourager In addition to his use of Project Connect to share the booklets, Paul also receives LHM’s Daily Devotions through his email every day.

Good News “Every evening when the Daily Devotions and inspire are sent to my email address, I add some others to get Bible passages at the end and make copies involved with for three people, who then pass them on to other residents of our community.”

LHM.” Being a faithful LHM Ambassador Through his volunteer efforts, Paul established since 2012, Paul is always looking for ways to relationships with LHM staff including several share the Gospel message with others. Although Speakers of The Lutheran Hour. “Many years ago, he finds himself slowing down his physical the Indiana and Ohio Districts of the LLL held a volunteer commitments, he knows he can still Friday evening banquet for the graduating students be an encouragement to others. “I want to be an of the Seminary in Fort Wayne. The Lutheran Hour encourager to share the Good News and inspire Speaker was the speaker at the banquet every others to get involved with LHM.” year except for two. In 1982, I was instrumental in Paul and Dorothy support LHM’s mission of adding a Saturday morning prayer breakfast for the Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to local supporters. For over thirty years I coordinated the Church through their years of ministry service. these two events, and that permitted me to “We have supported LHM for many years and establish a relationship with not only The Lutheran worked diligently to help LHM spread the Gospel.

Hour Speaker, but also other LHM staff.”

Many churches and organizations share God’s love, Dorothy has been involved with LHM as well and but they don’t say that Jesus died on the cross to also enjoys serving others through her involvement save us for our sins. LHM tells people the complete with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Gospel message that Jesus died for us, which is (LWML) that she has been active in for years. eternal.”

Together, she and Paul attended 17 consecutive As members of The Hoffmann Society, a group LLL conventions. “One of the most fruitful events of around 3,000 dedicated Christians who have for us has been the international conventions,” provided for LHM beyond their own lifetime says Dorothy. “We witnessed the work of LHM through a planned gift, Paul and Dorothy are worldwide and learned how we could promote the confident knowing that the Gospel message will be ministry. We always came home enthused about LHM.” shared with future generations.

Also active in their church congregation, the To join Paul and Dorothy in supporting LHM’s Doengeses taught Sunday school and Paul taught mission, visit lhm.org/give. If you would like a Bible study for 25 years. “Most of the time I used to learn more about becoming a member of The LHM materials like the Martin Luther video,” he says. Hoffmann Society, visit lhm.org/giftplan. ==

aul and Dorothy Doenges of Fort Wayne, Indiana, have a longstanding history with the Lutheran Laymen’s League and Lutheran Hour Ministries. “My first exposure to the LLL and LHM was in the 1930s when our family listened to Dr. Walter A. Maier on The Lutheran Hour,” says Paul. “My volunteering for LHM started in 1959 when my pastor asked me to be the LLL Fort Wayne zone secretary. From that time on, I have served the zone, and the Indiana district, through many positions.”

Paul held almost every position in the zone and district including president, vice president, and secretary among others. “For a few years I prepared a monthly newsletter for the leaders in the Indiana LLL District by getting information from the LHM website.”

Photo from gethsemanehtown.com

Congregation Spotlight:

How YOU Can Join LHM’s Mission

by MEGAN MCDANIEL

Congregation: Gethsemane Lutheran Church Location: Hackettstown, NJ Congregation size: Around 250 members Contact person: Art Stuber When did your congregation begin supporting LHM? 2011 How does your congregation support LHM? My congregation, Gethsemane Lutheran Church, gives annual donations to support The Lutheran Hour broadcast on our local station, WRNJ. What was the motivation behind supporting LHM? It is important to have Christian programming available to everyone in our community. I think The Lutheran Hour is the best Christian program around, so it is important to support it.

How do members stay informed about The Lutheran Hour? Every Sunday, the air times are listed in the bulletin as well as the different ways to listen. Each week, Gethsemane uses the spot at the beginning of The Lutheran Hour broadcast to share our Sunday service schedule and Bible study times. WRNJ plays ads several times a day that promote The Lutheran Hour broadcast on Sunday. In addition, every couple months, Gethsemane includes a flyer for The Lutheran Hour in the bulletin to remind our members that it is available to them.

Additional comments: One of my favorite aspects of The Lutheran Hour is that it provides consistency. It is available for anyone whenever they need it.

If your congregation would like to learn more about how you can support The Lutheran Hour, or LHM’s mission, contact Robin Forsythe at robin.forsythe@lhm.org or 314-317-4152. If you would like to make a gift of support to continue LHM’s mission, visit lhm.org/give. == The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 13

Kids and Prayer Go Together

by PAUL SCHREIBER

H Access Day One of Zambia Bound NOW!

by MEGAN MCDANIEL

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ospel Adventures is Zambia Bound provide health care for their families. in 2022! Just like Thailand Trek, Go School expenses in Africa can be very Mongolia, and Passport to Peru, Gospel expensive for parents. To avoid the added Adventures: Zambia Bound is a free expenses, many young children often resource available to Christian schools, need to leave school to help provide homeschools, churches, and individuals. financial support for their families.

The curriculum is filled with fun activities Allowing children to remain in school is and an interactive website for students one of the most important ways to ensure to learn how the Gospel is shared with they receive a foundation for their future. children in other countries.

As a way to support children’s ministry New this year, the first day of around the world, individuals, schools, curriculum is already available. Visit and churches participating in Gospel gospeladventures.org to register for the Adventures: Zambia Bound can choose virtual “trip” and access this content to get to donate through chapel offerings a glimpse into the newest or change drives. These interactive experience. As YOU can help LHM donations will go toward always, the full curriculum fill school supply LHM’s Global Kids Fund and supporting materials supports ministries kits for students! that will be available in January that are similar to the ones • A gift of $5 will to everyone who has they see during the Gospel provide a backpack for registered.

Adventures program. one school supply kit.

Zambia has a very This year, gifts made to • A gift of $10 will young population, with the Global Kids Fund will provide the school about 50 percent being lessen the financial burden supplies and Christian 14 years old or younger! on families in Africa, book for one school Families are large with an allowing more children to supply kit. average of four children remain in school to build • A gift of $15 will per household. There are a better foundation for provide one complete challenges in Zambia such success in their lives. school supply kit of a as premature death of some LHM’s ministry centers backpack and supplies. children due to illnesses in Kenya and Madagascar that might be preventable are partnering with local with better care and education.

Lutheran congregations to identify These trends are common across the children in their communities who are continent of Africa. Large, young families at risk of leaving school. We will supply across the continent are increasingly them with a school supply kit that leaving traditional farms and moving consists of a backpack filled with pens, to cities. Nearly half of the population paper, workbooks, other school supplies, now lives in cities where they work and a Christian book that shares the in industries, attend school, and do Gospel message with the children. many of the things we do here in the Visit lhm.org/give and select “Global United States. This has created some Kids Fund” in the drop-down bar to challenges for people to find meaningful support LHM’s children’s ministry employment, achieve education, and through the Global Kids Fund. ==

14 | The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021

as praying with your child proven to be a challenge?

It has for many parents and grandparents. In 5 Ways to Pray with Your Child, LHM Learn offers easy-to-use prayer strategies, examples, and Scripture-based exercises to help. When your child has pressing prayer needs right now, the course also features “in-the-moment” prayers for adults to use with children. The course has been prepared by Mary Oldfield, a retired ministry director who has worked with parents and children for more than 20 years.

It’s important for youngsters to pray in their own words.

However, giving kids simple and easy-to-memorize prayers, as well as patterns of prayers to follow, can be a nice boost in the right direction. You can think of the course examples as “training wheels” for regular prayer, helping kids find their comfort zone and a relaxed spontaneity in their communication with God, as they grow and mature in their faith.

The course’s five suggestions to encourage prayer with your child are “Mealtime Prayers,” “Praying Scripture,” “Finish the Sentence,” “Bedtime Prayers,” and a neat formula called “ACTS.” Mealtime and bedtime prayers are staples among praying families. Praying Scripture is a way for kids to include themselves by adding their names to the petition.

It personalizes and deepens their connection with Scripture.

Finish the Sentence prayers help children complete their prayer idea and round out their thought.

ACTS prayers are interesting. This acrostic uses the words, “adoration,” “confession,” “thanksgiving,” and “supplication.”

Each of these ideas are expanded so that adults and kids both learn about these specific areas and can pray accordingly. A course bonus three-prayer section features “Arrow Prayers,” or prayers targeting a certain need; “Blessing Prayers,” or prayers expressing one’s love and desire for someone; and “Responding to Creation” prayers that are triggered by God’s magnificent handiwork.

This LHM Learn course includes two helpful PDF resources plus a link to LHM’s Households of Faith kit. The first PDF, 5 Ways to Pray with Your Child, summarizes the five prayer types, giving some examples. The second PDF, Helping Your Child Have a Relationship with God, is a Project Connect booklet written by course author Oldfield. In it, she addresses the value of prayer for adults and children, encourages readers to consider prayer as central to a spiritually vibrant household, and expands on course content.

You can find this and all LHM Learn courses by going to lhm.org/learn. =

Are You

Prepared to Respond?

by DR. KURT SENSKE, Chairman, Int’l LLL Board of Directors

T

he uncertainty of the past two years has given us the gift of reflection. As people around the world collectively suffered unimaginable losses, many have searched for what truly matters.

This has opened doors to share messages of hope in the name of Jesus Christ with a hurting world.

Because of you, LHM has doubled down on its purpose to share the Gospel. In a time filled with darkness, we have brought light. In a time of scarcity, we have opened our hearts. In a time of loss, we have brought hope. Together we are witnessing incredible growth, unexpected growth, and ongoing growth. God is blessing LHM’s efforts far beyond what we could have ever imagined.

All around the world, more than 150 million people each week are

introduced through LHM to words or actions that point them to Jesus Christ as their Savior. Every week there are countless others who are still looking for someone who can help them understand the hope we have in Christ. We join in this process of proclamation to offer a reason for the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Peter’s words in his first letter to the church reflect this collective calling. Every time the word “you” is used in 1 Peter, it is plural. Peter is reminding us that we, all of us together, are called, declared to be God’s chosen possession, and joined together “like living stones” to be God’s dwelling. This passage also reminds us that we are never alone in this journey; we have the church around us and Christ in us as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a

Are you prepared to give a reason for the hope we share in Jesus?

holy nation, a people belonging to God” (1 Peter 2:9).

In our journey we do not wander aimlessly without a goal or purpose.

We have a goal: the place that our Lord Jesus has prepared for us. Along the way we have a purpose: to extend God’s gracious call “out of darkness and into His marvelous light” to people we encounter along the way.

This journey assumes connection with those around us. We do not live and serve Him in anonymity with our light hidden under a bushel basket (Matthew 5:14-16) but, as God’s chosen people, we proclaim with reckless confidence what He has entrusted to us (Matthew 25:14). We are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), planting and watering Gospel seeds (1 Corinthians 3:6-7), living in a restored relationship with God

through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), always prepared to give a gentle and respectful reason for the hope that only is found in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 3:15).

Are you prepared to give a reason for the hope we share in Jesus?

LHM has resources to help you offer this wonderful gift, especially as we prepare to celebrate the Advent season and share the Good News of Jesus Christ as this world’s ONLY hope for life and salvation. If you need support or encouragement, please consider the multitude of resources available at lhm.org or at the end of the cover story in this issue of The Lutheran Layman.

Thank you for your ongoing investment of time and treasure as together we fulfill Christ’s command through our partnership in ministry. =

Register for LHM’s 2022 Election Beginning in February

by CHAD FIX

A

s part of Lutheran Hour Ministries’ annual election process, anyone who has given a gift to the ministry between July 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021 (and is also a member of a congregation of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod or Lutheran Church–Canada) will receive a postcard in early February with details on how to become part of the voting membership in Spring 2022.

Members will have the option of registering online to receive an electronic ballot (the preferred method since it saves substantial ministry dollars) or mailing back the postcard to receive a paper ballot for the annual election that takes place April 15 through May 15.

Since a new voting membership is established for each election cycle, you must sign up to participate in the 2022 election regardless of whether you registered (or voted) in previous years.

The 2022 election will include a vote for four open positions on the Board of Directors. You will be able to view information about the slate of candidates in the next issue of The Lutheran Layman. You are then encouraged to register to vote by March 15 to ensure that your voice is heard during the 2022 election!

Election results will be announced online around June 1 and in next summer’s issue of The Lutheran Layman. If you have questions about the election process, please call 1-800-876-9880 or send an email to info@lhm.org. =

LHM Resources for Men Everything your church’s men’s group needs is now easier than ever to access.

Go to LHM.ORG/MEN today to see our updated line of resources made specifically to help men grow in their faith.

The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 15

Building Foundations of Faith in

RUSSIA “The Foundations of the Christian Faith courses have changed my life! Very different people attend the lessons. Teenagers and adults; students and business owners; atheists, Christians, and people from other religious backgrounds; men and women; and even those who have already completed the course and come back for one more round. The courses were taught by the Lutheran Church ministers and the lessons are in a form of dialogue when everyone can ask their questions. There are no unimportant questions. Sometimes one person asks a question, and the answer is important for someone else. The atmosphere is very friendly.

Everything is illustrated by life stories, sometimes even with jokes and pictures which you will remember your whole life. The teachers share their knowledge not only about faith, but sometimes about mundane stuff from daily life. But the most important thing you can get through these courses are answers to the questions which form a human and his or her relationships with God. The brochures I received are colorful and very helpful to the students. The material is structured, there are quotes of the Bible verses, and synopsis of the material. The brochures are of great help by directing students to an additional Steps of Faith course which you can do online.”

by CHAD FIX

W

hile Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Russia, significant numbers of individuals throughout the country do not hold religious beliefs or practice them. This makes the Bible courses offered by LHM–Russia a vital tool for introducing the Gospel to people who do not know Jesus and reinforcing a biblical understanding for people who do. Several people who attended these courses at a local church recently shared their thoughts with LHM–Russia staff.

– SVETLANA

… the most important thing you can get through these courses are answers to the questions which form a human and his or her relationships with God.

“When I signed up for the Foundations of the Christian Faith course, I never thought that within those five months I would find a true, big, and loving family. Each lesson I attended made me see that my understanding of this world was so close to the one that the pastor was preaching with happiness and energy. I was very surprised of that. During the course, I was very happy that I finally found what I had been seeking for so long! I met the most fearless and wonderful people and I wanted so bad to be like them and not to be scared to call myself a Christian in public. This course motivated me to do a more detailed study of the Christian faith. It woke up the desire in me to study and understand diverse literature, find out more and more about history of religion, and learn the meaning of religious ceremonies and Christian life. Meanwhile, with a great inspiration, I was growing and confirming in faith. These courses have become one of the most important events in my life. They are the reason I now understand who I am.” – VARVARA

… I was very happy that I finally found what I had been seeking for so long!

16 | The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021

… it was this course that opened new horizons for me and helped me fully dive into the life of my congregation and the Christian church itself.

“I did the Foundations of the Christian Faith course and cannot honestly find the words to express my impression because I am full of the light given to us by God. Seeing how He guides us towards Him through different people, events, and places is amazing. By the time the course started, I had been going to church for a year. The church became the main source of my spiritual fullness. But it was this course that opened new horizons for me and helped me fully dive into the life of my congregation and the Christian church itself. The brochures which we received free of charge during the course are worth mentioning as well. They helped me better analyze and understand many different aspects about faith. I am endlessly thankful to everyone involved with the course, those who God uses to guide me to Him.”

– MIKHAIL

The Foundations of the Christian “We are born and grow up in a Christian culture: our calendar Faith course was a wonderful counts years based on the birth of helper for me, as it already has Christ; our moral values and laws become for many others as well. are based on the Commandments; and our favorite proverbial phrases that are appropriate for many occasions originate directly from the Bible. But we often still know too little about Christianity, faith, and God. The Foundations of the Christian Faith course was a wonderful helper for me, as it already has become for many others as well. Everyone is welcome regardless of their views, beliefs, or religious backgrounds. The course lets you understand what Christianity and the Christian faith are; gain a deep understanding of the meaning of the Commandments; find out what prayer is for; realize how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are connected; and get acquainted with the sacraments and perhaps find your own spiritual home. Everyone involved has been a godsend that helps us finally move from ongoing search to happy knowledge that God exists and is near all of us.”

– ANASTASIA

Participants Use Their Gifts on National Good Neighbor Day

by PAUL SCHREIBER

E

ach year National Good Neighbor Day encourages friendly interaction between neighbors across the United States.

To celebrate this national holiday, from September 28 to October 3, The Hopeful Neighborhood Project (HNP) invited its subscribers and site members, along with LHM Ambassadors and constituents of LHM, to do something good in their neighborhoods.

National Good Neighbor Day can include any kind of neighborly activity. To help, “We wanted to HNP offered an infographic use National Good of low-barrier, easy-to-do suggestions on its website: Neighbor Day to help hopefulneighborhood.org. people lean into their Among these were to learn neighborhoods.” the names of three neighbors, decorate a sidewalk with chalk, buy an item locally made, or write a thank-you note to a community leader. Those participating shared their story over social media using the hashtags #ilovemyneighborhood or #goodneighborday.

Neighborhood Project Coach Sara Johnson shared how people came up with their own activities, too. In Texas, Lisa and her friend helped promote civic awareness and engagement by registering voters for a local election. In Nebraska, Jill and her pastor put together small bags of chocolate with a note: “Thank You for Being a Good Neighbor!” They were distributed to church members to share with their own neighbors. Flying a different direction was Sally in Maryland. She spent National Good Neighbor Day helping neighbors build a home for their guinea fowl. “That one definitely surprised us!” Johnson said.

Since the launch of HNP, through networking and making connections, many like-minded folks have found the website and reached out. One of these was David. He’s developed an extensive neighborhood-focused program through the University of Missouri-Columbia Extension Office. His efforts helped to inspire HNP to celebrate National Good Neighbor Day. The groups collaborated to share HNP’s ideas with his huge email list.

“We wanted to use National Good Neighbor Day to help people lean into their neighborhoods,” said Jennifer Prophete, LHM’s director of Community Programming. “HNP’s suggestion list gave people several ways they could increase the well-being of their neighborhoods. We were excited to hear how people got involved. In fact, several of those participating in National Good Neighbor Day have also signed up to be a part of HNP’s Virtual Learning Community to do a bigger project in their neighborhood. Once people do actually lean in and experience the joy of being involved in their neighborhood they often want to do more!” Prophete added. = The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 17

Make a Difference on GivingTuesday by CHAD FIX

G

Discover LHM With Your Congregation by MEGAN MCDANIEL

L

ooking for a way to share LHM’s mission with others?

We have resources to help church leaders share our mission with members of your congregation.

By promoting LHM in your congregation, church members encounter the life-changing nature of the Lord’s work through LHM and learn how they can be a part of its mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church.

When you choose a day that your church can highlight LHM’s mission, you provide the opportunity to come together and celebrate the impact that the Lord makes in people’s lives every single day.

How to Host in Your Congregation: 1. Choose a date that works for the congregation.

Although the tradition has been the first weekend in February, any date will work.

2. Visit lhm.org/lhmsunday to find a variety of digital resources including bulletin inserts, a poster, and more that share the message and mission of LHM. 3. Promote the event on your church website, in bulletins or online newsletters, and during announcements.

4. Provide more information about the mission and vision of LHM by printing or digitally sharing bulletin inserts.

Ideas for More Engagement: • Ask a member who uses LHM resources like Daily Devotions, LHM Learn, or Project Connect booklets to share his or her experience with congregation members.

• Encourage your church’s men’s club, youth group, LWML group, or small group to get involved with LHM and use our resources.

• Host a virtual Bible study using LHM’s online resources found at lhm.org/resources.

• Set up a small table display with LHM information.

Achieving our mission is possible because of our supporters like YOU. With YOUR support, we are able to reach out with the Gospel message to all who will hear.

We hope you will celebrate our mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church with us by hosting an LHM Sunday at your church on whatever day during the year is best for your congregation. = 18 | The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021

ivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (Nov. 30 in 2021) and the widely recognized shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many people begin to focus on holiday and end-of-year giving. In fact, many studies show that nearly a quarter of all donations received by nonprofit organizations annually are given during the roughly five-week period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires tens of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity by supporting the causes that mean the most to them. Nearly $2.5 billion was donated to U.S. nonprofits during last year’s GivingTuesday to benefit a tremendously broad range of organizations, and much more was given in volunteer hours, donations of materials, and acts of kindness.

There is another insight that also drives this evolving day of philanthropy. According to studies, the most common reason people often donate money to a charity is

because a friend solicited them to do so.

GivingTuesday takes that idea and updates it for the age of social media. Participating organizations solicit bids with the hashtag #GivingTuesday and, in turn, those who donate are urged to share too. This becomes a powerful form of peer-to-peer fundraising.

Most importantly, you should know that this day is not about budgets or campaigns; it’s about remembering that giving is a joyful practice. When you give, you grow— closer to God and closer to humankind.

Please consider a gift to Lutheran Hour Ministries on GivingTuesday 2021 to help us share the gift of the Gospel with people around the world who desperately need to hear it. Watch your email inbox or check LHM’s home page or Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks for information about how LHM is celebrating GivingTuesday this year. You will also learn how joining our mission on this special day of giving will make your gift go even further. =

Equipping and Engaging Households of Faith at the LLL Fall Virtual Event by MEGAN MCDANIEL

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of Faith, and highlighted household setting, and in round 100 people new interviews with single the congregational setting, attended online or households that have grown led by Rev. Dr. Jason Broge, at in-person viewing LHM’s director of design and locations around the country in spiritual vibrancy. As defined through research development. Four different for the Lutheran Laymen’s conducted in partnership congregations shared preLeague (LLL) Fall Virtual with Barna Group, a biblical recorded examples of how Event held on September household is not just two they used Households of 25. Under the theme of parents and children; Faith in their congregations Households of Faith, LHM households, when the Bible and personal lives. The staff encouraged and engaged with participants to refers to them, include many event also included more people. Households giveaways; a devotion from share information and get of Faith helps individuals Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, their congregation involved think about their extended Speaker of The Lutheran with LHM. Some LLL households, including single Hour; an update from districts, zones, and other individuals.

LHM Senior Vice President congregations also plan to use the recording of the The event included & Chief Strategy Officer Jeff Craig-Meyer; and a event throughout the fall teaching about spiritual live question and answer and winter. coaching, both within the The LLL Fall Virtual Event started by reviewing LHM staff encouraged and engaged with participants to the basics of Households share information and get their congregation involved …

LHM Team in Ethiopia Recovers from Devastating Floods by CHAD FIX

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ugust 17 started as a typical Tuesday for the staff of Lutheran Hour Ministries– Ethiopia. The ministry team was busy registering new students for its Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), writing reports, and making plans for a trip the next day to share the Gospel with people in a village 12 hours to the south. But this typical summer day took a sudden turn for the worse.

Late that afternoon, the staff noticed muddy water from a nearby stream rapidly beginning to flow into the office through the back doors of the building. They quickly began unplugging computers and gathering their belongings to leave through the front door. During that brief time, the water rose rapidly and filled the interior of the office. The water pressure from the rising stream made it difficult to open the door, so several staff members strained to open the door and heavy gates to reach the safety of higher ground on a nearby hill.

session, led by Polly Gregali, LLL community facilitator.

Participants provided feedback during the event with some action items that they plan to do as a result of attending the event: “I want to try out spiritual disciplines each month, host a dinner every other month and invite friends, and be intentional in my everyday life to have spiritual conversations with friends and family.”

“I need to get the book (The Spiritually Vibrant Home) and think

Thankfully all our LHM staff members were able to escape without injury but the next morning revealed extensive damage to the ministry center. The water left several inches of mud that ruined carpet, furniture, computers, printers, and the generator. Most importantly, the damage destroyed all the team’s ministry materials: its inventory of thousands of Gospel

“Your overwhelming generosity has allowed us to continue sharing the Gospel throughout Ethiopia … ” tracts, booklets, Bibles, and BCC lessons in Amharic, Oromiya, and English, as well as its public address system and digital projectors used to share the Gospel at large-scale events.

While we are grateful for God’s love and protection of the ministry staff, this catastrophic loss of inventory and materials left LHM’s Ethiopia ministry at a

more about how to define a spiritually vibrant home. Some of what I heard, and saw, was surprising.”

“The event helped me open up the discussion about spirituality with others.”

“I will be intentional about reflecting and praying on my relationship with my grandchildren.”

“I will incorporate more shared devotion time at home and expand my household to include more people.” =

virtual standstill. Previously scheduled events and activities to share the hope of the Gospel with thousands had to be postponed until critical ministry outreach materials could be replaced.

Since the flood was attributed to a failed government dike, the damage was not covered by insurance. Thanks to the generous response to an emergency e-appeal from people like you, our team in Ethiopia was able to get back on their feet relatively quickly.

“We are grateful for our faithful donors who prayed for our staff and sent funds to help us begin reprinting Gospel materials and rebuilding from this extensive damage,” says LHM’s regional director for Africa and the Middle East.

“Your overwhelming generosity has allowed us to continue sharing the Gospel throughout Ethiopia with people who desperately need to hear it.” =

LHM Christmas TV Specials Visit our broadcast guide to see which of our Christmas classics are airing near you.

LHM.ORG/GUIDE The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 19

CHANGING LIVES Around the the World World with with the the Around

byMEGAN MEGANMCDANIEL MCDANIEL by

Gospel

A volunteer for LHM– Mongolia visited their village, shared the Gospel with them, and invited them to the local church.

Central & South Asia

Han is 24 years old and works as a manager at a nonreligious human care organization. He reached out to LHM staff in Central and South Asia through social media. He shared that he used to practice a non-Christian religion but realized that he was only following societal pressures. He wanted to search for truth and find purpose for his life. When Han first saw social media posts about Christianity, he was skeptical because of his former beliefs. He decided to reach out to LHM staff to chat online and felt peace. As he heard the Gospel message, he was eager to learn more about Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Han became a Christian. He is growing in his faith by reading LHM materials and attending weekly meetings with a local missionary.

20 | The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021

After Zara got divorced, she and her four children moved in with her mother. Zara was able to receive a donated ger (a Mongolian housing structure) that was built on the lot next to her mother’s home. When Zara leaves for work every day, her mother watches her children. A volunteer for LHM–Mongolia visited their village, shared the Gospel with them, and invited them to the local church. The volunteer has plans to visit again and take them an audio Bible, booklets, and other LHM–Mongolia resources so Zara’s family can continue learning more about Jesus.

Mongolia

Ghana

Hana is 17 years old and learned about LHM–Ghana when they offered Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) through her school. When she initially heard about the program, she was hesitant to enroll, but her mom encouraged her to sign up. Before Hana’s father passed away, he practiced a nonChristian religion, and her mom is a Christian. Hana considered herself a Christian but didn’t fully understand Christianity and she wasn’t comfortable with reading the Bible. The BCC lessons helped her understand the Bible and answered questions she had about Christianity. Hana was happy that she signed up and now tells all her friends to take the lessons as well. After she graduated from the program, she received her own Bible that she was eager to read on her own.

Hana is now confident in her faith.

Liliana has been connected to LHM–Uruguay for several years. She regularly prays for and donates to the ministry to provide support. She also calls in frequently to be involved with activities and projects.

She recently contacted the LHM–Uruguay staff to tell them that she had prepared gift baskets for children, and she wanted the staff members to select some children to give them to. The LHM–Uruguay staff members are thankful for Liliana’s servant’s heart and look forward to working with her again to bring joy to children in the future.

Uruguay

Lutheran Hour Ministries develops culturally relevant programs and resources to reach people in more than 60 nations who may not be familiar with the Gospel. Below are just a few examples to show how God has been using LHM recently to change lives around the world with His Good News. … he puts in his earbuds and spends time with the Lord by listening to The Lutheran Hour.

Cambodia

Ni is 22 years old and works part time selling coffee to make money for her school fees. She was raised in a non-Christian religious household, but when she was 15, she visited a Christian church with one of her friends. The LHM–Cambodia staff recently met at her coffee shop and talked with her about Jesus. Ni shared her story with the staff members, and they encouraged her to visit a local Lutheran church now that it has reopened following COVID-19 restrictions. The staff prayed with her and gave her a booklet.

Ni was thankful for the booklet and excited to visit the church to learn more about Jesus.

The LHM–Cambodia staff recently met at her coffee shop and talked with her about Jesus.

Sometimes, we don’t know where to turn to nurture our life of faith … and then we turn on the radio!

James works on T38 jets at an Air Force base in Texas and has been a long-time listener of The Lutheran Hour. He says some of his earliest memories as a child are being at his grandparents’ house in Chicago while his grandma listened to the broadcast. Now, when he goes out on Saturday mornings to do inspections, he puts in his earbuds and spends time with the Lord by listening to The Lutheran Hour. “It’s great,” he says. “I often stop what I’m doing so I can pay attention to what Pastor Zeigler, or the guest speaker, is saying. Sometimes, I just lay under the jet and listen.”

United States

She acknowledged the need for God’s Word in her life and was thankful for LHM–Ethiopia …

Thailand

Sayan is 65 years old and works as a housekeeper. She practices a non-Christian religion, but for a while has wondered about where life comes from. She never got answers to her questions until she heard an LHM–Thailand radio program. She began to listen to the broadcasts and learned that God is the Creator of everything.

Sayan reached out to LHM– Thailand staff wanting to enroll in their Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC). Through the power of God’s Word, Sayan became a Christian. She shared with the staff members that she was thankful she heard the radio program and was guided to learn more about Jesus through the BCC lessons and booklets. She asked the LHM staff to connect her to a local church so she could worship and is now attending services regularly and preparing to get baptized.

Mehret enrolled in the Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) hosted

by LHM–Ethiopia. After she finished the lessons, she reached out to LHM staff to share how they impacted her. She said since she started the lessons her life has changed to a great extent. The BCC lessons encouraged her to continue previous Bible studies that she stopped earlier in her life. She acknowledged the need for God’s Word in her life and was thankful for LHM–Ethiopia giving her the opportunity to grow in her faith. =

Ethiopia

The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 21

Sharing God’s Love During Desperate Times by CHAD FIX

… the program is designed to provide biblically based guidance in making healthy lifestyle choices.

“There are no borders to our visible message of God’s love and hope.”

W

e’ve all witnessed recent news reports regarding the swift collapse of the democratic government in Afghanistan.

Many people there are living in fear as they attempt to flee their homes, or in many cases the country, to escape the violence. And many Christians, though fearful, have chosen to boldly stand unwavering in their faith despite the obvious consequences.

“In Afghanistan, the situation is bad enough for ordinary citizens—it is so much worse for Christians whose lives are in danger every minute of every day,” shared Shahin in a communication to the staff of SAT-7, the first and largest Middle East and North African satellite TV network.

Over the past three years, LHM has partnered with the SAT-7 PARS channel to bring the love of Christ to the region through its support of two programs for children and youth. Now, LHM is supporting new programming geared for a time when hurting people need the hope of the Gospel more than ever. SAT-7 PARS’ live satellite television broadcasts in Farsi and the local Dari language—understood by most Afghans—are reaching homes across the entire country uncensored, delivering possibly the only source of hope for thousands of isolated Afghan Christians living in unsettling circumstances.

“We are thankful for our ongoing media ministry partnership with SAT-7 that allows us to continue broadcasting messages of hope in the midst of so much uncertainty and fear,” says LHM President & CEO Kurt Buchholz.

SAT-7 PARS is responding to this crisis by producing a live weekly social media program and a live 60-minute satellite broadcast from Cyprus with guests including well known Afghan and Iranian pastors, Afghan refugees, and psychologists. Other activities include expanded social media posts, tweets, and RSS feeds (crawl messages) on screen asking for prayers.

“There are no borders to our visible message of God’s love and hope,” says SAT-7 North America President Dr. Rex Rogers.

“Many people are leaving Afghanistan right now, but we are there on-air—and we will remain there.”

The channel’s social media and live-chat platforms have experienced a huge surge in the number of Afghans posting messages and calling the ministry’s viewer counseling line, desperate for encouragement and hope. The channel expects a 50- percent increase in contacts this year.

Maneli, a female viewer, wrote, “I am very grateful that you are speaking with us and giving us hope. We still have access to the internet and satellite, but we don’t know how long this will continue. We will keep connected with you for as long as we can. Thank you again for listening to what I had to say. I hope that one day we will be free and able to make decisions for our own lives.” == 22 | The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021

Bringing Families Closer Together Through Project JOEL

by MEGAN MCDANIEL

I

n many countries more than 70 percent of the population is under 25 years of age. Because of realities such as broken families and secularism, many of these young people receive little moral or spiritual education in their homes, their values often being shaped by potentially negative influences such as the media, music, or their peers.

As part of a global strategy for reaching out to youth, Lutheran Hour Ministries offers Project JOEL in a growing number of countries. The name JOEL stands for Jóvenes con Espíritu Libre, or “youth with a free spirit,” and the program is designed to provide biblically based guidance in making healthy lifestyle choices.

First introduced by LHM–Panama in 1996, Project JOEL has been integrated into school curricula, and is part of our ministry in other countries in Latin America. It also supplements content by incorporating opportunities for holding sporting and cultural events.

After participating in recent online trainings hosted by LHM–Panama, young volunteers made poster advertisements with messages of encouragement and hope, within the framework of International Youth Day. The posters were shared with other young people through digital media to encourage participation in future training.

LHM–Panama staff recognized children who participated in reading the book “A Garden of Biblical Stories,” in addition to participating in devotionals, reading the Bible, painting the stories, and reciting Bible verses. During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic where many ministry center activities have been adapted, the Comprehensive Reading Strategy has been a support that has kept children interested in reading and learning. This program is meant to include the whole family in a teaching and learning process.

Through meetings via Zoom and workshops on WhatsApp and Facebook, teachers, parents, and volunteers follow up on the Comprehensive Reading Strategy and work on developing training for values in their communities.

These meetings are held biweekly in various areas of the country for everyone to stay connected and updated on the program.

“This homework is a channel to give children the opportunity to make correct use of their free time and reinforce what they have learned in class. All of this is further enriched with the direct participation of parents, grandparents and uncles, who also train and put the values into practice,” says Marta, a mother of a Project JOEL participant. =

Watch for the LHM Float as the Rose Parade Returns

by CHAD FIX

A

fter a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rose Parade presented by Honda returns Jan. 1, 2022, with all elements originally planned for the 2021 parade. Under the theme of “Dream. Believe. Achieve.”, the 2022 Rose Parade will take place at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California, and feature spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, highstepping equestrian units, and majestic floral floats.

Lutheran Hour Ministries will resume its more than 70-year tradition of participating in the parade with a float entry under the theme of “Jesus Teaches.”

This year’s LHM float will feature Jesus with 12 modern day disciples based on Matthew 11:1 (After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee) and a cross that is firmly fixed to a solid rock from which flows a stream of living water based on John 4:10 (Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water”).

This year’s float riders will include Dr. Kurt Senske, chairman of the LHM Board of Directors; Nicole Heerlein, LHM’s associate director of external relations; Debbie Larson, president of the

e s i m o r P of d il Ch

Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML); and pastors and laypeople from throughout Southern California.

As a self-funded project of the Lutheran Hour Ministries Float Committee and the Southern California District of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League, the LHM float is the only Christian float in the annual parade.

The float carries on a mission to provide a Gospel witness to viewers everywhere, from the parade route along Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard to televisions all over the world. There are several television channels, online platforms, and social media platforms televising this year’s parade, including the

The float carries on a mission to provide a Gospel witness to viewers everywhere …

Hallmark Channel, ABC, NBC, RFDTV, Univision, AT&T TV Live, Hulu Plus Live TV, Peacock TV, and Sling TV. Check your local listings for best viewing options.

Hundreds of individuals are still needed to help decorate the LHM float as well as others completed by the Petal Pushers’ decorating team of 5,000 volunteers. Petal Pushers volunteers must be at least 13 years old and commit to at least one eight-hour shift during the month of December.

To learn more about the float, or volunteer opportunities or ways to support this project, visit petalpushers.org. =

The birth of the Savior is celebrated again this year in Child of Promise, a joyful look at the miracle of Jesus’ birth.

From the beginning, foretold in Genesis and proclaimed throughout the Old Testament, God announced the coming Messiah to a wayward world. In Jesus Christ, that promise was fulfilled.

Mobile, audio, and Spanish also available!

LHM.ORG/ADVENT The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021 | 23

Project Connect Booklets Meet Many Needs in Southern Illinois by PAUL SCHREIBER

R

etired U.S. Navy Chaplain and Pastor David Otten serves two congregations in southern Illinois. One is Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Golconda; the other is Faith Lutheran Church of Saline County in Eldorado. When not preparing for a Sunday sermon or fulfilling some other pastoral care duty, he’s often doing something related to Project Connect—LHM’s longtime topical booklet ministry for kids and adults, with several titles available in Spanish, too.

Recently, Otten was busy working a booth at the 2021 Eldorado Town and Country Days event. There he had a frank conversation with Mormon missionaries who took a booklet on Mormonism. Another couple with home struggles picked up a booklet on anger management.

The biggest draw at the booth is the kids’ booklets, Otten said. It’s

no wonder as they are beautifully illustrated with catchy, rhyming verses. These booklets address topics like prayer, discipleship, hospitality, sharing one’s faith, bullying, loving our neighbors, and more. The crowd favorite is Do You Know Who Jesus Is? he added.

Otten has long been an advocate of Project Connect booklets. In both the VFW and American Legion halls, veterans have access to The Conflict at Home, which deals with the psychological and physical upheaval of PTSD. An area psychiatrist’s office has them handy for counselors to share, and a local bar & grill and area hospital make them available to customers.

Otten’s latest display addition is the Golden Circle Senior Center, where residents and visitors can read booklets on a variety of topics including Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Incarcerated youth at the Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg are

recipients of Project Connect booklets, too, Otten said. The big hitter—as far as booklet distribution is concerned—is a Harrisburg food pantry. “Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, no one’s allowed into the food pantry right now to get booklets,” he said, with some regret.

Project Connect booklets, however, can also be read online, and many can be heard as an MP3 audio file, by going to lhm.org/projectconnect.

This makes it possible for people to access booklet content even if they can’t physically get one.

It’s easy to use Project Connect booklets in your church and community. At our website, you will find details on booklet display options, booklets in Spanish, a Q&A with specific info, and our Barna Group-based booklets, promotional items, and other resources. Contact us, so we can help you make Project Connect booklets a helpful addition to your outreach efforts! =

It’s easy to use Project Connect booklets in your church and community!

Inspired to Thrive

by CHAD FIX

I

nspiring and inspiration were the top responses when past attendees of Siebert Lutheran Foundation’s annual conference shared how the event impacts their ministries. Inspired also describes what Siebert sees in the ministries it supports: programming that inspires pastors and ministry leaders to grow the Body of Christ.

Based on this feedback, Siebert renamed its 2021 conference “Inspired to Thrive” and unveiled a virtual format offering breakout session options and opportunities for more engagement with speakers and other attendees.

LHM staff led two of this year’s concurrent sessions. In their presentation titled “Better Together in Community,” LHM Director of Community Programming Jennifer Prophete and Neighborhood Project Coach Sara Johnson answered the question, “What if every Christian saw their neighborhood as a place where God intentionally planted them?” They shared examples of how that would change how we view, interact with, and serve our neighbors and introduced The Hopeful Neighborhood Project that launched this past spring. Visit hopefulneighborhood.org for more details.

LHM’s Vice President of Global Ministries, Rev. Dr. Tony Cook, shared how spiritual conversations will evolve in a post-pandemic world and offered practical tips for contextualizing the message. (Learn more about using this information in your daily life in the lead article of this issue.)

Siebert Lutheran Foundation provides funding to churches and programs associated with the LCMS, ELCA, and WELS church bodies.

Its conference offers pastors and ministry leaders strategies and best practices that may be applied to a variety of ministry contexts. =

24 | The Lutheran Layman Fall 2021

Leave a Legacy That Will Inspire Others

J

oin our mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations— and the Nations to the Church by giving a gift to our endowment. With your gift today, you can impact generations to come while receiving some immediate personal benefits.

• The principal of your gift is kept intact and LHM uses the annual earnings, typically income and a portion of the capital growth, to fund current critical needs.

• Create a named endowment when you make a gift of $10,000 or more.

• You may be entitled to take a charitable income deduction for a gift made today.

Learn about the various giving strategies that can help sustain our ministry for the future.

1-877-333-1963 • lhm-gift@lhm.org • lhm.org/give