The One
by REV. DR. MICHAEL ZEIGLER, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour ®
“You see, kids, the universe has a plan.” That’s what the narrator says in an episode of the popular TV sitcom, How I Met Your Mother
The narrator, a 50-year-old father of two teenage children, who is named Ted, is telling a story. It’s a long, complicated story of how he met his soulmate, the love of his life, the mother, who, later we learn—spoiler alert—recently died of a rare disease.
Through this long story, you really get to know Ted. You learn that he is a hopeless romantic who believes that a special someone is out there. Though he can be overly intellectual and idealistic, he is also deeply religious, with his abiding faith in the universe.
Faith in the universe is a recurring theme in this not-so-long-ago primetime sitcom. In its 200 episodes, by one count, there are more than 60 references to the universe. There are prayers to the universe, supposed signs from the universe, praises and laments about the universe. Faith in the universe is invoked and revoked, criticized, and ridiculed. And in the year 2030, Ted is depicted as still holding on to his faith. He tells his children, “Kids, I’ve been telling you the story of how I met your mother. And while there are many things to learn from this story, this may be the biggest. You see, kids, the universe has a plan, and that plan is always in motion. All these little parts of the machine constantly working, making sure you end up exactly where you’re supposed to be, exactly when you’re supposed to be there, the right place at the right time.”
our self-fulfillment and may even match us up with a soulmate. But we also know that things go wrong. Real life doesn’t reflect our sitcoms.
What we confess on The Lutheran Hour each week is different from Ted’s sitcom faith. Like Ted, we believe there is a plan, but not from the universe, but for it and for us, from our Creator.
While that is a good start, it’s not the end, because we are confessing knowledge—knowledge of and faith in a Person, the Person who has made the Creator known for us: Jesus of Nazareth, the Guy who rose from the dead, the Son of God, and the Savior of the universe. The Lutheran Hour exists to share that saving knowledge of Jesus the Messiah.
… He orders all things that we might seek Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of
See kids, the universe does NOT have a plan, but God does. And God knows in advance the families we will come from and continue, where we will live, what we will do and say, and how we will suffer. But our self-fulfillment stories and soulmate myths are not the goal. God is the goal. And He orders all things that we might seek Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us (see Acts 17:26-27).
us.
This sitcom is a thought-provoking example of our enduring religiousness. People still believe the universe is looking out for us and cares about
God sent His Word to become flesh to find us. God doesn’t give answers to all our questions or comebacks to our criticisms, but He does give Himself. Jesus met us in a death like ours to end one story and start another. So, live in Him as a servant. You get to be the matchmaker led by God to bring one more into the Messiah’s family, so that they would know that God is the One, the only One. u
Adapted from a message for The Lutheran Hour aired September 1, 2024.
Larnoy attended a youth program hosted by LHM–Laos and heard the Gospel message for the first time. She wanted to learn more, so LHM staff referred her to a local church where she joined a Bible study group to dig deeper into God’s Word. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Larnoy became a Christian and was recently baptized.
Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones, Esta Es La Vida, Para el Camino, Thred, The Hoffmann Society,
Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church
Resourcing Individuals to Share the Gospel
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Lutheran Hour Ministries has created convenient resources for anyone and everyone to connect with Jesus and spread hope and faith throughout your community. Many of our products are free, easy to use, and digital, so you can use them in your home, on the go, or wherever you may be.
In addition, we have a long history of partnering with congregations to enact outreach activities that work in concert with their Gospel proclamation mission. These resources can be used to address situations in people’s lives from a faithbased perspective or answer questions about Christianity.
Lutheran Hour Ministries has created convenient resources for anyone and everyone to connect with Jesus and spread hope and faith throughout your community.
The next few pages are examples of how people across the United States are using LHM’s resources.
Research-Based Materials
“It’s been a great way for our people to not only reflect on active discipleship but learn from each other and uplift what God is doing in our lives.”
Households of Faith
Rebecca Holland, LHM Ambassador at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Warrensburg, Missouri, has incorporated The Spiritually Vibrant Home and several children’s Project Connect booklets into her ministry efforts. “We have a monthly first-Wednesday Faith Night gathering over a meal,” says Holland. “The small group of us who meet, eat and share the latest about our lives, then we view the videos from the Households of Faith kit and have a discussion in which I work in some of my favorite tidbits from The Spiritually Vibrant Home.”
Everyone in the group has their own copy of The Spiritually Vibrant Home to follow along. So far, the group consists of four households. “We are all at very different places as far as our households’ activity and the ways we connect with others in our church, neighborhood, and community, so it’s a good
Pastors of St. John’s West Bend, in West Bend, Wisconsin, shared how they have used LHM resources based on research done in partnership with Barna Group.
“St. John’s has definitely been blessed to serve and grow through the LHM–Barna partnership and the corresponding materials created for Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age, Households of Faith, and Better Together,” says Pastor Jeff Hesse. “Our church’s mission statement is Connecting, Caring, and Sharing in Christ. We do our best to live this out via our vision statement: Discipleship in as Many Places as Possible.”
“Spiritual Conversations was a great way to begin our first year using those LHM materials together, and I think it helped give us a language and an awareness of the role of spiritual conversations as an active part of discipleship,” says Pastor David Nieman.
“It was out of Spiritual Conversations that we began using
perspective-building discussion.”
Another way Holland is sharing LHM resources in her community is through her church’s Creation School program. “Creation School was something I did last year that was a lot of fun! Our church has a great big green space and a wooded nature trail. Every month, a group of two to six families with young children gathered on a Friday morning in all types of weather to have a brief Bible lesson and some outdoor play and crafting. Toddlers who came, some of whom were unchurched, got the children’s booklets. One set of twins ended up with just one copy of one, so that had to be corrected with a second copy, one for each!”
the language of “discipleship stories,” where we’ll often ask members of the congregation what God has been up to in their lives— challenges, joys, etc. It’s been a great way for our people to not only reflect on active discipleship but learn from each other and uplift what God is doing in our lives.
“Pastorally, what I’m most excited about is how discipleship stories are built into many of our life groups— from our large congregational meetings to our leadership board meetings to many of our study and service groups, we make room for discipleship stories before we get to the business of the day.
“In that way, Spiritual Conversations really helped us recognize the importance of speaking to our walk with Jesus in everyday ways and to be more open to those opportunities. The act of speaking to these encounters is encouraging to others and reminds them that God is powerfully at work in their lives, too.
She also uses the booklets at her church’s Christmas kindness fair. “Children come and make crafts that they can give as gifts. The event is free, and we advertise it widely. Last year, we had a free table with excess curriculum materials and Thrivent shirts that we gave away, and that
“ … it’s a good perspective-building discussion.”
went over so well that I want to be sure to have some Project Connect booklets out for children to take for themselves or give as gifts along with their craft projects. We saw many unchurched families at last year’s fair, so I think that this will again be an important way to send the Gospel home alongside the other goodies.”
Helping a child make a craft at the church Christmas kindness fair. – Photo from Rebecca Holland
“Spiritual Conversations was a great starting place that helped us launch into Households of Faith and Better Together with a common language and appreciation for the role of conversation and sharing in all that we did.”
“I arrived here in January of 2020, and St. John’s already had a mission partnership with LHM in place with a plan of utilizing Households of Faith as our ministry year theme in the fall of 2020,” says Pastor Stephen Reynolds. “We set up our ministry plan and goals under a theme each year as a way of giving people a common understanding of what we are striving to accomplish as a congregation.”
“Well, March of 2020 and all of those realities hit, but we still moved forward with our plans to use Households of Faith as it sort of fit with the fact that we were all at home with one another. We really encouraged people to live out their faith by doing what the Households monograph suggests—showing hospitality, participating in spiritual disciplines together, and having spiritual conversations.
“Some members shared that they moved their firepits from the backyard to the front to better connect with their neighbors …”
“We live-streamed our normal adult education discipleship hour on Wednesday nights and interviewed a number of different people on those subjects to help people see a breadth of different ways that the Lord is at work in and through their households. We utilized the Households monograph as well as The Spiritually Vibrant Home book written from the
Children’s Booklets
LHM Ambassador Ann Panas from Faith Lutheran Church in Lecanto, Florida, sews together small tote bags to hold children’s Project Connect booklets. These bags are available in their church for any visiting families with children. Panas also asks church members to take the tote bags to share with family and friends. She adds a sticker with church information inside the booklet to connect families back to the church. Panas has ordered 500 children’s booklets since
Households research. We frequently heard that this material encouraged people to connect in their own households.
“Fast forward two years, and we launched into Better Together in our congregation. The asset-based way of thinking and God’s call to be a part of a larger community to seek its good was a different way of thinking and talking for
February of this year and loves to use them as a resource to reach others with the love of Jesus. So far, Panas has made 50 bags, each containing seven booklets.
Other simple ways to start making an impact in your community could be buying multiple packs of children’s booklets and donating them to a Sunday school or preschool, giving them away during the holidays, or using them in your personal outreach.
“I’ve always carried extras in my car,” says Suzie Sallee, community facilitator for congregations and author of LHM’s children’s booklets. “I give them to people who work a drive-thru at places like the pharmacy, restaurants, or the bank. Of course, I always share with my neighbors! Everyone knows a child they can give booklets to, and who knows, they may read it themselves!”
see next page
our members. We asked them to consider what the community valued and what role St. John’s and its members might play in the betterment of our community in West Bend.
“Some members shared that they moved their firepits from the backyard to the front to better connect with their neighbors on a social level. Additionally, members of our board intentionally went out and sought to connect with larger community organizations to meet the needs of our community. This has blossomed into a mentorship program with a local crisis pregnancy center as well as a new partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
“As a pastoral team, part of our role as shepherds is to equip the saints to live life as followers of Jesus everywhere God has placed them,” says Hesse. “Spiritual Conversations, Households of Faith, and Better Together were very helpful in creating a wider vision of what the Lord is doing in and through His church and the various people and places He sends us.”
“Everyone knows a child they can give booklets to, and who knows, they may read it themselves!”
Tote bags hand sewn by LHM Ambassador Ann Panas, hold Project Connect booklets perfectly.
– Photo from Ann Panas
“The Holy Spirit involved me, didn’t ask me, and there was a limited amount of time to act.”
Project Connect Booklets
Cliff Horn has been the LHM Ambassador at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Winnetka, California, for a number of years. Along with other LHM resources, he has shared LHM’s Project Connect booklets for many years, including giving out children’s booklets at his community trunk or treat event. He accompanies all his personal interactions with a silent prayer.
“On one occasion, I had read an Ambassador email update the day before about handing out materials at an opportune time,” says Horn. “I was in my house and saw an older woman with a young child by the street. A minute went by, and I looked back out, and they were still there. I’m now moved, so I asked a silent prayer for God’s help and guidance.
“I had seen the woman and her granddaughter taking walks before, and I had said hello to them. I found two of LHM’s children’s booklets, took them outside, and offered them to the woman. She was pleased to have them, and she
Resources for the Incarcerated
Chuck Snyder, LHM Ambassador at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hinckley, Illinois, was introduced to the idea of sharing LHM resources with prison inmates by a friend, Bob Cano, a few years ago. Snyder is sponsored by a nonprofit based in Aurora, Illinois, that has a six-month, Bible-based aftercare program for individuals who are released from prison to get prepared for the outside world.
Snyder goes into the NRC at Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet, Illinois, equipped with LHM resources, Bibles, and other materials to share the hopeful Gospel message with inmates.
“When I visit, I bring in 40 sets of Project Connect booklets (Who Is Jesus?; Why Did Jesus
Die?; What Is Faith in Jesus?; Regrets, Reality, Restoration; Loved...And Not Forgotten; Forgiveness Is a Choice; Prayer: When You Don’t Know What to Say; Comebacks; Great Deceiver; and What Happens When I Die?); 20 copies of The Journey Home Bible studies; 12 NIV, 8 ESV, and 4 KJV Bibles; and a few other things,” says Snyder.
“I wheel them inside in a large bin with a dolly. Once inside, I get assigned a wing to work. They have 42 cells each. I get two hours. I give out as much info as I can, sometimes pray with them, and talk to them about Jesus. I have had some amazing conversations with some of the inmates! This has truly increased my faith greatly!”
told her granddaughter that they’d read them when they got back to her home.
“I asked the woman if she had a church home, and she did not. This began a good conversation and a chance to share the Gospel with her. The young girl’s mother had been brought up in a church but later left it. I sensed that the woman was receptive to the Holy Spirit at work in her, hearing her history with God. I’ve periodically kept them all in my prayers.
“The Holy Spirit involved me, didn’t ask me, and there was a limited amount of time to act. He stretched the time enough to get His mission accomplished. Pray for your willingness to be used by the Holy Spirit in reaching others. All you have to do is make yourself available for God, in His good time, to work through you in an encounter, in a witness, and the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest. You may or may not see the results of God’s work, but you will know you were involved. Be ready when God calls, and act! Talk with God, trust Him.”
I have had some amazing conversations with some of the inmates!
Visit lhm.org/resources to find all the resources mentioned above, and more. Because of your financial support of LHM, many of our resources are offered for free or at reduced cost, making them easily accessible to everyone. Prayerfully consider a gift to LHM so more people can experience the Gospel message. u
Megan McDaniel reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work around the world.
IResponding to a Seismic Global Shift
by KURT BUCHHOLZ, CEO, Lutheran Hour Ministries
t might be easy to look around at the state of our culture and believe that Christianity is on the decline. In fact, we often hear people say things like “We’re in a post-Christian era.” The encouraging reality is that this point of view is not necessarily true when looking at things from a global perspective. The church is not shrinking, but it is shifting. Within a growing world population, the number of Christians globally is increasing, a testament to God’s plan in action! However, while the percentage of Christians within the population is relatively unchanged since 1900, where they are located has drastically changed. Christianity’s geographic center is moving away from the West to the Global South (Asia, Latin America, and Africa), with dramatic growth of Christian populations in places like sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia. Whereas more than 80 percent of Christians lived in North America and Europe in 1900, recent studies show that only around one-third live on these two continents today. The geographical center of Christianity is now considered by some to be located in the African nation of Mali, with projections moving it to
Nigeria by 2100.
This seismic shift presents expanded opportunities for sharing the Gospel. There is a great need to partner with Christians in the Global South to make Christ’s Name known among the billions of people worldwide who still live in spiritual darkness.
God has called LHM to share the Gospel with these people. Since we employ local staff who have been brought up in the culture, speak the native language, and whose hearts have been transformed by the Gospel so that they might minister in the areas in which they live, we are well positioned for implementing a bold global expansion plan that responds to this shift. Given the movement of the geographical center, it is critical that we lift up leadership in these areas to become the catalyst for reaching more nations where people have yet to hear the Good News—another critical piece of God’s plan in action.
LHM can make inroads in places where other Christian organizations often cannot go. Our on-the-ground presence allows us to work directly with local church leaders and government officials to navigate around
The church is not shrinking, but it is shifting.
potential pitfalls. When you combine the cultural awareness and the insider’s perspective—people who look and act like local people because they are—you have many more possibilities to bring the Gospel into hard-to reach-places, such as the Middle East, Africa, and Central or Southeast Asia. In most cases it is cost effective utilizing local staff instead of sending a foreign missionary family to establish themselves in a different land, set up housing, learn the culture and language, and spend time building relationships with local communities.
The end result of these efforts will lead to countless people experiencing the healing, forgiveness, and joy of a personal relationship with Christ.
Your continuous support and excitement about our mission and ministry has put us in this strong position to expand. Thank you for being part of LHM’s global family so that collectively we can reach the world with the Gospel. u
Advent Devotions: a Bridge into Spiritual Conversations
by PAUL SCHREIBER
“What is the deeper message of Christmas?”
While Christians rejoice in the Christmas story and the hope we find in the birth of Christ, for many the holidays are fraught with obligations, expenses, and questions regarding what it all means. It’s no wonder. The Christmas message has been so stripped of Christcentered content in popular culture that many people shrug their shoulders as to what its message really is—beyond the colorful lights, TV specials, and holiday parties, of course.
But as you chat with and relate to others in your spiritual conversations about God and faith, you may find those who are wondering, “What is the deeper message of Christmas?” And, if so, therein lies an opportunity—to go deeper. You might say, “I get it that Christmas seems jaded with all the commotion and sentimentality. But at its core there is something truly fantastic going on—something you may find intriguing. Question: would you mind if I sent you a fiveminute message? It’s a Christmas devotion. Simple as that. It’s painless, easy to read, and written to convey the original message of Christmas—one you might find is quite different than the one you’re used to seeing and hearing.”
Naturally, dialogue will vary, but sharing LHM’s Advent devotions can help move your spiritual conversations along; they offer those “on the fence” a quick and powerful glimpse of God’s marvelous work in the birth, life, and ministry of Jesus. This year, Come, Let Us Adore Him by Dr. Kari Vo, and El nombre de Jesús (“The Name of Jesus”) by various Hispanic authors offer two sets of excellent Advent devotions to edify the faithful and pique the interest of those seeking to know more. And they can be passed along in so many ways! Bring paper copies of Advent devotions to your church or neighborhood Bible study group; include the website (see below) in a handwritten “footnote” in your Christmas cards; add a post to your Facebook page; share a favorite devo in an email and the link to where people can subscribe and receive them daily; tell others how they can hear them as a podcast devotional, access them on LHM’s FREE app, or listen to them with Spotify, iHeartRadio, Alexa, or Google Home. Both Come, Let Us Adore Him and El nombre de Jesús will run from Sunday, December 1, 2024, through Epiphany on Monday, January 6, 2025. You can find them online at lhm.org/advent and paraelcamino.com/adviento. u
Paul Schreiber reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work in the United States.
LHM continues to serve as a source of hope and comfort for the entire Arabicspeaking world.
Connecting with the Arabic-Speaking World Through Social Media by
CHAD FIX
People throughout the Middle East and North Africa region face daily hardships that often lead to hopelessness. As political tensions rise in several countries, people are living in fear. LHM continues to serve as a source of hope and comfort for the entire Arabic-speaking world by offering relevant social media content that addresses the daily challenges people encounter.
LHM staff has learned from previous experience that more people seek God’s comfort during times of crisis, even in a region where 96 percent of the population is non-Christian. Nearly 1.05 million people now subscribe to LHM’s main regional Facebook page and receive regular messages of inspiration. In a single month, thousands of people engaged with our regional ministry team—and seven people came to faith, praying with staff online or over the phone.
Twenty-nine-year-old Djimet lives in Chad, a country facing numerous trials. One day, he came across a post about anxiety from an account run by LHM staff in the Middle East and North Africa. The post resonated with him and he liked it. Later, he saw a short video from the LHM account that he found interesting, so he sent a message to LHM staff. Djimet communicated with staff members for several days and discovered ideas that challenged his existing beliefs
and sparked a desire to learn more. Through personal stories from staff and in-depth discussions, he gained a new understanding of hope and redemption. Through the Holy Spirit, Djimet grasped the core message of the Gospel and embraced faith in Jesus Christ. Djimet has a newfound purpose in life as he continues to grow in his faith.
Living in war-torn Yemen, Tamir was feeling anxious and emotionally empty when he came across an LHM Facebook post. He messaged the LHM staff and began asking questions about Christianity. The staff member shared the Gospel message with him, and Tamir spent the next few days messaging back and forth, asking questions, and reading Bible verses the staff sent. He learned Jesus’ teachings of love, forgiveness, and eternal life. Tamir felt a spark of hope he had not known before. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Tamir became a Christian. He felt a new purpose, a newfound understanding that filled his emptiness. He had found hope, not just for this life, but for eternity.
“After many years, I am still in awe of how God uses our ministry to harness technology to reach people from diverse backgrounds in this part of the world,” says LHM’s regional director for Africa and the Middle East. u
Chad Fix oversees the corporate communications of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Patient Urgency
SESSION FIVE
Suspended Endings NURTURING YOUR FAITH:
INTRODUCTION
In 1428, a 21-year-old Italian poet named Maffeo Vegio added a new ending to the Aeneid. The Aeneid was written by Virgil. Its origin story of ancient Rome was a bedrock of Western culture. So, who does Vegio think he is—adding a new ending? That’s like adding a moustache to the Mona Lisa!
Now, Vegio didn’t exactly deface Virgil’s Aeneid. Although, some critics considered it a big mistake. Still, maybe we should cut Mr. Vegio some slack? Many have noted the abruptness of Virgil’s ending. The poem’s last anticlimactic line is a scant description of the villain’s death, like ending The Wizard of Oz with the wicked witch shouting, “I’m melting!” Roll the credits. And we never see if Dorothy and Toto made it home or who that man behind the curtain was. So, maybe we shouldn’t be too hard on young Vegio.
Maybe Virgil had a reason for his abrupt ending? Like Da Vinci had a reason for Mona Lisa’s inscrutable expression. The Aeneid’s conclusion has been called a “suspended ending” by scholars—an ending that leaves you in suspense, and with questions: Does the hero win the war? Does he marry the girl? The Aeneid doesn’t say. This seems deliberate. The author isn’t
merely reporting what happened; he’s involving his audience in the dilemma, putting them in the scene, so that they—like the poem’s characters—must wrestle with whatever comes next.
Perhaps the author of the Gospel of Mark did something similar. Most modern-day Bibles, between Mark chapter 16, verses 8 and 9, have a note like this: “Some of the earliest biblical manuscripts do not contain verses 9–20.” Here are three possible explanations:
1. Verses 9–20 were Mark’s intended ending, but they got separated from the earliest manuscripts; or
2. Mark’s original ending was lost. Then, years later, some zealous Christian, feeling the ending was too abrupt, used other scriptural source materials (e.g., Matthew, Luke, John, and Acts) to add his own ending, like young Vegio did for Virgil; or
3. Mark wanted to stop at verse 8, after the angel announced that Jesus is risen from the dead and instructed the women to tell His disciples, ending the narrative, as one translation has it: “And they said nothing to anyone. They were afraid, you know.” 1
A BRIEF EXCURSUS ON HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE
For Christians who trust that the Bible is inspired by God and without error, the fact that there’s uncertainty about Mark’s ending is not a problem. What we’re talking about here are not biblical errors, but the complicated, historical process by which the Bible has come to us. Today’s Bibles are a patchwork puzzle of about 5,000 different-sized pieces. These “pieces” are the ancient manuscripts and related fragments. Note: ancient texts are put together by comparing all of these pieces. And the Bible has the most—thousands more than any other text—making it the most reliable ancient book in existence.
But sometimes the pieces don’t fit or are missing. However, we still hold the Bible as inspired and without error—not because all the pieces fit perfectly, but because of the picture of Jesus the Bible gives us. The Bible gives us all we need to know of Jesus to trust Him and be saved, to follow Him faithfully now and to have life in His Name forever (see John 5:39, 20:31; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; Romans 15:4). The Bible is perfect in this sense—perfect in its power to bring us to saving faith in Him and increasing faithfulness toward Him. So, if Mark’s ending leaves us in suspense, we can trust it was for a faith-inducing purpose.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
To review, a suspended ending is one that “does not include important elements of a story that a reader or hearer might come to expect to find in the narrative.” 2 For example, the Old Testament book of Jonah ends with a question God puts to the pouting prophet: Shouldn’t I be concerned with Nineveh—that great city with all its confused people, and helpless animals? Shouldn’t I have pity on them? The narrative doesn’t say what happens next.
But we, as interested readers, expect more. We want to hear if Jonah has a change of heart since the narrative has already told us about Jonah’s earlier change of heart in chapters 2 and 3. Plus, if we know the larger story of Scripture—how Jonah’s book has a place in the biblical canon, and how Jesus speaks favorably of Jonah (see Matthew 12:39-41, 16:4), and how Jonah presumably had a change of heart, since he went on to write the book (who else could provide these details?)— we expect to hear Jonah’s answer. But the ending is suspended. It leaves us hanging. see next page
1. Read the book of Jonah; (it will take about 15 minutes). How does Jonah’s suspended ending affect you as a listener?
2. What unanswered questions or unresolved problems does it raise for you?
3. Read Luke 15:11-32. It’s another famous suspended ending in Scripture. What hopes or expectations does the narrative raise but not fulfill?
4. If the elder brother represents the Pharisees and Law teachers (see Luke 15:2), and we know from Scripture that many Pharisees did have a change of heart toward Jesus (see John 3:1, 19:39; Acts 15:5; Philippians 3:5), how does this background knowledge of the story help us engage with the parable’s suspended ending?
LOOK AGAIN!
If the Holy Spirit inspired a suspended ending for Mark, what might be the faith-inducing purpose? Perhaps He wants us to look again, like returning to ponder a great work of art, or a sunset, or a story. Perhaps our Lord wants to provoke wonder and gratitude, to prompt questions that lead into conversations and deeper relationships—with Him and with each other. A suspended ending is an invitation to ask questions. Let’s compare Virgil’s Aeneid with Mark’s Gospel. “The Aeneid of Virgil has an ending that … strikingly resembles the suddenness of Mark 16:8 in the abruptness of its ending and in its omission of important elements of the whole story.” 3 The first hearers of Mark’s Gospel would have known the bigger story. They would have known the women at Jesus’ tomb had a change of heart, that they struggled through their fears, breaking through their momentary silence. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be here, as followers of Jesus, listening to his story.
Likewise, Romans hearing Virgil’s epic about Aeneas would have known the bigger story. They would have known that Aeneas went on to win the war, marry the girl, and found the city that became Rome. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be there listening to his story. But Virgil leaves them suspended when their hero is at a low point. Normally a man of honor, Aeneas turns into a villain, heartlessly murdering his defenseless, defeated enemy who’s begging for mercy. “The poem ends with confusion, with paradox; the poet would have us ponder.” 4 This is part of what makes Virgil’s work great. He involves “his readers in a dilemma.” 5 Perhaps Mark did want to end his Gospel with “They said nothing to anyone. They were afraid, you know?” If so, how is he inviting us into the disciples’ dilemma? How is he helping us identify with them in their fear and weakness?
Watch the video by Dr. Michael Zeigler: Session 5 – “Lead with Weakness” at lhm.org/studies
1. What keeps you from being a stronger witness for Jesus?
2. If you were with the women at the tomb, what would have pushed you to speak up despite your fear? What has helped you speak up in the past?
FISHING FOR AN ENDING
Perhaps Vegio did commit a dramatic mistake. Or was he taking Virgil’s bait? By leaving the reader dangling, isn’t the author of a suspended ending fishing for the hearer to finish the story? If so, Virgil caught Vegio in his net. Vegio became involved in the dilemma and felt compelled to continue the story.
If some well-meaning Christ-follower later added verses 9-20 to Mark’s Gospel, we don’t need to merely
criticize. Instead, we could be inspired to enter more deeply into the disciples’ dilemma. Perhaps we could continue Jesus’ story with our lives? We could venture back into the narrative to discover more, not just as hearers, but as characters and co-creators in God’s ongoing Gospel story for the world. Taking Mark’s bait, we could become people-fishers.
Watch part two of the video by Dr. Michael Zeigler: Session 5 – “Mark’s Suspended Ending” at lhm.org/studies
1. What was one word or phrase that stayed with you from Mark 14:27-72, 15:40-16:8?
2. How is God “fishing” for you through this Word?
Dear Father, You send Your Spirit to bring us through our fears. Help us to love and serve and speak with patient urgency, each as You have called us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Endnotes
1 James W. Voelz and Christopher W. Mitchell, Concordia Commentary: Mark 8:27–16:20 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2019), 1195.
2 David Lewis, “Suspended Endings in Ancient Literature: A Comparison of The Gospel of Mark with Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid” (Concordia Journal, Spring 2024, Vol. 50, No. 2), 45.
3 Ibid, 50.
4 A.S. Gratwich, “The Aeneid,” in The Cambridge History of Classical Literature: Vol. II, ed. E. J. Kenney (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982), 353, quoted in Lewis, “Suspended Endings,” 55.
5 Ibid, 55.
HShare the Greatest Gift This Christmas
by DR. KURT SENSKE, Chairman, Int’l LLL Board of Directors
ave you ever received a message from someone right on time? Maybe you were searching for an answer, and someone came along and provided you with the information right when you needed it. What a gift!
While the Christmas season is typically a time when we think of giving to our family members, it is also when many people are searching for answers. Individuals who don’t share the Christian faith are more open to hearing about Jesus and why He died on the cross for them. In a world starving for hope and encouragement, we can serve as messengers of Christ's love by sharing the right word at the right time because we have the Answer— Jesus! While we are celebrating with our friends and families, we can
LHM’s 2025 Voter Registration Opens in February
by CHAD FIX
Wpurposefully pause and share His love with others. How do we do this?
• Pray for opportunities: Ask God to open doors and give you boldness to share your faith with others during the Christmas season.
• Share the Christmas story: Talk about the story of Jesus’ birth from the Bible and emphasize the significance of God sending His Son to earth as a gift of love.
• Highlight Christmas carols and traditions: Explain how your favorite Christmas music or traditions relate to the biblical story and the meaning behind them.
• Invite others to church events: Encourage family and friends to join you for Christmas Eve services or special Christmas programs at your church.
ant to have a say in Lutheran Hour Ministries achieving its mission?
As part of the ministry’s annual election process, you can help decide who serves on our Board of Directors in 2025 and beyond.
Anyone who has given a gift to LHM between July 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, (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 2025. Eligible constituents 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 2025 election regardless of whether you registered (or voted) in previous years.
You will be able to view information about each candidate for the Board of Directors in the next issue of The Lutheran Layman. You are then encouraged to register to vote by March 15 to ensure your participation in LHM’s 2025 election process. u
• Provide personal testimonies: Reflect upon how Christmas has deepened your faith and brought you joy. Anticipate questions about your faith and be ready to explain the Gospel in a clear and understandable way.
• Ask open-ended questions: Engage in conversation by asking questions about other people’s Christmas experiences and beliefs, creating opportunities to share your faith.
• Be genuine and respectful: Approach conversations with sincerity and respect for other people’s perspectives.
• Offer acts of service: Show the love of Christ through acts of kindness and generosity during the Christmas season.
As Christians, we know the joy of Christmas transforms our world and leads us to be agents of transformation and change. The shepherds received the joyful news of Jesus’ birth and went to Bethlehem and met Jesus and the family, and then returned “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them” (Luke 2:20b). Today, we are invited to do the same.
I thank God for your partnership, prayers, and support of LHM as we work together as His witnesses to share the Good News of Jesus Christ as this world’s ONLY hope for life and salvation. That is what Christmas is all about. May God bless you and your family this Advent season! u
REACHING NEW AREAS FOR CHRIST
by CHAD FIX
The world around us continues to change at a rapid pace. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the urgent need to share Christ’s love with billions of souls who are still separated from Him.
LHM has adapted to the changing world and is expanding its Gospel outreach, emphasizing the global aspect of the organization as we seek to reach the world for Christ. The new International Internship Program is radically increasing global Gospel impact and uplifting the next generation of Christian leaders to do ministry in their local context, in their native language, in a specific way through specialized teams of interns. The goals of this global expansion model include:
• Expansion of outreach into additional countries to bring the hope of the Gospel;
• Christian leadership opportunities and expertise within local populations;
• Gospel outreach at a faster pace and more efficiently in additional countries; and
• The deployment of new unique ministry programs.
Through this new strategic, global expansion effort, teams of interns are trained and supported in their respective regions by existing LHM ministry center staff. Each of these ministry expansion teams consists of three local people—an individual intern focusing on children and youth ministry, another focusing on digital outreach through social media, and one focusing on multimedia content creation. These areas of outreach reflect the core of LHM’s work around the world.
Local leaders in Peru, Nepal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kyrgyzstan have completed their training and launched their ministry action plans. Here are a few highlights of the exciting work now taking place in Peru and Nepal.
Peru
The team in Peru built an ongoing partnership with a local educational institution where they interacted with as many as 250 children from first to sixth grade each time through the Project JOEL program which provides biblically based guidance to youth in making healthy lifestyle choices. Sessions addressed topics like respect and self-esteem (based on the teaching of Jesus in the temple and God’s creation), responsibility (based on the story of King Josiah and Ecclesiastes 3:1), and obedience (following the biblical story of Daniel 3:16-30 and Ephesians 6:1). Each topic included interactive activities, such as a costumed introduction and crafts to encourage joyful participation among the students.
A new radio program titled “Growing as a Family” provides guidance and support to families through content aligned with biblical foundations. Not only does the program seek to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, but it also serves as an agent of positive change by promoting harmonious co-existence and strengthening family ties in the community.
The team participated in a national women’s retreat for 120 attendees organized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church–Peru, titled “I Am Imperfect, Loved by a Perfect God.” During the retreat, LHM staff presented alongside a psychologist to address depression based on John 16:33, offering a message of hope and encouraging participants to share this topic with others. Each attendee received LHM’s informational booklet about depression.
Celebrate LHM Sunday at Your Church
by CHAD FIX
LHM HAS ADAPTED TO THE CHANGING WORLD
AND IS EXPANDING ITS GOSPEL OUTREACH.
None of us can carry the Gospel around the globe by ourselves. But when we work together—as one family, Connected in Christ—God brings the seemingly impossible within reach.
We hope you will consider hosting a Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) Sunday at your church next year. This day is a chance to celebrate the critical partnership between churches, individuals, and LHM in Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. The official date for Lutheran Hour Ministries Sunday, when many churches across the country will celebrate, is February 2, 2025 … but you can host this event any day your congregational calendar permits.
Nepal
The team from Nepal, where the annual GDP per capita is a mere $4,700, shares its vision for children and youth work. “We believe it is critical to share the Gospel with young people who are the future citizens of the nation, often facing challenges and seeking guidance to know the real meaning of and understanding of life, and under such circumstances they are receptive to God’s Word.”
The ministry team works with churches, pastors, parents, and community leaders to organize children’s clubs for up to 100 attendees each month. The activities make God’s love visible through fun games, songs, and a Bible quiz. The children are joined at these events by their parents, who are often impacted as much by the message as the children. A husband and wife recently participated in the program and were so moved by the Holy Spirit hearing about Jesus that they asked to be referred to a local church to continue to learn more.
During September, the team in Nepal began broadcasting a radio program, “New Hope,” every Wednesday morning from 8:00 until 8:15 to reach a farming community where people rely on radio for their communication needs. At the end of the program, they share their email address and phone number for listeners to contact them to find out more about Christ’s messages of love and hope. u
While some local churches conduct their own outreach work overseas, many churches do not. As a global mission organization that brings the hope of Jesus to individuals in more than 60 countries, LHM offers the opportunity to fill that gap. In addition, LHM offers resources to support your church and help strengthen your members’ spiritual walk. These resources include Daily Devotions, video-based Bible studies, feltneed topical booklets, Gospel Adventures for children, research-based materials developed in partnership with Barna Group, and more.
LHM has already sent the physical materials needed to host LHM Sunday to every church within The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, as well as all LHM Ambassadors. Additional materials are also available as a free download at lhm.org/lhmsunday. Talk to your pastor today about getting LHM Sunday onto the calendar in 2025. u
The LHM Foundation Welcomes New Trustees
by CHAD FIX
The Lutheran Hour Ministries Foundation exists to collaborate with individuals to facilitate transformational gifts that provide financial vitality and confidence for LHM to dynamically proclaim the Gospel today and into the future. The Foundation’s assets currently stand at $29,192,604 and its annual support for the Gospelfocused work of Lutheran Hour Ministries was $1.1 million in Fiscal Year 2024.
The strength and sustaining force of The LHM Foundation is you—and other Christians like you—who believe in providing for the continued sharing of the Gospel long after you are sainted in heaven. This guiding principle has allowed the Foundation to remain steadfast in its commitment to serving donors and their families in meeting their personal goals while Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church
The LHM Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees that consists entirely of supporting members of the ministry as well as LHM staff members. This ensures that the Board remains focused on advancing the Gospel mission of LHM. At the Foundation’s Annual Meeting on Oct. 17, Mercedes Hendricks of Laguna Hills, California, was appointed to serve as the Board’s chair, and the following individuals began threeyear terms on the Board of Trustees.
» Cory Hillmann of St. Louis Missouri (1st term)
» Aaron Pawlitz of St. Louis, Missouri (2nd term)
» Lloyd Probasco of Grand Island, Nebraska (2nd term)
To learn more about The LHM Foundation and how it can help you honor the Gospel legacy of your family and achieve your financial goals, visit lhm.org/foundation. u
Don’t Miss LHM’s Float During the 2025 Rose Parade by
The 136th Tournament of Roses Parade will be held on Jan. 1, 2025, in Pasadena, California, beginning at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. Building off the parade theme of “Best Day Ever,” the 2025 Lutheran Hour Ministries float entry is titled “Behold! Jesus the Savior is Born” and marks the 74th time the ministry has been part of the parade.
The float will feature two heralding angels calling viewers to the birth of Jesus and to the church where Jesus may be found. The stained-glass windows of the church will feature some of the “best days” of Jesus’ life. The LHM float invites viewers to meet—or meet anew—the Source of hope and joy that cannot be taken away by anything that the world throws at you. Come, see, hear, and experience God’s goodness.
BEHOLD! JESUS THE SAVIOR IS BORN
Riders on this year’s float include Becky Pagel, LHM’s vice president of constituencies; Artis Purins, director of LHM–Latvia; and pastors and laypeople from throughout Southern California.
As a self-funded project of the Southern
California District of the 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 5.5-mile parade route in Pasadena to televisions and computers around the world. There are several television channels, streaming outlets, and social media platforms televising the 2025 parade. Check your local listings for the best viewing options.
In addition to sharing Christ along the parade route, volunteers are stationed in booths around the parade and float decorating sites to engage in hundreds of individual conversations
Sharing Christ’s Comfort at Health Centers
In our daily lives, we often meet people without knowing the full extent of their struggles. LHM–Nicaragua brings the message of Christ’s love and salvation beyond the church walls and into the heart of their communities by actively reaching out to people in a variety of public spaces. These efforts allow them to connect with people from all walks of life and offer hope, comfort, and spiritual guidance to address individual circumstances. Health centers are among the places that LHM–Nicaragua regularly visit to share the Word of God with individuals who are receiving preventive or ongoing medical care. During these visits, LHM staff and volunteers not only witness the importance of physical
CHAD FIX
with visitors regarding the spiritual meaning of the LHM float. These English and bilingual volunteers also distribute thousands of souvenir “Behold! Jesus the Savior is Born” postcards as well as a variety of LHM’s topical Project Connect booklets for both adults and children.
Are you interested in helping decorate floats for the 2025 parade? Hundreds of individuals are still needed to help decorate the LHM float as well as others completed by the Petal Pushers’ decorating team of around 4,000 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. Volunteers of all skill levels are needed; whether this will be your very first time, or you are a seasoned veteran, there are dozens of jobs to do. Shifts are available on the three Saturdays prior to Christmas (Dec. 7, 14, and 21). Volunteers will then work two shifts a day beginning Dec. 26 until the floats are completed.
To learn more about the LHM float, volunteer opportunities, or ways to support this project, visit petalpushers.org u
by CHAD FIX
health but also have an opportunity to offer spiritual medicine—the healing power that comes through faith in Christ. As patients seek medical attention, LHM provides resources to share the message of Jesus Christ, encouraging individuals to find hope and salvation in Him.
A young woman named Maritza approached LHM staff during one of their recent visits and shared that she was going through incredibly challenging times with her family. She asked for prayers, and in that moment, the staff members not only prayed with her but also taught her how to pray on her own. Maritza was in a place of deep despair, unsure where to turn for answers. The LHM team
“Now I can see that God is the solution to any situation.”
started by explaining the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer, then shared inspiring Bible verses to help her find strength for her challenging circumstances.
Over the next three months, LHM staff stayed in contact with Maritza and provided her with additional Christ-centered materials. She
shared that everything had begun to change—her family situation improved, and her entire outlook on life was transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit. “Now I can see that God is the solution to any situation,” Maritza said with joy after finding hope and renewal in her life. To God be all the glory! u
New Anxiety PDF Adds to Thred’s Many Resources
LHM’s digital outreach platform, Thred at thred.org, continues to build meaningful connections through its menu of FREE content; included are in-depth courses, downloadable resources, topical blogs, a sermon series, and topicspecific PDFs. Thred resources are developed to foster outcomes that empower, equip, and inspire users to engage in meaningful spiritual conversations online and with their peers in real life.
“When you look at Thred content, it will all point to one of these outcomes that we hope the Thred audience will experience. And each of these will hopefully (and prayerfully!) lead Thred followers to be more EAGER Conversationalists (lhm.org/eager) in their everyday lives—and as they scroll through their own social media,” says Rachel Tichich, LHM’s digital development manager.
by PAUL SCHREIBER
world. That came from listening to the concerns of the folks who use Thred,” says Jon Christopher, LHM videographer and Thred content developer.
How You Can Make an End-of-Year Impact on Ministry
by CHAD FIX
As we unwrap gifts and wrap up another year, this is the time when we think most of others. The familiar saying reminds us it is “better to give than to receive.”
An end-of-year gift to LHM will go a long way toward helping others. God uses your gifts so that people experience the Gospel through LHM programs and resources nearly 235 million times each week. As 2024 ends, you can support this mission in various ways:
• Make a direct gift. Donate online via credit card or PayPal at lhm.org/give or call 1-877-333-1963 (Dec. 31 gifts are tax-deductible if made before 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of your billing address). Or mail a check to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141—just make sure it is postmarked for Dec. 31 or earlier.
• Give a Christmas gift to LHM in honor of a friend or family member.
• Join ministry partners who are committed to regularly sharing Christ’s love through a gift of any amount each month. To sign up visit lhm.org/missionmonthly.
“At Thred, we know God has a story to tell, and we want to help folks uncover their roles in it.”
Thred’s new anxiety PDF, “5 Practices to Help You Manage the Anxious Moments,” offers practical tools for managing life’s daily stress and anxiety. “The Thred team used a Project Connect booklet about anxiety as a launchpad, then adapted it for the Thred audience. Connected to that, there will be an email series about the new resource, which offers additional tips and points readers to more content on the Thred website,” says Andréa Vasilo, LHM’s content writer.
• Participate in a matching gift campaign where every dollar you give is matched by other generous donors.
• Support ministry through a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA. Or consider popular giving options like naming LHM as a beneficiary in your will or life insurance policy, establishing a charitable gift annuity, donating appreciated securities, or creating a donor advised fund. Call our gift planning staff at 1-877-333-1963 to learn more. u
But sometimes things in life can dampen our desire to communicate and mess with our sense of wellbeing—things like our anxiety, for instance. Understanding this, Thred seeks to stay in tune with its users’ needs and life experiences.
“Thred champions listening first. Thred is always trying to embrace the challenges young people face with integrating faith into their whole lives. We recently worked on a resource to combat the anxiety epidemic that is present in our
“5 Practices” gives users five methods to examine their anxieties and suggests ways to understand and work through them. “As the rise in anxiety is a major talking point among the Thred demographic— often related to our constant use of cell phones—this PDF discusses what it means to be a Christian living in the midst of this current cultural moment,” Tichich says. In anxious or settled moments, Jesus offers peace against the chaos and noise of this world. “At Thred, we know God has a story to tell, and we want to help folks uncover their roles in it. We want to be equipping young people to confidently live their faith,” Christopher says. u
Using LHM’s resources, sharing our materials with others, and providing support through a financial gift are just a few ways you can join this growing movement to help us CONNECT more people to the Gospel.
Join us in this life-saving mission and get involved with CONNECT today at
Gospel Adventures gives kids an inside look into the day-today lives of people like them around the world through music, videos, and fun characters.
Access Day One of Wild About Kenya Now!
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Gospel Adventures™ is heading to Kenya in 2025! Gospel Adventures: Wild About Kenya is a free online resource available to Christian schools, homeschools, churches, and individuals. The curriculum is filled with fun activities and an interactive website for students to learn about Christian children in another country.
Gospel Adventures gives kids an inside look into the day-to-day lives of people like them around the world through music, videos, and fun characters. The curriculum includes videos, maps, colorful graphs and charts, hands-on activities, questions for discussion, and more, all working together to highlight Kenya’s religion, ethnic groups, ways of living, culture and customs, history, and other features that make Kenya unique.
Like the last several years, the first day of the curriculum is already available! Visit gospeladventures.org/kenya to register for the virtual “trip” and access this content to get a glimpse into the newest interactive experience. As always, the full curriculum and supporting materials will be available in January for everyone who has registered.
How Can You Make an Impact on Kids Around the World?
Africa is a place with great hope and resources but also with many challenges. It is the youngest continent on earth, with a median age of only 19 years and 70 percent of the people under age 30. About one-third of the world’s teenagers live in Africa.
Education, income, and access to reliable technology lag behind the rest of the world.
Over half of Africa’s population lives in rural areas, so children often leave school to work on farms to help provide for their families. Because education is low, illiteracy is a challenge across the region. Many people do not learn to read and write beyond an elementary-school level. For this reason, distributing Bibles and booklets is often not the best way to reach individuals with the Gospel. In addition, more than 2,000 languages are spoken on the continent. These factors create unique circumstances and opportunities to share the Gospel with people in diverse places using different outreach methods. All the funds raised this year will help support LHM children’s programs in various countries throughout Africa, including:
• Drama Performances use storytelling to catch the audience’s attention and relate the Gospel to their local lives.
• Film Screenings where LHM staff use generators and projectors to show biblical films to large groups in rural areas.
• Vocational Training Programs that teach young women in their teens basic skills like sewing and making clothes that help them find employment and care for their family.
• Holistic Ministry where LHM sometimes assists children by distributing school supplies and items to help them study or stay in school.
• Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) allow LHM staff to meet someone in person and offer a BCC so that they can study at home in their own time.
• Medical Support partnership with Lutheran congregations and medical caregivers in the United States allows LHM staff to meet each person and pray with them, sharing the Good News with them.
• Response to Natural Disasters assists people facing tragedies through rebuilding lost homes or planting new crops.
YOU can help reach out to children around the world with the Gospel by supporting our Global Kids Fund. Visit gospeladventures.org/globalkidsfund to see how others have raised money or to make your donation. u
Share the Gift of the Gospel on GivingTuesday
by CHAD FIX
Three billion people have not yet experienced the transformative love of our Savior, which presents a tremendous opportunity to reach so many more for Christ.
This is one reason why Lutheran Hour Ministries has embarked on a bold globalization initiative that exponentially expands ministry work into places that we have not yet had an opportunity to explore. Building upon a unique ministry model that identifies and equips local laypeople to build their presence and impact using specific strategies and tactics contextual to the culture and language in which they serve, LHM launched an innovative approach to global expansion last year called the International Internship Program. Our first four teams have
completed their training and launched ministry action plans to reach people in Peru, Nepal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kyrgyzstan.
This life-changing work would not be possible without the support of people like you. This year on GivingTuesday (Dec. 3), you can help LHM expand its impact so new audiences of nonChristians can find answers and relief in the Gospel.
Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when people often begin to focus on holiday and end-of-year giving. In fact, recent studies show that around one-third of donations given to nonprofit
This life-changing work would not be possible without the support of people like you.
organizations annually take place from Thanksgiving through the end of the calendar year.
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.
Please consider a gift to Lutheran
Hour Ministries on GivingTuesday 2024 to 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 and social media accounts in the coming weeks for additional details on how LHM is celebrating GivingTuesday this year. You will also learn how your support of LHM on this annual day of giving will make your gift go even further. u
Cancer Booklet Speaks to God’s Power in the Struggle
by PAUL SCHREIBER
“Cancer impacts the way people see their bodies, their emotions, their future, and even their faith.”
Addressing issues that face us all is the focus of LHM’s Project Connect booklets. One such booklet is Cancer: Courage Through Christ written by Karen Tripp, executive director of Cancer Companions, a ministry devoted to serving those with cancer and those who support them. Tripp is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the author of God Is Bigger Than Your Cancer.
In Cancer: Courage Through Christ, Tripp shares her expertise and experience in dealing with cancer. (Her father was a 23-year colon cancer survivor; her stepmother died of breast cancer.) In her booklet, Tripp tells of how cancer overwhelms: “Cancer impacts the way people see their bodies, their emotions, their future, and even their faith,” she writes. But she reminds readers, “You have a Heavenly Father who is your firm foundation. Dealing with cancer is easier when you lean on God in faith and hope.”
In addition to her own observations, Tripp includes three life stories (Irene, Christina, and Robin) of people facing cancer. Their comments shed fresh light on how people react to a cancer diagnosis, the way they grapple with it day by day, and how their trust in God’s care—through good and bad days—carries them through the disease.
Project Connect booklets like Cancer: Courage
Through Christ speak to people wherever they are in their lives. This year, around the country, numerous Lutheran Laymen’s League Districts have had great success in promoting and sharing Project Connect booklets at state and county fairs and other venues. Large events where LLL Districts participated with a fair booth or other display arrangement were in Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Kansas, and New York. And there were others, too.
While Project Connect booklets like Cancer: Courage Through Christ are available to download, print, and in many cases, to listen to, at lhm.org/projectconnect, making them available in printed form at a face-to-face level is still very important. Civic events like fairs and expositions along with congregational events such as vacation Bible school, mission fairs, or hosting an LHM Sunday give these booklets exposure to an audience that wouldn’t ordinarily go online to find them.
It’s that spur-of-the-moment trigger that clicks in someone to pick up a booklet out of the blue that can lead to an individual finding hope, help, and relief in a time of need. Go to the Project Connect website for handy display options, tips on sharing booklets in your community, and a look at LHM’s fun kids’ booklets. u
Congregation Spotlight: How YOU Can Join LHM’s Mission
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Congregation name:
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Location:
Seymour, Indiana
Congregation size: 3,720 baptized members
Contact person: Pastor Ralph Blomenberg
How does your congregation support LHM?
We are happy to include LHM in our annual budget and encourage our members to support the ministry through their own contributions when we celebrate LHM Sunday each February. We partner with our local Lutheran Mission Federation to sponsor the weekly broadcast of The Lutheran Hour in our own town as well as the Scottsburg and Salem areas. This partnership also made it financially possible to air LHM Christmas and Easter TV programs in the greater Louisville area this past year. Given the tens of thousands of households that tuned in, we already have funds raised for this Christmas and are working on Easter 2025. We place Project Connect booklet racks in several high-traffic areas of our building, and a member of our Evangelism team regularly resupplies them. These materials are a great resource for our pastoral care of members and conversations with visitors. Our church staff regularly uses LHM’s devotions during their daily meetings, and we include a link to LHM on our website so that people can have quick access.
What was the motivation behind supporting LHM?
Immanuel’s deep connection with LHM goes back to the founding of the Lutheran Laymen’s League. A.H. Ahlbrand, one of the founding LLL members who authored the plan to eliminate a Synod debt and was involved in financing the start of The Lutheran Hour in 1930, was a member of Immanuel and encouraged many in our community to become involved. While the Lord called him home in 1946, I have seen many others gladly step up to support the work, including leaders like Eldor Bobb and Jerry Brown and members who served as LHM Ambassadors. Rev. Lawrence Acker, a son of Immanuel, served as LLL Pastoral Advisor from 1941 through 1955 and interim Lutheran Hour Speaker following the death of Dr. Walter A. Maier. Through the years, we have been blessed to have all the Speakers beginning with Dr. Oswald Hoffmann in our pulpit and community. They have been inspirational and kept support for LHM strong.
What has been your members’ feedback? What do your members like about LHM?
We have many members who faithfully listen to The Lutheran Hour, both those able to come to worship and those who cannot. They also appreciate the insights offered through LHM’s Daily Devotions and Project Connect booklets.
If your congregation would like to learn more about how you can support LHM’s mission, contact Robin Forsythe at 314-317-4152 or robin.forsythe@lhm.org. If you would like to make a gift of support, visit lhm.org/give u
New Christmas Radio Drama Inspired by Beloved Classic
by PAUL SCHREIBER
Assignment: Christmas is the new Christmas 2024 radio special from The Lutheran Hour
Andréa Vasilo, LHM’s content writer, has written a radio adaptation on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, but with a twist. She worked from an essay by Dr. Travis Scholl, corporate director of Mission Integration for Lutheran Senior Services, St. Louis.
The story centers on Edie Saver, a successful journalist who tackles a short deadline assignment to write an article about Christmas nostalgia. As Edie researches Dickens’ story by reading the book and consulting Dr. Fan, a Dickens specialist, she gains fresh insight into nostalgia, into who she is, and how the past has shaped her. As she considers Scrooge’s ghosts, each with their own dreadful message of a misspent life, Edie sees the story is about much more than nostalgia.
Nostalgia is “not the theme,” Edie tells her boss. “A Christmas Carol is about so much more than nostalgia. Christmas is about so much more. In the story, Scrooge becomes a new man. He doesn’t just get a little makeover, or go in another direction, but he is a different—a changed—person. It happens to him, and that transformation leads him to a more generous life!”
“Just as Scrooge was transformed, so too can we—in our stress and hectic lives—be transformed by the birth of the Christ Child.”
“Edie sees Scrooge’s shame and regret and begins to reflect on her life, ultimately leading to a Scrooge-like transformation of her own,” says Christy Bond, media producer for the program. Along with other voice actors, LHM’s Senior Producer Mark Eischer and Content Manager Chris Macky will voice the characters of Dr. Fan and Beau, Edie’s former boyfriend, respectively.
In adapting the Scholl essay to a radio drama, Vasilo faced some challenges. “There were numerous details and fun anecdotes I wanted to retain in writing this multi-character narrative. The audio team’s inspired idea of a protagonist who is not only a modern-day Scrooge but also a journalist writing a Christmas-themed article made including most of the essay a lot easier,” Vasilo says.
Radio dramas like Assignment: Christmas can serve as a springboard to conversations on what Christmas is all about. “I hope listeners will draw parallels between A Christmas Carol and the true meaning of Christmas. Just as Scrooge was transformed, so too can we—in our stress and hectic lives—be transformed by the birth of the Christ Child,” says Vasilo.
Listen to Assignment: Christmas anytime in December. Go online to lhm.org/guide for local airings as well as The Lutheran Hour website, podcast, and ‘Connected by LHM’ app in mid-December. u
Photo from Pastor Ralph Blomenberg
North America Staff Members Gather
Around 40 staff members from the United States and Canada gathered at LHM’s headquarters Sept. 26 to participate in a day-long North America Regional Workshop. “It was a wonderful day of fellowship, spiritual development, and collaboration focused on growing our mission to share the Gospel around the world,” says Jeff Craig-Meyer, president of United States Ministries.
Craig-Meyer opened the morning with a short devotion before Rev. Dr. Tony Cook, global chief mission officer, and Lara Heisohn-Sidorski, chief operating officer, took a deep dive into Reach. This ministry metric tracks the number of times each week that people experience the Gospel through intentional opportunities that LHM programs or resources provide for every person to hear the Gospel in an understandable way.
Rev. Dr. Jason Broge, senior director of global research and development, then led sessions on the topics of “What is the Gospel?” and “Spiritual Postures.” Staff members broke into small groups to discuss what they learned about the Gospel
Making God’s Love Visible Among Families and Youth
by CHAD FIX
“It was a wonderful day of fellowship, spiritual development, and collaboration ….”
through Mark 1:14-15 and Luke 4:42-44, identify words or phrases that stood out in its definition, and determine ways to implement what they learned about the Gospel into their daily lives. Spiritual Postures refers to a person’s beliefs, attitudes, and predispositions (unreceptive, receptive, or seeking) toward a given spirituality,
LHM–Kazakhstan partners with churches throughout the country to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with children. Through children’s and youth programs, LHM makes God’s love visible among families and youth.
Over the summer, numerous children’s camps were held at Lutheran churches. The camps hosted between 100 and 300 attendees and included children from the churches as well as others from the neighborhood, providing an opportunity for all to hear about God’s love for them.
LHM–Kazakhstan staff took an active part in organizing and planning the activities for each of these camps. At one camp, for children of lowincome families, the children had the opportunity to try their hands at carpentry, learn soap making, and take part in other creative activities, while also hearing about God’s love for them as their Heavenly Father. At the end of the camp, each child was sent home with a package that included toys, sweets, and Christian literature. Parents of the camp attendees received Christian booklets related to raising children. Preparing a child for school is an important annual activity for families. Unfortunately, for families with many children or those with limited incomes, this time of year is costly. LHM–Kazakhstan staff launched a September project where 550 kits with school supplies were prepared for children in need. In addition to sharing Christ-centered ministry materials, the kits included items like backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, rulers, and more that no child can do without to start the school year fully prepared. u
in this case Christianity. The apostle Paul encouraged Christians to be wise in how they engaged in spiritual conversations with nonChristians. Reading through the book of Acts reveals Paul modeled this by graciously adapting his own spiritual conversations to the specific people he was talking to. Paul was able to do this because he took the time to know the spiritual posture of the people he was speaking with.
“Recognizing someone’s spiritual posture is not always easy,” says Broge. “Each person is unique and has their own unique story. To understand a person’s spiritual posture, one must be willing to engage in honest conversation while striving to actively and empathetically listen to the other person. This active listening requires patience.” Staff reflected on how this approach is similar and different from other ways of gaining a hearing for the Gospel and then identified people in their own lives who embody each spiritual posture to uncover potential methods to meet them most effectively where they are. u
CHANGING LIVES AROUND THE WORLD with the Gospel
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Liberia
Evitter is 35 years old and was born into a Christian household. She went away from her faith when she got married. She has three young children and felt like she had no skills to provide income for her family. One day, she heard LHM–Liberia’s radio program, Words of Hope, and immediately signed up for the women’s sewing class that they advertised. Now, she is learning a practical skill and hopes to be able to provide some income for her family. The Gospel message being shared through the classes has also provided encouragement to restore her faith. Evitter says, “I am grateful to LHM–Liberia for the life-changing skills I am learning at the ministry center.”
Evitter is learning a practical skill and hopes to be able to provide some income for her family.
Arda felt a gap in his heart, and that is when he decided to contact LHM staff.
Arda is 29 years old and comes from a non-Christian religious household. He reached out to LHM staff in Central and South Asia via WhatsApp and asked a few questions about Christianity. He wanted to know what the Bible says about addiction. An LHM staff member responded, and they continued having deeper conversations. Arda shared that he is struggling with alcohol addiction that is causing him to have family issues. He felt a gap in his heart, and that is when he decided to contact LHM staff. After a few days of conversations, the staff member referred Arda to a local church. Through the power of God’s Word, Arda became a Christian and was recently baptized.
Central & South Asia
Sri Lanka
As an outreach opportunity to reach people, LHM–Sri Lanka staff printed calendars with Bible verses on them. Many people in the area requested the calendars, and the staff distributed them along with booklets and a form for people to donate to the ministry center. Wijesinghe is 80 years old and retired as a naval officer. He is a Christian, but there are no churches in his area, so he regularly listens to the LHM–Sri Lanka radio program. He requested a calendar, and after receiving it, he sent a money order with the donation form and requested more booklets for his children. A staff member recently spoke to Wijesinghe, and he was so thankful for everything the ministry center does. He continues to support the ministry through prayer, using its resources, and making donations throughout the year.
Wijesinghe regularly listens to the LHM–Sri Lanka radio program.
Milagros uses her spare time to actively volunteer for the LHM–Nicaragua ministry center.
Milagros is a young leader who supports many LHM–Nicaragua activities, including the Project JOEL program that provides biblically based guidance through a variety of activities for youth to learn how to make healthy lifestyle choices. She started participating in Project JOEL at an early age, and when she started college, she still made time to attend meetings in the local community to share the Gospel message with others. Now that she has graduated from college, she uses her spare time to actively volunteer for the LHM–Nicaragua ministry center doing various tasks to support the ministry and share her faith with people who have not experienced God’s transformative love.
Nicaragua
Individuals around the world experience the Gospel through Lutheran Hour Ministries’ culturally relevant programs and resources nearly 235 million times each week. 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.
Cameroon
The LHM–Argentina staff stayed connected with Omar, his wife, Silvia, and their daughter, Florencia.
Every Wednesday, LHM–Argentina materials are displayed on a sidewalk outside a local church. One week, LHM–Argentina staff members met Omar, his wife, Silvia, and their daughter, Florencia. They had been looking for a supportive community after Silvia was diagnosed with cancer. Over time, the LHM–Argentina staff stayed connected with them, and a pastor visited their home to pray with them. They expressed interest in participating in church activities to learn more about Christianity. Issa is 25 years old and grew up in a Christian household. Once he left home to live on his own, he started to drift away from his faith and began making poor choices that caused him to become addicted to his new way of life. Issa met a volunteer for LHM–Cameroon, who offered him a topical booklet on God’s love. The volunteer also told Issa about the Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) hosted by the ministry center, and Issa decided to enroll. “I went through the booklet and the BCC, and I now understand that God’s love and forgiveness is limitless and even extends to chronic sinners,” says Issa. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Issa is continuing to study the Word of God and has reaffirmed his faith in Jesus. He has reunited with his family and goes to church each week.
“I went through the booklet and the BCC, and I now understand that God’s love and forgiveness is limitless …”
Argentina
Indonesia
Audrey is in high school and although she has grown up in a nonChristian religious household, she has stood firm in her own Christian faith. Audrey enrolled in Bible Correspondence Courses through LHM–Indonesia to grow her understanding of Christianity. She is always eager to participate in activities at church. Audrey currently serves as the head of the Christian group at her school, which is an achievement she takes great pride in, considering her non-Christian background. In addition to her responsibilities at school, Audrey actively serves in ministry activities at her church as a singer, displaying a steadfast determination to deepen her knowledge and relationship with Jesus.
Audrey enrolled in Bible Correspondence Courses through LHM–Indonesia to grow her understanding of Christianity.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Monzer became a Christian.
Monzer is 24 years old and recently moved to another country due to ongoing wars near his previous home. Raised in a non-Christian religious household, he longed for a deeper religious connection and had many unanswered questions. One day while searching online, he found a Facebook post about comfort on a page run by LHM staff in the Middle East and North Africa. He sent a private message with some of his questions about Christianity. As he discovered more about the Gospel message, he found joy and peace that transcended the harsh circumstances of his life. The staff shared a short video from which Monzer witnessed the profound sacrifice of Jesus. The message resonated within him and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Monzer became a Christian. He continues to communicate with LHM staff who provide ongoing encouragement through prayers and Bible readings. u
Middle East & North Africa
Giving for the Future with a Donor Advised Fund
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Making a gift to support the mission of your favorite charity is its own reward, but for many people, it can often be challenging to determine which method of giving makes the most sense given your goals and financial circumstances. As a donor, you have many options, but one giving strategy, Donor Advised Funds (DAF), has exploded in popularity over the last several years due to how it maximizes tax benefits.
While DAFs are not new, growth in assets in these funds has skyrocketed recently with no signs of stopping anytime soon. A Donor Advised Fund is like having your own foundation. Rather than giving money or stock directly to your favorite nonprofit(s), you give to your fund instead. You receive a tax deduction when you contribute money to it, but don’t distribute money to charity until you want to do so. The money is invested to hopefully grow the fund. Then, you advise the administrator when to make a gift from it to your favorite nonprofit(s). This gives you the control and freedom to make contributions (and receive income tax benefits) when you choose. If you establish a Donor Advised Fund with LHM, at the end of the term, the remaining fund balance will become an asset of our organization, helping us further our mission.
You
have many options, but one giving strategy, Donor Advised Funds, has exploded in popularity over the last several years.
A Flexible, Low-Cost Alternative to A Private Foundation
A DAF offers you a flexible and easyto-establish vehicle for charitable giving. Unlike private foundation gifts, DAF gifts generally qualify for a full fair market value charitable deduction and have lower startup costs. A DAF also permits you to make grants to charity without unfavorable private foundation restrictions and excise taxes.
It’s Easy to Get Started
Opening a DAF account is easy. Simply contact us for an application form and complete and sign the fund agreement. You may fund your account with a gift of cash, securities, real estate, or other assets. Check with us if you have unique or special assets that may be donated in a tax-efficient way.
A Donor Advised Fund May Be the Right Option If
• You like the idea of a private foundation but prefer to defer the investment and administrative decisions to someone else and to simplify your tax filings;
• You want to avoid the ongoing expense and management of a private foundation;
• You want to support multiple causes without having to retain records for separate organizations;
• You want to be able to take advantage of greater tax benefits for your philanthropy today.
Ready to open a DAF account and recommend gifts to LHM? Contact your financial planner for more details or to get started. If you already have a DAF, consider recommending gifts from it to LHM. You can contact LHM’s gift planning team at 1-877-333-1963 or visit our new giftplanning website at lhm.christianwill.org. u
Sharing the Gospel Message Through Radio and Television
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
The Lutheran Mission Federation (LMF) is a group of Lutheran churches in southern Indiana. It started in 1931 with the goal to start and support churches in the area and has now expanded its focus to spreading the Gospel.
To support Lutheran Hour Ministries, LMF airs The Lutheran Hour every Sunday morning on three different radio stations to reach most of southern Indiana and into the Louisville area. Due to the program’s popularity, Ronald Rieckers, who has served as president of LMF since 2008, came up with the idea in 2013 to bring the Speakers of The Lutheran Hour to the Jackson County Fair, which is one of the largest fairs in Indiana. Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, former Speaker, and Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, current Speaker, have both delivered Sunday morning messages to large crowds at the fair.
Always thinking of ways to spread the Gospel message to more people, Rieckers approached local churches a couple years ago to raise money for airing LHM’s Christmas and Easter programs on TV stations in the southern Indiana/Louisville area.
“When I was giving my presentation at one of the churches in Louisville, the pastor smiled the whole time and was nodding his head,” says Rieckers. “He told me later, ‘The whole time you were talking, I was thinking, why didn’t we think of this?’”
“The feedback from everyone has been so positive, and it always is when we do anything with Lutheran Hour Ministries.”
With the help of a local company and two local pastors, three one-minute commercial spots for the Christmas programs and the two 90-second spots for the Easter programs were recorded. The messages explain the meaning of Christmas, share readings from Luke 2, and encourage people to find a local church to attend Christmas services. The two messages for Easter follow the same format.
More than 67,000 people watched the Christmas programs in 2023, and 46,000 people watched the Easter programs in 2024, on four satellite or cable channels in the southern Indiana area.
“The feedback from everyone has been so positive, and it always is when we do anything with Lutheran Hour Ministries,” says Rieckers.
Christmas programs will air again this year. LMF hopes to receive enough donations to air programs for Easter 2025 and continue this ministry. Visit lhm.org/guide to find a station airing these programs near you. u
Doing Good for Others Brings Out the Best in Us
by PAUL SCHREIBER
Once again, National Good Neighbor Day (NGND) on September 28 sparked an enthusiastic response from people across the nation. From Hawaii to New York, people did good in the places where they live. The Hopeful Neighborhood Project (HNP) from LHM was there too, encouraging activity in its mission of offering tools, resources, coaching, videos, neighborhood labs, and courses designed to help users create a more hopeful neighborhood where they live.
were in need. Helping hands came from those who could. “We are neighbors, many of us have lived here for years and are friends with each other but, on that day, we became an even more closely knit community than ever before,” said one resident.
Missouri’s 30,840-plus “Acts of Neighboring” were impressive, too. Missouri Good Neighbor Week is led by the University of Missouri Extension Engaged Neighboring Program and assisted by HNP. Ferguson’s community collaboration with the Police Department helped forge stronger bonds between neighbors and local law enforcement.
“People are beginning to realize that their neighbors are their community—and that they need community."
Nationwide, folks in Baltimore, Maryland, gave out personal and school supplies to kids. Residents in Scottsdale, Arizona, wrote “Good Neighbor Notes” to their neighbors and showed It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood™. In Bowling Green, Kentucky, the mayor and the Board of Commissioners spread the news of NGND in a social media campaign and issued a “Kindness Challenge” to do good where citizens live.
In the eastern U.S., Good Neighbor Day saw those impacted by Hurricane Helene getting help. Folks in Onslow County, North Carolina, did a supply drive with four libraries participating as collection points for donated goods. Mountain Home, North Carolina, was hit early Friday morning, September 27. With a boil water order, no power, cellphone service, internet or cable service, people
In Sikeston, the Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Leadership Sikeston class made Missouri Good Neighbor Week its class project! Five days of activities beautified the area and encouraged residents to get involved. “The community got behind and supported the entire week,” one volunteer said. In 2024, Houston, Excelsior Springs, Sikeston, Springfield, and Ferguson each took a “Most Neighborly City” award. People want to help others even with society’s current tension and polarization. “People are beginning to realize that their neighbors are their community—and that they need community. Neighbors are often your first call in an emergency, they watch out for your home and kids and pets. Therefore, building trusting relationships with neighbors, despite differences, just makes sense,” said Jennifer Prophete, director of community programming for HNP. u
Gospel AdventuresTM
Teach your students about the foods, animals, people, and places of Kenya with Gospel Adventures. Participants get to see God’s work in action with examples of how they can share the Gospel with people in areas like Kenya through prayer and designated chapel offerings.
NOW!
Planting Gospel Seeds in Farming Communities
by CHAD FIX
In carrying out its mission statement of Bringing Christ to the Nations–and the Nations to the Church, Lutheran Hour Ministries employs a variety of methods through local staff and volunteers to share the Gospel in understandable ways with people around the world. One way is by incorporating “holistic” approaches that share Christ’s love by attending to people’s physical and emotional needs as well as their spiritual needs. In places where people may be struggling with poverty, LHM assists individuals by providing vocational training, educational sessions, nutritional supplements, hygiene supplies, and more.
Near the end of summer, LHM–Indonesia staff visited a farming community to share the Gospel through a unique holistic outreach event. In this area, about 68 percent of the population relies on agriculture to sustain them. LHM staff arrived not only with a Gospel presentation but a gift of seeds for community members to use in planting their gardens. Seeds for tomatoes, chilies, beans, peanuts, melons, and mustard greens were
distributed among the more than 4,000 people in attendance. Seeds are expensive to purchase and difficult to come by as they require travel over long distances to reach the nearest city where they are sold, so the event participants received them with happiness and gratitude.
Our staff shared, “The seeds given by LHM–Indonesia will always be remembered by the community. Even though our team has returned to our home office, the seeds will become plants that provide food for the community and help to ease their burden. Every time it is planting and harvest season, residents will remember our efforts and how they helped the local economy.”
“The seeds given by LHM–Indonesia will always be remembered by the community.”
In the afternoon following the seed distribution event, LHM staff taught English to students and residents who longed to learn this language. The attendees enjoyed the interactive session for applying their new language skills.
Annual Golf Classic Supports LHM’s Mission
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
EIn Mongolia, the summer season marks the time that people go out to do farming and tend to their sheep in the countryside. During this time, ministry staff go out to meet them where they are while sharing the hope of the Gospel. During one of these visits, LHM–Mongolia staff partnered with a mission organization to organize a week-long English camp for 30 children from a local school and a local church. During that time, they also made visits to the homes of their students and were introduced to students’ parents who appreciated the camp being hosted for their children. u
Your IRA represents everything you have worked for and saved to retire. Recent laws give you fresh options when required to take money from it. Consider …
Making a Qualified Charitable Distribution — Rather than take your required minimum distribution, send it to a nonprofit like ours. While you will not receive an income tax deduction, you won’t pay taxes on the distribution either.
ighty-nine golfers gathered and hit the course on September 30, 2024, for the 32nd annual LHM Golf Classic at Westborough Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri. With a new schedule this year, golfers teed off in the morning and enjoyed a program, fellowship, and prizes in the afternoon. “As always, it was a great day of golf and connection with others,” says Jeff Craig-Meyer, LHM president of United States Ministries. Cheering could be heard around the course when Matt Jaudes got a hole-inone on the 168-yard par three on hole number 12. Jaudes is the only person to ace a hole-in-one in the 32-year run of this successful golf classic. The annual golf classic has raised more than $1 million in its history to support LHM’s mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. u
Funding a Gift Annuity — You can distribute a certain amount from your IRA to a nonprofit like LHM to fund a gift annuity once in your lifetime. The taxes are spread over several years rather than taxed at once.
There are special rules to make this happen. Contact your tax professional or our gift-planning staff to learn more.