The Lutheran Layman by Lutheran Hour Ministries

LUTHERAN L AYMAN

THE

March - April 2018

Send-off at see pg. 3

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SPEAKING UP

By Rev. Dr. Dale A. Meyer as heard on The Lutheran Hour

NARROW Days “And suddenly only one thing matters, and there, in the narrow place, stands Jesus.”

he days are narrowing down. So it is in life; it There is a somber reason you and I should apply narrows down. ourselves … to devout fear and love of God. The Some years ago, I came across two sentences reason is God has given mankind the terrible that have a profound impact upon my spiritual ability to reject His salvation. Oh, you can look life. I was reading a book called Devotions for the religious but not get it right. Some people who Chronologically Gifted by Rev. Arnold Kuntz. He came out to hear John the Baptist were not cut to wrote this: “Life narrows down, and crisis comes. the quick by the preaching of repentance. And suddenly only one thing matters, and there, in How about you and me? Martin Luther the narrow place, stands Jesus.” observed that we who are religious are especially As I grew into my early adult years, life was tempted to think that there is something in us that opening up. Few young people think of life as a in some way merits the grace of God. Five hundred narrowing; they are alive with hopes and dreams years ago, in the Heidelberg Disputation (April for the future. So it should be … but sooner or later 26, 1518) Luther said, “The person who believes the narrowing comes, faith becomes very personal, that he can obtain grace by doing what is in him and we know we are going to our Creator. “Life adds sin to sin so that he becomes doubly guilty. narrows down, and crisis comes. And suddenly Nor does speaking in this manner give cause for only one thing matters, and there, in the narrow despair, but for arousing the desire to humble place, stands Jesus.” oneself and seek the grace of Christ. It is certain John the Baptist understood that we all need a that man must utterly despair of his own ability Savior. Life not only narrows down; it tightens like before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ” a vise. The judgment upon our sins comes upon (Theses 16-18). us, and there is no way out. You remember your The Good News today is this: that life narrows past, remember your sins, how you hurt others, down, and we look to Jesus. How does the hurt yourself, and broke God’s commandments? narrowing come to you? Through advancing age? You remember your past, but can you do anything Through illness? Through adversity? Yes … and the about it? No, the vise of judgment tightens. best narrowing comes through daily repentance. Why do I say that this is so important? Like John We are not to go into the wilderness just once to the Baptist, you and I do not naturally know that hear John’s message, and then return to our old Jesus is the Son of God who came to save us from ways of doing things. Young people should not put the closing vise of judgment on our sins. When repentance off until gray hairs. Busy adults should life narrows down, and the great crisis of sin and not put off repentance until they imagine they’ll judgment closes in, God has to show us Jesus, just have more leisure time. as He showed John. St. Paul says, “No one can say Who knows how much time any of us has? n ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” From the message “Life Narrows Down” by Dr. (1 Corinthians 12:3). Dale Meyer, heard recently on The Lutheran Hour.

Messages from

GOD’S

WORD for

YOUR

LIFE every day

ON THE COVER: from a rendition of the monastery garden courtyard where Luther walked and near the spot where the 1518 disputation was held in Heidelberg. Adapted & colorized by Andrea Thompson

L AYMAN The Lutheran

Vol. 89, No. 2 March - April 2018

Dr. Gerald Perschbacher (LL.D.), Editor • Andrea Thompson, Layout Subscription: $5. Printed bi-monthly. Send color photos for use. Photos sent to the paper may not be returned. Lutheran Hour Ministries, The Lutheran Hour, Bringing Christ to the Nations, BCTN, This is the Life, Ayer, Hoy y Siempre, Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones, Esta Es La Vida, Para el Camino, THRED, and The Hoffmann Society are ® registered marks, or SM service marks. The Puzzle Club is a service mark and trademark of Int’l LLL. All rights reserved, 2018 Int’l LLL. LHM Response Center: 1-800-876-9880

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

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

lhm.org/dailydevotions

Heidelberg in recent years

Luther’s motive was born “of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it.”

(Germany photos by Perschbacher)

Send-off at By Gerald Perschbacher

ail sometimes moves slowly, and people may not reply immediately. Matters of daily life impinge their schedules and, in important cases, people hesitate to issue a hasty response. Indeed, it is customary for prominent figures to react to requests with a special measure of thought. These and other factors can slow communications. So it was in 1517. Dr. Martin Luther waited … and waited … and waited to have an answer to his basic question about conducting a face-to-face debate (disputation) over the content of the Ninety-Five Theses he posted in Wittenberg. Because of the lateness in replying, the debate happened nearly half a year after his posting. Back then, debating in Central Europe was natural in educational circles. It was part of the normal process by which university students advanced toward a degree by engaging in several debates in defense of their findings and conclusions on specific topics. Most were held at universities under the auspices of notable organizations or university leadership. (1) It was altogether understandable that

Luther, a professor and theologian, called for a debate. The question was, who might respond? In the preface to those 1517 theses, Luther stated his motive was born “of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it.” (2) As a regular lecturer and faculty member at the Saxon university in Wittenberg, he intended to defend his list of 95 statements and dispute with others on content. He asked potential debaters who could not be present to dispute orally to otherwise submit their points by letter. Apparently, few potential debaters, if any, contacted Luther after the posting. If they did, details have yet to be found. Why? There was danger in holding a debate against church practices. It was a chancy affair to spar with the high leadership of the Church in Rome which dominated Europe. Luther was risking his professional future. Still, he held fast to the idea of a debate. He used careful and polite words to grease the track toward that end. Today, free speech is a precious right enjoyed by many people, especially in North America. Yet, freedom of speech carries warnings and cautions. There are

falsehoods abounding in media, tricks are played on the public in false advertising, and social media may precipitate serious situations. Thank God that He spoke openly with our faithful ancestors. No innuendoes, nothing false about it. His Word rang true in ages past and shall ring true today, for just as God is changeless, so are His promises. “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:1-3). Luther knew that. You probably do, too. But how are you using the opportunity to stand up and speak for the Lord? How are you supporting the spread of His Word in Christ? Luther wrestled with what he SHOULD say and when he HAD to say it. Are we that much different today? Say something about Christ, and you are labeled. Say it strongly, and some may call you a fanatic. Don’t

Luther wrestled with what he SHOULD say and when he HAD to say it.

see next page

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

When our “time” comes to speak for Him, what shall we do?

Send-off

from previous page

say it at all, and people may wonder why you call yourself a Christian! You probably have read and heard a significant amount about Luther’s theses and subsequent events. But there is one event that has taken added importance in recent years. It is the debate that Luther wanted. Held on April 26, 1518, almost a full six months after his request, the disputation was held at the University of Heidelberg, the first such institution in all the German territories. Founded in 1386, it was a pinnacle among succeeding institutions, including the University of Wittenberg, founded much later in 1502. With pressure coming from various sides, including Medici Pope Leo X, Johannes Staupitz took action as vicar general of the German General Charter of the Augustinian Order of which Luther was a Religious Brother. Staupitz also was a mentor to Luther and served the order with respect. It so happened that the order held a major conference every third year, and 1518 was scheduled next. Thus, Luther was to have his debate, if Staupitz had it his way. (3) “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted … a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance … a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing … a time to keep silence, and a time to speak …” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-7). In a certain respect, Luther’s time to speak could 4

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

have been lost. There are indications he grew fearful of repercussions if he continued his plea for the Good News amid a society that sided more with workrighteousness, notions of self-earned salvation, and the purchase of grace via Indulgences, wrong as those were. But, guided by the Holy Spirit, the driving desire to speak on the side of the Lord took hold of Luther’s life and future. A special time and place were realized for the debate. Millions have benefitted since the Reformation because they have heard the eternal good that God has for them in Christ Jesus. When our “time” comes to speak for Him, what shall we do? The 21st century is well on track to earn recognition as the great century for communication. Unseen words float almost magically through the air on invisible waves, beams, and personal phones that are far more than phones ever were before. Social media, it is called, and that blossoming garden of communication may still be in its budding infancy. Who can predict the future means of communication, yet undiscovered? Where will you be when that “time” comes? Will you be sharing the Lord’s Word in ways you never imagined? Or will new means of communication merely be used by you for fun, fulfillment, frivolity, apart from the Gospel—even in antithesis to it, as harsh words bounce through media? Don’t see the opportunity as a weight but as an opening. Prayerfully plan to use it. Your witness may help save lives for eternity by the grace of God and His urging within you. Between October 31, 1517, and April 26, 1518, Luther wrote letters. On the very day of posting the Ninety-Five Theses, Luther sent an epistle to Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz, who instigated the

sales of Indulgences in his lands. Being the second most powerful religious figure in the German territories as convener of the seven electors who ruled major lands and selected the Holy Roman Emperor, Albrecht was informed by direct letter from Luther about the matter. “Christ has nowhere commanded Indulgences to be preached, but the Gospel. So, to what danger does a bishop expose himself, who instead of having the Gospel proclaimed among the people, dooms it to silence, while the cry of Indulgences resounds through the land? Will Christ not say to them, ‘Ye strained at a gnat, and swallowed a camel?’” (4) Realizing he did not walk alone but with the Lord, Luther also walked with the support of others. He kept in contact by letter with Elector Frederick of Saxony, founder of the University of Wittenberg. In a letter believed to be dated several weeks after Oct. 31, 1517, Luther did not specify his reasons for posting the theses, but said, “God has endowed your Grace [Frederick] with great wisdom, so that no one sees farther in these matters than you; but sometimes God wills it so that great wisdom may learn something from one with less, so that one may depend on God alone … .” Luther asked Frederick to “gladly permit … to lead me into a disputation, or place me on trial.” (5)

The main cathedral in Strasburg, a major city that quickly turned Lutheran.

In February 1518, Luther broached the subject of Indulgences in a letter to George Spalatin, a humanist, tutor, and theologian serving as secretary to Frederick. As for the theses, “I only intended submitting them to a few learned men for examination … but now they are being spread abroad and translated everywhere.” Luther stated he still was not certain of some points in the theses. Hence, the implication for a disputation. (6) Luther and friar Leonard Beier walked the distance from Wittenberg to Heidelberg, nearly 350 miles. Luther chose this method to order and organize his thoughts while walking with the Lord. The journey began April 13, 1518, and arrival was no earlier than April 21 at the Augustinian Cloister. The debate was conducted in one day, April 26. (7) The “talk” of faith is important. So is the “walk” of faith. Wherever your feet take you can be hallowed by the Word of God in Christ. That includes people who hear, who watch, who learn what they never knew about God. It includes circumstances of trouble and turmoil that need a word from God to change the situation. Can you take your “walk” of faith to others in simple or magnificent ways? Christ is the embodiment of life. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men … The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome

Can you take your “walk” of faith to others in simple or magnificent ways?

it … He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (excerpts, John 1:4-13). Jesus said: “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 13:35-36). In his high role with the Augustinians, Staupitz chaired the debate at Heidelberg. He appointed Luther to preside. Assisting Luther in the debate was Beier, who held a Master of Arts and Philosophy. (8) Luther disputed more than 28 theological and 12 philosophical “paradoxes” against professors of theology at Heidelberg. Those theology professors were Markus Steir, Laurence Wolff, Johann Hosserus, Peter Scheinbenhart, and George Niger. Instead of debating in the university, the hall of the adjacent Augustinian Order was chosen upon encouragement of the five Heidelberg theologians. It was reported to Frederick of Saxony on May 1, 1518, that Luther was so clever with his disputation that he got more than a little praise. (9) On May 18 of that year, Luther wrote to Spalatin that he was treated

Your witness may help save lives for eternity, by the grace of God and His urging within you.

so fairly and modestly that he commended them. However, to those professors “the theology seemed foreign, yet they were subtle and were polite, except the fifth debater, a younger doctor who excited the audience when he said, ‘If the farmers could hear, they would overwhelm and kill him with stones.’” (10) Luther was gaining fame as a man of faith who spoke Good News in Christ. There was a grace-filled manner in which he showed knowledge of the Scriptures. He knew church dogma and mastered the Latin and Greek manners of pressing points in a debate. He proved to be “a polemic of no common order.” (11) So nearly half a year after the theses were posted, Luther was granted his debate. The results were immense. Luther did not become mired in the 95 previous statements. Instead, he chose an emphasis on Theologia Crucis—the Theology of the Cross, a phrase Luther popularized. (12) Through the cross of Christ individuals come to know their Creator and Savior. Will Christians come to points in their lives when they will be asked to stand up for their faith? Yes! “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). The Apostle Paul told the Thessalonians, “We give thanks to God always for all of you … and you became imitators of us and of the Lord … so that you became an example to all the believers …” (excerpts, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 6, 7). Luther became an example at a crucial time. Had the Holy Spirit not been working in and through him, Luther’s words and actions would have failed him in the cause of Christ. When will YOU have the opportunity to take a stand for your faith? How well will you conduct yourself? Will you be open to the Spirit and follow the sound advice of Scripture? The Reformation grew wings after the Heidelberg Disputation. Individuals who heard the points of see next page The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

Send-off

Luther was gaining fame as a man of faith who spoke Good News in Christ.

Luther and counterpoints of the five theology professors, generally were won over by the from previous page Theology of the Cross and Luther’s compelling delivery of it. Their reactions and actions speak volumes over the centuries since. One attendee at Heidelberg was Theobald Billicanus. (14) He matriculated at the university in 1510 and gained his Master’s a few years later. He sought out Luther in Wittenberg following the debate. It wasn’t long before he became a pastor in Heidelberg, then in Weil, and by 1522 in Noerdlingen. In each location he promoted the Reformation Good News of Christ and His victorious cross. Martin Bucer attended the disputation and carried the Theology of the Cross to influential Strasburg on the western edge of German territory. He was extremely active in early Reformation achievements up and down the Rhine River. Bucer remained in contact with Luther and his close associate, Philipp Melanchthon. Bucer eventually carried his work to England. Georg Ebner was active in theological reformation in Leinburg by 1525 and was pastor in nearby Altdorf, one of the earliest congregations to claim Luther’s Christ-centered confessions. Paul Fagius began his studies at the University of Heidelberg in 1515 and attended the disputation of 1518. He carried theological Reformation thinking into his role as school master at the important Free Imperial City of Isny im Allgau and to Strasburg. Martin Frecht earned his education at Heidelberg and continued with the university

Sent with Power

in succeeding years after the disputation of 1518, working his way up to being rector. He was a significant theological influence on the institution well into the future. He also brought Reformation theology to the city of Ulm in 1531. Franciscus Irenicus carried the Theology of the Cross eastward from Heidelberg and northward to the important Hessian city of Marburg. Hartmannus Hartmanni was the son of a professor in Heidelberg and rose to a similar spot. He was an influential councilor to the Palatine region and was dean of the faculty of arts in 1519. He continued to influence the university for many years. His reformational imprint on life and theology extended to Amberg, nearly 170 miles to the east. A seed was planted in Heidelberg student Bonifacius Pfferschbecher of Schaafheim (Hanau territory). Being 23 days from conferral of his theological degree, he heard his professor debate Luther. Years later, Bonifacius contested with the priest of his town, who then left. Bonifacius remained a major influence in his community as did his two contemporaries of the Klem family from the same location who also were students at Heidelberg in 1518. Erhard Schnepf began his advanced education in Erfurt then earned his Master’s Degree in Heidelberg in 1513, including theology and law in his advance. He was active in Wuerttemberg. Wenzel Strauss carried his Heidelberg Disputation experience in the Palatinate area, notably to Urach. Calculate the far limits to which these men carried the Theology of the Cross as explained by Luther at the disputation, and it comes to about a 70,000 square mile area,

The concept of Christians “being sent” is vital today.

hen the 12 apostles gathered in Jerusalem on the great Pentecost (Acts 2:8-41), there was no inkling of what the Lord had in store. As the Holy Spirit moved in their hearts and minds, they soon realized they were being sent forth on a mission to bring the Good News of the Risen Savior to countless others. In some respects, the resultant “send-off” from Heidelberg in 1518 was a reforming of Europe and the Christian Church. While Pentecost was the ultimate birth of the Church, Heidelberg resulted in its reshaping. The concept of Christians “being sent” is vital today. To enhance your appreciation and comprehension of “sent,” you may want to familiarize yourself with the select passages shown here. Pray about your part in being a person “sent” by the Lord to bring Good News to others— to be Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church.

+ Matthew 10:1-42

+ Matthew 22:1-10

+ John 15:18-27

+ Acts 15:22-35

+ Romans 10:14-17

+ Galatians 4:4-5

+ Philippians 2:19-30

+ 1 John 4:7-15

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

Another view in Heidelberg.

Everyone you meet may hunger for Christ.

Show Him. Share Him. Speak for Him. more than half the size of today’s Germany! So much changed because of one event and the people who carried the Message forward from there. The Heidelberg Disputation resulted in an explosive spread of God’s Word, almost as if it were another Pentecost as Spirit-filled believers hastened to far-off areas to transfer the Good News to the lives of others. Ultimately, the question for each of us today is simple: Where, when, and how can we share God’s grace in Christ? As a member of a congregation, the Holy Spirit may lead you to greater service of your Lord in that place and perhaps in a wider circle beyond the congregation. Your community may beckon. There may be a future in professional churchwork for you. Look to your family and extended relatives who may not understand the grace of God and His forgiveness. Do not forget your neighbors. Everyone you meet may hunger for Christ. Show Him. Share Him. Speak for Him. There is a wealth of material to help you in those tasks. Chief among them is the Holy Bible and your continued growth in the understanding and application of God’s Sacred Word. Pray for guidance and ideas. Ask your pastor for suggestions. Search for online sources, especially related to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and its institutions. Check resources from Lutheran Hour Ministries as mentioned in this and future issues! Just as the Heidelberg Disputation was a launch of Good News, you may become part of a fresh launch, by God’s grace! n For ideas, see pages 13-15.

Weilburg Ebernburg Landstuhl

Strasburg

Ulm

varied one, while those who proclaim them fancy they cannot be disputed. Your unworthy son, Martin Luther, Augustinian, set apart as Doctor of Sacred Theology.” (5) Ibid., page 20. (6) Ibid., pages 21-22. (7) The writer researched a variety of sources, some of which indicated arrival was April 25 while others stated arrival on April 21. The writer has found no documentation of Luther visiting with small groups of students, but that may have taken place during any spare time Luther had. That seemed to be a practice in Luther’s later years. Some sources say about 300 people attended the debate, many of them students plus officials and dignitaries. It is believed some or much of the debating may have been in Latin, the standard language at universities in that era.

Amberg Nördlingen

Isny im Allgau

Dr. Gerald Perschbacher serves as editor of The Lutheran Layman and manages the LHM Research Center Archives. Endnotes (1) An investigation of matriculation papers and histories from Heidelberg and other universities formed prior to 1515 reveals the expectancy of students to be involved in several debates per year as a normal course of study. See Die Matrikel der Universitaet Heidelberg von 1386 bis 1662, by Gustav Toepke, Selbstverlag des Herausgebers Heidelberg, in three books, 1893. (2) See preface, www.luther.de/en/95thesen.html. (3) www.heidelberg-marketing.de/en/culture/500-years-reformation/martinluther-in-heidelberg.html (4) The letters of Martin Luther, selected and translated by Margaret A. Currie, MacMillan and Company, London, 1908; page 18; in closing that letter, Luther remarked, “If agreeable to your Grace, perhaps you would glance at my enclosed theses, that you may see the opinion on the Indulgences is a very

Marburg

www.catchpenny.org/heidel.html http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/winkelmann1886bd2/0078 (pages 78 and 79 of volume 2), accessed September 2017. (10) Ibid., pages 72-73. (11) https://bibletruthpublishers.com/luther-at-heidelberg/andrew-miller/ luther-german-reformation-1517-a-d-1521-a-d/millers-church-history/la58358 (12) For more on Theologia Crucis, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology_ of_the_Cross. (13) Chapter 11, History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, J.H. Merle D’Aubigne, volume 1, Robert Carter & Brothers, New York; 1863. (14) Basic information and visuals relating to the following list of individuals and their outreach with the Gospel may be found by searching the internet and other sources. (8) (9)

For more on the Heidelberg Disputation of 1518, go to: www.heidelberg-marketing.de/en/culture/500-years-reformation/martin-luther-in-heidelberg & en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_Disputation The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

TV Airings Climb for Holidays

They’re just plain fun to watch …

By Paul Schreiber

record number of 832 airings of Lutheran Hour Ministries’ seasonal specials closed out 2017, a substantial increase of approximately 200 airings from the previous year. Interest in specials for 2018 is going strong. Each year, LHM’s seasonal television programs air on stations throughout the United States and Canada. National Religious Broadcasters TV (NRBTV), Inspiration TV (INITV), and recent addition Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) are among powerhouse connections that advanced the increase. When asked what most attracted NRBTV to include LHM TV specials like Little Shepherd and Red Boots for Christmas in its Christmas line-up, President and CEO Troy Miller said, “Lutheran Hour Ministries’ TV specials are true to the message of the birth of Jesus, and that’s what our viewers expect to see on NRBTV! We are thankful for the opportunity to air these specials during the Christmas season.” “Trinity Broadcast Network’s ‘Smile of a Child’ children’s television format proved to be a major factor in the increased airings of our Christmas specials,” said Jim Arand, associate director for The Lutheran Hour. “At the same time, we have seen an increase in traditional TV stations adding these programs to their holiday schedules. Now, in the Easter season, with strong commitments from networks, we are positioned for an increase in program showings during Lent.” The two programs that will feature most prominently on networks airing LHM’s Easter specials are Easter Is and The Puzzle Club Easter Adventure. In Easter Is, viewers find Benji making a poster for his class to show the true meaning of Easter. Working on

ideas for this, he gets frustrated and pushes his dog Waldo away, who consequently gets lost, leaving Benji worried. Consoling Benji, his dad tells him how Jesus’ disciples thought they’d never see Him again after His death. In the end, the message of Easter is shared, showing how God loves us and wants us to be with Him. And just like Waldo came back to Benji on Easter morning, Jesus also returned to His disciples. In The Puzzle Club Easter Adventure, Buzz comes to Puzzle Club headquarters to get help finding his cat Angela, and then Buzz turns up missing, too. Before Alex, Christopher, and Korina begin their case, their good friend Tobias becomes ill and is taken to the hospital. The junior detectives take to the streets in search for Buzz and Angela. Finding Buzz, they get in a pickle on a battered old boat, requiring them to put their trust in God into action. Angela is eventually returned and Tobias, now on the mend, reminds the group about the hope we have in Jesus.

LHM’s TV’s specials are true to the message of the birth of Jesus …

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

“These programs continue to find new viewers in both children and adults,” said Sharmon Perschbacher, syndication operational specialist for LHM. “They’re just plain fun to watch, and the animated message of God’s love is included in such a way that it comes through clearly, making these classic specials easily accessible to everyone and perfect for viewing during the Easter season,” she added. We asked NRBTV’s Miller what sort of religious criteria the network has in mind for its programming

and how LHM’s TV shows fit those criteria. “When we look for kids’ programming, NRBTV requires it be faith-based and entertaining. Lutheran Hour Ministries’ programs present a solid biblical message with an entertaining style that captures children’s attention and draws them in to watch and receive the Gospel message,” he said. The airing of TV programs (This is the Life, On Main Street) and animated TV specials point to the longrunning history LHM has of putting Christ-centered messages into very public forums. Since the 1930s, The Lutheran Hour has proclaimed the Good News here in North America and around the world by radio and now via the internet. Original written and printed materials like devotionals, topical booklets, outreach resources, congregational ministry aids, children’s booklets, and more are used the world over in English and in translation among many of LHM’s 30-plus foreign ministry centers. In addition to this, THRED, LHM’s digital outreach, is connecting with an increasing number of people who engage in conversation on a variety of topics and who come from a wide range of backgrounds. As always, LHM’s online and material resources are available at lhm.org. To find out more about LHM’s television programming in your area, please consult our broadcast guide at lhm.org/guide for both TV and radio broadcasts. For details about LHM’s animated TV specials and how you can purchase DVDs for yourself, go to www.visionvideo.com. n Paul Schreiber reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work in the United States.

ON THE MOVE

By Phil Johnson, Chairman, Int’l LLL Board of Directors

It’s Really About

Relationships

The focus all along was on reaching people with the Good News of Jesus as Savior.

was given the great honor this past January 1st of riding on the Lutheran Laymen’s League/Lutheran Hour Ministries Float in the Rose Parade. I was blown away by the number of hard-working volunteers—called “Petal Pushers”—who give their time and energy to make this parade entry a reality each year. The theme of the Rose Parade this year was “Making a Difference,” and the theme of the float—the way we best make a difference—was “Bringing Christ to the Nations.” Along with riding on the float, my wife Sandy and I also had an opportunity to work on the float, get to know other Petal Pushers, and to visit with some of the many, many people who came to witness its construction. There were long-time volunteers who helped answer questions about materials used in the float, how flowers were delivered and kept fresh, how many flowers were going to be in the parade, and even how the float was piloted. Some observers were intrigued by the uniquely Christian theme of the float—several expressed gratitude for the message. On the day of the parade, close to a million people lined the parade route through Pasadena, California. Many times that number around the world saw the float on television. The message was clear and distinct. Overall, it was a tremendous experience that I will remember for a very long time! But here is what I noticed that took me a little by surprise. All this effort really wasn’t about a float. It was about connections. It wasn’t just about the project. It was mostly about the people. I never spoke to “a crowd,” only to individuals. Even in the parade, people looked to make eye contact and to interact with riders; to cheer us on as we wished them a happy new year. The float wasn’t an end in and of itself.

Rather, it was a means to an end. The focus all along was on reaching people with the Good News of Jesus as Savior. How is it in your church? Have the ministries and projects of your church become the focus? Do you continue to host dinners and plan projects and coordinated events because that’s what churches usually do? Are the connections these events create leading to opportunities to share the Gospel? In all the busyness of “doing,” have you forgotten WHY you are doing what you are doing? Allow St. Paul an opportunity to remind you. In 1 Corinthians, the apostle offers us a gentle guide for all of our doing. In the first three verses of Chapter 13, he reminds the church in Corinth, and us, that proficiency in “doing” things and accomplishing goals is not enough. If our service, our doing, wounds hearts and hurts feelings, then we really have gained nothing. Of first importance to our God isn’t WHAT we do—it is WHO we are. In the midst of all our service, Paul tells us, it’s really about relationships. In all the details of our plans and projects, in the end what is most important are the people. All our serving has the single goal of building relationships in which the love of Jesus Christ is shared. So, as we move deeper into this year, I encourage you to join with other believers to do something

awesome for Jesus. Host a dinner. Create a community service event. Do a Men’s NetWork WORK DAY event on April 28. You could even build a float for a parade in your local community! But in all your activity I invite you to remember to let God’s

love for people shine through. That’s what I was reminded of on New Year’s Day—it isn’t about building a float or launching a ministry—it’s all about Bringing Christ to the Nations— and the Nations to the Church! n

6TH ANNUAL

On April 28, 2018, the sixth annual Men’s NetWork WORK DAY will take place! Join men from around the country as they serve their communities and neighborhoods, targeting needs with outreach. SIGN UP TODAY at lhm.org/men/workday Registered groups receive FREE ball caps!

SATURDAY, APRIL 28 The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

LAITY in Action By Gerald Perschbacher

ongregations throughout the LCMS Michigan District swung to action to mark the blessings of Lutheran Hour Ministries as an expression of spiritual dedication and determination by the Lutheran Laymen’s League. Many chose Lutheran Hour Ministries Sunday, February 4, as the celebration date, while a select number are scheduling it later in the year to offset scheduling conflicts. In the district’s companion piece to the synodwide publication The Lutheran Witness, the district noted: “Lutheran Hour Ministries is a trusted expert in global media that equips and engages a vibrant volunteer base to passionately proclaim the Gospel to more than 70 million people worldwide each week.” Many are reached via The Lutheran Hour on radio and through other means such as seasonal television specials, Daily Devotions, special projects, and a host of recent and intriguing Gospel tools such as THRED and others as explained at the website, lhm.org. Also, it was noted that “more than 58,000 individuals were referred last year to local Christian communities internationally for spiritual growth and nurturing. More than 21,000 individuals became engaged in a Christian community following their referral last year.” Recently, activity in support of this Gospel outreach took place in the LLL Iowa District West, reports Mark Astleford, district president. To show how congregational events can benefit from the efforts of LHM, Astleford noted an event held at Zion Lutheran Church in Humboldt. Speaking was Dr. James Lamb, retired director of Lutherans for Life, centering his encouragement on assisting the needy including the yet-to-be-born, plus counseling and adoption. The district president further reported on pending 10

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

events to be held in his area, including two “Breakfast Bible studies”, an annual meeting, and the LLL booth at the Iowa State Fair that involves dedicated volunteers. “Please continue to keep Lutheran Hour Ministries, our congregations, and pastors in your prayers,” he encouraged. His report was shared throughout his LCMS district. LHM Congregational Ambassador Aletha Jeske was active in promoting LHM in the Lone Star District LLL, according to a recent report issued in the district. When celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Houston

Lutheran Hour Ministries is a trusted expert in global media that equips and engages a vibrant volunteer base to passionately proclaim the Gospel to more than 70 million people worldwide each week.

displayed a variety of LHM resources on the subject, and on the LLL’s 100th anniversary. Assisting were Robert and Judy Shindler plus Devin Norrell. In other Lone Star news, University Lutheran Church near Austin’s University of Texas now has a Project Connect display in the foyer of a newly opened facility, reaching students on and off campus. Rev. Richard Mittwede, campus pastor, made the selection of booklets for the rack. For ideas and materials you and your congregation can use in the furtherance of God’s grace in Christ, go to lhm.org or call 1-800-876-9880. n Photo courtesy of Gunya Na Thalang

East Meets West

Lutheran officials from South Korea recently visited the LHM headquarters in St. Louis to explore Gospel outreach opportunities. At left, Dr. Douglas Rutt who directs International Ministries for LHM, and Kurt Buchholz, LHM president and CEO, shared thoughts with Rev. Lee Byoung Chang (Korean Church Cooperation Bureau), Rev. Dr. Kim Jun Hyun (dean of students at Luther University), Rev. Jin Young Seok (president of Lutheran Church in Korea), Rev. Kim Hyo Jong (pastor of a Korean Lutheran church), and Rev. Nam Sang Joon (vice-president of Lutheran Church in Korea). n

The filming of a pilot program in December included a musical guest (center) and scenes dramatizing real-life problems (left and right).

Sharing God’s Love with Arab Youth By Chad Fix

magine having to leave your belongings behind to live in a makeshift tent made of sheet metal and tarps. Or think about having to drop out of school so that you can make money to help support your family. While this may seem unimaginable to most of us, sadly this is the situation facing millions of people living in refugee camps throughout the Middle East and North Africa, where youth make up nearly 60 percent of people living in the camps. Living in situations like these is causing many people to lose hope about a future that is already filled with uncertainty. New satellite television programming being produced through a partnership between LHM and SAT-7 will address some of the concerns amongst disillusioned youth in the region whose lives are often filled with emptiness. The weekly, 60-minute variety show dramatizes real-life problems and struggles for young people and their families. Some of the concerns being addressed include struggles with romantic and inter-generational relationships; economic uncertainty and employment challenges; pessimism about their future and stability of the region; and exploring the doubt and uncertainty many have in their faith. Many doubt God’s grace and forgiveness and are uncertain of their role in life and God’s intention for them.

This new program is named PowerBank. Although the program’s language will be Egyptian Arabic, the use of an English title coincides with what is viewed as fashionable amongst this demographic in the region. The title was chosen to reflect on things that can keep us charged, issues that steal away our power, and things that we think keep us charged and energized, but which in reality are not true. Taped in front of a live audience, the format of PowerBank is similar to what Americans are used to seeing on late-night shows such as The Tonight Show. Each broadcast features a presenter directing the various program segments that include live comedic dramas and skits, live musical or comedy guests, and sit-down interviews and/or discussions. Between live segments, dramatized video clips will air, and the themes introduced in each clip are then explored deeper during the live portions of the broadcast—with Christian values being communicated throughout each segment of the broadcast. “We pray this television outreach will bring God’s Word to millions of young Arab viewers who have really been suffering these past few years and are questioning their faith and place in society,” says Eric Gates, LHM’s regional director for Africa and the Middle East. The pilot program was filmed in December, and four additional scripts have been written and are now being reviewed. Music for the show has been composed, and various presenters have been

approved following a camera test. Teasers and promos are starting to air to promote the program’s initial broadcast in mid-to-late March. Once the broadcasts begin on the NileSat satellite, they will continue for a full broadcast season of 26 weeks (with re-runs airing during off-season months). PowerBank will have the potential of reaching tens of millions of viewers in more than 20 countries spanning from as far west as Morocco to as far east as Iraq and the Persian Gulf. “Hearing the Gospel through mass media from the privacy of their own homes may be the only opportunity for many youth and young adults to hear this message at all,” says Gates. Learn more about this endeavor and stay updated on the program’s progress. Visit lhm.org/global. n Chad Fix oversees the corporate communications of LHM.

Graham Now in Glory Countless millions of people in numerous locations heard the Gospel of Christ through Dr. Billy Graham for more than 80 years of ministry. Now that voice has been stilled at age 99, according to a release from National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), February 21. Some years ago, Graham was an inductee into NRB’s Hall of Fame, as was his friend Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour. Graham was very supportive not only of Hoffmann but also Dr. Walter A. Maier, founding Speaker of that program. Interestingly, the founder of NRB was Dr. Eugene “Rudy” Bertermann, a former head of staff for the Int’l LLL and its Lutheran Hour Ministries and an individual deeply involved with Maier and the early years of The Lutheran Hour. Graham was featured on the cover of the NRB’s magazine, Religious Broadcasting, in June of 1995. Graham visited the LLL headquarters in the 1970s and spoke to employees, encouraging them to continue mightily with broadcasts of The Lutheran Hour. NRB is an international association of Christian communicators reaching millions of listeners and others with the Gospel. Its mission is to advance the truth of the Bible, promote media excellence, and defend free speech. n

Rev. Dr. Douglas Rutt (center) of Lutheran Hour Ministries examines pages of the new fifth edition of the Spanish Santa Biblia with Jeff Rahn (left) and Rev. Matt Heise of Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Rutt coordinated the decade-long project for various editions. It includes Luther’s Small Catechism and Brief Explanation. Around 100,000 copies of editions have been distributed through LHF in the United States and LHM’s ministry centers in Latin America. n The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

‘Reformation’ in Unexpected Places By Chad Fix

any Lutherans found it significant to observe the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. Some did it by visiting Wittenberg, Germany, in the months leading up to Oct. 31, 2017, since Wittenberg was the birthplace of a movement that changed the worlds of religion, education, society, politics, and science. It is significant to see how this historic event was celebrated around the world, sometimes with even more interest and vigor than in the “Christian West.” Indeed, the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation provided many opportunities to present the meaning of the Gospel in places not considered to be the usual strongholds of Protestantism. In Indonesia, LHM’s ministry center director arranged a special lecture on Nov. 14 about the history and significance of the Reformation at a surprising location—the Masjid Rahmatan Lil Alamin Mosque (one of the largest mosques in southeast Asia) in West Java. Rev. Dr. Douglas Rutt, LHM’s executive director of International Ministries, served as the guest keynote lecturer in front of university students, faculty members, senior-high students and teachers, parents and guardians, staff, and board members of the Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School. “It was an incredible but fearsome honor to have been asked to give a three-and-a-half-hour lecture on the Reformation to more than 4,500 attendees,” says Rutt. “Not knowing what to expect and feeling insufficient for the task, I remembered the verse from Luke 12:11-12 and prayed that God would give me

more than 10 denominations and other Christian the words to present the lecture in such a way that organizations. LHM staff gave away a Martin Luther not only the historical facts would be covered, but the significance of the Gospel for Christians would also be booklet translated into Thai and a three-DVD Luther video series including Thai subtitles. In Cambodia, heard, loud and clear.” LHM presented a Martin Luther DVD that staff had LHM-Indonesia staff distributed two booklets in the Indonesian language, A Treasure Revealed: Martin translated and dubbed into the Khmer language. “It is clear to me that the Reformation certainly does Luther and the Reformation and The Reformation not belong only to Germany, nor does it belong only Twelve (12 Reformers), and souvenirs such as pens to the West, but that the fruits of the Reformation will and thin notepads which also included LHM’s spread throughout the world as God continues to open ministry center contact information. Attendees were doors for His message of love, hope, and forgiveness in very interested in Rutt’s message and enthusiastically the most unexpected places,” says Rutt. n participated in a question and answer session. At the closing ceremony, the founder and leader of Al Zaytun, Syaykh Top of page: This large mosque in Indonesia drew a significant crowd Panji Gumilang, joined with to hear about faith and New Life. Below: Several hundred their board members to show learned of the Reformation at a gathering in Cambodia. appreciation and respect by presenting a miniature model of their mosque to Rutt. In return, LHM presented a plaque with the Hebrew home blessing. LHM staff also participated in November Reformation events in front of more than 3,000 people in Thailand and 300 people in Cambodia. In Thailand (a country roughly 1% Christian), the small local Christian minority sponsored a series of lectures to attendees from

… the fruits of the Reformation will spread throughout the world as God continues to open doors for His message of love, hope, and forgiveness in the most unexpected places. 12

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

New Courses on

WITNESSING, PSALMS, and LENT … the task of sharing God’s Good News of Jesus Christ is something all of us are already equipped to do. By Paul Schreiber

ver wonder if your mission as a Christian really means talking to others about Jesus? Have you taken a measure of comfort in thinking this task was meant solely for pastors, missionaries, and specially trained, “official” church workers? Everyday Opportunities, LHM Learn’s latest Outreach Essentials course, shows how having a Gospel conversation is something we all can do. As a foray into the world of personal evangelism, it shows how the task of sharing God’s Good News of Jesus Christ is something all of us are already equipped to do. Session introductions are given by Kurt Buchholz, president and CEO of Lutheran Hour Ministries, who draws inspiration from his own mission work in the U.S. and Taiwan. In this course, participants explore who they are as believers; delve into what “vocation” (calling) means for the Christian; identify and reflect on various roles and relationships God has placed them in; and consider an “action plan” for sharing the Gospel— wherever they are. Included are a video, a printable journal, discussion guide, mind map, and self-test questions. Everyday Opportunities is a course developed and written by Greg Koenig, communication manager for LHM. Sadly, Greg passed away last November before this course saw completion. Greg was a true proponent of sharing his faith and using his gifts to God’s glory; this course reflects his personal conviction that sharing the Gospel is a calling and an honor.

Coming on the heels of Everyday Opportunities are two five-day Spiritual Reflections courses LHM Learn has uploaded to enhance the 2018 Lenten season: Psalms of Thanks and Silent Witnesses. In Psalms of Thanks we see how effective the psalms are as a literary vehicle for expressing emotion. As the church’s songbook, they paint vivid pictures of feeling and passion on topics like joy and sorrow, thanksgiving and anxiety, hope and praise. In this course, participants will read five psalms, considering each one through meditation, prayer, contemplation, and action (internalizing the psalm and letting God’s Word shape our lives). A printable journal by artist Erika Radke enhances reflections while participants color pictures. In Silent Witnesses, a course built on LHM’s Lenten devotions of the same name, users pause to consider silent things—objects, places, animals—that played a role during the final days of Jesus’ public ministry. Taking passages from the Gospels of John and Mark, participants meditate on a Scripture each day, listen to a Lenten devotion, reflect on its message by answering questions in a printable journal created by artist Hannah Carlos, and pray for God’s grace in their lives. LHM Learn’s Wednesday webinars have made the move to podcasts. In the same weekly format, “Digging Deeper” will look in depth at the courses of LHM Learn. This will give opportunity for further study on specific topics

or chatting with the experts that helped write the courses. The first few months we will be digging into two courses, Stress & Worry in the Life of a Christian and What is the Gospel? Find the “Digging Deeper” and other LHM podcasts on iTunes or lhm.org/ podcasts.

Don’t forget that all LHM Learn online courses are FREE and require only your registration to use. To sign up and take advantage of these excellent faith-building courses, go to lhm.org/ learn and make your selections! n Paul Schreiber reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work in the United States.

LHM Learn Outreach Resources at your fingertips! These online courses and webinars cover five faithstrengthening categories and use an array of multimedia elements to help you gain a hearing for the Gospel message. New Course “Everyday Opportunities” available now!

Help Comes on

Saturday, April 28 By Paul Schreiber

s your men’s group looking for a way to take its in-house talent and enthusiasm and put it to work serving God and others? If so, the Men’s NetWork WORK DAY is an ideal event. This year’s sixth annual WORK DAY is perfect for building community bridges, making new friends, and sharing God’s love with others by helping them in various ways. The 2018 WORK DAY is a single-day event held on Saturday, April 28, at a place of your choosing. It’s a chance to get your men’s group or some other band of guys to help others where you live. In the past, men have done yard work and landscaping; painting and construction jobs; cleaned up trails and walking paths; built handicapped ramps and Habitat for Humanity projects; and helped with tasks from cleaning gutters and raking leaves to gathering branches and repairing whatever needed fixing. Here are comments from guys who have participated in recent Men’s NetWork WORK DAYs to get their “take” on the importance of this day. “Our small group of five men helped our area rescue mission with some painting. The mission provides shelter and meals to the area’s homeless. We worked at the men’s mission, painting over a chalk drawing so that their artist could do a new chalk painting. We also painted one of the bedrooms. We

hope to come back in the near future with a larger group! To God be the glory!” “We honored our nation’s veterans during the annual Men’s NetWork WORK DAY. A crew of 10 cleaned gravestones at the Veterans Cemetery. Veterans and men of God serving our fellow vets!” “We have been blessed to participate in every WORK DAY since its inception in 2013. It has been a positive teambuilding exercise for the men of our congregation through working together in service to others. It has also set the stage for a couple of major service projects, including a major home renovation for a family in need and a large shed construction for our Lutheran school.”

It has been a positive team-building exercise for the men … “We had 44 guys from 14 to 70 years old come together to serve members and others in the community (single moms and seniors). We solicited projects from the congregation weeks in advance. We completed 12 projects, ranging from moving a lady out of her house into an apartment, to washing windows to trimming bushes and trees.” “We moved a couple to a senior living apartment. The eight of us (ages 13 to 75), did it in two hours! To God be the glory!” “Our church property is bordered on three sides by a large apartment complex—465 units, over 1,000

people. We will be working on their list of cleanup and maintenance projects, with participation of residents.” “We are a small congregation so our group of workers is not large. Our age range is truly 8 to 80, and I am proud to say our young guys are the majority. We start with a short devotion and donuts, then get to work. The feeling that comes from helping those that need it is a dandy. And the hats we receive for participating are pretty darn snazzy, also!” These and other comments tell us the WORK DAY has a huge impact—both on those being served and those serving. And as you can see, there is no shortage of work to be done. With a few phone calls and a bit of imagination, your group can reach out to your community and lend a hand just about anywhere. Your WORK DAY project needn’t require a lot of specialized tools or in-depth knowledge. Most tasks take only limited resources. We’re emphasizing the benefit of getting into your community and off your church campus. Granted, that may not always be possible. But if it is, it transforms into an outreach project where those outside your church can experience God’s love from those inside the church. For more about this year’s WORK DAY, go to lhm.org/men/workday. There you will find a customizable flyer to post your project, bulletin inserts to create interest at church, and even project suggestions. Remember: if your group can’t do its project on April 28, another day can be chosen as your WORK DAY! We look forward to details from those groups, too! Please share WORK DAY pictures and a brief description of what you did by sending details to: mensnetwork@lhm.org. As always, those participating will receive a very nice Men’s NetWork cap to wear the day of the event. One more thing—your “group” doesn’t need to be an “official” church men’s group to participate. If you and a few buddies want to tackle some job, by all means sign up. We welcome your participation! n

Argentina Radio Program Gives Hope to Desperate Man Sergio is a truck driver in his mid-40s who is constantly on the road for his job in the Misiones province of Argentina. His job keeps him away from home for long periods of time and was causing problems for him and his wife. The stress in his marriage had made him very depressed and he began to increasingly think about taking his life. One night while staying in a hotel during an overnight trip, he turned on the television to get his mind off things, but he couldn’t find anything he wanted to watch. He decided to lay down in bed and went to set his radio alarm for the next morning. Without thinking he turned on the radio instead and came across a local station where the announcer was talking about the love and forgiveness of God. He had never heard anyone talk about God before, so the program piqued his interest and he continued to listen. When the announcer gave a phone number to call for more information Sergio immediately picked up his phone and made a call. Sergio came in contact with Pastor Gabriel Strey, who was the announcer on the radio program hosted in conjunction with LHM. Sergio told the pastor about 14

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

the problems in his marriage and how he was at the point of taking his own life until he heard the message on the program and learned that there was a better way out. The pastor had a long phone conversation with Sergio and asked if he would be willing to meet in person. Pastor Strey went to the hotel to talk with Sergio and offered comfort and the forgiveness of Christ. He also shared several booklets and some information about the Bible Correspondence Courses produced by the LHM–Argentina ministry team. Sergio was very appreciative and said he couldn’t wait to read the materials to learn more about the Gospel. Pastor Strey encouraged Sergio to give him a call if he had additional questions and invited him to meet again the next time his truck route brought him through town. In addition to radio programming, print materials, and Bible Correspondence Courses, the ministry staff in Argentina uses text messaging, drama groups, choir performances, and the Project JOEL youth program to share the Good News. n

… the announcer was talking about the love and forgiveness of God.

ON THE MOVE

By Kurt Buchholz, President & CEO, Lutheran Hour Ministries

FOCUS is Important

ecently, I had the opportunity to visit a relatively new church that has been steadily growing for six years. As an introduction to its ministry, this congregation had created a video to describe itself. As I watched, I didn’t get what I was expecting. When I think of a video (or a brochure, or presentation, for that matter) introducing a church, I expect to see happy members in worship and Bible classes and children in Sunday school, choirs, Christmas pageants, and vacation Bible school. Instead, the focus was on relationships between members of the church and the community. The video told of being in the community in play, in crisis, in addressing common needs. There were no clever church signs or handing out of tracts that I saw. Rather, I saw people getting to know other people in the community and doing that in the name of the church. I wasn’t the only one to take notice. Clips were shared of local news stations freely telling humaninterest stories of how this congregation was engaging with the community in wonderful ways. So, why would this be one of the fastest growing churches in our fellowship? They didn’t attract with grand facilities (they met in a strip mall), music, or worship style. They were present in the community,

There were no tricks, only a desire to love one’s neighbor— really, really love them—as we’ve all been called to do. offering open arms, a smile, a laugh, a hug, help, and shared tears. They were touching people—and people wanted to be a part of that love. It wasn’t just the pastors and church workers doing these things. It was the ordinary members, the laypeople, taking their own time after work and on the weekend to connect with neighbors. Believers saw a community of which they wanted to be a part. Non-Christians saw real people, real care, real love! “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Because of that, people were present on Sunday, and many other days of the week. They worshiped and learned from sermons, Sunday school, and Bible classes. They were discipled in their faith to be the hands and feet of Jesus as they lived their lives and engaged the community. There were no tricks, only a desire to love one’s neighbor—really, really love them—as we’ve all been called to do. That isn’t to say that it’s easy. We know we’re called to show God’s love in our actions and words, but that

Silence is Louder Than Words

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Sometimes it’s easy to think of the crescendo of Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday) as being all there is to Lent. While Holy Week (March 25-31) includes the season’s main events, there are 43 days in all to pause and meditate on how God worked out our salvation. This year’s Lenten devotion by Dr. Kari Vo is well suited to a season’s worth of introspection. In Silent Witnesses, there are many opportunities for the reader to pause and reflect on how the Father worked through the ordinary and mundane things in the course of His Son’s incarnation. Here’s one passage among many that speaks to these inanimate objects and how they figure into the Gospel narratives. This is from the devotion for Friday, March 2, and is entitled “The Cloaks Off Their Backs.” The text is Mark 11:1-10. Here’s verse 8: “And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.” Concerning this passage, Vo writes, “‘The red-carpet treatment.’ That’s how modern Western cultures describe a royal welcome … Joyfully, Jesus’ disciples threw their cloaks over the donkey’s back, doing the best they could in place of a saddle. The crowd

often means going outside of our comfort zones and into areas that may give us some anxiety. What if I don’t have the right answer? What if I say the wrong thing? What if I don’t recognize the real hurts and needs in people’s lives? Maybe I’m not … enough? “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). Together, under the banner of Lutheran Hour Ministries, we’re equipping laypeople to prayerfully face their nervousness about going into their communities and boldly forging those relationships that can introduce Christ to those who need to know Him. We’re developing resources and encouraging believers around the world to joyously live out their faith in their own communities. When you serve your neighbors with love, or when you prayerfully support the work being done by LHM, I pray that you will be reminded that you aren’t acting alone. Just as the members of that church are a community serving the Lord with joy, together we are a community acting on a global scale. n

grabbed their own cloaks and spread them on the road, making a royal carpet for Jesus to ride over … I can’t help wondering what the women said when their husbands and children came home with extra laundry to do … The women who had been there would already understand. Those who had met Him before—who had heard Him preach, had been healed and comforted by Him, had been challenged and forgiven and blessed—they too would understand … After all, Jesus, too, is in the laundry business. But He isn’t washing cloaks with boiling water and soap. No, He is washing us—making us perfectly clean and pure, fit for a king. And He has done it with His own blood.” Silent Witnesses is available to read online or to hear as a podcast. Since Ash Wednesday, February 14, these devotions can be received as an e-mail subscription and can be heard online, read by Mark Eischer, senior producer for The Lutheran Hour. You can also get a downloadable version, which includes a large-font text, bulletin inserts, and PowerPoint slides. For all the details, visit lhm.org/lent. A Spanish version, Testigos silenciosos, is at www.paraelcamino.com/cuaresma. As with LHM’s 2017 Advent devotions, English reflection questions glean deeper insights from these meditations. n The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

‘Bringing Christ’ through the

Rose Parade

Photos of individuals, courtesy of Lorri Hackett.

By Chad Fix

ill and Barbara Hoffmeier rang in 2018 by participating in one of America’s time-honored New Year’s traditions. No, they didn’t make a toast in Times Square while the glass ball descended. Instead, they left their Northville, Michigan, home to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s in California “pushing petals” in preparation for the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade. The Hoffmeiers belong to the Petal Pushers, a dedicated corps of individuals who travel near and far to Pasadena, California, each year. Recently, 5,000 Petal Pushers volunteers spent the week before the parade attaching thousands of roses, carnations, lilies, mums, and other flowers, as well as natural materials such as seeds, coffee beans, and leaves, to create the majestic splendor of floral parade floats easing along Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard. “We have always watched the Rose Parade on television New Year’s Day and still call my mom (who is 97 years old) each year to ‘virtually’ watch it together,” says Barbara. “I couldn’t wait to call her this year and give her a firsthand account of our experience decorating floats.” They are not alone. “We spent much of the week working on the banner float that was at the front of the parade,” says Suzanne Morrison of Auburn, Alabama, who volunteered alongside husband Jimmy. “This has definitely been a dream come true as we saw the floats progress throughout the week and had a chance to be part of this great atmosphere.” Many Petal Pushers come to decorate the Lutheran Hour Ministries float—a Tournament of Roses perennial for 68 years and the only Christian-themed float among more than 90 parade units. As a self-funded project of the Southern California District of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League (Int’l LLL), the float carries on a mission to provide a Gospel witness to viewers everywhere, from the parade route to televisions all over the world. The parade, which also included marching bands and equestrian groups, was watched live on television by some 40 million Americans and by millions more in 150 countries. This year’s LHM float, under the theme of “Bringing Christ to the Nations,” featured Jesus

Photo courtesy of the Petal Pushers. 16

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

g to see “It is amazin detail of the amount putting in d e lv o v in ese floats h t r e h t e g o t ber of and the num uired eq volunteers r sh to accompli the task.” controlling the rudder of a boat, steering and directing His followers from many daily walks of life to use their skills to make a difference in the lives of others. Riders featured individuals who portray “making a difference,” including a comfort dog and handler, a Sunday school teacher and child, leaders of a food bank, a medical professional, and a Lutheran pastor. Riders on this year’s LHM float included Phillip Johnson, chairman of the Int’l LLL; Daniel Andriamanjaka, director of LHM’s ministry in Madagascar; Lorri Hackett, LHM’s associate director of public affairs; as well as several local pastors, teachers, representatives of the LHM float committee, plus the LWML and LCMS Pacific Southwest districts. In addition to the LHM float, many Petal Pushers helped on nine other Rose Parade floats, turning the week into one of the largest servant events in the country. It’s an opportunity for many to make new friends, network, and share expressions of faith that give deep meaning to this experience.

The Tax Reform Act:

The Impact on Your Charitable Giving

In light of the recent Tax Reform Act passed by Congress that became effective Jan. 1, 2018, you may be looking at your finances and wondering how you will be impacted. One of the effects of this new legislation may be the tax benefits you receive for your 2018 charitable giving, particularly if you have itemized in the past. The Tax Reform Act provides for lower tax rates, nearly doubles the standard deduction, eliminates personal exemptions, and limits most itemized deductions. • Name LHM as a beneficiary of tax, you might consider a gift to charity Although the legislation maintains the retirement plan assets: These assets from your will, trust, or other estate income tax charitable deduction, some remain taxable when distributed to planning documents. Such a gift will taxpayers may find the standard deduction a loved one. Avoid the tax burden by reduce your estate tax burden. better than itemized charitable deductions donating to our cause and/or other As always, please consult with your moving forward. nonprofit organizations. tax planner or financial advisor to So how does this affect your giving • Include a gift for charity from your determine the best charitable giving options moving forward? Here are some estate: The new tax law does not strategies for your personal situation. alternative strategies you may want to impose limits on estate tax charitable You can also find out more by consider for 2018: deductions. If you have sufficient contacting LHM at lhm-gift@lhm.org • Donate appreciated stock: With the assets and may be subject to estate or 1-877-333-1963. n stock market having been at or near an all-time high, give your appreciated stock to a nonprofit like Lutheran Hour Ministries and eliminate capital gains tax (which remains unchanged at 0, 15 and 20 percent). • Consider establishing a Donor Advised Fund (DAF): A donor who uses this strategy gets one large deduction the year he/she contributes to the DAF and can disperse distributions to LHM and/ or other charities over multiple years, maximizing your gifts and impact. • Make larger direct gifts to charity: Your total deductions may put you close to the threshold where itemizing your deductions offers greater tax benefits than taking the standard deduction. In this case, you might consider making a larger charitable gift so that you can enjoy the additional tax savings that itemizing would offer. • Make an IRA charitable rollover gift (if Would you like to support Gospel ministry and receive you are 70½ years or older): Regardless fixed payments for your life—and the life of a loved one? of whether you itemize your taxes, this A Charitable Gift Annuity may be right for you! gift helps fulfill your required minimum distribution and is not considered taxable Contact LHM’s Gift Planning department at income. Plus, you can give up to $100,000 lhm-gift@lhm.org or 877-333-1963 to per year!

… you may be looking at your finances and wondering how you will be impacted.

Top left clo The Ho ckwise: ffmeier s; Peggy Marten s and the Mo rris active lo ons; an cal bun ch. Bottom left of page: fi nis float at hed parade .

This has definitely been a dream come true … “I enjoyed talking with volunteers who come from all over the country,” says Peggy Martens of Inman, Kansas. “It is amazing to see the amount of detail involved in putting together these floats and the number of volunteers required to accomplish the task.” Plans are already underway for 2019. For more information about the work of the Petal Pushers and how you can get involved, visit www.petalpushers.org or contact Dick Gast, General Chairman of the LHM Float Committee, at chairman@petalpushers.org. n

Give a gift and raise your income?

learn more or go online at lhm.org/giftplan.

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

2018 Candidates

FOR THE

INTERNATIONAL LUTHERAN LAYMEN’S LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD NOMINEES: (listed in alphabetical order; vote for five) The following individuals are this year’s candidates for open positions on the Int’l LLL Board of Directors in compliance with Article III of the current Bylaws. Contributing members of the ministry who registered with Lutheran Hour Ministries’ headquarters by March 15 will be able to vote in the 2018 election (as long as they are also members of a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod or Lutheran Church—Canada). The election runs from April 15 through May 15. To be counted, online votes must be received or paper ballots must be postmarked by May 15. Results will be reported this summer in The Lutheran Layman.

HAVE A SAY IN WHO REPRESENTS YOU! 18

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

Jack Ficken of Fairview, Tennessee Ficken (married, father of two) has been a financial associate with Thrivent since 1995. He earned his degree from the University of Missouri and was executive vice president of a non-profit association, where he concentrated on strategic planning, fundraising/budgeting, membership growth, and convention planning. Currently on the Int’l LLL Board and an Ambassador, Ficken’s previous church-related involvement includes serving as an LLL district president, on the Mid South LCMS district board, and as past president and elder for his congregation. He has received numerous industry and Thrivent awards for sales and service and was inducted into Thrivent’s Hall of Fame.

Gretchen Jameson of Muskego, Wisconsin Jameson is senior vice president for Concordia University Wisconsin | Ann Arbor and provides leadership to engage all constituencies in the vision established by the president and board. She previously was principal/owner of purePR, corporate communications director for Concordia Publishing House, associate director of youth ministry for the LCMS, and a secondary educator. Married (mother of two), Jameson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Concordia University Nebraska and Webster University and is working on her doctorate. An Int’l LLL Board member, her numerous awards include Concordia’s Young Alumna of the Year and Athena Foundation for Leadership’s Emerging Young Professional.

Sheryl “Sheri” Jarratt of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Jarratt has served as an accountant for LINC Ministries International since 2015 and executes all accounting and finance functions according to GAAP accounting principles. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she also coordinates the organization’s annual IRS 990 report completion and audits. She previously served various nonprofits and CPA firms in South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Montana after auditing for the LCMS headquarters. Married (mother of three), she earned a bachelor’s degree from Augustana University and has served in many leadership positions for LWML at the local and district levels. She currently is vice chair of her congregation’s board of stewardship.

Phillip Johnson of Maplewood, Minnesota Johnson graduated as a director of Christian outreach (DCO) from Concordia, St. Paul (CSP), and later earned his M.A. in nonprofit management and Ph.D. in leadership and organizational change. He served congregations in Nebraska and Colorado as a DCO, then returned to CSP to teach outreach and coordinate the DCO program. He joined the staff of the Minnesota South District of the LCMS in 2013 as assistant to the president for mission formation. Johnson currently is chair of the Int’l LLL Board of Directors. Married for 38 years, he and his wife are blessed with four children and nine grandchildren.

W. Lee Kucker of Oakdale, California Kucker has been in the financial services industry for 39 years and is currently senior vice president of Morgan Stanley. He is a CFP, focusing on managed money, retirement planning, and corporate money management. Married (two children and seven grandchildren), he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from South Dakota State University and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. A member of LHM’s National Leadership Council, Kucker has served as president/board member of numerous organizations, including Rotary, Medical Ambassadors International, and Capstone Ministries-Kenya. Congregational participation includes finance/stewardship/evangelism committees, LHM GodConnects teacher for new members, and co-leader of study tours to Israel.

Jonathan Laabs of Roselle, Illinois Laabs has been executive director of Lutheran Education Association for 21 years, overseeing all functions of the organization, working with its board of directors, and acting as key liaison with church and secular organizations. He previously was an associate professor of education and director of teacher education at Concordia University Ann Arbor after serving as a Lutheran school teacher and administrator for 15 years. His extensive service in education and ministry capacities includes dozens of leadership positions at the congregational, district, and national levels, as well as consulting, speaking, and travel experience globally on six continents.

Karen Soeken of Ellicott City, Maryland Soeken retired from the University of Maryland’s School of Nursing after nearly 30 years teaching graduate-level courses in research methods and statistics. She earned bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics, psychology, and theological studies from Valparaiso University, the University of Maryland, and Wesley Seminary. Currently a trustee for the LHM Foundation, Soeken served on The Lutheran Hour Speaker search committee in 2011. Married (mother of two), she serves on the board for the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia following numerous leadership roles at the zone, district, and national levels of LWML and within her congregation and LCMS district.

Douglas Werth of Arrington, Tennessee Werth worked for Philip Morris International for 27 years in progressive leadership positions, including four years as chief auditor with global responsibilities and six years in Hong Kong as chief financial officer of the Asia region. He served on the board for the Hong Kong International School (LCMS) for six years (one year as chair) and has 33 years of church council experience. A member of LHM’s National Leadership Council, he has visited more than 60 countries through work and shortterm mission trip experiences. Married (father of four), Werth holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Washington & Lee University.

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

Don’t Forget – Direct Your

Thrivent Choice Dollars by March 31

… it is through giving that we enrich our lives and the lives of others.

Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Indeed, it is through giving that we enrich our lives and the lives of others. Members of Thrivent Financial know that Thrivent believes generosity is central to our Christian faith. That’s one reason Thrivent offers Choice Dollars to eligible members. Those individuals designate Choice Dollars various times throughout the year, based on their insurance premiums, contract values, and Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership. Those dollars then can be directed to thousands of nonprofit organizations nationwide. Since the inception of the Thrivent Choice program in 2010, members have directed more than $330 million to churches and nonprofits throughout the United States, including nearly $1.2 million in charitable support to Lutheran Hour Ministries. Here’s one way to think of the impact: $1.2 million could fund the majority of LHM ministry centers in South America for an entire year! If you still have Choice Dollars available

Seventh Kids’ Booklet Comes in Spring

n time for the end of the school year, is booklet number seven in the illustrated kids’ booklet series from Lutheran Hour Ministries. This one called Let’s Be Disciples will be available for order this spring. This pocket-sized fun read, along with its six companions, contains the artwork of Canadian artist Masaru Horie. Suzie Sallee, coordinator of witnessing tools for LHM, worked with others on staff to produce the rhyming verses.

The lessons in these little volumes are perfect for reading as a group at school … This set of booklets has proven extremely popular with nearly 900,000 distributed in North America alone. Various booklets have also found their way into Spanish translation in Latin American countries like Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, and Mexico. Booklets have also been translated into foreign languages for use in Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Laos. Let’s Be Disciples begins with little Georgia telling her friends what it means to be Jesus’ disciple by explaining how His disciples were called and sent into the world to share the Good News. 20

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

from 2017, the deadline to designate those 2017 dollars is March 31. Please consider using those blessings to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide through Lutheran Hour Ministries. Thank you for sharing the Gospel through Thrivent Choice! Supporting Lutheran Hour Ministries through Thrivent Choice is very simple. Go to www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice and search under “Lutheran Hour Ministries,” “LHM,” or “International Lutheran Laymen.” Or call Thrivent at 1-800-847-4836. Eligibility requirements are found at this web site. Please remember that recurring direction of Choice Dollars to organizations such as Lutheran Hour Ministries is no longer an option; you must now go through the gift direction process every time you receive notification that Choice Dollars are available. Thrivent officials made this change at the end of 2012 to ensure that the program continues to be fully funded so that members can contribute as much as possible to the causes they support. n

By Paul Schreiber

Here’s a sample of what Georgia has to say: And so we have the story: The first men He would choose; He called them His disciples, Although one He knew He’d lose. Jesus called to all these men: “My friends, come follow Me! No need to cast your nets again—You’ll fish, for men you see.” These were His closest friends. He’d teach them what to say. He promised He would be with them, Each step along the way. He chose them from His perfect love; He called each one by name. And when they followed Him that day, They’d never be the same. In order to prepare them, Jesus taught them all, you see, By spending years among them—Not one, not two, but three! He said, “As My Father sent Me, Now I am sending you. Teach everyone just why I’ve come, So they will know Me, too!” From His very first disciples, They made more disciples, too. Now Jesus sends us out as well; It’s time for me and you! Now you can make disciples, too, By teaching of His love. Then more disciples He will have, To tell of God above! The booklet closes with a reminder from John 3:16 that eternal life is found only in God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As the school year winds down, many churches are thinking about their vacation Bible school events. This year, why not give those attending your VBS something to take home and enjoy—one or more of Lutheran Hour Ministries’ pocket-sized, illustrated kids’ booklets? The lessons in these little volumes are perfect for reading as a group at school, will make an ideal school-end gift for departing students, and can be used as a giveaway by teachers to the kids they teach in VBS this summer. Each title comes in individual packs of 25 and costs $7 plus shipping. The six other booklet titles are: • Do You Know Who Jesus Is? • Sharing Your Faith • Learning to Pray Learning Pray • The Easter Story • The Christmas Journey • The Bully To check out a title beforehand, you can go The Christmas to the LHM website at Journey lhm.org/kids or visit www.shoplhm.org to place an order. n to

THRED:

Drawing People Through Word & Research

“Everything that he said sounded so very THRED.”

By Paul Schreiber

hose familiar with THRED, LHM’s digital ministry, already know its social media content is varied and topical. With the recent inclusion of spoken word poetry videos from Joe Davis, a fresh new element has been added to THRED’s repertoire. “THRED could not be what it is without the help of content creators who come from different walks of life, and bring unique talents and perspectives to the table,” said Megan Panarusky, lead project manager for THRED. “We’ve been particularly excited to work with Joe Davis, a spoken word poet who lives in Minneapolis. Amid his other music and poetry projects, he’s written and performed a series of poems that are helping to spur on THRED’s conversation around life and faith topics. And they’re helping to draw new people into the conversations. You can check out facebook.com/ THRED to see videos by Davis and other creative content partners as they roll out each week!” she added. The first poem Davis wrote and performed for THRED is called “Who Is Your Everyone?”: Who is your everyone? Is it only citizens from the country you were born in, Or migrant workers whose customs and cultures may seem foreign? Is it only those in your church Sunday morning, Or the nonreligious, or Jews, or Muslims, or Mormons? With who does your everyone begin or end? Is it only those with your zip code, your language, your skin? Can your vision extend beyond “us vs. them” Towards a bridge of love where true justice bends, Where all of our walls crumble and fall Between “those people” who make us feel so uncomfortable— Different and distant, they seem so unlovable. But we will come to discover God loves them too— No more or no less, but just as much as you. This is the truth we often may forget: There is a table that offers all a place to sit— That of a transformational relationship When we celebrate everyone’s human sacredness. For we are them, and they are us, All created in God’s image. Who is your everyone?

Rachel Legoute, THRED’s community manager, remembers her first encounter with Davis in a community garden in North Minneapolis. “He was there to do an evening of spoken word. are relationships, society and culture, who Jesus is, He brought a djembe with him (a skin-covered human rights, life after death, oppression and abuse, goblet drum originally from West Africa) and had raising children, beliefs in the 21st century, and more. an incredibly diverse group of people from an area Going forward, THRED will be informed by a of a city that was filled with immigrant populations new strategic alliance between LHM and the Barna and underserved and underprivileged people Group, an evangelical Christian polling firm which groups. He had a mason jar filled with affirmations. has conducted more than one million interviews He encouraged the people listening to feel free to on faith and culture in the last 30 years. In 2017, take one from the jar or to leave an affirmation of Barna’s research focus for LHM was “Evangelism in their own in the jar for someone else to pick up. the Digital Age.” Information from this investigation His poems were about community, letting your will inform direction and content for THRED as voice be heard, and loving the people in your midst. well as U.S. Ministries’ new online course offerings, Everything that he said sounded so very THRED. topical booklets, Bible studies, and other media it “At one point, he gathered everyone into a circle will produce. “The ongoing strategic partnership with and had each person participate in a spoken word Barna will provide LHM with valuable insights related piece by adding their own voices to the poem. It to spiritual conversations in the digital age,” said Rev. was really beautiful to see such a diverse group of Dr. Tony Cook, executive director for U.S. Ministries. n people interacting with each other in that way. He is a musician, a poet, a student of religion, a performer, and an artist. He seemed like the perfect addition to THRED offerings.” See Davis’ spoken word poetry in action by going to THRED’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ THRED. Select media like a video, an article or news THRED’s goal is to foster open and honest dialogue between clip, or a Joe Davis’ poetry people of different backgrounds about life, faith, and Jesus. We believe recitation gives THRED a that through these conversations we can gain a hearing for the Gospel in varied menu of material a natural and relational way, as the Holy Spirit works through the Good for users to explore and, in News of Jesus. turn, respond. As a forum for thoughtful discussion, To do that, we create engaging content like blog posts, graphics, videos, and more that raise real issues of life and faith. THRED seeks to engage its audience with content What Can You Do? that is timely, meaningful Join the Street Team! By simply committing to to their lives, relevant to LIKE and SHARE our content on Facebook, the THRED’s aim of sharing Street Team helps us reach exponentially more the Good News, and people, and start more conversations that matter. thought provoking. Among the many topics and questions broached Join the Street Team at lhm.org/THRED

Join the Street Team

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

COMMITMENT P

Buildings in the village of Oberammergau.

eople often ask, “Don’t you think we are living in the last times?” For various reasons, I respond in the negative. But if someone were asked that question during the Black Plague, the answer would have been far different. Back then, a person feeling fine at breakfast could be dead by lunch; five members of a family could die, but the sixth be spared; an entire village could be wiped out and the next village would be untouched. No one knew why. Little wonder that when people in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau started to die, the desperate village Elders made a pledge to the Lord. “If the Lord spares our village”, they said, “we will, every ten years, put on a play remembering the passion, death, and resurrection of the Savior.” City records indicate that after the pledge was made, no one else died of the disease. That was in the year 1634. Since then, with only one or two exceptions, descendants in Oberammergau have kept the oath of their forefathers. That commitment continued when the real reason for the Plague was discovered. The commitment has been kept even though much of the world rejects and rebuffs the Son of God who lived His entire life committed to the cause of saving us.

Meyer, Former Speaker, Authors New Book

r. Dale A. Meyer, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour from 1989-2001, has had a career in Christcentered work years before and years after that onair stretch with the Int’l LLL and its Lutheran Hour Ministries. Currently, he is assisting with the radio proclamation as the search for the next speaker unfolds. Now, for individuals who are interested in his illustrious career, a new 530-page book is available: Word Alive! 52 Selected Sermons by Dale A. Meyer. “There aren’t many books today that ‘stay with you.’ But this book is one that will. It reflects the thoughts of a man whose ministry has served the Church for over four decades. But even more importantly, it lays out before our eyes the very gift of ministry for ministry, the powerful Word of God,” says Dr. Gregory Seltz, recent former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour and now executive director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty. Meyer says the random collection from sermons, notes, and transcripts beyond his time on the radio was minimally altered in places and includes reflections plus retrospectives. “In some of the retrospectives that follow each … you’ll find my more mature comments about how I’d improve the given sermon were I writing it today … .” He adds, “The 52 sermons … are like snapshots. The focus is supposed 22

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

This year we conclude the celebration of the Lutheran Laymen’s League’s 100th anniversary, a movement of the laity originally dedicated to putting the finances of the Missouri Synod on a solid footing and making sure pastors, teachers, and their families would receive care in retirement or tragedy. In 1930, its calling settled on The Lutheran Hour radio broadcasts, dedicated to preaching a changeless Christ in a changing world. Now this program is the longest running Christian broadcast in the world. Through depression, recession, World Wars, police actions, social upheaval, and increasing immorality, the LLL’s unique commitment to sharing Christ has continued. If anyone wishes to know why our commitment and broadcast are unique, I defer to Dr. Walter Maier. In 1935, he—as the founding Speaker—stated with prophetic insight and power: “With many and conflicting voices on the air … we promise that these weekly broadcasts have no political aims. … Rather, we acknowledge as our own the apostle’s determination, ‘Not to known anything ... save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” ... I offer you, in the name of the Triune God, not the Christ of present-day compromise and concession,

By Gerald Perschbacher

to be on the Word, but in the background you catch hints of America’s changing cultural context.” Entries are followed by retrospectives by Meyer. In one retrospective following The Lutheran Hour message dated March 27 (Palm Sunday), 1994, Meyer added a snippet about Dr. Oswald Hoffmann who held the program’s microphone more than 30 years. “If he was in St. Louis when I also happened to be in town—for I traveled a lot, still do—I’d always stop by his office and pay my respects … One day Dr. Hoffmann was telling me about a friend and then, eyes down, said quietly, ‘He’s gone, too.’ He paused, only for a few seconds, but he was thinking about his narrowing circle of friends.” Meyer’s retrospective extends the thought. “The things of faith get personal for us ministers, too. A preacher has to know personally the human feelings that come with the narrowing circle and the prospect of his own death, and a preacher has to let people know that he knows” (pages 137-138).

It is, quite simply, a heart-to-heart sharing by a masterful preacher.

By Ken Klaus

Those who read the book will find it to be not only a fine collection of messages but the type of listening you might grant to a friend when he or she comes calling. It is, quite simply, a heart-toheart sharing by a masterful preacher. From rural congregation to a wide radio audience that spanned numerous time zones, Meyer held high the Cross of Christ and does so again through this book. Details on the Concordia Seminary limited edition of the book and how it benefits the seminary may be obtained by visiting www.csl.edu/give or calling 1-800-822-5287. Word Alive! ($21.95 + $6.95 shipping) is from Tri-Pillar Publishing in conjunction with Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Order by calling 714-290-8032 or go online www.tripillarpublishing.com. n

not the Christ of … indifference and indecision … but the Christ of the cross. With my hand on the Bible I dedicate this radio mission to the preaching of that cross … . That crucified Christ, Son of God, yet Son of Man, the all-sufficient Savior and Him alone, we offer with the pledge, ‘Nothing Save Jesus Christ and Him Crucified in every message, every prayer, every hymn broadcast over this Gospel network.’ ” Speakers have changed, but the message hasn’t. That’s commitment. It is commitment to the Savior who offered Himself as the Redeemer. It is commitment to the Great Commission in which we are told to share the Savior with the lost. It is a commitment of Bringing Christ to the Nations … , and, by God’s grace, it will be a commitment made and remade by the next Speaker of The Lutheran Hour.

Pray the Lord be given a man who will be ‘Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church’.

It took a fair amount of time to figure out what the duty of Speaker really was. Now that I’m retired, I can tell you: • ... being the Speaker is knowing EVERY week you will be sharing the Savior with some people for the very first time, and knowing for some it will be the last time they will ever hear a message about the Savior. • … being the Speaker of The Lutheran Hour means preaching to more people than are gathered that Sunday in all the LCMS congregations put together.

• … being Speaker is knowing most pastors truly believe they can do a better job at preaching than you do (and some may be right). • … being Speaker is sowing the Word and never knowing what fields are producing fruit. • … being Speaker is sharing the Savior with the most educated theologians AND a child who is ill at home with the flu. • … being Speaker is taking God’s grace to a soldier far away from home, a lady snowed in, and a widow spending her first Sunday in the nursing home. • … being Speaker is talking to a family sitting in the waiting room of an intensive care unit, a fisherman sitting on a remote lake, and a college student sitting in his dorm cramming for finals. • … being Speaker is extending Jesus’ invitation to salvation with people getting ready for church, people coming home from church, and folks who never have been inside a church. • … being Speaker is not seeing your audience, never knowing who’s listening or who’s about to turn to another station. It’s not being able to hear the congregation laugh or know your listeners are restless because you’ve run too long. • … being Speaker is preaching to pastors who need to have someone share the Savior with them. • … being Speaker is making sure that each Sunday, people who are saying, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus,” really get to meet Him. • … being Speaker is going up to strangers every week, and saying, “Hello, I’d like to introduce you to

Jesus. Let me tell you about Him and how your life is incomplete and your eternity insecure without Him.” Being Speaker of The Lutheran Hour is all that and more. Which is why, in this article about commitment, I would ask this of you: in these next months, be committed in prayer. Regularly ask the Lord to raise up a courageous, committed, radio pastor whose voice will clearly speak the Word to a world which doesn’t want to hear. Pray the Lord be given a man who will be Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. n

In 2020, Oberammergau and the current village pastor will fulfill their commitment to the life and passion of the Savior. That pastor, along with Pastor Kurt Klaus, and Pastor Bill Yonker, are leading an 11-day trip to see that world-famous play. The dates are September 29 to October 9, 2020. They have tickets for the 2nd-last performance, and on the day the village completes its commitment and celebrates, the tour group has a day at leisure with them. For information and highlights, plus other places to be visited, go to: passionplay2020.weebly.com or write to pretty48388@mypacks.net.

HAVE YOU

LISTENED to the of

LUTHERANHOUR.ORG The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

Was Your Ancestor Among the Founders? Lutheran Hour Ministries presents:

A CELEBRATION EVENT

THE PFISTER HOTEL – MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN Don’t miss this exciting weekend filled with time to reconnect with friends, opportunities to be energized with mission and ministry, and to see your ministry dollars at work as you hear firsthand stories from those most impacted by the work God is doing through LHM! That is truly something worth CELEBRATING! Hear powerful updates from staff, volunteers, and individuals touched through the ministry work being accomplished under each of LHM’s four strategic priorities: ENERGIZING, EQUIPPING, AND ENGAGING LAITY FOR OUTREACH: LHM is focused on providing relevant tools and training to help congregations and individuals reach their community with the Gospel. God has always called this ministry to embolden the laity to share God’s Word in their daily lives. GROWING GOD’S KINGDOM THROUGH EXPANDED MEDIA OUTREACH: LHM’s media outreach makes use of radio, video, online, and print to reach a diverse audience with the Good News. We aim to reach people wherever they are through unique strategies and media approaches. BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO THE UNREACHED AROUND THE WORLD: Globally, billions have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through expanded radio and online ministry, as well as strategic personal and holistic outreach, LHM will reach millions more with this life-saving message. ENGAGING COMMUNITIES IN THE DIGITAL MISSION FIELD: LHM will launch online ministries to reach new audiences and walk with them as they learn more about Jesus and the church. By God’s grace, we will bring them to a point where they are ready to go off-line and join a welcoming Christian community. Mark your calendars and plan to join us in Milwaukee where the ministry began more than 100 years ago. Registration for this event will open online March 15.

For more information, visit: LHM.ORG/CELEBRATION 24

The Lutheran Layman March - April 2018

Lutheran Hour Ministries is compiling a list of descendants of the 12 LLL founders. Those founders were: A.H. AHLBRAND (Seymour, Indiana) J.W. BOEHNE (Evansville, Indiana) BENJAMIN BOSSE (Evansville, Indiana) A.G. BRAUER (St. Louis, Missouri) H.W. HORST (Rock Island, Illinois) T.H. LAMPRECHT (New York area) R.A. LEONHARDT (St. Louis, Missouri) J. A. LESCHEN (St. Louis, Missouri) H.A. LUEDKE (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) FRED C. PRITZLAFF (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) W. E. SCHLAKE (Chicago, Illinois) EDMUND SEUEL (St. Louis, Missouri) If one of these founders was your ancestor, please contact us with your name, address, phone number, and email address. We appreciate your interest!

Send your information by email to:

gerald.perschbacher@lhm.org or by mail to: Attn: Editor Perschbacher The Lutheran Layman 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive St. Louis, MO 63141-8557