THE
LUTHERAN L AYMAN November - December 2018
Welcome
Rev. Dr. Zeigler
see page 3
Q & A with New Speaker . . . . . . . . . . 3 SENT Through Generations . . . . . . . 6 Fair Booths in Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 ‘Prayerful’ Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . 10 50 Years of Service in Brazil. . . . . . 12 New Focus for Daily Devotions. . . 18 Looking Toward Christmas. . . 22-23
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SPEAKING UP
A compilation of quotes from The Lutheran Hour, 1935 to 1955
LISTEN NOW AT
lhm.org/SENTradio
Men of God Spoke His Word Unashamed of the Testimony of Christ (Dr. Walter A. Maier, 1935)— “Here was (ancient) Rome at the zenith of its power, its legions crashing through distant frontiers; Rome with its triumphal arches, its tributes wrung from the ends of the empire; and there, as the apostle Paul’s thoughts revert to his Savior’s first and last days, an outcast Babe, for whom Bethlehem had neither room nor heart; there the thorn-crowned King with scourged back and bloodspattered face … Rome (urged) life to its whirling, dizzy, intoxicating fullness … the schools with their get-what-you-can-out-of-life philosophies … in short, a riot of color, pleasure, and vice dragged to Rome from beyond outposts of civilization; and there—it still rang in the apostle’s mind after 35 years—the stern ultimatum of Jesus: ‘Take up your cross and follow Me.’”
The Lutheran Hour, January 21, 1951 (Dr. Lawrence Acker)— “Believe that (Jesus Christ) is, as He claimed to be and proved Himself to be, the Son of God, almighty and eternal. Believe that He suffered for you, that He shed His blood for you, that He died for you—to pay the penalty of your iniquity. Believe that He rose again to prove Himself the Victor over sin, death, and the power of the devil … These things are written—the story of the birth and life and death and resurrection of our Savior—that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, ye might have LIFE through His Name.”
The Lutheran Hour, September 30, 1951 (Rev. Prof. Armin C. Oldsen)— “I may not know your name; I may never have met you … but this I know, there are moments these grim days, when you are distressed by a sense of helplessness and futility, and when you long for divine direction and inner strength. We are bound together, you and I, and a host of others, in the search for spiritual security … nevertheless, with steady tread and quiet confidence we shall venture forward; impelled by an awareness of the desperate need … inspired by a sense of high privilege and responsibility … undergirded by an unwavering trust in God’s never-failing promise to help.”
Since its first broadcast on October 2, 1930, The Lutheran Hour has conveyed messages of life and hope in Christ to the far reaches of nations. In the present era, that same message is conveyed in creative forms from radio to social media to people of all stages of life and of social status around the world. Thank you for your faithful and prayerful financial support of Lutheran Hour Ministries! n
L AYMAN The Lutheran
Vol. 89, No. 6 November - December 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.
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2 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church
IN SPIRATIO N
24/7
“I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.”
Q& A
with the
T
he Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler joined the Lutheran Hour Ministries family in October, and his first sermon aired on The Lutheran Hour on Reformation Sunday weekend (Oct. 27-28). We recently sat down with Rev. Zeigler and asked him a few questions to help you get to know a little more about the person you will hear behind the microphone on the weekly broadcasts.
Q: Welcome to LHM, Rev. Zeigler. Can you share a little about your family background? Growing up, my family had a 1984 Ford Bronco. The interior ceiling of the cab was metal, so it was the perfect place to store memento magnets from all the states we visited. My dad, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Timothy Zeigler, served 21 years in the Air Force. He and my mom, Bernice, both grew up in central Illinois. Dad’s military assignments took us elsewhere, so that Bronco became a temporary home. This was before strict seatbelt laws, so my brother Matt would stretch out on the bench seat in the back and I, being the baby of the family, would lay on the floor. Listening to the rhythm of the wheels on the interstate, I would look up at that patchwork map stuck to the ceiling. Where would home be next? Raising a family of our own, Amy and I have added to the map. Safety belt laws considered, our four children rode in car seats. Also, since they stopped making vehicles with metal interiors, rather than magnets, we’ve recorded memories in photo album books Amy creates. Other than that, the map doesn’t look too different. In the first decade of our 17 years of marriage, we moved six times, from Arkansas to Washington State to Delaware, driving many of the interstates I rode as a boy.
Rev. Dr. Zeigler
Getting to Know the New Speaker of The Lutheran Hour I wanted to go to the Air Force Academy. Someone from his staff wrote back and encouraged me to apply to the AFA when I was in high school. I didn’t make the first cut but got in on the second round after another appointee backed out. My first year there, I joined the Protestant Cadet Choir. Whenever we rehearsed the song, “Here I Am, Lord,” the words haunted me. “Is it I, Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.” After serving my five-year commitment on active duty, Amy and I, with two babies in car seats, took I-64 home to St. Louis to start seminary.
Q: What excited you about being the Speaker of TLH?
Q: What do you want people to hear when they hear
Within the SENT Initiative, I am drawn toward “energizing, engaging, and equipping laypeople for outreach.” I hope to be involved in LHM’s effort to use expanded platforms (videos, podcasts, webinars) to provide resources for local churches to build disciple-making disciples of Jesus.
your voice on The Lutheran Hour?
I want people to hear someone daily led by Jesus. Holding this position was never on my map. When I announced to my church I had received this call, one of our elders said to me, “You must do this. God has been preparing you for this your whole life.” I prayed to Jesus, “I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.”
Q: What are some of your favorite themes to preach on? Dr. Joel Okamoto, one of my mentors at Concordia Seminary, says he is interested in everything. I feel the same. All things are under the Lordship of the crucified, risen, ruling, and returning Jesus (Ephesians 1:20-23). God’s gracious kingdom will extend over everything, so nothing’s off the table.
Q: What led you to ministry? I started hearing Jesus’ call as a sixth-grader at a Lutheran Camp in North Dakota. My counselor told me I should be a pastor. I thought he was crazy. As a kindergartener in Omaha, Nebraska, I won second place in an art contest. The theme was “What I Want to Be When I Grow Up.” I drew a picture of an Air Force General, and that was still my plan. In the third grade at Redeemer Lutheran School in Colorado Springs, Miss Gossin had us write a letter to someone famous. I wrote to President Reagan and told him
by Chad Fix
The Zeigler family.
It was the prospect of being a small, but important part of a team of people devoted to Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. Equipping laypeople to reach out with the love and truth of Jesus beyond the walls of our church buildings has been in the DNA of The Lutheran Hour from its inception. I want to use my voice in that effort. A friend told me, “Mike, you get to be one voice to a million. Wouldn’t it be great to have a million voices for Jesus, each speaking to one?”
Q: What else might we expect from this role?
Q: Past Speakers of The Lutheran Hour have had deep
connections with the military (Oswald Hoffmann visiting combat troops in Vietnam; Ken Klaus and his homage to his military father in the creation of prayer guides.) How does your current service as Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve translate to this new role as Speaker? I am grateful for the way the military has shaped my character and continues to guide my service to my neighbors. In the reserves, I don’t serve as a chaplain, but as an aircraft maintenance officer. Holding these two roles together has its challenges. The image of God’s “left and right hands” helps me. God wants to bring everyone into His coming kingdom. He does this with His “right hand,” through the proclamation of the Gospel to bring people to faith in Jesus. While the Gospel does its work, God restrains evil and promotes good with His “left hand.” God takes in His hand fragile and fallible social and political orders (families, cities, states, and nations). He uses them— in hidden and sometimes perplexing ways—for the common good. I am blessed to have a hand in both works of God—and so is every Christian according to their station in life. Through us, like a safety belt, God is graciously holding all things together, even as He uses our witness to bring all creation home in Jesus (Colossians 1:15–20). n Chad Fix oversees the corporate communications of LHM. The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 3
Special Messengers lutheranhour.org
A Survey of Speakers on The Lutheran Hour
by Gerald Perschbacher
God’s Word is being delivered as the Lord gives direction.
D
r. Walter Arthur Maier (often abbreviated as WAM) and radio were born a year apart, he in 1893, and Marconi’s wireless invention in 1894. This man and this form of communication were to mature together. In 1929, the Lutheran Laymen’s League was only a dozen years old. The organized body of the laity had helped pull the Missouri Synod out of dangerous debt and had launched a fund for the widows and orphans of professional church workers. The next topic of interest was the rise of radio broadcasts. What could a listening audience expect to hear from WAM, a professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis? Surprisingly, listeners would become glued to their radios to hear the sometimes bombastic, always invigorating, and consistently wellthought biblical Law-and-Gospel words by the man. WAM carried added experience as a magazine editor. He was prolific in writing and eventually claimed 32 books from his pen. “Maier started broadcasting in his pioneer style, over one low-power transmitter in a south St. Louis attic”
of the old seminary, “but eventually beamed his sermons each week to an estimated 20 million listeners. The Lutheran Hour was to become the largest parish in church history,” noted Gordon Meyers in research he did at the broadcast’s golden anniversary. (1) WAM considered the use of invisible airwaves a near miracle and wanted to maximize the precious and costly time in the half-hour program. “He was more than just another preacher. Walter A. Maier had such a formidable grassroots impact on American church life in the mid-1930s and 1940s that he helped bring into being (a) present evangelical resurgence,” said Meyers. (2) WAM’s message was taken to homes and businesses via a radio broadcast, too, amid an era of small, homely, crystal set receivers. WAM and others were fascinated by the potential impact. (3) Researcher Dr. Kirk Farney added, “From the days of his youth in Boston, Walter Maier was a dynamo whose keen mind was clearly evident.” In December of 1924, Concordia Seminary’s south St. Louis campus was the launch site for radio station KFUO. He was one of several who banded their energies to interest others in the launch, including
4 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
the Lutheran Laymen’s League. (4) The period from 1931 into early 1935 formed the doldrums for Maier’s dream of broadcasting. Financial matters and the Great Depression put radio far behind food and family. Yet, the idea did not die. In February of 1935 it was heard once more, this time on an early network of 11 stations in the Mutual Broadcasting System. (5) “This message of our Church is being wafted upon the wings of ether waves by means of electrical transcription from 14 foreign stations” in eight countries “and that requests from other distant lands continue to come in, notably from Shanghai, China, Alaska, and Hawaii.” A movement of sorts had begun. “The conviction grows upon us that radio is one of God’s last gifts to men whereby we can expedite the fulfilment of His Great Commission ….” (6) WAM’s voice was suddenly stilled in 1950. But the program did not die. Dr. Lawrence Acker was chosen as interim Speaker in June of 1950. His background included a military chaplaincy and his input as pastoral consultant in two motion pictures produced by the LLL shortly after World War Two. (7)
Listening to preserved broadcasts recorded on 16-inch record discs brings Acker’s pastoral voice to life. His style was not identical to WAM but was good in its own right. The program continued, and the audience outreach grew. (8) Acker wanted to hold the microphone for nine months until the Rev. Armin C. Oldsen took over as Speaker. His first message was beamed on September 30, 1951. Oldsen was in demand at special speaking engagements organized by the LLL. In an age when long-distance travel was by railroad moreso than automobile or airplane, Oldsen found the schedule strenuous but persevered as well as possible. At the time of The Lutheran Hour’s 50th anniversary in 1980, he delivered about a 15-minute address at that’s year’s LLL convention. His voice was strong and his words very deliberate. His message was forceful in his personable manner. About 10 minutes into the message, his voice softened and his energy drained. But for a brief moment the 80+ year old former Speaker waxed eloquently once again. It was to be his final address before a large audience numbering more than a thousand. (9)
Styles change but the Word of the Lord remains constant. In 1955, Rev. Oswald Hoffmann took over the duties on the air. His boundless energy, memorable enunciation, and choice of simple words and intonations were unlike previous speakers. He could turn a phrase very well and used alliteration to press his points. In a booming style he captivated listeners. He was not WAM, not like Acker or Oldsen, and the change in Speakers helped listeners understand that the MESSAGE is based on God’s Word more than delivery. Styles change but the Word of the Lord remains constant. (10) Helping with the mode of change was the dynamic, young voice of the energetic Associate Speaker Rev. Wallace Schulz. He stressed volume from soft to loud to press his points. Excerpts from fresh news articles regularly were incorporated into his sermonic comments. (11) Changes continued in the voices of Speakers, but the message was always based on the Word of God. His Holy Spirit planted seeds in listeners. Sometimes styles changed from the closeness of a recording studio to the massive expanse of a huge meeting hall. Each speaker used the setting to the advantage of listeners. When Dr. Dale Meyer followed Dr. Hoffmann as Speaker, his style carried a different pace, more of a homestyle delivery that was very personable. He used pauses and the sounds of well-chosen words to nestle God’s Word into the minds and hearts of listeners. Following Meyer was Rev. Ken Klaus, who used wit and creativity to a special degree. His alliterations may have been among the most effective of any Speaker to date. His crafting was careful and precise, and his surprises in deep tones and pronunciation were examples of true elocution that fostered an application of the Gospel. Each Speaker had a following. Some listeners, even years after a Speaker stepped into a fresh future or entered retirement, claimed a fondness for one or another for various reasons unique to each listener. Yet, if pressed to understand the main point of every broadcast, probably each listener would agree that as the Word of the Lord goes, it grows, biblically speaking. When Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz rang his messages on The Lutheran Hour, it was with vim and vigor. His lively style augmented the application of the Gospel. His depth of knowledge on various groupings of people in the listening audience sharpened his points. There was a smile in his voice, not unlike a friend, excited to be with you! Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler stepped to the program’s microphone on Sunday, October 28, to continue the delivery of Words that change lives. He is the current in a continuum of dedicated men who proclaim the Good News common to previous Speakers, yet, his style and delivery are unique. But the common thread is still very potently there: God’s Word is being delivered as the Lord gives direction. n Dr. Gerald Perschbacher serves as editor of The Lutheran Layman and manages the LHM Research Center Archives.
Endnotes: Gordon Meyers was on the Lutheran Hour Ministries staff at the time of the broadcast’s 50th anniversary. Himself a writer, for a time adapting scripts for a Canadian version of the popular children’s television show, Howdy Doody, Meyers wrote the 48-page book, There is a God; Let the Nations be Glad!, released by the Int’l LLL in 1980 to commemorate the half-century celebration of The Lutheran Hour. His quote and preceding information in this article were taken from page 6. (2) Ibid.; Meyers adds that WAM was introduced to the then-modern marvel of electronic transmission of the human voice when he spoke at a 1921 Walther League convention in Louisville, Kentucky (page 6). (3) Ibid. (4) Farney’s fine research is reflected in Bringing Christ to the Nations: Walter A. Maier, The Lutheran Hour and Global Christian Broadcasting (Part 1) ,beginning on page 48 in Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, Summer 2013 (vol. 86, no. 2). (5) Ibid., page 54. On that same page, Farney indicates The Lutheran Hour was beamed into Latin America in 1940 on what some call a superstation, HCJB. (6) Gordon Meyers, There is a God; Let the Nations be Glad!, page 15. (7) Ibid, page 22. (8) A significant collection of preserved radio broadcasts of the program exists in the Research Center Archives of LHM, allowing researchers the opportunity to hear the pastoral tones of Acker’s voice. (9) Recollections of Gerald Perschbacher who was there for the anniversary and witnessed the message by Oldsen, then talked with him afterwards. Included in this section are recollections of John A. Mueller who directed some of the LLL’s most successful membership drives which included Oldsen’s speaking engagements. (10) Samples of listener letters in the LLL/LHM Research Center Archives give bold witness to the truth of this paragraph. The Speakers were not compared to each other but were gaining an appreciation by audiences who adjusted to each Speaker’s unique styles. (11) Recollections of the writer. (1)
The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 5
SENTthrough the Generations by Lorri Hackett
“ … we are all part of the same family … the family of Christ.”
O
n a warm and rainy evening in June 1917, August George Brauer sat in a Milwaukee hotel and contemplated the state of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and how he might use his monetary gifts to rescue it from crippling debt. He had tried unsuccessfully for several years to assist the Synod in some way, and now he was joined with others to provide much needed aid. How appropriate it was that a little more than 100 years later Bernie Fortmeyer and his wife Amelia sat in a ballroom at the historic Pfister hotel in downtown Milwaukee. They were taking part in a celebration of all that God has accomplished through the mission and ministry of Lutheran Hour Ministries in the 100 years since Bernie’s great-grandfather A.G. Brauer (a.k.a. Opa) first provided financial assistance to the Synod … thus beginning the Lutheran Laymen’s League and leading to what is known today as Lutheran Hour Ministries. What a wonderful and rich heritage those original twelve provided as the foundation of LHM. Twelve laymen dedicated to the success of the Synod and the faithful continuation of ministry have now become thousands of laypeople around the world working to accomplish that vision. It is precisely this foundation that has allowed LHM to embrace and uplift the laity as part of the organization’s strategic priorities. And for Bernie Fortmeyer, one of those twelve provided an even deeper legacy. Bernie was somewhat familiar with his family heritage as he had heard the stories of the connections his great-grandfather had with the likes of C.F.W. Walther among other notable Lutheran leaders. But it wasn’t until later that he really gained an interest
Left to right: • Great-great grandfather
E.A. Brauer, front and center, with son A.G. (Opa) Brauer, behind, circa 1886. • Bernie Fortmeyer
and wife Amelia.
in seeking out his family history. Just last year the Fortmeyers accompanied a group of cousins on a tour of Germany to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and trace the footsteps of his great-great grandfather, Pastor Ernst August Brauer. The trip ignited a spark of interest in Bernie to learn more about his family. After returning from the family trip, he was made aware of an ad in The Lutheran Layman, the official publication of Lutheran Hour Ministries, looking for descendants of the original 12 founders of the Lutheran Laymen’s League. As part of that search, the descendants were invited to the Lutheran Hour Ministries Celebration Event in Milwaukee in August 2018. Bernie responded to the ad and that set off a chain of events that would strengthen the connection between Bernie and Lutheran Hour Ministries. Bernie had long been involved with his local Lutheran Laymen’s League—leading men’s Bible studies on a weekly basis and attending several past zone and district conventions—but he’d never contemplated the enormity of what he was a part of until attending the LHM Celebration Event in Milwaukee. The event was a celebration of the vision of Lutheran Hour Ministries that every person has the opportunity to hear the Gospel in an understandable way; that new believers are connected to a faithful Christian community where they can grow in their faith and witness; and that all Christians reach out in love to those who don’t yet know the Savior. Bernie had little idea of the number of people that had already been reached with the Gospel through the work of Lutheran Hour Ministries and was energized by what he heard that weekend and the work those in
attendance were being called to—work that his greatgrandfather began. “I’m a lifelong Lutheran,” says Bernie, “and I really expected to see people I knew at this event. But we didn’t know anyone personally. However, by the time we left, we got to know people and began to realize that we are all part of the same family … the family of Christ.” Over the course of their three days in Milwaukee, the Fortmeyers came to feel even more connected, not only to the people they met but to the mission and vision of Lutheran Hour Ministries. The event included the unveiling of the SENT Initiative as an expansive, holistic, multi-layered plan to answer the pressing challenges and realities of the 21st century and bring greater vision, clarity, and definition to the work LHM is already doing. To create the greatest impact for our friends, families, churches, communities, and world, this ministry initiative focuses on four key areas: energizing, equipping, and engaging laity for outreach; growing God’s kingdom through expanded media outreach; bringing the Gospel to the unreached around the world; and engaging communities in the digital mission field. While the Fortmeyers were intrigued to hear the stories and impact in each of the four areas, it was the work in the digital mission field that most resonated with them. Bernie and his wife appreciated hearing about all the ways Lutheran Hour Ministries is reaching out to new generations using the multitude of platforms available. He was very enthusiastic about the Jesus Dialogues—interviews LHM conducted with nonbelievers regarding Jesus and their beliefs—which were distributed on a flash drive to all attendees. He was
“ … ‘praise God from whom all blessings flow’ and praise God for the work this 6 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
Ministry Initiative Focus SENT Initiative Update
T Energizing, 1 Equipping, & 3 Bringing the
2
Gospel to the Engaging Laity Unreached for Outreach Growing God’s Around the World Kingdom Engaging through Communities Expanded Media Outreach in the Digital Mission Field
4
thrilled to have something tangible to take back and share with his congregation— especially with those dedicated to reaching out to youth and young adults in the community. Bernie commented that he “admires LHM for their work in the digital mission field because it seems so far from where they started.” He and his wife also got a taste of the global mission and ministry of LHM by sharing a table with Luciano Vega-Ayala and Noemí Vega-Ayala de Guerra, hosts of LHM’s new Spanish podcast Sentido Latino. Sitting with them and hearing their banter in Spanish helped the couple appreciate the multicultural experience they were getting in on—not just with the Spanish-language resources being created for a U.S. audience, but also for the focus on global ministry shared by the five international ministry center staff members in attendance. They were able to hear about ministry taking place in Jamaica, Liberia, Paraguay, Sri Lanka, and the Middle East and North Africa. Saturday’s events ended with a gala celebration and the call for all to be SENT, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). Kurt Buchholz, president and CEO of Lutheran Hour Ministries, announced SENT—a five-year global initiative to proclaim the Gospel—and shared that while LHM now reaches more than 100 million people each week with the Gospel, we pray that the Lord uses SENT to introduce Him to many more (this number has now increased to more than 120 million). At the end of the evening, the Fortmeyers had been so impacted by what they had heard that they made a gift to the ministry of LHM that was “outside of their comfort zone.” When questioned about this gift, Bernie says, “Opa Brauer was one of six children and the only one who didn’t go into ministry. Yet God used him in a mighty way. He was sacrificial in his giving and LHM continues to be faithful to his vision.” In that way God is using Bernie Fortmeyer in a mighty way as well, using his gifts to further the ministry of LHM so that more people can hear the life-saving Gospel message. It seems Bernie has more in common with A.G. Brauer than he ever thought. When asked how he thought Opa A.G. Brauer would feel about where LHM is headed in ministry now, Bernie was quick to respond. “I have to believe that, without a doubt, he would look down and say, ‘praise God from whom all blessings flow’ and praise God for the work this organization is doing today. I know he would be beyond pleased,” says Bernie. n Lorri Hackett is associate director of public affairs for Lutheran Hour Ministries.
organization is doing today … . ”
oday—RIGHT NOW—the call for sharing the Gospel with those who have never heard it has never been so urgent. Two-thirds of the world’s population does not know Christ. More and more Americans—both inside and outside the church—are pledging allegiance to the “morality of selffulfillment,” which is rapidly becoming the culture’s moral norm. And Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion and is projected to surpass Christianity in the second half of the century. LHM’s members come together to meet the greatest challenge of the 21st century, which is to proclaim messages of love and hope in the name of Jesus Christ. As you read in the last issue of The Lutheran Layman, there is a new opportunity for you to take a bold step forward with LHM. The ministry launched SENT as an expansive, holistic, multi-layered plan to answer the pressing challenges and realities of the 21st century during its Celebration Event in Milwaukee in August. This initiative brings greater vision, clarity, and definition to the work LHM is already doing. The funding aspect of SENT was quietly launched in 2015 with a goal to raise $242 million and reach 108 million people each week by the year 2020. It is with gratitude to God, and deep appreciation to the multitude of people who have already supported this effort, that the SENT Initiative continues moving forward each day.
You are a vital part of this effort. We encourage you to visit lhm.org/SENT to learn more about the four strategic priorities.
You can get involved with SENT in the following ways:
SENT Funding Goal
Current Total: $162 million
67% Goal: $242 million
LHM Reach
Current Reach: 128,333,672
119% FY 2016 Reach: 56,068,203
FY 2020 Goal: 108 million
»»Visit lhm.org/resources to see all the ways LHM works to equip YOU! »»Download, listen to, and share LHM’s podcasts. Visit lhm.org/podcasts to see what’s available. »»Share LHM’s international ministry model with others and the message about our global work. »»Watch THRED content, share it, and pray for God to work through THRED to reach people’s hearts. »»Make a gift for this initiative at lhm.org/SENT. Thank you for being part of this Gospel mission. Together, we are SENT! n The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 7
‘Hap’ was a man SENT Forward
E
veryone wants to be happy. Some people show it more than others. If you examine the history of Christian sharing over several decades, you will discover the name of E. W. “Hap” Schroeter, who seemed to sparkle with joy and bubble with enthusiasm while never avoiding the meaning of work and the implications of progress. He was a man SENT for a purpose. Born in German-Lutheran Frohna, Missouri in 1903, Hap watched his father rise from teacher to superintendent of schools for the Central District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Hap followed his father’s lead into the teaching profession. His experience extended to Flint, Michigan, then Lorain, Ohio. In 1928 he was in Cleveland as teacher, organist, and choir director. It was there that his course was set toward music, which became a blessing as a SENT person in the Lutheran Laymen’s League as The Lutheran Hour was launched. Those were the days when a third auxiliary organization of the Missouri Synod was in full swing: The International Walther League, named for Dr. C.F. W. Walther, first president of the church body. In 1930, Hap served on the Walther League’s convention committee, which sharpened his ability to be a man SENT with a keen purpose. He was to continue his youth work for decades.
by Gerald Perschbacher
He was a man
SENT
for a purpose.
handled clubs’ activities, seminars, and projects. In 1951, Hap was asked to succeed Eggers and would hold that top staff spot into 1954. Hap liked camps and strengthened the camp system supported by LLL districts throughout North America. He recalled more than 53,000 campers being influenced by his work as a man SENT by the Lord to share the Gospel. But the mark that best shows his impact was done in song. Hap set up and conducted choirs, massive bodies of more than 300 who sang as people SENT to tell the world what Christ meant. Hap organized choirs at major LLL conventions. He selected and influenced radio choirs of The Lutheran Hour, too. At a Reformation Day ceremony in greater Cleveland, Hap directed a children’s choir of 500 voices and an adult choir of 250 as 12,000 others attended the event in a public hall. Speaking was the spellbinding Dr. Maier. Hap drifted into history in what some might call his younger elder years. But a person wonders how many people were reached by the Good News through Hap and the voices he organized, and in turn through the voices that carried further into the future, all SENT with a purpose of heavenly importance. What strengths do YOU have for being SENT? n
What strengths do YOU have for being SENT? It was in 1944 when Hap joined the Lutheran Laymen’s League’s staff in St. Louis. The door for him was held open by Executive Secretary T. G. Eggers, first full-time staff member of the LLL, who had his roots not far from Hap’s natal home of Frohna. Eggers held his post from 1930 until 1950, the end of what were called the “Maier years” after first Speaker Dr. Walter A. Maier of The Lutheran Hour. Hap was a significant support for Eggers. He led major tours,
Schalk was Honored in Chicago Dr. Carl F. Schalk, writer of more than 80 hymn tunes and carols appearing in 30 or so hymnals, was saluted with the Spiritus Christi award from Concordia University Chicago, located in River Forest, Illinois. The high bestowal came on September 29 at the university’s Maroon & Gold Banquet in suburban Chicago. The event was the second community celebration held annually. Schalk taught at the university for 30 years and still exhibits keen interest as he continues his career there. A devoted Lutheran, Schalk shows the typical enthusiasm of someone SENT into each day with a fervor for the Good News, in his case, especially as it is coupled with music. Schalk noted, “From the 1950s to the 1970s, the Lutheran church was beginning to open up to new, good ideas in all kinds of ways.” That is especially true as music enhanced worship by being “liturgically appropriate … organically, the new music grows out of the old.” Prior to his time on the faculty in Chicago, Schalk was deeply active in music for The Lutheran Hour as a member of the staff in St. Louis. Also honored were Tamara (Kimball) DeVine (as Distinguished Alumni, Undergraduate), and David Buuck (as Distinguished Alumni, Graduate). n
8 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
(At left) Dr. Carl Schalk dominated the recent cover of his university’s Forester magazine. (Above) A pensive Schalk was shown in the article.
Fair Booth Kept Booklets Flowing with Good News by Ed Tiefenbach
Success Realized by Fair Booth in New York by Gerald Perschbacher
W
ith the goal of teaching about our Savior Jesus Christ through the Bible, a special booth garnered a huge amount of attention at the recent Great New York State Fair in Syracuse. Fred Neebe, coordinator, is a resident of Vestal, New York. He is pleased with State Fair results. He reports that a crew of 142 volunteers handed out LHM booklets as over 1.1 million people attended the late summer event. A total of 6,542 printed pieces were distributed (New Testaments, various activity booklets for children, listings on when to hear The Lutheran Hour, and several other items on varied topics). Volunteers came from 16 Lutheran churches and staffed the booth for 13 days from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for a total operating time of 156 hours. That took a unique measure of dedication. Frontline support for the annual project this year was driven not only by Neebe but also Lee Roseboom, Rev. D. Werly, and Mark Larson. “Staffing starts with the Lutheran Laymen’s League membership roles in the area covered by the fair,” notes Neebe. He is quick to add some tips on how others could hold a fair booth at their state’s fair. Beyond contacting LLL/LHM entities, he says, “obtain the names of the pastors and congregations in your area. This gives a very good mailing list with which to publicize the project and to start recruiting support. This will require much personal contact and phone calls … what you want is congregations to take on staffing the booth for a day or specific time period.” Providing passes to the event are an encouragement for volunteers. Funding is a challenge, so consider options among congregations, organizations (such as district and local LWML groups) and consider a Thrivent Action Team project (call 1-800-847-4836 for details). This year’s booth carried a total expense of $7,370—a bargain when reaching so many lives! Neebe explains the benefits of training and supervision. “These items are difficult for us in New York State because the closest congregation to the State Fair Grounds is 40 miles away and farthest is 80 miles. We have not been able to have one big staffing meeting at one place. It is very important that each congregation be fully responsible to staff the booth for the full time the exhibit building is open. Training is at the local level.” Simply, “Volunteers are encouraged to be friendly, offer free material, and explain what is in the various items … there is no pressure to follow a specific approach.” Neebe continues, “We need to re-emphasize the biblical teaching of being missionaries of God’s Word and teachings, as it says in Isaiah 42:16: ‘I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.’” For more specific tips, Neebe may be reached at fneebe@stny.rr.com (phone: 1-607-203-1970). To order LHM material for fair booth use, call the LHM Response Center at 1-800-876-9880. n
“…‘I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.’”
Volunteers for the Lutheran Laymen’s League in Regina were witnesses to a diverse audience at this year’s five-day-long Regina fair—the Queen City EX, in Canada. The Bully was again the most soughtafter children’s booklet followed by Learning to Pray, and Do You Know Who Jesus Is?, although all the children’s booklets were popular. In the adult category, the booklets in high demand were The Truth About Angels, Grief, Depression, and Why Do Bad Things Happen. A pamphlet from Concordia Publishing House, “A Simple Explanation of Christianity,” also was well received. A First Nations woman stopped at the booth. She raised five foster children, two of those now 18 and 19 years old—who are also helping other young people. She was absolutely thrilled with the materials the LLL gave to explain the importance of Christ
Jesus. Call this another aspect of being SENT with the Gospel! Grandparents and grandchildren were picking up LLL/LHM material to share with loved ones.
Call this another aspect of being SENT with the Gospel! One couple’s 10-year-old daughter asked about church and prayer. Her father is an atheist, and the mother indicated they are not affiliated with any church. With other children in her family, she felt it was time to make that move. Information was quickly provided for a visit to a local congregation of Lutheran Church– Canada. These are just a few examples of the many visitors that stopped by the booth at the five-day fair. Volunteers ask for prayers that their witnessing will bear favorable results. n
NOW AVAILABLE ON
To find out other ways you can listen, visit lutheranhour.org. The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 9
NURTURING YO U R FA I T H :
Prayers of Gratitude W
elcome back to Nurturing Your Faith. One of the profound benefits of our Christian faith is how we can be genuinely thankful in all circumstances. Although life may be rocky and unsure, we have a God who is rock solid and steady. By His very nature, He has proven Himself true and worthy of our thanks. From the creation of this world to its redemption through Jesus Christ, we have reason to live lives of gratitude. It’s as someone once said, “Thanksgiving is thanks-living.” And so, it is. Watch video introduction at lhm.org/studies In gratitude we come before God, mindful of His sovereignty over the universe and the small matters of our lives. The God of the Flood, the Exodus, the conquest, and the return from Babylon is the same God who listens to our concerns and knows the number of hairs on our head. He is our Ruler, and we are His people. This blessed relationship should season our every thought and word with joy and appreciation. Paul said it well in his letter to the Thessalonians: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
PRAYERS OF GRATITUDE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT The Old Testament is filled with passages concerning gratitude. However, the Psalms are a special place where we can hear God’s people voice their gratitude in worship and prayer. Psalm 54 is noteworthy in that David, anxious for his safety against “ruthless men,” concludes this psalm in a spirit of thankfulness, even as he recalls God’s work on his behalf.
Read Psalm 54 1. The idea of giving thanks and King David go hand in hand. Why might it have been easy for him—he was an ancient celebrity of sorts—to lean on his own strength and neglect giving God the thanks He was due? 2. What does it say about David that he concludes this, and many other of his psalms, with a note of thanks?
As we have seen, gratitude is an enduring theme in the biblical narrative. In Old Testament times, thank offerings and temple contributions were given for God’s deliverance and divine protection, even as the children of Israel awaited the promised Messiah. In the New Testament, the Promised One has come, and believers rejoice in this—thanking God for the gift of His Son, their living Lord and Savior.
PRAYERS OF GRATITUDE AND JESUS There are only five times where the Gospels show Jesus giving thanks. Besides the Lord’s Supper, He does so before miraculous feedings of great multitudes, when Lazarus is raised from the dead, and when thanking the Father for hiding kingdom matters from the wise and prudent and revealing them to babes.
Read Luke 22:14-21 1. Jesus sets a wonderful example of giving thanks at the Lord’s Supper. How profound it is to show gratitude to God for the chance to lay down our lives before Him! How does knowing Jesus did this alter your view of your life as a sacrifice to God? 2. How often do you thank God when you pray? Describe a prayer that was dedicated to thanking God for His blessings in your life—no special requests, no self-directed pitches—just pure thanks. Write down a list of blessings you would include in your prayer.
PRAYERS OF GRATITUDE AND THE EARLY CHURCH Paul was no stranger to giving thanks. He thanked God for Christ’s sacrifice; for the faith, love, and care of the saints; life’s provisions; strength and courage in adversity; the faithhoning effects of his own suffering and hardships, and more. The author of Hebrews reminds us, too, in his chapter on Jesus’ preeminence and the faith we possess, that each of us should be thankful for the immovable kingdom we have been given.
Read Hebrews 12:28-29 1. Understanding why we should be thankful to God is crucial. Knowing He has done it all, that He has given His all—should ignite our thanksgiving. What can we do—daily—to show our gratitude to God? 2. What are the blessings from God in your life that you take for granted and are not thankful for?
PRAYER Heavenly Father, with so much to be thankful for, where do we begin? Let us always be mindful of Your eternal grace and mercy throughout the history of mankind and especially for the ultimate Gift: Your Son, our Savior, the Lord eternal Jesus. Let the lives of humble thanksgiving we live be a sounding trumpet of thanks for Your benevolence and provision. In the Name of Jesus, the One we’re most thankful for, we pray. Amen.
ST A IEL A N B LDE VAI TD EL O HM / L. E D O W N L OFAUDL LS T UU DD Y YG A UVI D A .TO LRHGM OA RR GN /STUDIES 10 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
Sharing the Faith, Topic of New LHM Learn Course, Webinar “ … All of us are called to be witnesses, and all of us can commit to becoming less reluctant and more eager as conversationalists.”
by Paul Schreiber Online learning has never been so easy or so much fun! Now, adding to LHM Learn’s growing roster of courses, is Eager to Share: The DNA of Eager Conversationalists. Tying in research gathered through LHM’s partnership with Barna Group, this four-session Outreach Essentials course explores the habits and traits of the “Eager Conversationalist” (a person who has conversations about faith more than ten times a year). As you study, you will learn how to develop and apply certain key qualities or characteristics that will strengthen your own faithsharing ability. For additional resources, Eager to Share includes a six-page journal with questions and space to answer; a discussion guide with both individual and small group questions to consider; a two-page “Helpful Tips for Small Groups” PDF; and a video transcript of the entire course. Each LHM Learn course allows for self-paced learning; easy access on any digital device—computer, tablet, or smartphone; and a style of presentation designed specifically for adult learners. The stated goal of Eager to Share is for believers to express their faith—more. “From the very beginning, we Christians have been sent on a mission to tell others about Jesus. The sober reality is that not all of us are as faithful to that mission as we could be. The good news is that you don’t have to be born with a certain temperament or possess certain
spiritual gifts in order to live out this important mission. All of us are called to be witnesses, and all of us can commit to becoming less reluctant and more eager as conversationalists.” In the webinar Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age, findings are presented and discussed from the research done by LHM and Barna Group about the state of spiritual conversations today. Hosted by Rev. Dr. Tony Cook, LHM’s vice president of global ministries, these three webinars explore discoveries that point to factors showing how sharing one’s faith has changed over the last 25 years. As it notes how people are sharing their faith today, a profile for a more eager faithsharer emerges. From this, insights can be gleaned and applied in our own lives to make us more likely to have spiritual conversations. The third webinar in this series, Eager to Share, is FREE and open to participants. It will be held at 7 p.m. CST on Thursday, November 8. The first two webinars, Spiritual Conversations Then and Now and Digital Faith Interaction, have been recorded and can be accessed by creating a FREE LHM Learn account, which you can do by going to lhm.org/ learn. Once you have logged in, you can access the webinar following the live broadcast. When you watch LHM Learn courses, you can start and stop them mid-stream, returning later to where you left off. This makes them ideal for people with hectic schedules. They’re great for sharing, too, especially with new believers, your friends, your kids and parents, and with anyone who’s interested in learning more about the new life God has for each of us through His Son Jesus Christ. n
Paul Schreiber reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work in the United States.
A Month of Celebrating Children in Uruguay by Chad Fix
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ruguay is one of the most atheistic and secular countries in South America. Less than one percent of kids who go to the Lutheran school “San Pablo” there attend church or have even been baptized. Statistics like this are one reason why sharing the Gospel with children is a major focus of LHM’s outreach efforts in Uruguay, especially during the weeks surrounding the country’s annual celebration of Children’s Day during August. Festivals and other events are held in communities, and everyone pauses to enjoy a day of play and fellowship. (See photo above.) LHM–Uruguay staff visited classrooms at the San Pablo School and invited students to participate in a project where they took home a small tomato plant to watch it grow as an illustration of the parable of the seed. The children also attended a play where three actors dressed as explorers discovered old vases full of seeds as well as a book that spoke about a garden, a kingdom, and faith. The more than 500 children were then invited to attend a special church service on Sept. 2 to discover the end of the story. The Sept. 2 event provided opportunities to distribute copies of a new edition of the Bible as well as the children’s book titled A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories (containing more than 60 biblical stories that are illustrated and accompanied by discussion questions for each lesson). These recently were donated to the ministry by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF). The director of LHF, Rev. Matthew Heise, was in attendance as more than 350 children and parents heard the end of the play’s story, received their Bible and children’s book, learned more about biblical texts that illustrate the seeds of faith that bear fruit, and got a visit from Estrellita.
“The character is a great value that we have in our office for reaching children!” “Estrellita is the main character of LHM’s Project JOEL values-education program in Uruguay,” says LHM–Uruguay Director Gabriela Silveira. The name Estrellita means “little star” and is the personification of joy in Jesus. Estrellita is always ready with an expression of wonder at the love and goodness of God. To bring this to life, a ministry staff member dons a pair of canvas “Chucks,” a purple jumper, and a huge purple hat decorated with an equally huge sunflower. Estrellita is an instant hit with kids. “The character is a great value that we have in our office for reaching children!” says Silveira. “In a culture described as non-religious, Estrellita serves as an important means of reaching parents, too, with the timeless message of God’s grace. We thank God for these wonderful materials and for the opportunities we had, together with the church, to provide a program that effectively shares the Word of God with our community. We also thank LHF for their support on this project.” n The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 11
“Fifty years is a long time;
it’s a life.”
50 Years of Ministry: A Milestone Worth Celebrating!
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aulo Warth became familiar with the work of Lutheran Hour Ministries in Brazil at an early age. His father, Rodolpho, had been called as the speaker on Hora Luterana (The Lutheran Hour in Brazil) in 1963 and Paulo soon began volunteering to help him answer letters. Then, just as he was preparing to start a career outside of the ministry in 1968, he received an offer to begin working as the assistant to the director for The Lutheran Hour in Brazil. “The Lutheran Hour was a ‘family’ organization to me since, in addition to my father, my mother and brothers also assisted at different times in its work,” recalls Paulo. “My father was a humble person who never wanted honor for himself. He always said, ‘He (God) must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance.’ For forty years I had the honor of working alongside my dear father.” Now, 50 years after he first considered a career outside of Lutheran Hour Ministries, Paulo is finally stepping away from the ministry when he retires Dec. 31. “Fifty years is a long time; it’s a life,” says Paulo. “But how can we not enjoy working in a place where the results of the proclamation of the Gospel are seen and felt daily? People’s lives have been transformed because they got to know their Savior Jesus Christ through one of our projects. This is a privilege for the few, and I was privileged to be able to serve this organization for fifty years.” Paulo started to work for the ministry center when it was first located in Rio de Janeiro before moving to Sao Paulo, where it is located today. He served many roles before being appointed assistant manager in 1977 and then ministry center director in 1990. Paulo earned an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Sao Paulo in 1978 and expanded his skills by attending various workshops nationally and internationally as well as intensive courses in marketing and publicity. He has served in leadership roles at his home congregation, as well as at the district and national levels in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB).
Under Paulo’s leadership, the broadcasts of The Lutheran Hour paved the way for an outreach that has been instrumental in the lives of many Brazilians, especially those suffering from inequalities in social class, insufficient education, health care, and basic needs. The ministry center’s programs now include production and daily broadcast of the Five Minutes with Jesus radio program on more than 150 radio stations; podcasts; printing and distribution of devotionals; a group of evangelists who distribute booklets; a mobile messaging service called Messages of Hope that is also distributed via email; an online Bible course; and a weekly live online Bible study called The Chaplaincy with Jesus that is designed to work in harmony with Christian chaplaincy programs across the country to minister to people in hospitals and prisons. The Good News of Jesus can also be read or heard worldwide through the ministry center’s innovative website and growing social media presence, as well as through a regional digital project, Vivenciar.net, that is based out of Brazil. “God has given our ministry many joys during the last half century,” says Paulo. “The Lutheran Hour in Brazil played a major role in the growth of the Lutheran Church throughout the country. Virtually all congregations in the center, north, and northeast of Brazil have begun directly or indirectly through the work of The Lutheran Hour. “I also take great joy in the hundreds of letters we received daily because of The Lutheran Hour and Five Minutes with Jesus radio programs and the thousands of people who enrolled in our Bible Correspondence Courses. Even today, we hear from pastors in other denominations who remember our Bible Correspondence Courses as providing their best study of theology.” Paulo says he is grateful for all the people he has met, from the founder of LHM in Brazil (Rev. Rodolpho Hasse) to headquarters staff in St. Louis and from most of the worldwide ministry center directors employed since 1977 to all The Lutheran Hour Speakers since Dr. Oswald Hoffmann. Paulo even had a chance to host Dr. Hoffmann
“The Lutheran Hour was a ‘family’ organization to me … ”
12 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
by Chad Fix
Left to right: 1. Paulo and his wife Lúcia; 2. Paulo on typewriter 1980s; 3. Sitting at desk; 4. Today’s LHM staff in Brazil; 5. At work with his father 1970s.
and his wife Marcia twice on their trips to Brazil, but he says one memory stands out. “I will never forget one day in the city of Fortaleza when Dr. Hoffmann was going to give a sermon, and everything was arranged so that he would have an interpreter,” says Paulo. “At the last minute, I discovered that the interpreter that the local congregation had designated was me! In the first biblical passage Dr. Hoffmann cited, I wanted to see what the corresponding verse in Portuguese was, so I looked in his Bible. Of course, it was in Greek. What an adventure and a challenge it was to translate the sermon for that gifted man of God.” One of Paulo’s dreams was to deliver the ministry center to his successor as a selfsustaining entity. By the grace of God, at the end of the next fiscal year, the Brazil ministry will no longer receive regular subsidies from LHM. “When I started this plan, I always understood it to be a self-sustainability plan but never an independence plan,” says Paulo. “The Lutheran Hour in Brazil will not be independent but will continue to be part of this larger organization that is Lutheran Hour Ministries. I see the future of LHM in Brazil with optimism. The Brazil Lutheran Hour Board of Directors already appointed a current staff member, Pastor Adelar Munieweg, as the new executive director as of January 1, 2019, and we have a team in place that is very efficient and dedicated.” “Working with Paulo the last nine years has illustrated his committed heart to the mission and ministry and his excellence with administrative performance,” says Rev. Nilo Figur, LHM’s regional director for Latin America. “Paulo and his wife Lucia deserve our recognition and gratitude for their service and dedication to The Lutheran Hour in Brazil. I know he and Lucia look forward to spending more time with their three children and six grandchildren as they enter this new phase of life.” n
“God has given our ministry many joys during the last half century.”
Advent Devotions 2018 Mobile, audio, and Spanish also available!
Available online NOW!
lhm.org/advent
The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 13
A Headline for the Ages: Unto You a Savior Is Born! T his year’s Advent devotions, The Coming King, remind us that God meets us where we are, in the middle of our ordinary lives. One of the marvels of the Christmas story is how pedestrian it is. While angel announcements to humans and a star leading Eastern sages are extraordinary, the bulk of the narrative is firmly grounded on planet Earth— where God met us in the birth of Jesus. It was this aspect that appealed to Dr. Kari Vo, theological writer at LHM, who has supplied readers with a fresh take on a very familiar story. Not surprisingly, these textual revisits yield fresh inspiration for another season of devotions. Prayer plays a big part, too, she added. Vo was asked what it is about the everyman aspect of Jesus’ birth and the human ensemble featured in the Christmas story that speak to her. She replied: “I love the way it shows how Jesus came to us personally—not to the rich or the powerful or even the particularly good and holy, but to me and to you. His birth and upbringing are the birth and upbringing any one of us could have had. He is absolutely normal. And that says to me that God cares enough to come into our normal, everyday lives,
by Paul Schreiber
and make us His own.” For fans of seasonal devotions, The Coming King makes an excellent passalong resource to share with others. These 36 texts (complete with reflection questions) remind readers that God isn’t far off and beyond our understanding. He’s close, close enough to work through our ordinary lives and everyday circumstances, just like He did 2,000 years ago. You can read The Coming King or hear it as a podcast. During the Advent season, you can receive these devotions as a daily e-mail beginning in early December. A downloadable version, which includes a large-font text and bulletin inserts, is available, too. Audio also begins on December 3 with Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, the new speaker for The Lutheran Hour, reading the devotions. Visit lhm.org/ advent for all the details. El Rey que viene, the Spanish-language version, will be available to read online or to receive as a daily e-mail through the Advent season in early December. A print version is also available for download. Please go to paraelcamino.com/adviento. The regular Daily Devotions are suspended during the Advent season; they will resume on Sunday, January 6, 2019. n
“ … God cares enough to come into our normal, everyday lives, and make us His own.”
Support Your Favorite Causes on Giving Tuesday by Chad Fix Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (Nov. 27 in 2018) and the widely recognized shopping events of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many people begin to focus on holiday and end-of-year giving. In fact, the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University estimates that just under 25 percent of all donations received by nonprofit organizations annually are given during the roughly five-week period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Founded in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y—a community and cultural center in New York City—Giving Tuesday inspired millions of people to give back and support the causes they believe in. More than $300 million was raised online to benefit a tremendously broad range of organizations, and much more was given in volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and acts of kindness. “We are incredibly inspired by the way the Giving Tuesday community has embraced this concept for a worldwide movement,” says Henry Timms, founder of Giving Tuesday and executive director of 92Y. “As we prepare for November 27th this year, we’re energized and encouraged by the community’s generosity. The levels of creativity, effort, and the quality of the new ideas people have contributed and shared are phenomenal.” There is another insight that also drives this still evolving day of philanthropy. According to studies, the most common reason people often donate money to a charity is because a friend solicited them to do so. Giving Tuesday takes that idea and updates it for the age of social media. Participating organizations solicit bids with the hashtag #GivingTuesday and, in turn, those who donate are urged to share, too. This becomes a powerful form of peer-to-peer fundraising. Most importantly, you should know that this day is not about budgets or campaigns; it’s about remembering that giving is a joyful practice. When you give, you grow—closer to God and closer to humankind. Please consider a gift to Lutheran Hour Ministries on Giving Tuesday 2018. Watch your email inbox or check out LHM’s home page or Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks for information about how LHM is celebrating Giving Tuesday this year and how you can get involved. n
When you give, you grow—closer to God and closer to humankind.
14 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
LHM Expands Partnership with SAT-7 by Chad Fix
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rawing on the success of the recent launch of the Power Bank Gospel variety show in partnership with SAT-7’s Arabic channel from Egypt, Lutheran Hour Ministries is pursuing additional opportunities to partner with SAT-7 to bring the Gospel into new areas of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). LHM has initiated a support partnership with SAT-7 PARS
“We believe that SAT-7 PARS’ programming for children and youth lines up well with our commitment to shine the light of Christ into the lives of youth in hard-to-reach places.”
(“PARS” refers to those speaking Farsi or Dari language) to provide major sponsorship for one of its live children’s programs, Golpand. This partnership provides funding for staff and production as well as the design and implementation of a new webpage for SAT-7 PARS. The Golpand (Golden Advice) program focuses on children ages 5-13 and teaches morals and values
through games, educational videos, and dramas. More than 60 percent of the region’s population are under the age of 30, and many of these young people are so challenged by societal issues like unemployment that they turn to drugs or even suicide. Recognizing this desperate need, SAT-7 PARS broadcasts original daily programs for youth, as well as for women and children. Viewers are encouraged to call in to the channel’s live shows and receive prayer. The webpage will allow for SAT-7 PARS to provide live streaming of their programs to Farsi/Dari speakers around the world, as well as ondemand access to pre-recorded programs. SAT-7 PARS programs were previously only available to receivers in the areas of the Hotbird (Europe to western Iran) and YahSat (Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan) satellites, but through the website, Farsi/Dari speakers around the world will have
ready access to the programs. SAT-7 PARS began producing and airing Farsi language programming in 2005 and quickly expanded to become a 24-hour network of Christian programming in the Farsi language. Farsi is spoken by the 80 million people of Iran, and the Dari dialect is spoken by another 17 million people in Afghanistan and eight million people in Tajikistan. Satellite television is used almost universally by the people in these countries for news, education, and entertainment. “We believe that SAT-7 PARS’ programming for children and youth lines up well with our commitment to shine the light of Christ into the lives of youth in hard-to-reach places,” says LHM President & CEO Kurt Buchholz. “We look forward to seeing how this partnership with SAT-7 PARS will expand the proclamation of the Gospel among Farsi speakers in the MENA region.” n
One-Stop Audio for LHM Resources: SENT Radio by Paul Schreiber
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ow you can access a variety of LHM-produced programs through SENT Radio: lhm.org/sentradio. Every hour, SENT Radio features sermons from Speakers for The Lutheran Hour through the years, as well as Scripture readings, hymns, and instrumentals. Morning prayer and evening vespers can be heard each day at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. (central) respectively. On Sundays, the current sermon from The Lutheran Hour airs at 7 and 9:30 a.m., noon, and again at 2:30 p.m. Messages from Revs. Oswald Hoffmann, Dale Meyer, Wallace Schulz, Ken Klaus, and Gregory Seltz are currently being aired. Before the sermon, a biographic introduction of each Speaker gives listeners a little background on the life and ministry of these individuals. Throughout the day there are musical selections, featuring contemporary Christian vocals and a variety of instrumental recordings. Hymns from the Lutheran Service Book are offered that relate to messages being heard or tie in to the lectionary readings for that week.
Our mission from the start has been to edify the community of believers while reaching out to those on the periphery who do not yet know Christ.
A selection of programming on any given day might look something like this:
Luther’s Evening prayer The Apostle’s Creed The Lord’s Prayer Morning prayers (page 295 LSB)
should be available to the public. Our mission from the start has been to edify the community of believers while reaching out to those on the periphery who do not yet know Christ. SENT Radio’s debut, coming as it does with Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler taking the microphone as the new Speaker for The Lutheran Hour, strengthens LHM’s position as a global leader in sharing the Gospel and empowering people to share their faith with others.” n
Hymns Instrumental music Speaker bio-note before sermon Sermons from The Lutheran Hour Choral music Daily Vespers Scripture readings The “official” launch date of SENT Radio was October 15. “Making SENT Radio available to the public right now comes at an excellent time for Lutheran Hour Ministries,” said Rev. Dr. Tony Cook, LHM’s vice president of global ministries. “The sheer volume of teaching, devotional, and education materials LHM has produced through its long history The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 15
Humbled to Serve by Chad Fix
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urt and Diane Drumm of Carson City, Nevada, have been supporters of Lutheran Hour Ministries for many years, but their active engagement with the ministry began in 2013. In the fall that year, their pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church organized an LHM workshop to train attendees on how to more comfortably and effectively share their faith with members of the community. It was during a break in that training when Curt and Diane noticed flyers for an LHM-sponsored Reformation trip to Germany in September 2014. “Diane and I had been wanting to take a trip to Europe, but for various reasons, it had never worked out,” says Curt, a retired accountant from Nevada Bell telephone company who has worked part-time in retirement keeping the financial books for a local nonprofit that does community education for substance abuse prevention. “We decided that this trip was just the ticket for us, so we signed up and enjoyed a wonderful trip with a lot of fellow travelers and LHM staff members.” The tour offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see beautiful sites such as the Bavarian Alps, Oberammergau, Hitler’s Mountain retreat, and mad King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle, as well as hear on-site recordings of sermons for The Lutheran Hour at the Castle Church of Luther and the home church of the martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer. By visiting historic sites and hearing expert commentary from ministry leaders, they also gained a deeper understanding of and appreciation for God’s Word, as well as a better familiarity with all the ways
that the Holy Spirit is working through Lutheran Hour Ministries. Curt and Diane had such an enjoyable experience in Germany that they signed up for LHM’s Lands of the Bible cruise to Athens, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Galilee, Ephesus, Istanbul, and several other locations the following year. After these trips they later connected with seven other people who were arranging an upcoming trip to Uruguay. “We took part in the mission trip and had a chance to meet the ministry center director, Gabriela Silveira, and other LHM staff in Montevideo,” says Diane, who spent most of her career teaching first grade at Zephyr Cove Elementary School in Lake Tahoe. “She arranged for us all to teach lessons at San Pablo Lutheran School. Happily, this past month we were able to reciprocate Gabriela’s hospitality by helping to host her and her husband, Hans, during their stay in Northern Nevada, where they addressed a chapel audience at Sierra Lutheran High School and an assembly at Bethlehem Lutheran School in Carson City to share all of the great things happening through their ministry.” “Diane and I appreciate LHM’s multifaceted approach to ministry and love to tell others about their efforts,” says Curt. “LHM is so dedicated to reflecting the light of Jesus Christ outward to people worldwide using a variety of different media. We love sponsoring the Project Connect booklets for our local congregation and we have seen firsthand the significance and impact of the international ministry center model through the work
“There is power when we all combine our resources and work together with LHM to reach people who need to hear about Jesus wherever they are around the globe. …” 16 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
Curt & Diane Drumm
“Diane and I appreciate LHM’s multifaceted approach to ministry and love to tell others about their efforts.” being done in Uruguay. And of course, we are looking forward to hearing Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler’s broadcasts on The Lutheran Hour.” Not only had Curt and Diane’s participation in the overseas trips connected them with people organizing the trip to Uruguay, but they also introduced them to staff and volunteers who were implementing a new initiative for the ministry called SENT. With a focus on sharing the Gospel globally by bringing greater vision, clarity, and definition to the work LHM is already doing, Curt and Diane saw this initiative as a natural way to get involved with the ministry further. They became members of SENT’s Pacific Coast Regional Leadership Team in 2016 to provide volunteer advocacy within the region, champion the mission and vision of LHM, and encourage constituent engagement and donor involvement. “Our support of LHM provides a way for us to participate cooperatively with many others to accomplish global outreach,” says Curt. “There is power when we all combine our resources and work together with LHM to reach
people who need to hear about Jesus wherever they are around the globe. When you respond to Christ’s call to serve, His yoke feels easy and His burden seems light once you recognize that the spiritual blessings that come out of the effort are plentiful.” “When you hear the stories and see the emotions of individuals found by Christ, you come to realize the importance of reaching out to people with His true message,” says Diane. “The SENT Initiative recognizes that people need to hear this message through the variety of media available to them today. Peoples’ hearing is selective, and you need to first reach people through the medium they are currently tuned into.” With the leading support of people like Curt and Diane, Lutheran Hour Ministries can use the SENT Initiative as a way to share the Gospel with more people throughout the U.S. and around the world and bring them back to our Heavenly Father. Check out lhm.org/ SENT today to learn more about this important ministry endeavor. n
ON THE MOVE
by Phil Johnson, Chairman, Int’l LLL Board of Directors
Global Climate Change(ers) I am SENT, and you are SENT, to a world that desperately needs a change of climate.
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iving in Minnesota, I pay attention to conversations and information about global climate change. Just the other day I saw a bumper sticker on a car that stated, “I live in Minnesota—I vote for global warming.” Now, I don’t know if my “vote” would really make a difference, but the thought made me smile. It got me thinking about global climate change. I have been listening to the reports of how the climate of our world is changing. We are told that things are “heating up,” and this change could prove to be disastrous. I have come to believe in global climate change, but perhaps not in the way you might think. Two significant events in this past year, and a multitude of little ones, have led to this conviction. The first big event took place back in late April when I traveled with a team to visit our LHM ministry centers in Riga, Latvia, and St. Petersburg, Russia. I had the great pleasure of meeting some wonderful people of God and hearing how people of all ages are being touched with the Good News of Jesus Christ in locations where mankind had done everything politically and physically possible to stamp the church out of existence. Lives are being changed and hope is
being shared where previously there was no hope. The second big event that convinced me of global climate change took place the first weekend of August in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Leaders from all over North America gathered to hear for the first time about SENT, a global initiative designed to invigorate and expand the ability of LHM to bring the Gospel to people all over the world. The message that was presented was nothing short of inspiring—over 100 (now over 120) million people being reached with the Gospel! The response to that message by those gathered was overwhelming as people dedicated themselves and their God-given talents and treasures to the work of expanding LHM’s global effort. Woven around these big events have been a multitude of smaller events—mission team reports, conversations with neighbors, congregational outreach efforts, and online conversations—that have made it clear to me that global climate change is upon us. I’m not talking about the weather; I’m referring to the Spirit and His movement through His people to extend
Innumerable Blessings This is my farewell issue as editor of The Lutheran Layman. You can imagine all the events, challenges, successes, and opportunities that filled my four decades on the management staff of the LLL/LHM as I near the end of that career and ease into active retirement. More than three-fourths of that time, by the way, I served as editor. The Lord is good and proved it regularly. He showered innumerable blessings on the Christ-centered work as we joyously partnered with Him, this side of heaven. I must admit, one of the golden moments in that effort was in 1992 when the motto was coined, Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. I was humbled by being the originator of the last portion of it (past the dash). It brought the motto full circle in God’s work of being SENT, of planting, of witnessing, of prayerfully striving for Him and with Him. We are caretakers in our present era, training, educating, animating, and motivating others as the Holy Spirit ignites our drive and ambition. When we step aside for whatever reason, the Lord always chooses another to fill the spot. May the Lord grant you energy and grace to continue to be His person to others around you. Thanks for being a faithful supporter of this work. May many blessings come your way! n Dr. Gerald Perschbacher
His kingdom all around the world! News reporters tell us on a regular basis that the world is becoming increasingly hostile toward the church, but that is not the whole story. The Gospel is alive and active through God’s people, and it is changing the climate, one life at a time. I am SENT, and you are SENT, to a world that desperately needs a change of climate. No matter the atmosphere where you live, God has SENT you as climate-changers in the world. Giving, serving, praying, or proclaiming God has placed you just where He needs you to be and has given you everything required for meaningful climate change. Pray for opportunities, and then look for the evidence of climate change in your community that only comes by the Spirit working through the Word of Promise. Together, we are SENT to change this world’s climate by Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. n
ENDOWING OUR FUTURE It’s Easier than You Might Think!
The purpose of our endowment is to financially sustain the mission and work of Lutheran Hour Ministries for perpetuity after you leave this earth. You can make a significant contribution to endow our future … and it’s easier than you might think. Several giving strategies that can benefit you while building our endowment: • • • • •
Direct Gifts Charitable Bequests Beneficiary Designations Charitable Life Estate Charitable Life Income Plans
You can also create a named endowment when you make a gift of $10,000 or more.
Learn how you can help sustain our ministry for the future. Contact 1-877-333-1963, lhm-gift@lhm.org, or visit lhm.org/give.
The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 17
Daily Devotions Now Focus on Lectionary, LHM Classics, Hymns by Paul Schreiber
This time in my car helps me begin my day with a word from Scripture, with my thoughts on God, and with a simple prayer on my lips. I find this to be a very helpful daily practice.
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eaders of Daily Devotions have noticed a change since September 1. These LHM devotions now feature a weekly focus on the church calendar’s three-year lectionary, with individual days of the week devoted to the Psalms, the Old Testament, the New Testament, and Gospel texts. The other three days of the week feature a devotion based on a hymn from the Lutheran Service Book, a “classic” text from one of LHM’s resources, and a sermon excerpt by a previous Speaker of The Lutheran Hour. Prior to retirement, Rev. Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus, faithfully penned these reflections on God’s Word, directing his distinct powers of observation on a current event to create a thought-provoking message. His commitment to producing these excursions into the Word of God has made the Daily Devotions a go-to spiritual resource for tens of thousands. The change of approach is intended to make use of the abundant readings
available for daily spiritual growth and reflection. Using the lectionary to guide the study of the Bible throughout the year is an ancient practice, dating to the fourth century. These Scripture readings are often used as the basis for the sermon for that Sunday. For those interested in learning more about the lectionary series of readings, go to www.lcms.org/worship/lectionaryseries for The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod. With the exception of LHM’s seasonal devotions, which are written to celebrate Advent and Lent, the Daily Devotion schedule is as follows: Sunday – hymn from the Lutheran Service Book Monday – Psalm Tuesday – Old Testament Wednesday – New Testament Thursday – Gospel Friday – “classic” LHM material Saturday – The Lutheran Hour
Using LHM’s mobile app to listen to the Daily Devotions (lhm.org/apps), Don Everts, content development manager for U.S. Ministries, has been enjoying his morning ride a little more these days. “On my own morning commute, I’ve been listening to LHM’s Daily Devotions. This time in my car helps me begin my day with a word from Scripture, with my thoughts on God, and with a simple prayer on my lips. I find this to be a very helpful daily practice. My hope for our new weekly arrangement of devotions is that we can all start our week on Sundays by reflecting deeply on a beloved hymn.
Then we can walk through the meat of our week, hitting all parts of the Bible each week. On Fridays and Saturdays, we tap into LHM’s rich legacy of devotional writings. I hope we all find this to be a helpful weekly rhythm.” Beginning November 1, the Daily Devotions will be read by Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, the new Speaker for The Lutheran Hour. You can subscribe to the daily and seasonal devotions in both English and Spanish as a regular email subscription by going to lhm.org/newsroom and making your selections. n
Cook Promoted to Vice President, Global Ministries by Chad Fix
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utheran Hour Ministries has a long history of reaching out to lost people around the world to share the Gospel, and in today’s changing culture this is more important than ever. While our focus as a global ministry is not new, the ministry believes the time is right to move toward an internal organizational structure that acknowledges and reinforces our worldwide reach and creates a functional alignment to support it. Therefore, we are excited to share the news that Rev. Dr. Anthony Cook has agreed to serve in the new role of vice president, global ministries. As part of this new alignment, the International Ministries team now reports directly to Cook and the United States Ministries team will be aligned as a ministry region, alongside Latin America, Asia, Africa & the Middle East, and Europe. Cook has been serving as LHM’s executive director of United States Ministries since Spring 2016. His 25 years of ministry 18 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
experience includes nearly 20 years in curriculum design and development, distance curricula, educational technology, and leadership. His background also includes serving as a parish pastor and consulting numerous Christian entities on curriculum design and development, distance learning, internet technologies, and sharing the Gospel through various forms of multimedia. “We are extremely pleased that Tony has accepted this new role,” says LHM President & CEO Kurt Buchholz. “It is our prayer that these changes will bring together our ministry efforts even more closely and position LHM as one global organization to further strengthen our mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church.” n
“We are extremely pleased that Tony has accepted this new role.”
ON THE MOVE
by Kurt Buchholz, President & CEO, Lutheran Hour Ministries
Seeing the
Religious Landscape
A
man seeking new transportation begins his hunt to buy a used car and comes across an advertisement that is well within his limited budget. He makes a quick call and sets up a time to meet the current owner and see the car. Upon arriving the man finds, to his disappointment, a worn, dented car buried in dust, freshly pulled from the farmer’s barn. What a waste of time, he thinks, leaving without even opening the car door. Later that day, the farmer’s 16-yearold granddaughter comes to visit, proudly waving her new driver’s license. After the usual warm welcome and lemonade on the porch, her eyes fall on the old car sitting forlornly in front of the barn. “What’s that car, Grandma?” With a smile, the grandparents tell of the days traveling the country as newlyweds seeking out the life that was to be theirs. They knew every dent and scratch and had a story—humorous or regretful—to go with each. To the granddaughter, that car is a treasure of great value, not for its reliability, efficiency, or jealousy
inspiring looks, but because of what it represents. That car is a part of her story, both past and future, and with her grandparents’ blessing, she sets her mind to rinse it off and make it hers. When each of us looks at the greater Christian church, our church body, our congregation, our faith community, what do we see? We may assess that there are many dents, scratches, and no lack of settled dust. That assessment is too often supported by what we hear from society at large and even from those within the church. It seems like she just “ain’t what she used to be.” But every part of the outward appearance of our religious landscape, including our church organizations and structures, tells a story. A story that, through Baptism, is your story, too. And Lutheran Hour Ministries is inviting you to join us as we look at the religious landscape not through
We will be the light on the hill that we have always been, shining the true message of Christ through the darkness … cynical, jaded eyes, but through the eyes of a child of God. LHM has launched a bold new challenge to YOU, an initiative we are calling “SENT,” based on John 20:21, “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” Together, as we are SENT, we will ask the tough questions and see things as they are. We will restore and elevate our strengths and replace and update what is no longer applicable. We will be the light on the hill that we have always been, shining the true message of Christ through the darkness, with the added blessings of new technology and new ways to meet hearers where they are. We are going to the generations that have never known God and to the generations
that have wandered away for a time. We are sent to them and are called to see them through our Father’s eyes, to hear how each person fits into God’s story, which is part of our story. That is what SENT is all about, people of faith being sent with the eyes of God to people needing hope. Through our shared efforts, we have already doubled the number of people reached with Gospel to over 120,000,000! But we know that this is just the beginning. Join us in this imperative initiative for the sake of the generations who need to encounter Jesus. As the church, we shall seek to embrace each and every one as our own brothers and sisters in Christ. n
45th Anniversary of TV Special by Gerald Perschbacher
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pril 14, 2019, will mark Lutheran Television’s 45th anniversary in presenting Gospel-centered specials for Easter. The title is Easter Is, and that animated premier telecast ran nationwide on NBC on Good Friday, 1974. Dr. Martin J. Neeb, Sr., was executive secretary at the time of that launch. He was included on the popular TODAY show on NBC to promote the launch. J.A.O. Preus, then-president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, caught the TODAY segment with clips from Easter Is. He noted on April 15, 1974, “I want to congratulate you on this fine achievement … .” Interviewing Neeb were Gene Shalit and Edwin Newman. The special features characters Benji (a boy) and Waldo (his pet dog). The score was written by Jimmy Haskell who earlier had written Christmas Is, another animated special for Lutheran Television. Easter Is was considered its sequel.
Lutheran Television’s This is the Life began airing in 1952. In 1967, production costs for regular episodes were growing more costly and seasonal specials were gaining popularity since those pulled major audiences. In that year, the Synod and the Lutheran Laymen’s League (later called Lutheran Hour Ministries) jointly shared costs and management. By the way, some music in Easter Is was sung by singer-actress Leslie Uggams, whose clear voice won the attention of millions. She was a major character in the monumental ROOTS miniseries on television. Funds also were being provided by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. According to synodical officials, a special book of recollections by Dr. Ardon Albrecht is in the works for publication. He succeeded to the post started by Herman Gockel in the early 1950s and later nurtured by Neeb. n The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 19
Isaiah, Luther, and You Hold Much in Common by Gerald Perschbacher
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hat the prophet Isaiah said in days of old was recast in later contemporary life by Martin Luther. Now that God-blessed wisdom is reapplied in today’s era, while basing the application on both sources. In effect, author Brian L. Kachelmeier, as a pastor in New Mexico, spans the gap between Isaiah and Luther—and the significant gap of time between both of them and now. The result is a new book, Reading Isaiah with Luther (softbound, 239 pages; Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri; 2018; $14.99; www.cph.org). This is a straight-forward, bold, and necessary book for the present age. With religious ideals of the past being questioned and with a socio-political bent toward saying red is really white and down is really up, this book takes age-old precepts from Isaiah and Luther and applies them to life now. This is not a devotional book, nor is it a preachy work. It is a thought-provoking tool.
Its eight chapters concentrate on conscience, prophecy, idolatry, alarm, attacks, the New Creation, foundational thinking, and the activity of God in our lives. Just as Luther said, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God … I cannot do otherwise,” so we, too, have a stance to take. It also means we must be watchful, for “this is the single endeavor of Satan, to snatch away our faith and make the conscience unsure.” At that point, words of Isaiah jump from the page: “Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come … He will come and save you.’” The author follows with a discourse on conscience: “Of course, we do not obtain our theology from fairy tales and cartoons. Nevertheless, as a child, I thought like a child … yet, as an adult, I still watch animated movies. The film industry caters to adults who do not want to let their childhood go … we would rather escape reality and live in the realm of fantasy.” He goes on: “The conscience is a gift from God … it resides in the real of the soul, spirit, heart, and mind … it is an instrument to help us follow moral norms and convict us when
Much of Luther was in Bonhoeffer
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n the waning weeks of the Third Reich in Germany, Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was put to death for his anti-Nazi and pro-Church views plus active resistance as “free responsible action.” But there is more to the story. Bonhoeffer was Lutheran deep down, which made his struggle amid Hitler’s rule a point of inner searching and religious conviction. Author Michael P. DeJonge provides insights to the situation in his current hardbound, 281-page book, Bonhoeffer’s Reception of Luther (2017, Oxford University Press, 2001 Evans Road, Cary, NC 27513; for availability go to www.oup.com). The author, who has written two previous books on Bonhoeffer, is associate professor of religious studies at the University of South Florida. The book starts with eye-opening facts that sets the pace for what follows. In Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings, Martin Luther is cited or quoted “about 870 times, almost always approvingly. The next most frequently cited theologian is a distant second, Karl Barth with fewer than 300.” In effect, “Bonhoeffer was in conversation with Luther’s thought from the beginning to the end of his career” (page 1). “Eventually, Bonhoeffer argued that the German Christian controlled Reich Church was a false or heretical church. He did so again on the basis of the Lutheran definition of the church as the place where the Gospel is preached and heard or, what is the same, the community where Christ is present” (page 3). He asserted, “Luther’s teachings are quoted everywhere, but twisted from their truth into self-delusion” (page 4). “This Gospel is comfort for the afflicted conscience only if the sinner is assured that Christ is, as Luther puts it in the Large Catechism, ‘a mirror of the Father’s heart.’ That Christ is ‘for us’ must mean God also is entirely ‘for us’ or we will remain in doubt about God’s grace” (page 49).
20 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
The individual test is for each reader to learn, to grow, to enjoy a closer walk with God and with others in the faith. we violate them. To have a conscience means that you know, see, perceive, and understand with others.” Luther is then tapped: “The Christians’ poverty is the despair of conscience … God begins to work. This is our Lord God’s workshop, to make something out of nothing, to provide comfort where there is no comfort.” Says the author, “In harmony with the prophet Isaiah, Luther sings like a swan, filling our ears with the comfort of Christ to calm our conflicted consciences. Through the power of the Gospel, Christ comes … we now have peace with God in our hearts through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Can the book change a person’s life and outlook? Whenever God’s Word is shared, that reality exists. The individual test is for each reader to learn, to grow, to enjoy a closer walk with God and with others in the faith. Said Luther, “The river implies continuity and long duration; it flows all the time. The extending denotes breadth. That is, Christian riches are continuous and endless, high, deep, broad, long … this is the reign of Christ … in this wealth of peace and glory I … am a disciple.” n
by Gerald Perschbacher
There were three “Bonhoeffer phases to Bonhoeffer’s struggle for the church was a and his resistance to the creative, Nazi state. The Nazi rise dynamic to power (late 1932 and early 1933) resulted in participant in Bonhoeffer’s resistance the Lutheran through the confession of theological the ecumenical church. The second phase began tradition.” in 1935 and was marked by “the suffering obedience of the discipleship community.” The third phase, started in 1939, involved his “conspiratorial activity” while focusing on “resistance through the responsible action of the individual” (page 207). DeJonge rounds out his book by saying, “There is in Bonhoeffer’s thinking a consistent distinction between theological matters … and ethical/political matters” (page 259), “it remains the case that Christian proclamation of the Gospel is not to be confused with the Christian’s work for political justice. These should not be confused any more than they should be separated.” This was twokingdom thinking. In conclusion, DeJonge noted, “Bonhoeffer was a creative, dynamic participant in the Lutheran theological tradition” (page 261). Many Lutherans have heard about Bonhoeffer, but this book brings his beliefs and courage to light. n
CPH Embarks on 150th Year
From books and Bibles to church supplies, curriculum, and software, CPH offers more than 10,000 products to support the proclamation of the Gospel worldwide. Visit CPH online at cph.org.
Founded in 1869 as the publishing arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Concordia Publishing House began its 150th anniversary build-up with a year-long celebration culminating in a celebratory worship service and luncheon on September 11, 2018. Through all those years, the CPH mission hasn’t changed: developing products that are faithful to God’s Word. “CPH has walked beside generations of individuals, sharing the hope found only in Christ,” says Dr. Bruce G. Kintz, president and CEO. “From Bibles given at confirmation, to the hymnals in the pew, to the devotions that start our days, CPH is blessed to continue into the future as the publisher of the LCMS.” In the same south St. Louis neighborhood since 1869, the publishing house has a long history of supporting Christians in their faith through products such as The Lutheran Study Bible, The Lutheran Service Book, Portals of Prayer, Arch Books, The Concordia Commentary Series, Lutheran Service Builder, Sunday school and vacation Bible school curriculum, and many more. Many items have been passed down from generation to generation, cherished for years, and well-read—playing a crucial role in faith development and family relationships. Readers are encouraged to share stories of their favorite CPH book on social media using #MyCPH150. Learn more at cph.org/150. n
Smell the Roses
Petal Pushers® will hold a Behind the Scenes Party, December 30, in California. The event provides the opportunity to smell the aroma of thousands of freshly cut roses and see first-hand the work of the volunteers. Individuals will be able to view the Tournament of Roses Parade floats close up during the final days of decorating and also help support the LHM float titled: Joy to the World the Lord is Come!
Election Results for LLL–Canada In a late-summer ballot, members of Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada, with its office in Kitchener, Ontario, elected two new members to its five-member Board of Directors. Joining the board are Marilyn Jacobi from Kitchener, Ontario, and Joel Haberstock from Coldstream, British Columbia. These new members will serve a two-year term. Continuing on the board are Ian Adnams (Richmond, British Columbia), president, and Gordon Schoepp (Onoway, Alberta), treasurer. Filling a vacancy for the second year of a term is Stephen Braaten from Regina, Saskatchewan. The new board members were installed at the Annual General Meeting, Saturday, October 27, at Faith Lutheran Church in Kitchener. Prior to the meeting, LLL members, supporters, and friends were invited to a luncheon meet-and-greet for Stephen Klinck, newly retired Managing Director who served the organization for 30 years. LLL–Canada is an auxiliary organization of Lutheran Church–Canada. It develops and distributes outreach materials to congregations, church groups, and individuals as part of the international Gospel outreach of LHM. n
What Is Christmas? and cheery affair Christmas isn’t always the bright it be merry for a family found in songs or movies. Can alienation, and struggling through unemployment, n Church-Missouri Luthera by terminal illness? Written What Is Christmas? conveys Synod Pastor Wayne Palmer, and difficult time ated how this season can be a complic through hurt feelings, of the year. For families working the oncoming death of a strained relationships—even a trying time. loved one—Christmas can be e from the first Christmas, Providing Scriptural narrativ reconciled man to Himself Palmer conveys how God has love gives us hope when through His Son and how His family members. The with re-establishing connections are often those impossible best things about Christmas together, renewed love, to put a price on—time spent Savior brings. and the true joy the birth of our es of Christmas are For many, childhood memori and cherished time magical—bright lights, deep snow, es, however, the passage with family members. Sometim distant and elusive, and memori of time makes those DAY Ies NSIGHTS EVERY more information For free online courses, and g categories, covering five faith-strengthenin visit lhm.org/learn today.
For the adults! 6BE133 0518 5000
PROJECT CONNECT NECT CON PROJECTlhm.org/ projectconnect
For the kids!
Order online: lhm.org/christmas Or call: 1-800-876-9880
For additional details, go to: www.petalpushers.org/products/behindthescenesparty The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 21
“I spend time praying, thinking about the Bible texts, and asking the Lord to show me what He wants to say through them. …”
Christmas and Lent Go Better with Seasonal Devotions
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hough we’ve got our sights set on Thanksgiving and Christmas, Lent is not far down the road. If you’re getting ready to read The Coming King, this year’s Advent devotions by Dr. Kari Vo, you’ll be glad to know she’s written LHM’s Lenten devotions for 2019, too. Adam. Martha. Abraham. Pilate. David. Lazarus. Annas. Herod. Mary. Isaiah. Paul. Caiaphas. Peter. What do these people have in common? They all play a part in People of the Passion, LHM’s 2019 Lenten devotions. Here each devo is built around
one person who was involved in Jesus’ passion in some way, from Adam all the way up to the angels at the tomb. In view of how many times the stories of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection have been told, Vo was asked how she mentally prepares to flesh out so many devotions centering on a single theme. “I spend time praying, thinking about the Bible texts, and asking the Lord to show me what He wants to say through them. Sometimes I talk with other Christians about the story, too, looking for the
message that is waiting in God’s Word. Sometimes I’m very surprised by what comes out of the text! It’s one reason I love this kind of writing; it gives me a chance to go deeper into what God is saying to all of us,” she said. With the New Year soon to be upon us, we look forward to seeing how God worked through each of the characters above (and more!) to achieve His ultimate objective: our salvation. Be checking in the weeks ahead for details on People of the Passion. n
The Cross of Christ Considered in New Booklet by Paul Schreiber A Project Connect companion booklet to the recently released Who Is Jesus? is now available. Written by Rev. Don Everts, content development manager for U.S. Ministries, Why Did Jesus Die? explores what Jesus’ death means and why it had to take place as part of God’s design for our salvation. For readers of the Bible, the life and ministry of Jesus is central to the New Testament and the Christian faith. His teachings, healings, and miracles are recounted in the four Gospels and alluded to in numerous other letters. It’s His death on a cross, however, that is perplexing to many. Was it necessary to go out with such a dreadful spectacle as crucifixion!? Why did He deserve that? Everts writes, “I’ve seen the cross on coffee mugs, diamond-encrusted watches, and even silk ties! I myself own a few crosses: some of them are even kind of special to me. … The fact is, the cross (two simple lines, one vertical, one horizontal) can be recognized the world over. … When you stop and think about it, this is an odd sort of fame for an instrument of capital punishment! And yet the cross has obviously caught on. … But why? Why has the church adopted the cross as its central symbol? Why did Jesus’ death by cross become such a focal point for Christians?” Noting the cross as an instrument of death and why Jesus as Messiah must suffer, Everts gets to the reason for Christ’s appointment with Calvary: our sin and the alienation it caused us before God. Sin and its dreadful consequences (both daily and eternally) are calamitous for mankind and if left unaddressed by God, would be the eternal ruination of us all. So, it was by the cross of Christ that God the Father accomplished our salvation. Jesus’ death there and His triumphant resurrection over the grave blotted out our sin once and for all. Now, through faith in the Savior’s victory 22 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018
over sin, death, and the devil, we can be new creations (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). “The cross for many Christians, including me, is not just a reminder of an ancient event that took place outside of Jerusalem. It is a reminder of God’s love for me. It is a sign of how I am now forgiven and not guilty. It is the marker of my new relationship with God. It is the source of the slow healing I am experiencing over time. In this way, the cross is the marking of an event, a turned corner in my own life,” writes Everts. Both Who Is Jesus? and Why Did Jesus Die? are excellent resources for personal enrichment and for sharing with others who may have these or related questions concerning Jesus. You can listen to a reading of these two Jesus booklets or download them for FREE by going to lhm.org/projectconnect. Individual booklets are 50 cents each at shoplhm.org. n
“In this way, the cross is the marking of an event, a turned corner in my own life.”
The Men’s network “Gives Back” this holiday season by Paul Schreiber
Is your men’s group ready to spread some cheer over the coming holidays? Between the day after Thanksgiving and the final days before Christmas (Nov. 23-Dec. 21), the Men’s NetWork encourages guys to lend a Christ-offered hand to those who need help during this festive—but often difficult—season. Different from the annual April WORK DAY event, “Gives Back” is a chance for guys to “pay it forward” in response to God’s blessings. This event has a twist: beyond goodwill, there’s a fun contest with three winning categories: 1) most creative service idea; 2) most community-oriented project; and 3) best holiday-themed dressed group. Each winning group receives a $150 Amazon gift card. Also, participants of registered groups, will receive a new Men’s NetWork stocking cap or one of our regular hats. The easiest way to give back may be to team with another entity already at work. Perhaps a local outfit like a soup kitchen, area food pantry, halfway house, or homeless shelter could use some help. Does your local Salvation Army need volunteers? Is an area co-op doing a food drive for the holidays? Or maybe your group knows families that need assistance. Would a hefty basket of food and personal hygiene supplies bring welcome relief? Would help with a utility bill be a godsend? You know your area. What are your community’s pressing needs? How might a few guys from your church get together and help an understaffed and overworked organization during the holidays?
To get you going, here are six ideas you can consider. 1. Giving Back to a Men’s or Women’s Shelter
2. Giving Back to a Nursing Home or Retirement Center
3. Giving Back Free Car Winterizing Services and Kits
These safe havens have an ongoing need for materials for adults and children. Help meet this shortage by donating essential items in high demand. To do this, your men’s group can divide into teams to solicit donations, collect items, pack kits, and distribute goods to the shelter. Items can be packed in clear plastic bags or grocery sacks. Include things like shampoo, bars of soap, disposable razors, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes and toothpaste, lip balm, combs, hats, gloves, sweaters, coats, blankets, toys, coloring books, crayons, socks, and LHM’s illustrated kids’ booklets and Advent devotions.
These folks are truly appreciative when visitors drop by. Think about putting together Christmas stockings for them. Fill them with items from any dollar-type store. After passing them out, sing a few Christmas carols as you stroll the hallways, wishing residents a Merry Christmas and God’s blessings for the New Year. Stockings can be filled with mints and hard candy, homemade snacks, packets of hot chocolate, tea or coffee, slipper socks, skin lotion, lip balm, and a few of LHM’s Project Connect booklets and Advent devotions.
There’s nothing that says “practical” like free car services, especially during the hectic holiday season. Here your group can secure donations, collect items, pack kits, and serve at the event. Freebies can include checking antifreeze and oil levels (topping off fluids), checking tire pressure (filling tires by using a portable air compressor), checking battery cables, and cleaning posts. Helpful items to distribute are antifreeze, oil, windshield wiper fluid, tire pressure gauges, ice scrapers, jumper cables, emergency roadside kits, bags of kitty litter or sand (for better traction), and LHM’s Advent devotions.
4. Giving Back to a Veterans Hospital
5. Giving Back to Kids Who Need Toys
6. Giving Back a Christmas Dinner Basket
Over the course of their lives, these dedicated men and women have often paid a high physical price for their active-duty military service through injuries, disabilities, and various traumatic stress disorders. You can convey a small token of your indebtedness to them for their time in the Armed Forces with a visit and the gift of a handmade care package. Gift packs for vets are fun to put together. Care packages can include items like crossword puzzle books, beef jerky, paperbacks, chocolate, candy bars, an easy-toread Bible, hot sauce, trail mix, a signed Christmas card with a handwritten note, and some LHM Project Connect booklets and Advent devotions.
What’s more traditional at Christmas than giving kids toys? These may be low-income or disadvantaged kids at homeless shelters, long-term hospitals, or those in a family or two that you know will not have much of a Christmas this year in terms of presents. Once you determine the kinds of gifts you’ll get based on the age and gender of each child, your group can get to work. Doing a kids’ gift giveaway will require selecting and collecting toys (many second-hand shops for children have excellent toys in great shape), gift wrapping the items, including a Christmas card along with some illustrated kids’ booklets and Advent devotions from LHM, and delivering to families.
Of course, with Christmas comes the traditional meal, which is always a sizeable expense. For some, it’s impossible on their budget. Your men’s group can gather ingredients for a special dinner and deliver these goodies right to the front door of families receiving them. Meal baskets can include a frozen turkey or ham, boxed stuffing, canned cranberry sauce, canned vegetables and fruit, a can or jar of gravy, pumpkin pie (or filling and crust), macaroni and cheese (for kids), an aluminum roaster pan, a pie tin (if prepared pie isn’t included), and a copy of LHM’s Advent devotions, along with the video Bible study, The Real St. Nick: Leader, Legend or Lie.
To register your group, go to lhm.org/givesback. After the event, you can tell us your story and send us your pictures to mensnetwork@lhm.org. Contest winners will be selected and notified by January 21. Don’t forget that Thrivent Financial has action team grants to use for your GIVES BACK effort. To find out more about the amount available and conditions, visit its website at www.thrivent.com and click on “What We Offer.” n
… lend a Christ-offered hand to those who need help this festive season.
The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018 | 23
The End of the Year is Coming Quickly
by Chad Fix
F
or Christians, the Christmas season often leaves us feeling conflicted. We rejoice together at the celebration of our Savior’s birth and the eternal ramifications of that miraculous event. At the same time, we often cringe at the overwhelming materialism that runs throughout this season. As you watch news reports of billions spent on Christmas gifts, it’s impossible not to wonder how some of the resources that God has blessed us with could be put to other use. Lutheran Hour Ministries humbly asks you to consider giving to something eternal this Christmas—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every day, God is working through LHM to change lives with the Gospel in the U.S. and worldwide. This year, God increased LHM’s ministry impact to reach more than 120 million souls every week! As 2018 comes to an end, you can support this mission to proclaim the Good News to all who would hear. To make your giving easier, here is some quick information on 2018 end-of-year giving opportunities: 1. We’re open late—you can make a direct gift through Dec. 31! You can make a gift online, or by calling 1-800-876-9880, until 9 p.m. CST on Dec. 31. You can also mail a gift to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141—just make sure it’s postmarked for Dec. 31 or earlier! 2. Support a matching gift campaign. LHM is blessed to have generous donors who match every dollar given by donors like you at special times throughout the year. You can respond to these limited-time opportunities online and through the mail. 3. Give online anytime by clicking the donate button anywhere on lhm.org and lutheranhour.org. 4. Consider making a Christmas gift to LHM in honor of a special friend or family member. What a wonderful way to keep Christ in your gift-giving this year! 5. Support ministry through a charitable rollover from your IRA. Or consider other giving options such as the establishment of a charitable gift annuity to provide fixed payments for you for the rest of your life as well as a considerable tax deduction. Find out more at lhm.org/giftplan or by calling our gift planning staff at 1-877-333-1963. Our prayer is that you would partner with LHM, your church, and other Christian organizations to help the Gospel be shared this Christmas and throughout the year. Billions need to hear the message of a Savior who is more valuable and precious than all the wealth of this world. Please help share that life-changing message with a world in need. n
… consider giving to something eternal this Christmas—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 24 | The Lutheran Layman November - December 2018