#Through HOPEABOUNDS New Global Ministry Investments by CHAD FIX
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ore than a year since it first surfaced, COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the lives of people around the world. In addition to the enormous threat to public health, the economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is negatively impacting the longterm livelihoods and well-being of millions. In light of these unsettling circumstances, God has called Lutheran Hour Ministries to proclaim His message of hope to those suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic both directly and indirectly. In a time like this, our mission to share the Gospel requires boldness like never before. People need what we provide, and it is clear that God was preparing us for this moment in time. Our resources and Christian outreach both domestically and internationally are speaking to the heart of the moment. While many nonprofit organizations have suffered financial setbacks over the past year requiring them to cut back on efforts, YOUR continuous support of LHM has allowed us to boldly move forward in our critical mission of sharing the Gospel. While some of the methods have changed, our work has continued with minimal interruption—and in many cases has been able to expand. Over the last few months, LHM has made significant financial investments into COVID-19 regional response. Here at home, states will continue to reopen. Businesses will resume operations. We anticipate good health and economic strength. But that is not always the case globally. For countries with fragile economies and health systems, recovery will take longer. That will prolong their hardships. The doors God has opened to us will remain open. We must continue to tell the people living in these places that #HOPEABOUNDS in Jesus … and because of YOU LHM is able to reach millions more around the world with this encouraging message.
12 | The Lutheran Layman Spring 2021
New Radio Programming
Starting in March, LHM launched a new radio broadcast for listeners in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. In collaboration with Trans World Radio Asia, this program is called “From Despair to Hope,” or “Masih Ada Harapan” in Bahasa language, which is similar to the Malay language and widely understood by Malaysians and some Singaporeans. The 15-minute program is broadcast from five stations in Indonesia and brings hope, encouragement, and practical help to those who are affected by COVID-19 through severe stress due to job loss, ill-health, financial issues, and isolation from family and friends. These individuals need to hear messages of hope, peace, love, healing, restoration, and redemption in and through Christ. As soon as the live broadcast is over, the same messages are converted into podcast and audio messages and uploaded onto the internet and social media. The link or audio files can be directly sent to church members and friends who can then forward them to their non-believer friends. The impact of the broadcast will continue to ripple via these additional mediums. Listeners who want to learn more about God and the Christian faith can then respond via social media, the internet, WhatsApp, Messenger, and over the phone to receive LHM resources such as audio Bible radios, booklets, and Bible Correspondence Courses. The program has already received encouraging responses from a multitude of listeners, including Samuel from Indonesia who wrote, “Thank you very much for the program. It helps me to stand strong during this confusing situation. With so much bad news in this world it is very encouraging to have good news of hope.”
Staff for LHM–Ghana are creating short radio spots to air in major population centers on mainstream, secular stations. These dramatized spots address the stresses of the pandemic and offer hope in coping with loneliness, economic uncertainty, fear, and suffering – all of which are increasing throughout the country because of the ongoing pandemic. Listeners are encouraged to find hope and comfort in Christ and respond via a new website with a new chat interface staffed by two contracted workers, one of whom has already been volunteering informally and has skill in this capacity. The project also allows the digitization of LHM–Ghana’s Bible Correspondence Courses to be made available online.
New Television Programming
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in India, television is a major vehicle for reaching people while they are in lockdown. LHM–India has launched a new 15-minute television program with the Word to World TV channel that airs during prime-time hours every Monday evening. This broadcast is aimed at sharing the Gospel with the more than 36 million people who speak the Malayalam language. The program includes a message from the Bible that is more relevant to the culture and current situation of the pandemic and features short messages from Lutheran pastors, songs, skits, mimes, puppet shows, and a counseling talk that directly addresses the life issues of the people and the conditions they
