LLL Spring Virtual Event

LLL Spring Virtual Event Focuses on Households of Faith

by CHAD FIX

Future of Neighboring Presented

at Q Culture Summit by MEGAN MCDANIEL

On April 22 and 23, individuals participated in person and virtually in the 15th annual Q 2021 Culture Summit held in Nashville, Tennessee. Going with a new approach this year, the Culture Summit was accessible through the Q Media Platform where participants could view the main stage as well as have access to over 40 Q&A sessions with trusted experts. On the first day of the event, the main stage presentation featured a video of Executive Director of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project Rev. Dr. Tony Cook and LHM Content Development Manager Don Everts, co-authors of The Hopeful Neighborhood Field Guide. … our local life matters, our community matters, and our local neighbor matters. Following the main stage presentation, an email was sent to everyone on Q’s mailing list. That email included a pre-recorded video of Cook, who shared some features of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project and why it is important for everyone wherever they live.

Following the video, Founder of Q Gabe Lyons reaffirmed the importance of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project. “If there is anything we learned over this last year, it’s that our local life matters, our community matters, and our local neighbor matters. The local businesses in our community matter,” says Lyons. “With the timing of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project, it not only brings amazing research for us to better understand how to think about our neighborhoods, but for people and leaders of faith that have communities of faith, it shows how we can make an impact.”

On the second day, Cook participated virtually in a live 30-minute lecture and Q&A where he shared his vision for the future of neighboring. Following the summit, when individuals went to hopefulneighborhood.org to learn more, they had the opportunity to receive a free Field Guide and sign up for book clubs led by Cook and Everts.

The summit proved to be a great opportunity to present The Hopeful Neighborhood Project to a large audience of individuals and church leaders. For more information about The Hopeful Neighborhood Project, visit hopefulneighborhood.org.

Gabe and Rebekah Lyons founded Q in 2007 as a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society. They convene leaders in America’s most influential cities and equip them to engage public life in winsome and thoughtful ways. Gabe is the co-author of Good Faith: Being a Christian When Society Thinks You’re Irrelevant and Extreme, author of The Next Christians, and co-author of UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters. Prior to launching Q, Gabe served on the team that co-founded Catalyst, the largest gathering of young church leaders in America. Rebekah is a national speaker and bestselling author of Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose, You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are, and Freefall to Fly: A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning. = Do you know the way Christians Feedback from the event was go about their days and connect positive and many attendees with the members in their household mentioned they will use the is a critical aspect of spiritual growth? information in upcoming Bible This was a key point addressed during studies and share it with their pastors, the 2021 Lutheran Laymen’s League board of elders, and other leaders. Spring Virtual Event March 13. “The event was informative, giving Modeled after the Fall Virtual Event data learned from Barna Group to held for the first time in 2020, more paint a clear picture of the challenges than 250 people attended this nearly before us, such as declining witness of three-hour session to learn more our faith by Christians,” says Delano about the Households of Faith research Meyer, president of the Minnesota conducted through LHM’s partnership North LLL District. “We gained ideas with Barna Group and find out what of what we can do individually to be Households of Faith are, why they witnesses for Christ, sharing the joy matter to God, and how to nurture the of responding confidently in spiritual faith of individual households. conversations within our household Participants were given the choice to join virtually from home or at one of six “We gained ideas of what and with those who do not yet know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is refreshing viewing locations hosted by we can do to know LHM has so much LLL districts in areas of the individually to information and materials country with fewer COVID19-related restrictions. Attendees logged on be witnesses for Christ …” available to help us be better witnesses for our faith.” “The impact of welcoming from all over the United States, with non-family visitors into a believer’s 24 LLL districts and 150 different home is more important to their congregations represented. Gospel witness than ever and is

The program included a devotion by an easy practice to change within Speaker of The Lutheran Hour Rev. my household,” says Dan Johnson, Dr. Michael Zeigler; the Households president of the Indiana LLL District. of Faith workshop presented by “I also liked the admonitions to Curriculum Development Manager handle household issues by being Ashley Bayless; a Live Q & A with present, engaged through asking Bayless and Vice President of Global questions, and showing true interest. Ministries Rev. Dr. Tony Cook; Great advice!” and closing comments from LHM Plans are already underway for the President and CEO Kurt Buchholz. The 2021 Fall Virtual Event on Saturday, session also included the unboxing Sept. 25. Mark your calendars now of the new Better Together kit to and look for more details in the highlight the available resources. coming months. =

Russian Woman Shares How LHM Introduced Her to Christ

by CHAD FIX

After generations of Communist oppression under the former Soviet government, significant numbers of Russians do not hold religious beliefs or practice them. That makes Russia a ripe harvest field for the Gospel.

Like many LHM ministry centers around the world, Lutheran Hour Ministries–Russia offers Bible Correspondence Courses (BCCs) to introduce the Gospel to people who do not know Jesus, and to reinforce a biblical understanding for people who do. When someone responds to an outreach activity, LHM–Russia will typically invite the respondent to begin a BCC as the next step in his or her spiritual journey. BCCs in Russia are available for both children and adults. Two key ways for promoting BCCs are LHM–Russia’s radio broadcasts and ads in publications.

The courses have made a huge impact on people like Victoria, who recently shared her personal story with members of the LHM–Russia team:

“I remember the first lesson of the ‘Basics of the Christian Faith’ course at St. Anne’s Lutheran Church quite clearly. I was sitting in a chapel and everything around me was absolutely new to me—including the fact that I was sitting in the chapel. I liked everything I saw and heard. But I cannot say why I had decided to attend. I don’t think I was ready to take the Bible in my hands. I remember the appearance of the LHM volunteer in the chapel doors when he announced that after the lesson, we would be able to take some brochures explaining what the course was going to be about. The brochures didn’t look as intimidating as the Scriptures, so, for me—a person who had never even come close to learning about Christianity—they weren’t frightening.

“I didn’t feel self-conscious reading them on public transport, and they were comfortable to read at home at lunch. The first real value of the brochures was revealed to me when, after getting used to their easy and clear texts, I got a desire to have a look at those Scripture references. I looked into the Bible for the first time. It turned out to be absolutely not frightening and not hard. I liked the fact that there were just the right number of references to make turning the Bible pages engrossing but not tiring. My first prayer was from the brochure, a paraphrased verse from the Gospel of John, chapter 17 to be specific. ‘God, shine the light of Truth upon me. Your Word is the Truth.’

“Now I can pray every day, and I cannot even imagine that it was so hard for me to say just those two sentences. Five months later I got confirmed and became a regular parishioner. I am tremendously happy about that. I gave the brochures to my mother. I am sure, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, they will help her come to God as well.”

Around the world, nearly 60,000 individuals like Victoria participate in LHM’s Bible Correspondence Courses for the first time each year. =

Leaving a Legacy at LHM by KATIE HUMMEL

The legacy we leave behind when our earthly lives end is important. Although not a light subject to think about, how we choose to leave our mark can define how those you love remember you. LHM staff work hard every day to share the Gospel by teaching the lost and hurting about the Savior. When you are called home, we want to ensure your gifts are part of the continuation of that mission and vision. There are several ways to include LHM in your estate. • Direct your gift to the area of greatest need, which gives LHM the financial freedom to use your gift in the way that will be most effective. • Set up an endowment to make sure your gift lasts as long as God’s mission through LHM. • If you feel a strong connection to a certain program or ministry center, choose for your gift to go to that specific area.

When choosing to leave LHM as a part of your legacy, you automatically become a member of The Hoffmann Society. The Hoffmann Society is a faithful group of more than 2,000 individuals who have decided that they want to support our mission of sharing Christ’s Name during their life and after they go on to their forever home. These faithful believers are a key part of LHM’s planning who ensure that the Gospel is shared with future generations.

If you are someone who has included LHM in their final plans and have not yet shared this decision, please reach out! Visit lhm.org/giftplan or contact LHM’s gift planning staff at lhm-gift@lhm.org or 1-877-333-1963.

Thank you for helping Lutheran Hour Ministries in Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church! =

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