THE
LUTHERAN L AYMAN Summer 2019
Bringing Christ to the Nations OUR UNIQUE MINISTRY MODEL TM
see page 3
Spiritual Conversations Kit. . . . . . 8 Nurturing Your Faith . . . . . . . . 9-10 Summer of Conventions . . . . . . 14 Changing Lives Globally . . . . 16-17 New LHM Learn Courses. . . . 18-19 LWML Mission Grant. . . . . . . 20-21 LHM Election/Nominations. . . . 22
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Two Tables— One Main Course
… the Word of God must still be our main course.
How comfortable are you when sharing your faith?
By Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
H
ave you ever been to a family-reunion style dinner? When my family got together, we would split the group between an adults’ table and a kids’ table. The two tables would have different place settings— grandma’s china versus paper plates—and different sides— grandpa’s oyster stuffing versus Kraft mac’n’cheese. And the cook’s challenge was to prepare one main course that could nourish everyone. This is how I’ve been imagining my challenge and opportunity as the Speaker of The Lutheran Hour: prepare one main course to meet the needs of two tables. A friend suggested to me that the most important difference between these two “tables” may be the way they seek wisdom. The first table—let’s call it the “adults’ table”— instinctively seeks wisdom from the voice of authority. This table remembers huddling around a radio for a half hour, eagerly listening to their president give “fireside chats.” In school they took lecture notes from learned teachers and professors whose main job was to relay knowledge. Their town doctor and preacher spoke a singular and definitive word on matters of life and
L AYMAN
death, temporal and eternal. The second table—let’s call it the “kids’ table”—instinctively seeks wisdom from the voice of the community. This table has grown up with the world’s knowledge at their fingertips. They hand-carry personal devices with more power than the computers that put a man on the moon. They follow real-time tweets from dozens of celebrities and world leaders. They get second opinions from WebMD. They use Wikipedia—a crowdsourced encyclopedia—to fact-check their professors, mid-lecture. Or, they find a better lecture on YouTube. This table still seeks wisdom, but not primarily from a lone voice of authority. Cultural preferences don’t diminish the authority and nourishing power of God’s Word. If The Lutheran Hour is going to keep sharing Christ to present and future generations, the Word of God must still be our main course. But, what if we served a main course that could nourish two tables? Since starting with Lutheran Hour Ministries last fall, whenever I’ve recorded a message, I’ve asked five to seven people to sit in the studio with me. Talking to live people
helps me as a speaker. As we did this, the listeners would linger after the message. They talked about the Bible passage. They shared with each other how God’s Word spoke to them. Someone said, “We should record this.” Soon, the idea for a second program was born. Think of it as a dialogue version of The Lutheran Hour; or, if you like, the “kids’ table.” The name of this new program is “Speaking of Jesus …” It’s designed for someone who is receptive to hearing about Jesus but would rather listen to a conversation than a sermon. Starting in September, alongside The Lutheran Hour sermon, we’ll share the audio of a new conversation each week. Think, “two tables—one main course.” You can learn more at lutheranhour.org. At this meal there is no wall between the tables. Aunt Eunice can sit with the kids. Cousin Billy can listen with the adults. The two programs are independent, yet mutually enriching. You could listen to both! In fact, developing tastes for sermons and conversations are equally important for being a well-nourished Christian. Even better, why not pack some up in grandma’s Tupperware and share it with a hungry neighbor? =
The Lutheran
Chad Fix, Editor
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Vol. 90, No. 4 Summer 2019
Andrea Thompson, Layout
Subscription: $5. Printed quarterly. 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, 2019 Int’l LLL.
LHM Response Center: 1-800-876-9880
2 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church
Discover what God’s Word and the latest Barna research reveal about how even the most reluctant witness can talk about faith in natural ways. Based on research from Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age, Outreach Magazine’s 2019 Resource of the Year in Evangelism, this book offers fresh insights and best practices for fruitful everyday conversations.
Now available at
lhm.org/conversations
Beginning with this issue, you will receive The Lutheran Layman each quarter instead of every other month. This change in frequency allows us to increase the distribution while continuing to show the timely impact LHM makes because of your support.
Bringing Christ to the Nations OUR UNIQUE MINISTRY MODEL TM
Today, Jimin is walking a new path of faith in Jesus.
Jimin is a college student
living in South Korea who dreams of becoming a singer. She participated in Christian activities growing up, including LHM’s Project JOEL program that brings a solid Christian witness to youth who may otherwise be exposed to negative societal influences and helps them to shape their values using games, sporting events, puppet shows, workshops, and songs. But Jimin held a secret: she was involved in a harmful religious sect. When Jimin was a teenager, her father got remarried and her new stepmother abused her. Without an adult to talk to about her burdens, Jimin felt trapped. A classmate noticed Jimin’s pain and invited her to find help in the classmate’s religion. A vulnerable Jimin accepted the offer, but the group’s “help” wasn’t as helpful as her friend claimed. But after several years of involvement, Jimin grew dependent on the group. She lacked courage to cut ties with it. Because she had participated in Project JOEL, Jimin trusted the LHM staff and knew she could talk to them. When she finally found the courage
By Chad Fix
to do so, she came across a caring individual who offered much-needed emotional support and biblical guidance. Shortly thereafter, Jimin left the religious sect and LHM introduced her to the pastor of a local Christian church that could help her recover from her past experiences. Jimin also stayed in touch with LHM for continued counseling. Today, Jimin is walking a new path of faith in Jesus. As she shares her testimony with others, we believe the Holy Spirit will bring change to those around her. Jimin is just one example of how building relationships helps LHM earn trust, which is imperative to be able to share the Gospel with more than 135 million people each week who know very little about or have often never been introduced to the Christian faith. It’s why for nearly 80 years, LHM has actively pursued the implementation and achievement of a global mission and vision that extends our work beyond the borders of North America and shares the life transforming Gospel of Jesus with those who do not know Him. see next page The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 3
Our Unique Ministry Model ‌ continued from previous page
LHM’S GLOBAL PRESENCE
MINISTRY CENTER
LHM operates a local ministry center and staff.
PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS
LHM coordinates outreach efforts through financially independent partner organizations.
A Unique Model for Ministry LHM uses a ministry center model as the primary way to reach people globally. Each ministry center is a center of operation placed in 35 strategic locations around the world, utilizing the targeted areas above as a lens through which to focus appropriate areas for ministry. These ministry centers are staffed with indigenous staff members and volunteers who have a passion for the Gospel and a willingness to proclaim it throughout their community. By identifying, developing, and using media resources in local languages that are culturally relevant and attractive, LHM staff seeks to proclaim the hope and salvation found in the Word of God by reaching out to people of all nations and building relationships with individuals in order to connect them in fellowship to a local congregation. Several tactics are employed by each ministry center to best reach its specific culture with the Gospel, such as radio broadcasts, print media, 4 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
digital media, social media platforms, events, concerts, and much more. Every effort to present the Gospel to people intentionally includes a response mechanism whereby those reached can communicate with the ministry center to obtain more information and establish a more personal relationship. The ministry centers use mass communication methods to reach as many people as possible with the goal of eliciting a response. The ministry center has the opportunity then to nurture and disciple in the Christian faith the person who responded by providing items such as topical booklets, print materials, Bible Correspondence Courses (BCCs), and personal conversation. At a certain point, individuals who have responded may agree to be referred to a local pastor,
Christian community, or ministry volunteer for further nurturing and incorporation into a community of faith. Local events offer opportunities to put people in touch with volunteers from a Christian community who are present, thus providing an immediate opportunity for the referral to take place. A connection is when an individual has maintained a relationship or affiliation with a congregation. There are a multitude of mass media Christian ministries that span the globe today; however, 80 percent of those ministries are focused on nurturing people who are already Christian. LHM’s global ministry model is different from most mass communications ministries in several ways.
The ministry centers use mass communication methods to reach as many people as possible with the goal of eliciting a response.
Lakies Joins LHM as Regional Director in North America
Focus on the Unbelieving World
LHM employs strategies that will reach people who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. This includes the unchurched, the dechurched, and especially the unreached (the 42 percent of the world’s population, or more than three billion people, who otherwise have little or no opportunity to hear about the love of God in Christ Jesus). Our efforts to communicate the Gospel are tailored to take into consideration the mindset of the unbeliever. LHM’s programming is The majority of the unreached live in places that are created locally, ensuring dominated by other majority religions and have often maximum impact never even met a Christian. This presents a tremendous and accuracy of the opportunity to reach so many more for Christ, as 90 percent of the cross-cultural mission resources from American churches go message of the Gospel. to places where the Gospel is already known. As a mass communications ministry, LHM is uniquely poised to reach beyond those areas where Christ is already known, to those among whom relatively little effort is being made by most American mission agencies. The strategic priorities for our global work specify a focus on the unbelieving world, with a specific emphasis on the unreached, urban areas, and young adults.
Ministry Centers Staffed by Local Christians Our staff members grew up speaking the languages they minister in and know the culture intimately as an insider. As local people, they are particularly well qualified to know how to communicate the Gospel effectively in their context. They understand the linguistic and cultural nuances that are essential to effective and accurate communication, especially when it comes to something as important as the life-transforming message of the Gospel.
Locally Developed, Culturally Relevant Programs
Many mass media Christian ministries use messages and programming that have been developed in the western world and are simply translated into local languages. Often, even if translated, those messages do not touch the hearts of the people of other cultures because they are not contextually appropriate. The people often cannot relate to the examples and stories used, meaning the issues or problems they’re dealing with are not appropriately addressed. LHM’s programming is created locally, ensuring maximum impact and accuracy of the message of the Gospel.
Extended Reach through Local Staff
LHM can make inroads in places where other evangelistic organizations are often not able to go. There are many stories about U.S. missionaries who try for years to obtain a visa to live and work in a foreign country, but after much frustration from being denied visas they give up and find an assignment back in the United States. Since LHM has local staff, we can bring the Gospel to many places where it would otherwise be impossible. Our on-the-ground presence allows us to work directly with local church leaders and government officials to navigate around potential pitfalls. When you combine the cultural awareness and the insider’s perspective—people who look and act like local people because they are—you have many more possibilities to bring the Gospel into hard-to reach-places such as the Middle East and North Africa or central or southeast Asia. In most cases it is also very cost effective utilizing local people as staff instead of sending a foreign missionary family to establish themselves in a different land, set up housing, learn the culture and language, and spend time establishing rapport and building relationships with local communities. see next page
W
ith the establishment of the North America region as part of its global mission, Lutheran Hour Ministries has brought Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies onboard as regional director for North America to provide leadership and operational management for ministry efforts in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. border area with Mexico. His work is centered around proclaiming the Gospel to significant numbers of non-churched people, effectively using mass media to spread the Gospel, and helping the church become more outreach focused by empowering it to share the Gospel at more personal levels. He oversees a newly formed group of Regional Ministry Facilitators (RMF) that serve as coaches across North America on behalf of LHM’s growing constituency and the overwhelming demand we are experiencing to bring expertise to individuals and groups as they are equipped and encouraged to share their faith with others. Lakies regularly speaks at national and international conferences for pastors and church professionals and has been published in several journals on the topic of faith and culture. His former life as a non-believer provides exceedingly relevant experience for thinking about how to engage with our friends and neighbors outside the Kingdom of God. He most recently served as department chair and associate professor of religion at Concordia University, Portland (one of the most secular cities in North America). Before joining the Concordia University staff in 2012, Lakies was involved in church planting in St. Louis (Christ in the City/CRAVE Coffeehouse), and subsequently served as a worship director there until 2010. Later, he founded a collective for young adults at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, Missouri. =
His former life as a non-believer provides exceedingly relevant experience for thinking about how to engage with our friends and neighbors outside the Kingdom of God. The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 5
Our Unique Ministry Model … continued from previous page
Mass Communications as a Vital Tool
Mass communications in many ministry centers often include LHM’s traditional outreach: radio.
LHM’s goal is to bring the Gospel to as many people as possible, which allows its 35 ministry centers to reach into more than 60 nations around the world. Mass communications in many ministry centers often include LHM’s traditional outreach: radio. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reports that while digital technology dominates the modern means of transmitting information, radio remains the primary source of information for most people around the world. Radio can cross borders and reach into the homes, workplaces, and cars of people almost anywhere. Radio will continue to be an important global strategy for LHM in the future, even as digital outreach becomes an increasingly significant part of our ministries as a powerful tool to make the Good News known, especially among the increasing numbers of people who have access to it. Another strategy to reach the masses is our evangelism training seminars (Equipping the Saints) to help motivate members of local congregations and improve their personal evangelism skills. Since we began this program in 2006, we have trained more than 150,000 people. How many other people those trained people have gone on to reach, only God knows!
A Global Perspective
LHM is committed to Gospel proclamation around the world. As we navigate a shifting world culture, we know the saving message of Christ does not change, but the way we share it does. To be effective, we must and will continue to assess and change as needed to meet the challenge of reaching people worldwide with the Good News of Jesus. LHM recently made the conscious decision to merge its United States Ministries and International Ministries into a single department, now called Global Ministries. This was done to confirm LHM’s perspective that our work domestically truly impacts our global engagement, and vice versa. A significant outcome of the creation of our new Global Ministries department was the recognition that LHM serves five global regions: • Africa and the Middle East • Asia
• Europe and Central Asia • North America
• Central and South America The new declaration of North America is important to note and speaks to LHM’s commitment as a global ministry. LHM should no longer be seen as a North American ministry doing work around the world; it should be recognized as a global ministry that does work in five regions around the world (including North America). This life-changing work would not be possible without the support of people like you. We appreciate your prayers, involvement, and financial support that allows millions of hurting people around the world to find answers and relief in the Gospel. = Chad Fix oversees the corporate communications of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
This life-changing work would not be possible without the support of people like you.
Outreach Workshops Begin in St. Louis By Rev. Micah Glenn
… help its members become more intentional about having spiritual conversations. 6 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
You’ve probably heard that Lutheran Hour Ministries is involved in a research partnership with the Barna Group. The first year’s research is called Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age and looks at different aspects of spiritual conversations that people are having or not having today. The monograph on this topic was recently recognized by Outreach Magazine as the best evangelism resource in 2019. The LHM team has been working hard over the last year to take the research and turn it into tools that can be placed in the hands of the church to help its members become more intentional about having spiritual conversations. These tools are all included in LHM’s Spiritual Conversations Starter Kit that is now available at lhm.org/conversations (check out the article on page 8 to see the variety of resources that are available in this kit).
We have also been blessed to receive a grant from The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis to host local workshops where our team will teach laypeople how to use the tools in the starter kit in their outreach efforts. So far, we have workshops scheduled for Sept. 28 at Intersect Arts Center in South St. Louis, Nov. 16 at Lutheran High School South, and Feb. 8, 2020 at Lutheran High School North. More workshops are in the works. We are making plans to schedule workshops beyond St. Louis soon. If you are interested in having someone from our team come to your area to lead a workshop, please visit lhm.org/ requestaspeaker. =
Rev. Micah Glenn is a regional ministry facilitator for LHM.
Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis is the grant-making ministry of 74 St. Louis area Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregations. The Foundation’s vision is to see the Church brought into the lives of hurting people and people included in the healing life of the Church.
Spiritual Conversations
Adapted for Use in Russia By Megan McDaniel
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ecently LHM–Russia hosted an Equipping the Saints seminar at a local church that focused on the relevance of evangelism. During the seminar, LHM–Russia staff shared LHM and Barna’s Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age materials that had been created in Russian. The LHM–Russia director had adapted the PowerPoint presentation that was created with Barna’s research findings and used it to present to 20 members of the church on that day. The presentation included results from the social polls used during the research phase. For example, in 1993, Christians were more oriented in evangelism than they were in 2017. Today, less than half of surveyed Christians think of evangelism as an obligatory part of their religious lives and ministry. Within the presentation was the Spiritual Conversation Curve. Attendees at the ETS seminar broke into groups of three or four and filled out a Spiritual Conversation Curve to start brainstorming opportunities for personal evangelism. The Curve follows a path of starting with
making a personal connection with someone, then sharing about Jesus, and then encouraging them toward faith. In addition, the people we have conversations with can be divided into three categories: unreceptive, receptive, and seeking. Based on the category the individual is in, they would match the corresponding section of the Curve. The pastor of the church where the ETS seminar was held encouraged the attendees to start their personal outreach immediately using the Spiritual Conversation Curve Cards. After the ETS seminar, LHM– Russia staff asked the participants if any of them would be interested in becoming evangelists, or ministry volunteers, which entails sharing materials and informing others about LHM–Russia and the programs they offer. Of the 20 participants, 12 people wanted to become evangelists and share what they had learned with others. One example of how the Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age materials impacted an individual is Anton’s experience. Anton, a Bible Correspondence Course student,
The Spiritual Conversation Curve is a practical tool that can be used in any country for personal evangelism. shared his experience with using the Spiritual Conversations materials. He said he became a Christian after talking with LHM–Russia staff a while ago, but the materials helped broaden his horizon and gave him a better understanding of the Christian faith. Anton read through the material several times and said by doing so, he was able to find many of the answers to the questions he has had about Christianity for a long time. He hopes to become a member of a local church soon so he can continue growing his faith. Since the materials have had a
positive impact in Russia, LHM– Kazakhstan plans to take a couple pieces of the presentation and use them for their ETS trainings as well. Even though Barna’s research findings and the Spiritual Conversations materials were based off a study done in the United States, the information was found to be useful and relevant to people in Russia and Kazakhstan as well. The Spiritual Conversation Curve is a practical tool that can be used in any country for personal evangelism. =
Megan McDaniel reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work around the world.
Share the Gospel wherever you go! Use Your Purchasing Power to Help LHM Share the Gospel Around the World! Signing up for the Lutheran Hour Ministries Mastercard through Lutheran Federal Credit Union (LFCU) is an easy way to support Gospel proclamation.
LEARN MORE TODAY AT LUTHERANFCU.ORG/LHM The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 7
COMMUNICATION with a Spiritual Conversations Kit
EMPOWER YOUR
“The Spiritual Conversations Kit is all about equipping us to better tell the Jesus story.” These are the resources in the Spiritual Conversations Kit: • How to Talk About Your Faith: An Introduction to the Spiritual Conversation Curve • My Digital Voice: An Introduction to the Digital Conversation Pledge • Who Is Jesus? • Why Did Jesus Die? • What Is Faith in Jesus? (these first five items are Project Connect booklets) • The Reluctant Witness: Discovering the Delight of Spiritual Conversations (hard-cover book)
• Do You Know Who Jesus Is? (kids’ booklet) • Spiritual Conversations Workshops (DVD featuring two workshops) By Paul Schreiber
W
ould you find it handy to have a set of tools to inspire your outreach and give you confidence when talking about spiritual matters? If so, the new Spiritual Conversations Kit from LHM offers just such a toolset. It features print, video, and online resources to simplify all your spiritual conversations going forward. If you’re like us at Lutheran Hour Ministries, you have friends and family members you’d like to talk to about Jesus. The nagging issue is always, “Where do I start?” The question seems simple enough. After all, we know these people, right? It’s not like we speak different languages, but oh how we get tongue-tied when we talk about spiritual things. Or how is it when we’re in the middle of a talk about God and faith we speak too soon, or too much, or not at all? The Spiritual Conversations Kit includes a collection of materials that will get you thinking in new ways about the dialogues you have with others. You’ll learn how to “graciously adapt” your conversations to the people you speak with—mindful of where they are in their spiritual journey. You’ll find loads of current data that show how Christians share their faith today—and how we can do it better. There are booklets on Jesus—who He is, why He died, and what it means to believe in Him. “The Spiritual Conversations Kit is all about equipping us to better tell the Jesus story,” says Rev. Dr. Jason Broge, LHM’s director of design and development, and the lead presenter on “Eager Conversationalists,” the first of two workshops on the Spiritual Conversations DVD. “The resources in this kit were developed because of our research with the Barna Group. These resources will be a blessing to any Christian wanting to make their faith a more active part of their daily conversations.” 8 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
• The Spiritual Conversation Curve (illustrated card) • Spiritual Conversation Curve Cards (packet of 25 business-sized cards) • Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age (Barna-LHM perma-cover monograph)
• Invitation to enroll and experience LHM Learn’s FREE online courses and webinars
“ … the call to bring Christ to the nations remains.” The resources in the Spiritual Conversations Kit are perfect for adapting to your communication style—whether face-to-face or online. The kit’s extensive data and helpful insights will empower your spiritual conversations with confidence, as you share the love of Jesus and the salvation God offers everyone. On this point, the apostle Paul puts it best: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. So that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:5-6). While the ways we communicate have changed over the years, the urgency of the message we share is timeless. “Technology and rapid cultural shifts have altered evangelism, but the call to bring Christ to the nations remains,” says Rev. Dr. Tony Cook, vice president of global ministries for LHM. “This kit contains tools to increase and deepen spiritual conversations in your daily life. You will discover resources for ministry leaders, congregation members, and those who have yet to discover the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that these resources will equip you to be even more effective in sharing the unchanging Good News of Jesus in your daily life.” You can order your Spiritual Conversations Kit from LHM for $37 by going to shoplhm.org. = Paul Schreiber reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work in the United States.
NURTURING YO U R FA I T H : PA R T T W O
Called to Faith
Watch video introduction with Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler at lhm.org/studies
I
n Session 2 of Nurturing Your Faith: Called, we’ll again be drawing from the book of Ephesians as we look at how God’s call to faith is a call to transformation (see Ephesians 2:1-7). Our part in the body of Christ is very much an active one (or should be). Jesus’ desire is for us to be sanctified in the truth—united with Him and the Father (see John 17:17-21). Through us, quite simply, God works. From Abraham’s call out of Ur of the Chaldeans (see Genesis 11-12) to Christ’s epiphany to Paul on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9:1-19), God is in the business of calling us from our lives (pastoral nomad, Christian persecutor, your life here) to come and follow Him.
Recognizing Our Call
Questions:
While the idea of being called by God to a new and vibrant life may seem alien in the 21 century, God’s been doing it from the beginning. He’s in the business of transformation—a complete renovation of the human heart, done from within and evident without. There is no one not in need of this divine touch of forgiveness. No one is excused from the sin in their life. “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:22b-24), and again, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). As we can see here, God’s calling isn’t merely an invitation to a better life. It’s His declaration to us that the ransom has been paid: the doors have been flung open; the chains have been loosed; we are free to go. No longer captive, because of Jesus we are God’s people now—redeemed and set apart. “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). This is truly good news, but where will we go? What will we do with this great salvation that has been given to us? What is the calling for our life? st
1. Saved by grace (see Eph 2:8-9), we are called to grow up into Him who is the head (see Eph 4:15). How do we live so that Jesus is given this place of priority in our lives? 2. How do you think God shapes us to our calling? How does He hone us as members of the body of Christ to be useful to others? 3. A Christian is in the world but not of it. How do we grasp our calling, live a transformed life, and yet not come off as weird and unapproachable to our non-Christian friends and acquaintances? continued on next page
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 The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 9
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Lives That Bless Consider Abraham’s response to God’s call. Pulling up stakes from his ancestral homeland in southern Mesopotamia at age 75, he shows us we’re never too old to listen—and respond—to God’s calling. “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:1-2). Abraham’s obedient faith marks him as righteous; his called life showed him as a man of vigor, courage, weakness, commitment, foibles, and sacrifice—just the kind of person God can use to be a blessing to others. Considering that most Christians are not apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, or teachers (see Eph 4:11), our calling must be more than what we do. Therefore, we focus on who we are to be as His called sons and daughters—people like Jesus: servant-like, loving, and obedient unto death (see Philippians 2:5-11). This is our calling as Christians—that we may gain Christ, clothed with a righteousness from God through faith, that we “may know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Eph 3:9-11). As God’s children, we are gifted with the knowledge—and the desire to follow—that God alone can give. As Paul writes, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph 5:1-2).
Staying Zeroed In While our fervent goal may be to live the called life with all the zeal and passion we can muster, there will be times when we get derailed and thrown off course. Paul knew only too well how believers get sidetracked and stuck. His and other New Testament letters are full of admonitions to steadfastness in faith and constancy of purpose (see 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14-18; Philippians 1:27). He also knew how little it takes to divert our attention from God back to the world. “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:7-9). And how little that leaven might be! While today’s derailing persuasion is probably not circumcision or the seductive appeal of Greek mystery religions, it’s just as potent. This is where a constant return to God’s Word is essential. Here, Joshua’s charge to Israel’s leaders rings out truer than ever for us today. He recounted the Lord’s works on Israel’s behalf, the victories and protection He granted, the promises He made. As the nation was going forward, soon without him, Joshua urged Israel to stay intent on God’s Word (“the Book of the Law of Moses”) and to shun the enticements and temptations all around them (mixing with other nations, worshipping their gods) and to “cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day” (see Joshua 23:1-13). In a similar vein, note Paul’s words of encouragement to Timothy in his second letter. He reminds his “beloved child” in the faith of “the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling.” We are set apart by God for kingdom service. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of truth.” In other words, dig deep; know your Bible; memorize Scripture; you’ll need it for your new life in Christ. And then Paul says to Timothy, but he could be speaking to us, “Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.” No matter what your calling, these remain essential to any believer. (Read 2 Timothy: 1-4).
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s you read above in 2 Timothy, God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:4b). Through His Holy Spirit, He gives us courage and steadies us when the world looms large and threatens to wreck our faith. He understands our faults and failings and urges us to “walk by the Spirit,” mindful of the flesh and its works, even as we strive to follow His Son’s example (see Galatians 5:16-26). Thankfully, once we are called to faith, God does not leave us to our own devices; instead, He supplies all our needs “according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19b). For the called saint, Paul reminds us that there is nothing that can destroy the one outfitted with the whole armor of God (see Eph 6:10-20). 10 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
Questions: 1. “So that you will be a blessing” to others was God’s pronouncement to Abraham. As a Christian, do you consider yourself a blessing to others—your spouse, kids, neighbors, coworkers? How so? 2. Abraham was no “spring chicken” when God called him, but as a result of following His lead, all the nations of the earth have been blessed. What does this say about your age, station in life, and what God might do through you? 3. God calls us to such noble lives, doesn’t He? To “be imitators of Christ” is an honor unworthy of us and far beyond our feeble means to achieve. How do you find the strength and willingness to do this?
Questions: 1. Life is choices, using time wisely and, sometimes, frittering it away. How do you waste time? How can our dabbling and appetite for the next trending thing interfere with and/or neutralize our faith walk? What can we do to make the most of the hours we have (see Eph 5:15-17)? 2. What do you do when the principles of your faith are in conflict with the world? Do you pause to negotiate a workable/ comfortable outcome? Do you have any special tactics that work well? 3. Honoring God’s calling begins with nothing less than following Jesus— closely. Can you give three or four gems that Paul wrote Timothy that you’d like to commit to memory as you follow Jesus?
Pray Heavenly Father, without You we are adrift in this world. You have called us and made us Your own. By Your Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith in Your Son and our love for one another. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Remember Why You Are Here “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news, and we’re not telling anyone about it!” (2 Kings 7:9)
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By Phil Johnson, Chairman, Int’l LLL Board of Directors
ave you ever had one of those “senior moments”? You walk into a room or down the stairs to your basement only to realize that you can’t remember why you were making the trip. Yikes! I have! I either become distracted or I simply cannot recognize or remember what motivated me to make the trip downstairs. It’s sometimes frustrating trying to remember why I am doing what I am doing. One of my very favorite Old Testament stories of “remembering” is found in 2 Kings 7. The city of Jerusalem is besieged by the army of the Arameans. The people of Israel are starving. In desperation two lepers go out to the army encamped around the city in order to beg for food. They reason that if they are killed in the attempt they would be no worse off. They assume that, one way or another, they are soon going to die. But when they reach the camp they are amazed! It’s deserted, but everything is still in place. Every tent is still standing, all the horses are still tethered, and all the food is still intact! The two beggars immediately
began to plunder the tents, grabbing valuables and food to hide away in a safe place. But in the process of their desperate pillaging they remember why they are there! “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news, and we’re not telling anyone about it!” (2 Kings 7:9) What they had discovered meant life for the people inside the city, but they were the only ones who knew this good news. They needed to share this good news! This story always helps me to remember why I am here: to tell others the good news of forgiveness and new life in Jesus Christ! That is good news that needs to be shared! Charles Spurgeon defined evangelism as “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” When you are desperately hungry and suddenly find a rich source of food it is a day of good news. We dare not become distracted and forget why we are here. There are others who need to hear this good news. This story also reminds me of the opportunities we each have to share with others the rich resources available through
Lutheran Hour Ministries. We have absolutely wonderful training opportunities available online. Bible study guides on DVD that are second to none. We have at our fingertips children’s booklets, tracts, and brochures that offer words of hope and encouragement for adults, materials to help strengthen your congregation’s ministry and to help your congregation reach out to your neighbors. The list goes on and on. This isn’t just good material; it’s award-winning! So often I hear “I didn’t know that Lutheran Hour Ministries offered all that,” and that is really too bad. People need to know about this.
I am encouraging you, as one beggar might tell another beggar where to find bread, to tell others about the love of God found only in Jesus. For believers in Jesus every day is “a day of good news” and God has given us people in our lives that are hungry for that message. I am also encouraging you to tell fellow believers about the wonderful resources available to assist them in their efforts. Oh, and one more thing. The next time you turn on a light and can’t remember why you made the journey just tell yourself “Of course I remember why I’m here—to help in Bringing Christ to the Nations— and the Nations to the Church!” =
New Courses from LHM Learn Two new courses are now available for FREE: Me and My Household and Building a Vibrant Household. Both courses are based on research done in partnership with Barna Group, and will guide you in exploring the concept of households and how to nurture yours. Sign up today!
LHM.ORG/LEARN
The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 11
SENT
“As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.”
to Make a
Difference
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By Gene and Claire Partlow
any years ago, we read an LCMS World Mission document that said starting ministry in a new cultural context involved a three-fold process: learn the culture, learn the language, grow the mission. When we discovered Lutheran Hour Ministries’ modus operandi in foreign lands is to seek indigenous Christians and bring them into our work, we saw the immense value of time and resources saved—for people from within the community already know the language and the culture! My (Claire) longstanding history with LHM was rooted in my childhood memories of going to my grandmother’s home in Chicago and sitting by her feet while we listened to The Lutheran Hour together. When Jim and Vickie Dankenbring invited us to join the National Leadership Council (NLC) of the SENT Initiative back in 2015, we gladly accepted because of the initiative’s emphasis on reaching more people with the Good News of the Gospel. The mission and ministry of LHM also excited us from day one because we strongly value the way LHM partners with like-minded churches to equip people in sharing the love of Jesus in their own communities. We’re so excited to have witnessed the growing partnership between LHM and Barna Group. This research-based approach to ministry, over three years—from Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age through Households of Faith and next into Communities of Action—is exactly the progression we believe the church-at-large needs to be focused upon. Together LHM and Barna are generating meaningful research and helpful resources and tools for sharing the Gospel. When we speak to people in our congregation and
throughout our region, they are often amazed at how much Lutheran Hour Ministries is doing. Some people we talk to are only familiar with the radio broadcast, but upon hearing LHM’s story, they are overwhelmed by how many resources are made available both online and through ministry centers around the world. As a society, we have become uncomfortable with talking about our faith with others and it is negatively impacting our communities and congregations. There is a dire need today for evangelism in the United States and we are happy to be doing our part to help spread the Gospel through LHM. SENT is such a great reminder that we are all called to participate in the missio Dei— that eternal purpose of God to draw all people to Him. In an LHM context, SENT means being willing to answer God’s call to be part of His plan to reach His people with the Gospel. Someone who doesn’t have Jesus in his or her life doesn’t have life “to the full,” as Jesus offered in John 10. That’s why we think it’s so important to reach people who are lost and don’t know the love of Christ. It’s exciting to see how LHM finds unique ways to share the Gospel with people, especially young people who don’t necessarily want to go to church anymore, but are hungry to hear about Jesus. We are thrilled to be part of the SENT Initiative and we are highly motivated to help others share their faith. It is our desire to get LHM’s equipping materials into as many hands as possible. It’s a tremendous blessing to have the support of an organization that helps us share Jesus with others.
“We are thrilled to be part of the SENT Initiative …”
SAVE the DATE
12 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
The SENT Initiative is a global and comprehensive five-year plan to answer the pressing challenges and realities of the 21st century. The impact of the SENT Initiative has already reached millions of individuals around the globe. God has shown us that He can do more through people like you and me than we could ever imagine. For more information on how you can get involved with the SENT Initiative, visit lhm.org/sent, email us at SENT@lhm.org, or call 1-800-944-3450. = Gene and Claire Partlow call Williamsburg, Virginia, home as they currently serve as co-chairs of the Atlantic Coast Regional Leadership Team for SENT. Gene also serves on LHM’s Board of Directors as vice chair. In their spare time, Gene and Claire enjoy bicycling, and Claire also enjoys teaching. Together they have six children and 16 grandchildren.
Join us for an exciting weekend you won’t want to miss!
October 16-18, 2020 – St. Louis Union Station
More details coming soon!
2019 WORK DAY Sees More Than 500 Men Serving Communities
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By Paul Schreiber
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or the seventh year running, men’s groups around the country did not disappoint. On Saturday, April 27, the Men’s NetWork of Lutheran Hour Ministries held its annual WORK DAY. Service projects of all kinds brought men together helping others in neighborhoods and communities where they live. There’s no shortage of work to be done, as these groups plainly showed. In fact, we’re still getting reports of projects completed after the “official” WORK DAY, and that’s good news. Men’s groups can do their work any day of the year, and we encourage them to do so. Here’s a sample of some of the work done this year: men built raised flowerbeds for a man battling cancer; served at an area nonprofit, an elementary school, and handled landscaping tasks; built an access ramp for an elderly woman; trimmed shrubs, washed windows (yes, these guys do windows!), demolished a dilapidated building, and weeded; cleared out storage areas and removed debris from gutters; spruced up a Civil War cemetery; put together food buckets for those impacted by spring floods; cleared nature trails and did yardwork; packaged hygiene kits for the homeless, constructed a ramp for a county food bank, assembled large-print booklets for the visually impaired, did renovation work at a Christian outreach facility where more than 75 percent of those served are unchurched, and handled other jobs, too! It’s great to see the long-range benefit WORK DAY projects can have. For instance, work done by A-Men, the
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As Jesus came to serve, so we likewise should do the same. men’s group of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, was finished with assistance from some guys at nearby Peace Lutheran Campus Center. Together they worked at Camp LuWiSoMo (Lutheran Wisconsin South District Missouri (Synod) in Wild Rose. They did ceiling repairs, raked leaves and brush, and split wood for the campsites to get them ready for incoming summer visitors to enjoy. Oftentimes, men’s groups are able to team up on a project already in progress. This is a nice win-win for both the agency receiving the help and the men’s groups providing it. It’s also a good way to go if your group is wondering what it would be like to do next year. As can be seen, there’s plenty of work to go around. And that’s the beauty of service, isn’t it? It takes more a spirit of willingness to do the work than it does having a five-star toolbox or professional skills. And that’s what those who do these projects year after year have shown us. As Jesus came to serve, so we likewise should do the same. Our thanks again to all those who participated in this year’s Men’s NetWork WORK DAY. Your efforts have touched the lives of many. =
Numbered pictures above: 1. St. Paul Lutheran Church, Stevens Point, Wisconsin; 2. St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, Missouri; 3. Faith Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas; 4. Redeemer Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas; 5. Zion Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, Kansas; 6. St. John’s Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Virginia The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 13
A Full Summer of Conventions! By Megan McDaniel
LHM
had a major presence at three conventions this summer. The face-toface interaction that comes from these events is a way for us to share some of our new resources with others. The conversations at these events blessed our staff and the many attendees who visited our booth.
LWML Convention
LCMS Convention Visitors talked to our South Korea ministry director about the work being done to share the Gospel, wrote encouraging notes to LHM–South Korea staff and volunteers, met the Speaker of The Lutheran Hour, Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, and learned about the tools included in the Spiritual Conversations Starter Kit.
National Youth Gathering
14 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
Regional Ministry Facilitator Dionne Lovstad-Jones led a lunch-and-learn about the impact of LHM’s digital ministries, Rev. Peter Kirby (regional director for Europe, Central Asia & Jamaica) hosted a workshop titled “Declaring God’s Glory Among the Nations”, and President & CEO Kurt Buchholz brought mainstage greetings to update the audience about LHM’s global impact. Attendees also enjoyed meeting Dr. Zeigler in the LHM booth. #EagerToShare was a popular topic at the National Youth Gathering. Thousands of bracelets and screen cleaners were passed out in the LHM booth. LHM Content Development Manager Don Everts also explained the Spiritual Conversation Curve to 600 teens who filled out Curve cards for their non-believer friends and eagerly asked for more to take home. More than 800 teens had souvenir photos printed and posted as a digital mosaic on the booth monitor.
N O W AVA I L A B L E !
Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age
STARTER KIT Annual Golf Tournament Raises $25,000 for Ministry By Megan McDaniel
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he sun came out on the beautiful morning of June 10 as almost 90 excited golfers prepared to hit the course for the 28th annual St. Louis Zone Golf Classic at Westborough Country Club on the outskirts of St. Louis. Many of the golfers are faithful players each year, as well as some Concordia Seminary students that attend through sponsorship opportunities offered each year that allow them to play and stay for the program and dinner. After golf, 90 people gathered for a dinner banquet and heard a message from Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour, and a live auction rounded out the evening. The Lutheran Laymen’s League– STL Zone golf tournament committee includes Jim Dankenbring, zone golf chairman; Harold Bohlmann, zone president; Jules Bush, zone treasurer; Rev. Greg Smith, zone pastoral advisor; Larry and Loren Lumpe; and LHM staff members Melissa Bohlmann, Jeff Craig-Meyer, and Eric Gutberlet. Over 28 years ago, the committee members joined together and created the tournament out of the desire for an event to raise money locally to support the mission of Lutheran Hour Ministries. Each year, the golf tournament committee chooses a Lutheran Hour Ministries ministry or project to dedicate the proceeds to. This year, $25,000 was donated to LHM for the SENT Initiative. In the nearly 30 years that this tournament has been held, LHM has received around $750,000 to put toward ministry projects. Plans are already underway for next year, including an opportunity to recognize former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour, Dr. Dale Meyer. A golf tournament is just one way to raise money for LHM. What types of events would your community enjoy that could benefit the ministry? =
What types of events would your community enjoy that could benefit the ministry?
Discover the delight of spiritual conversations with a variety of tools created for both individual and congregational outreach. This kit includes resources based on award-winning research developed in partnership with Barna Group.
ORDER TODAY AT SHOPLHM.ORG or call 1-800-876-9880.
The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 15
Changing Lives
Around the World with the Gospel
By Megan McDaniel
Lutheran Hour Ministries develops culturally-relevant programs and resources to reach people in more than 60 nations who may not be familiar with the Gospel. Below are just a few examples to show how God has been using LHM recently to change lives around the world with His Good News.
Marili, a coordinator at a slaughterhouse in Brazil, reached out to the pastor of a local Lutheran church because she wanted to start evangelistic activities at work. She coordinates events for special occasions like Easter events and weddings, and decided she wanted to implement some Christian activities into the workplace. There are more than 1,000 employees who work in the building and when the pastor comes, at least half of them make a point to visit with him. The pastor brings booklets, including LHM– Brazil’s Five Minutes with Jesus booklet, and distributes them to the employees. The slaughterhouse’s unit manager sent a letter to the pastor to thank him for his visits and shared that the employees appreciated having a break from their daily routine to reflect on life. The employees also requested more copies of Five Minutes with Jesus to share with their friends and families. The pastor gives thanks to LHM–Brazil for producing and sending the materials to him so he can share the Good News of Jesus.
Brazil
Kazakhstan 16 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
Mariammal is a 45-year-old woman working as a housemaid. She is married but her husband has an alcohol addiction. When she brings money home from work, he sometimes abuses her and takes the money to buy more alcohol. Mariammal was depressed and had lost hope because of her situation. One day she noticed a Gospel program hosted by LHM–India on the streets in her local area. She was able to hear the Word of God while she was sitting outside her house. The event gave her hope, so she reached out to LHM–India staff to pray with her. While her family situation has not changed, she is now encouraged to live a life for Christ and has hope in the Lord. LHM–India staff also connected her to a local church where she can fellowship with other Christians.
India
Ellima is an 18-year-old student who received a booklet at an LHM–Indonesia ministry center activity several months ago. The activity was a competitive game where participants had to answer questions about the Bible and, if they answered correctly, they would win a prize. Ellima won the booklet From Someone Special. After reading through it on her own, she texted the LHM staff to learn more about Jesus. Ellima shared that she grew up in a Christian family, but through reading the book she learned more about Jesus and loves Him as her Savior. Even though the book is written for younger children, Ellima enjoys the simple language and the fact that it is easy to follow along. It even includes a quiz at the end of each chapter. The Holy Spirit is at work in Ellima’s heart and she continues to share the Gospel with her friends and family.
Indonesia
Nina is a 65-year-old social worker who works with the elderly and people who have disabilities. She receives little to no support from the state or people in the community and says she would have retired a long time ago if she knew someone was willing to fill her position. Nina is not a Christian, but she wants to learn about religion. Her granddaughter was invited to attend a children’s celebration hosted by LHM–Kazakhstan at a local church. Since her granddaughter has a mental disability, Nina went with her to the event. She met some LHM staff members and they listened to her share what is going on in her life. They offered to help her and told her about LHM’s booklets and audio materials that she could use to serve the disabled. LHM staff also reached out to a local church and requested that the youth group and pastor organize a ministry to serve the disabled and elderly. When Nina saw how willing the LHM–Kazakhstan staff was to help her and that they genuinely cared, she offered to become a volunteer for the ministry. She has also started attending church each week as she grows in her faith.
Laos
Bane is a college student in Laos who grew up in a non-Christian household. He has a passion for playing soccer and recently registered for a training program at a local soccer academy. During the training session, the coach shared the Gospel with Bane and the other players. After hearing it, Bane made the decision to pray to God. At the end of the training, he was introduced to LHM–Laos staff and they helped him join an ongoing Bible study and referred him to a local church. He now has a growing relationship with Christ as he becomes a successful soccer player.
Nabil is an 18-year-old biology student in his second year of college. He comes from a non-Christian background and expressed that he was not satisfied with religion, which created a disconnect within himself. He came across an LHM Facebook page and was inspired by the posts, so he decided to send a private message to LHM staff. After talking with Nabil and building a trusting relationship, Nabil shared that he felt like his prayers were not being answered. He said that he had never heard of Jesus and asked to learn more about Him. LHM staff shared how Jesus died on the cross to save us. Nabil prayed a simple prayer asking Jesus to forgive him and was led to trust in Him by the power of God’s Word. LHM staff continues to share Bible passages with him and prays with Nabil regularly as he builds his newly found faith.
Middle East & North Africa
United States Gary and Betti are both truck drivers. They are on the road for four-to-eight weeks at a time, so they don’t have the opportunity to worship in their home church very often. They listen to The Lutheran Hour every Sunday at 10 a.m. on Sirius XM Satellite Radio and then they have their devotions. These two things help make their Sundays on the road very special. They feel incredibly blessed to have access to this weekly worship time and thank God for the time they’re able to share with LHM.
Uganda
Fadson is 32 years old and works as a guard for a private security company. He was previously married, but he and his wife separated because of her unfaithfulness. He was extremely hard on himself and thought that his financial status had caused his wife to be unfaithful. He even began to have suicidal thoughts following the breakup of his marriage. One day, he came across LHM–Uganda’s broadcast while flipping through the stations on his radio. The topic that day coincided exactly to his situation. He believed the counsel and teachings on the radio program were divinely inspired, which ultimately led him to forgive his wife and reconcile with her. Fadson shared with LHM staff that “the Gospel was delivered in a very simple way that led me to regain faith in Christianity.” He now listens to the radio program every day and shares what he heard with his wife. While he works long hours, he is interested expanding his connection to LHM’s ministry by taking a Bible Correspondence Course at some point in the future.
Panama
For several years, LHM–Panama has supported the National Police of Panama through an ongoing relationship with a local social worker. This year, the social worker suggested that LHM staff develop a training program for a few of the police units to strengthen their communication skills. Since it was around Father’s Day, they discussed topics about families and assertive communication. The men and women of the National Police are often put in risky situations during their work and the stress and crises they encounter often negatively affect them. The National Police appreciate that LHM–Panama contributes to their society through programs like Project JOEL and others that teach values, communication, work/family balance, and how the Word of God is a source of strength, hope, wisdom, and comfort. The training provided a great opportunity for the policemen and women to gather in fellowship to study the Gospel. Many attendees shared that the Bible lessons, songs, prayers, and group activities serve as a source of joy and spiritual reflection. = The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 17
Scripture, Hospitality—Topics of Two New Kids’ Booklets Coming Soon By Paul Schreiber
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“I pray these books reach far and wide into the hands of children all over the world!”
wo new children’s booklets, The Bible Tells Me So (coming soon!) and Welcome will help kids dig into the Bible and share the love of Jesus. Taking their inspiration from the 2019 LHM-Barna study, Households of Faith, these booklets give kids a practical learning tool and parents a helpful resource. Creatively using the study’s findings on nurturing faith and expressing discipleship in the home, these booklets will encourage kids to read Scripture at an early age and practice hospitality toward others, welcoming them as God has welcomed us. Booklets like these and several others produced by LHM in recent years bring the message of God’s love home to kids in powerful ways. But they do more than that. They open doors for parents to speak about profound biblical truths and Christian principles in simple, casual conversations with their kids— like when they look at booklets together and enjoy the rhymes and pictures. When it comes to passing the faith down from one generation to the next, this engagement between parents and kids is crucial. Any vehicle that helps that process is vital—such as family Bible studies, going to church, and
reading stories with your children. Parents need to live their faith and tell it, too. “Faith formation and hospitality go hand in hand,” said Kurt Buchholz, president and CEO of LHM. And that’s what these two booklets give: a chance for kids (and parents) to consider the Bible’s timeless message of love and how we can share that love by the way we live. Both The Bible Tells Me So and Welcome are illustrated by Canadian artist Masaru Horie and written in rhyme by Suzie Sallee, LHM’s community facilitator for congregations. “I had no idea that speaking in rhyme back and forth with my sister when we were little would lead to writing these little rhyming books, but God had a plan! I pray these books reach far and wide into the hands of children all over the world!” Sallee said. Of course, one way to do that is to share them with others. You can have fun doing this by handing out LHM’s kids’ booklets at Halloween, stuffing some Christmas stockings with them, or passing them out to kids in Sunday school. You can order all our kids’ booklets at the LHM storefront. They’re $7 for a packet of 25. You can find them at shoplhm.org. =
LHM Learn Continues Its Launch of New Online Courses F our online courses have recently been added to the LHM Learn library. Two are inspired by Barna research found in Lutheran Hour Ministries’ 2019 monograph Households of Faith. Two more look at serious life issues: one focuses on living with cancer; the other addresses prison ministry and is a companion piece to Behind Bars I: Called to the Incarcerated. The first of the Households of Faith-related courses is Me and My Household. This four-session course looks at the particulars of the households we live in—their overall character and habits, the members who live there, and what makes them vibrant. Learners will examine modern-day household types in respect to a biblical view of households. They can then see what they can do to make their homes more Christlike and responsive to the needs of others.
Building a Vibrant Household is a five-session course. It describes three research-based characteristics that your household can nurture to increase its spiritual vibrancy. Learners will develop a plan to implement one or more of these characteristics. They can chart their progress as they apply spiritual disciplines in their home, learn to extend hospitality more proactively, and engage in spiritual conversations at home. The second prison ministry course, Behind Bars II: Serving the Incarcerated, equips learners for holistic service to their family member or friend in jail. In three sessions it addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of prisoners. In this course, learners are encouraged to develop realistic action plans to meet the needs of those in jail, remembering Jesus’ teachings to show compassion to those in prison.
Compassionate Care Through the Cancer Journey is a four-session course for caregivers. From initial diagnosis to daily care, this journey is a difficult one. Caregivers will deal with a wide array of emotional and physical needs as they do their best to offer help and compassion to their loved ones. Course action plans help learners stay mindful of the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs those with cancer will face along the way. As with other LHM Learn courses, ample video and detailed graphics render content in an easy-to-read manner. A printable journal gives learners a chance to jot down personal notes. A discussion guide with targeted questions and concept review helps reinforce the material. Additionally, there are tips for using this course as part of a small group study; a video transcript is available to review content and expand the
discussion in a group setting. LHM Learn offers courses in five different categories. Each course gives users biblically based knowledge to enhance their Christian walk by supplying teaching and insights to empower their faith now. The categories are Christian Foundations (basics of Christianity from biblical, theological, and historical perspectives); Cultural Concepts (understanding the different demographics, cultures, and religions in our world today); Everyday Insights (thoughts about the good and bad that life throws our way); Outreach Essentials (personal evangelism and tools to reach others with the Gospel); and Spiritual Reflections (devotional thoughts meant to strengthen and encourage). =
Visit lhm.org/learn for more info on the FREE available courses through LHM Learn!
18 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
A Summer of Opportunities
None of this work would be possible without you!
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By Kurt Buchholz, President & CEO, Lutheran Hour Ministries
t seems like summer just began and already school is back in session and the anticipation of fall’s cooler temperatures continues to grow. Summer is typically the time to be distracted by family vacations and a slower pace of life, but that hasn’t been the case for many of us at Lutheran Hour Ministries over the past few months. This has been a busy summer for attending three major denominational events (the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Convention, National Youth Gathering, and National Convention of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod) and engaging in meaningful conversations about how God is using LHM to reach more than 135 million people each week with the saving message of Christ. These gatherings always provide a great encouragement that reminds us how we are part of a larger body of Christ in mission and ministry and that we are not alone in our goal to share Jesus with those
By Paul Schreiber
Each course gives users biblically based knowledge to enhance their Christian walk by supplying teaching and insights to empower their faith now.
who don’t yet know Him. Our award-winning research in partnership with Barna Group has shown that many Christians are inspired to share their faith. They’re using social media to connect with others, and they’re finding an authentic joy in having faith-based conversations. However, they’re also looking for help in making better connections between their everyday, ordinary life and the faith that sustains them. That’s why I was excited to see how these convention attendees, from youth to lay delegates to church workers to pastors and church leaders, were so positive and energized as they learned about the available resources offered in our newly released Spiritual Conversations Starter Kit. The included materials will provide a tremendous kickstart to your individual, group, or congregational outreach efforts.
Also, if you haven’t had a chance to read our new book, The Reluctant Witness: Discovering the Delight of Spiritual Conversations, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do so. Author Don Everts does a masterful job of unpacking what God’s Word says about spiritual conversations and then digging into the habits of eager conversationalists to provide you with the knowledge and motivation to engage in more fruitful conversations about Jesus. Check out lhm.org/conversations to learn how we can help you more comfortably share your faith. I am overjoyed to see how these materials are serving as a tremendous blessing throughout our church body. None of this work would be possible without you! Thank you for your gifts, prayers, and volunteer involvement, and for allowing us to support and encourage you in your daily life. May God continue to bless you richly! =
Reduce Your Taxes with an IRA Gift The IRA charitable rollover permits individuals who are 70 ½ to roll over up to $100,000 from their IRA to charities like LHM free from federal income tax. An IRA rollover gift also qualifies for your required minimum distribution, permitting you to lower your income and taxes for this year while helping us share the Gospel around the world. Contact our gift planning staff today to learn more about how you can redirect unneeded IRA income to charity, help further our mission, and enjoy valuable tax savings this year.
lhm.org/ira
1-877-333-1963
lhm-gift@lhm.org
Copyright © 2019 Crescendo Interactive, Inc. Photo licensed from AdobeStock for use by LHM.
The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 19
LWML Grant Expands LHM’s Outreach
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… because of this grant, we can reach more women in Africa and around the globe. Convenient Ways to Support
LHM’s Mission By Megan McDaniel The Bible makes it clear that God loves a cheerful giver. Lutheran Hour Ministries believes that God has called us to tell the nations about His love. Your financial support allows us to share the Good News with unreached people around the world. LHM is always looking to add convenience to your giftgiving. Here are several giving options that are convenient for you and will help us spread the Gospel to more people around the world. 20 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
overty, sickness, and violence are increasing every day in Cameroon with millions of people dealing with these situations. Because of this, women are often left with little to no education, which forces them to turn to other ways to make money to provide for their families. These dire circumstances provide tremendous opportunities to share the Gospel and touch the lives of many. For 17 years, Lutheran Hour Ministries– Cameroon has used a variety of communication and ministry strategies to reach thousands of people: radio, print materials, film shows, rallies, hospital and prison visitation, Bible Correspondence Courses, Equipping the Saints workshops and, especially recently, the internet and text messaging. The ministry is also able to use key holistic outreach programs, including one that reaches young at-risk women by offering vocational training and hope in Christ. Our initiatives in Cameroon reach out to youth and provide guidance from a Christian perspective that helps them live healthy, well-mannered lives in a secular world. LHM recently received news that will help expand efforts through this holistic program. At the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) convention in June, LHM was one of 21 recipients to receive funding for a mission grant. The LWML accepted LHM’s mission grant titled “Mission Outreach for At-Risk Young Women in Africa” in the amount of $100,000. Accordingly, the theme
of this year’s convention was “In Praise to the LORD!” and, because of this grant, we can reach more women in Africa and around the globe. “We are extremely grateful for the continued partnership of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League,” says LHM President & CEO Kurt Buchholz. “It is a true blessing to be able to come together in mission to share God’s Word with those who have not heard it.” Sharing the Gospel through vocational training programs allows LHM to educate young women in a practical skill that helps them earn money to provide for their families. In addition to the training, women are enrolled in Bible Correspondence Courses to learn more about Jesus. Here are several stories of how LHM–Cameroon programs have positively impacted the lives of young women. Olga is married with five children. She is a refugee from a small town in the Central Africa Republic. In the town she lived in, she was a part of the Christian community. When the civil war broke out, everyone in the Christian community left their town. Olga and her family traveled
Mission Monthly
Thrivent Choice
AmazonSmile
Mission Monthly is a core group of ministry partners who commit to share Christ’s hope with the lost by making a gift of their choice each month, either by check, online, or automatic payments from their bank account or credit card. A lot of Mission Monthly members choose automatic payments because they are convenient and work for any budget. As a Mission Monthly member, your support will travel throughout the U.S. and around the world. Each month, you will hold out Christ’s love to individuals in 60 nations—making an impact in places you may never go! To become a Mission Monthly donor, visit lhm.org/give.
Eligible Thrivent members earn designated Choice Dollars at various times throughout the year (based on their insurance premiums, contract values and Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership positions) that can then be directed to thousands of nonprofit organizations nationwide. Choice Dollars designated during the calendar year can be directed until March 31 of the following year. Supporting LHM through Thrivent Choice is very simple. Go to thrivent.com/thriventchoice and search for us under Participating Charitable Organizations by entering “Lutheran Hour Ministries”, “LHM” or “International Lutheran Laymen”. Or call Thrivent at 1-800-847-4836. Please remember that you must now go through the gift direction process every time you receive notification that Choice Dollars are available.
Amazon has introduced a service called AmazonSmile which allows shoppers to support a cause of their choice. When shopping on smile.amazon.com, you can select a charity such as LHM that you want to support, and Amazon will donate 0.5% of all your eligible purchases to that organization. You can change your charitable organization at any time.
to At-Risk Women in Africa for months and finally ended up in Cameroon. She was able to register as a refugee once they got settled. She didn’t have a job and she did not have any professional training, so she reached out to LHM–Cameroon staff after hearing about them on the radio. She learned through the radio program that LHM–Cameroon offers training for young mothers. Since then, Olga has registered for Bible Correspondence Courses and receives counseling every morning after devotions. Olga’s primary goal is to finish her sewing training so she can work and have a better life for herself and her family. Tanoué is a teen in prison. She grew up as an active member in her church’s congregation, but when she went to prison, she grew further and further away from God. She visited with LHM–Cameroon staff in the prison several times, which led her to confess her bad behavior. She eventually expressed a strong desire to LHM– Cameroon staff to reconcile her relationship with Jesus. Tanoué recently registered for Bible Correspondence Courses and Bible studies within the prison. She expressed her desire to visit the LHM–Cameroon office for sewing training once she gets out of prison.
By Megan McDaniel
In addition to the work LHM is doing in Cameroon, the funding from the grant will help LHM–Kenya touch the lives of young mothers in Kenya through a program called Reaching Rahab. Reaching Rahab is a Christcentered and holistic outreach ministry for urban young women to help rescue them from lives on the streets or in prison and rehabilitate them through counseling and basic entrepreneur and vocational skill training. Some of the basic skills they learn through the program are typing, hairdressing, sewing, and basic accounting. Reaching Rahab is an important program to help young mothers learn a skill that they can use to provide for their families. Since the global recession in 2008, Kenya’s capital city Nairobi has seen the unemployment rate in people under 30 years old jump to almost 40 percent. We are thankful to the LWML for accepting our grant to help us reach more women and connect them to faith in Jesus Christ as well as equip them in skills through practical training programs. =
“It is a true blessing to be able to come together in mission to share God’s Word with those who have not heard it.”
Text to Give
Employer Matching Gifts
Combined Federal Campaign
Facebook Fundraisers
Text messaging has become the most favored communication method around the world with the average American sending and receiving around 32 text messages a day. Text messaging now also provides an easy and secure way for our supporters to give. By texting the word “GIVE” to 417-815-8105, you will receive prompts to follow on how to donate to LHM through the convenience of your cell phone. Standard message/ data rates may apply.
Many employers will match gifts to qualifying non-profits! An increasing number of companies are offering matching gift programs, which means they may match the gifts employees and spouses make to a qualified non-profit organization such as Lutheran Hour Ministries. Visit lhm.org/give/employermatch.asp to check if your generous gifts to LHM may qualify for a match with your company!
Combined Federal Campaign is a workplace giving opportunity for United States military and federal employees worldwide. If you or someone you know is a federal employee or member of the military, don’t miss this opportunity to pledge a donation to LHM during each fall’s campaign. Your donations are tax deductible and can go toward supporting thousands of organizations, including LHM. Visit cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome and search for LHM or enter LHM’s campaign code (30494) to donate.
The social aspect of this type of donation encourages your Facebook friends to donate as there is an option to share the fact that you donated through a Facebook fundraiser. In addition to donating through a specific giving campaign, individual Facebook users can solicit donations for the ministry as a birthday fundraiser, which encourages your friends to support a cause that is important to you in celebration of your birthday. =
Your financial support allows us to share the Good News with the unreached! The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 21
Members Fill Four Board Seats During Recent LHM Election By Chad Fix
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ore than two-thirds of Lutheran Hour Ministries’ registered voting members cast ballots in the recent election to fill four seats on the Board of Directors for the International Lutheran Laymen’s League/ Lutheran Hour Ministries. Michael “Mick” Onnen of Stanton, Nebraska, was elected to a second three-year term while Robert “Bob” Rauscher of Scottsdale, Arizona, Kurt Senske of Austin, Texas, and Douglas Werth of Arrington, Tennessee, were elected to their first terms on the Board. As part of a change approved by the membership two years ago, the Board is now responsible for appointing its four Officer positions from among sitting Board members for each fiscal year. The Board of Directors has reappointed Phillip Johnson of Maplewood, Minnesota, as Chair; Gene Partlow of Williamsburg, Virginia, as Vice Chair; and Janice Wendorf of Neenah, Wisconsin, as Secretary for Fiscal Year 2020 that runs through the end of next May. Jack Ficken of Fairview, Tennessee, was appointed to serve as Treasurer. Learn more about your elected Board members at lhm.org/about/board.asp. Thanks to everyone who participated this year in the election process! Want to vote in 2020? Anyone who gives a gift to LHM between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 will be eligible to register for next year’s voting membership. Look for a postcard in the mail in early February 2020 with details about how you can register to vote before the March 15 deadline so you can participate in next spring’s election. =
Board Nominations NOW OPEN FOR 2020!
Do you know a mission-minded individual who is looking for a unique leadership opportunity? Nominations for candidates to serve on the Board of Directors of the Int’l LLL/LHM are being requested now for next spring’s election. The Board is seeking dynamic, visionary candidates who are committed to helping LHM share the Gospel around the world to fill open director positions. You are urged to prayerfully consider the Godgiven talents, skill sets, passion for outreach ministry, and service to the Lord of potential nominees from your personal and professional networks. In addition to being an LHM/Int’l LLL member, all nominees must be members of a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod or Lutheran Church—Canada and cannot be ordained clergy. Five open positions will be voted on in 2020, including three spots for current Board members who will be terming out and cannot run for reelection. The Board’s Nominations Committee welcomes and encourages all applications, but is especially interested in seeking individuals with non-profit/for-profit board experience and/or corporate leadership and contacts, as well as backgrounds in accounting, finance, international, information technology, for-profit management, and legal to cover the skills and experience vacated by Board members who are terming out. To download a nominations form, or learn about additional eligibility requirements for nominees, visit lhm.org/nominations. Nominations must be received by Nov. 1, 2019 to be considered. = 22 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
Donor Advised Funds Continue to Rise as a Popular Giving Option By Chad Fix Making a gift to support the mission of your favorite charity is its own reward, but for many people it can often be challenging to determine which method of giving makes the most sense given your goals and financial circumstances. As a donor you have many options, but one giving strategy—Donor Advised Funds (DAF)—has exploded in popularity over the last few years. While DAFs are not new, growth in assets in these funds has skyrocketed recently with no signs of stopping anytime soon. According to the National Philanthropic Trust, assets in DAFs nearly doubled between 2012 and 2016, growing from just under $45 billion to more than $85 billion in five years. In addition, Giving USA estimates that DAFs now account for nearly 10 percent of all individual giving. Grants from a DAF—which allow account holders to receive a tax deduction immediately, but delay making donations until a later time—are especially on the rise since the Tax Cut and Jobs Act was signed into law in December 2017 because they are one of the easiest and most tax-advantageous ways to give to charity. With the tax-law changes, one of the things that is still allowed is charitable giving, and with Donor Advised Funds you can get the immediate tax deduction without having to give money out every year. Changes in tax law raised standard deductions to $12,000
for individuals and $24,000 for married couples. Granted, taking advantage of that perk means no deductions for charitable contributions. But with DAFs, taxpayers can take one large deduction in the year they set it up, even if the money doesn’t get distributed right away. A Donor Advised Fund is like having your own foundation. Donate cash, stocks or nonpublicly traded assets such as real estate, private business interests, or private company stock and get your tax receipt. The fund is then invested for growth, which permits you to make annual gifts of income and principal while you are alive. When you pass away, your children can carry on your legacy of giving by making recommendations for distributions from the fund for several years. When you establish a DAF, you can name Lutheran Hour Ministries as a beneficiary. At the end of the term, the remaining fund balance would then become an asset of our organization, helping us further the work of sharing the Gospel with the billions of people around the world who still need to hear it. It’s easy to open a DAF account and recommend gifts to Lutheran Hour Ministries; simply contact your financial planner for more details or to get started. To learn more about DAF benefits and planning, contact LHM’s gift planning staff at 1-877-333-1963 or lhm-gift@lhm.org. =
When you establish a DAF, you can name Lutheran Hour Ministries as a beneficiary.
Men’s Network “Gives Back” Returns
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his year again between Thanksgiving and Christmas, men’s groups will have the opportunity to give something back to their local communities. Men’s NetWork groups and others had fun with this month-long event in 2018, and we received some excellent entries for the work they accomplished. To boost the goodwill generated by your holiday acts of service, we are again featuring three ways in which your group can earn a prize of a $150 Amazon gift card: 1) most creative service idea; 2) most community-oriented project; 3) best “holiday-themed” dressed group. GIVES BACK is really about helping others during this festive but stressful time of the year. You probably have your own ideas on how to help others during the holidays, but here are a few to jumpstart your thinking: feed the hungry at a soup line; gather blankets and clothing for distribution to the needy; host a free winterizing service for cars at your church; pass out gifts and good cheer at a veterans hospital; go caroling at a nursing home; send Christmas cards to U.S. troops; and give presents and LHM’s illustrated kids’ booklets to needy children. There are all sorts of things you can do! Giving back to others this time of the year is a meaningful expression of our faith in the Savior. For those getting by on little or nothing at all, our acts of assistance during the holidays are doubly important.
By Paul Schreiber
These acts can speak to people who are often jaded by the whole “holiday thing,” and they give us a chance to show God’s love in action. And what better time than the Christmas holidays for us to give and to share Him whom we’ve been given? This is also a great event for doing outreach. People are primed to receive this time of the year, so with your blessing of service, consider sharing some of LHM’s resources. Our three-booklet set on Jesus is an ideal giveaway to families and those who appreciate good news. Thoughtfully written with laypeople in mind, these three Project Connect booklets speak to who Jesus is, why He died, and what it means to have faith in Him. Freebies like this add impact to your work and are something that remains with the recipients after the holidays are over. To register for the Men’s NetWork GIVES BACK event, please go to lhm.org/givesback. After the event, you can send us a brief recap of your efforts, along with your pictures, to mensnetwork@lhm.org. You can also go to LHM’s Facebook page at facebook.com/lutheranhourministries and post your GIVES BACK efforts. =
Show god’s love in action!
START YOUR JOURNEY TODAY! “I’m super picky about curriculum for my Sunday school and VBS kids and there is nothing about this I would change. It is beautifully written, memorable (they are still talking about it), fun, and even the teachers learned new things. We are so grateful that this is available to a small church like ours.” — CHELSEA BECK CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019 | 23
Spread the Good News: Advent Devotions
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n this year’s Advent devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries, Call His Name Jesus, we encounter our God who came to us. “The Name ‘Jesus’ means ‘the Lord is Savior,’ and that’s exactly what Jesus came to be for us—our Savior from sin, evil, and death,” writes author Dr. Kari Vo, theological writer for LHM. “In this tiny baby we see the Man who lay down His life for us on Calvary’s cross, the Son of God who defeated all the power of the devil—because He loved us,” she added. Throughout Call His Name Jesus, readers will discover again how Advent— “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event”—is fitting for this season of hope and celebration. Christmas marks the point in human history where
God’s long-declared promise of redemption was fulfilled in the birth of Christ. This is the start of God’s final act to save us—the wheels put into motion with the birth of a Child. Now God is with us, “Immanuel”—His presence is something we can see and touch, and it all starts with God. “But it also starts with you in all of your tininess—somebody sitting in a comfortable chair reading in the lamplight; a parent putting the little ones to bed with a prayer and a story about Jesus; a driver with your eyes on the road, watching out for hazards while the back of your mind is preoccupied with work or errands. You are a single speck of human life among billions of others on a troubled planet in an ordinary galaxy of this immense “The Name universe. And yet, ‘Jesus’ means Advent is about you, because you are the ‘the Lord is reason Jesus came,” Savior,’ and Vo writes. that’s exactly It’s also about the person next door, what Jesus your coworker, came to be your babysitter, for us …” and the kid who mows your lawn.
By Paul Schreiber
Advent devotions make excellent resources to share with others. While Christians look forward to this time of the year, there are many who don’t connect with the message of hope found in Christmas. For those you know who may be put off by the holidays or have grown tired of all the schmaltz and spending of Christmas, send them Call His Name Jesus as an e-mail. It might just get them thinking about the real meaning of the holidays. You can read Call His Name Jesus or hear it as a podcast. During the Advent season, you can receive these devotions as a daily e-mail, beginning December 1. You can access a downloadable version, which includes a large-font text and bulletin inserts, beginning October 8. Audio begins on December 1 with Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour, reading the devotions. Visit lhm.org/advent for all the details. Le pondrás por nombre Jesús, the Spanishlanguage version, will be available to read online or to receive as a daily e-mail through the Advent season beginning December 1. Audio will also begin on December 1 with Rev. Hector Hoppe reading the texts. The print version will be available for download starting October 8. Visit paraelcamino.com/adviento for all the details. =
The IRA Rollover: A Simple Way to Help LHM Share the Gospel By Chad Fix
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eciding to support God’s mission often involves figuring out how to give your support. Making tax-free gifts to charity from an individual retirement account (IRA) is one giving vehicle that is gaining in popularity among older investors, thanks to changes under the new United States tax law that went into effect last year. In fact, recent studies show that gifts to charities from IRAs grew by an average of nearly 74 percent from 2017 to 2018. If you’re of a certain age and have an IRA, you may want to consider making a charitable IRA rollover contribution. The way it works is simple: if you are 70½ or older you can transfer your IRA distribution directly to a nonprofit like Lutheran Hour Ministries. For donors with IRA accounts, you can roll over up to $100,000 per year (per individual) directly to charity and impact ministry work without paying tax on the income. Even better, this gift counts toward your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA!
There are some great reasons why making a charitable IRA rollover gift makes sense: • Simplifies the giving process; just notify your IRA custodian. • Allows you to give from pre-tax assets and your distribution is excluded from taxable income. • Helps avoid limits on charitable deductions and prevents you from being pushed into a higher tax bracket. • Minimizes the effect your giving has on your cash flow. The gift is from your assets, not your checkbook. • Supports God’s mission to the world!
… making a charitable IRA rollover gift makes sense. 24 | The Lutheran Layman Summer 2019
The IRA Rollover is a great option for donors who do not need the income from their IRA distribution in the next year. Yet for many Americans, an IRA is one of their main sources of income. That means their IRA is used for everyday expenses like buying groceries or paying the mortgage. These donors may not be able to consider giving through an IRA Rollover, but they could consider giving their IRA to charity in their will. Depending on your estate, it may be better to give tax-heavy retirement accounts, like IRAs, to charity and leave other assets like life insurance to your family. The gift planning staff at Lutheran Hour Ministries would love to discuss these, and other options, with you. For more information, visit lhm.org/ira, call us at 1-877-333-1963, or email at lhm-gift@lhm.org. =
Make your plans today!