TWe Can’t Stop Talking
by REV DR . MICHAEL ZEIGLER, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour ®
he first thing I noticed about Albert was his baseball cap. Prominently displayed on the front in white stitching it said, “I love Jesus,” with a red heart standing in for the word “love.” Now, what can you assume about a man who wears a cap declaring his love for Jesus? That he had served as an usher in his church—or that a crack addiction almost killed him? That he served in the Army—or that he served time in an Army prison? That his mother was a prostitute who had held him down while her boyfriend beat him—or that his mother was a beautiful woman who made sacrifices to send him to the local Catholic school where the nuns told him that Jesus loved him?
In Albert’s case, after 78 years of struggle and transformation, it’s all true. But I would have never known it if I hadn’t had a conversation with him. He would just be an elderly gentleman wearing an “I love Jesus” hat. But, like anyone else, Albert has a one-of-akind story.
“God doesn’t leave us to struggle alone . God gives us conversation, words to tell our stories . ”
met a disabled man at the gate. Peter healed him and told the crowd that the healing power came from Jesus of Nazareth, whom the leaders and people of Jerusalem had crucified. When the priests and the temple guards saw Peter and John preaching to the crowd, they arrested them for teaching that Jesus rose from the dead. When Peter and John were released, the first thing they did was tell their brothers and sisters in the faith what had happened. And together they brought that conversation to God and prayed.
Transformation and opposition are part of our stories in this life. And it is not for us to know the times and the seasons of healing set by God, by His own authority. But God doesn’t leave us to struggle alone. God gives us conversation, words to tell our stories.
There are some things you can safely assume about someone who is willing to say that he or she loves Jesus. First, the person is undergoing a transformation—because no one can embrace the Name of Jesus and not be transformed in some way. Second, this person is facing some opposition, enduring some struggle that is trying to separate them from the love of Jesus. And third, a person who has been embraced by the love of Jesus is engaged in conversations in and around Jesus.
This pattern of transformation, opposition, and conversation can be found in the biblical book, the Acts of the Apostles. In chapters 3-8, John and Peter went to the temple to pray and
I share these stories to invite you into this centuries-long conversation, into this struggling community being transformed by the love of Jesus. We don’t have to struggle alone. Total transformation is coming because God raised Jesus from the dead, and He will raise us, too. But Jesus says, it is not for us to know the timeline, but it is for us to tell the story and share the struggle.
Do you have an Albert in your life? Ask him or her to share their story and listen. Let their words and their witness transport you and transform you. Listening to Albert’s story, I have become part of his, and he has become part of mine, and now you too, all of us in Jesus. Because we can’t stop talking about what we have seen and heard. u
Adapted from a message for The Lutheran Hour aired April 28, 2024.
Timely Resources for Sharing Your Faith
by CHAD FIX
With billions of people still unreached with the Gospel message, it is critical to bring messages of forgiveness, love, and hope found only through Jesus Christ to a hurting world. How do we connect and share the hope of the Gospel with so many who have never heard the Name of Jesus? LHM has established a bold vision for sharing the Gospel worldwide:
• Every person has the opportunity to hear the Gospel in an understandable way.
• Those seeking are connected to a healthy Christian community where they can grow in their faith.
• Every Christian is equipped to share the Gospel in word and deed.
• Engaged Christians advance this common mission as a global community.
“We are simply messengers of God’s love and mercy, and taking the step to share our faith reminds us that His unconditional love is a beautiful gift to be shared with others.”
“God has called each and every one of us to share the Gospel message in our lives, work, and families.”
In support of this vision and Christ’s call to reach the world with His message of hope, LHM has launched CONNECT. Under three key priorities, God is working through this bold initiative to connect people with the Gospel globally, through digital engagement, and right where they are. In addition to reaching people in these three areas through our expansive Gospel proclamation efforts, LHM equips and emboldens laypeople to share their faith with others and increase this Gospel impact. LHM supports the outreach efforts of the laity by focusing on three vital areas:
1. Provide research on how today’s culture is evolving, and how Christians and congregations can respond to reach their communities with the Gospel.
2. Equip individuals and groups of all ages to reach out to others in their lives.
3. Develop resources lay members can use to address everyday situations or answer questions about Christianity and faith.
“God has called each and every one of us to share the Gospel message in our lives, work, and families,” says LHM CEO Kurt Buchholz. “What a special calling for all of us to CONNECT and welcome others into the Lord’s family as we grow together as the body of Christ.”
While God has called all laypeople to be powerful witnesses for Christ, did you know that more than half of Christians have not shared their faith with even one person in the last year? Raising the topic of faith with friends and family can seem like a daunting task. There is the worry that you may not have enough biblical knowledge or have the right words to explain what you want to say. And even if you do, there is always the risk that they may not respond well. You may feel like the task is best left to pastors and church workers who seem to do it naturally. It takes courage and conviction to share your faith in Jesus Christ openly, but it is possible.
LHM provides a variety of easy-to-access resources to equip Christians with what you need to start those sometimes-tricky conversations.
“We are simply messengers of God’s love and mercy, and taking the step to share our faith reminds us that His unconditional love is a beautiful gift to be shared with others,” says LHM President of United States Ministries Jeff Craig-Meyer. “Our timely resources allow you to meet people where they are and gain a hearing for the Gospel in a contextual way.”
Here are just some of the resources available from LHM to help you share your faith more comfortably with others. You can find additional faith-sharing and spiritual growth resources at lhm.org/resources. see next page
Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age Resources
Discover the delight of spiritual conversations with tools, based on research gathered in partnership with Barna Group, for your individual and congregational outreach. A full kit of materials is available, or they are offered individually. Visit lhm.org/conversations to find these items, as well as print and digital materials to dig deeper into the research findings on this topic.
BOOKS AND BOOKLETS
How to Talk About Your Faith:
An Introduction to the Spiritual Conversation Curve
Equip yourself with knowledge and confidence to have faith-sharing dialogues with others. This easy-to-read booklet is ideal for helping you have more fruitful conversations
My Digital Voice: An Introduction to the Digital Conversation Pledge
Communicating in this digital age can be fun and exciting. Digital conversations provide us with powerful opportunities to connect with and bless other people. But research reveals that these digital interactions bring us unique temptations as well—temptations to communicate differently than we normally would face to face. This booklet shares what research reveals about our digital conversations and what God’s Word reveals about how we can faithfully and powerfully engage in them.
The Reluctant Witness: Discovering the Delight of Spiritual Conversations
Author Don Everts grew up assuming that spiritual conversations are always painful and awkward. But his surprising—and sometimes embarrassing—stories affirm what Scripture and the latest research reveal: spiritual conversations can be a delight. This book offers insights and best practices for how to become an eager conversationalist.
‘Sharing Jesus’ Booklets (available as a bundle or separately)
This booklet series tackles honestly and head-on the questions that people have been asking for more than 2,000 years. Who Is Jesus?, Why Did Jesus Die?, and What Is Faith in Jesus?, will help you answer these questions. Do You Know Who Jesus Is?, a booklet geared towards pre-school to thirdgrade children, is written in rhymes to teach children the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?”
The Eager Conversationalist/Spiritual Conversation Curve Workshops
The first workshop, Eager Conversationalists, examines the common characteristics of those who talk about their faith on a regular basis and how you can become more eager in your conversations. The second, The Spiritual Conversation Curve, offers help in getting past conversational hurdles. This can be done by focusing on someone’s “spiritual posture” to avoid a conversation that is forced or ill-timed.
ONLINE COURSES
Then & Now:
The Nature of Spiritual Conversations Today
Explore how spiritual conversations have changed in America in the past few decades. This course will equip you to examine the nature of your own spiritual conversations and encourage you to talk more about your faith.
Prepared to Respond:
Eager to Share: The DNA of Eager Conversationalists
Learn about the common characteristics of Eager Conversationalists. You will be equipped to develop these same key characteristics in your own life.
The Spiritual Conversation Curve
Find out how to discern a friend’s spiritual posture so that you can graciously adapt your conversations in a helpful way.
Three 20-Minute Courses on the Spiritual Conversation Curve:
Chat and Relate
Examine the important and loving act of building trust and deepening connections with a friend or neighbor who is unreceptive to the Gospel. This course will equip you to do this through chatting and relating conversations.
Share and Connect
Determine how we can affirm, to our friends and neighbors, Jesus’ relevance through sharing and connecting conversations. The course’s goal is to help learners share Jesus with their receptive friends and connect Him to their everyday lives.
Explore and Clarify
Explore the powerful act of encouraging, searching with, and preparing a seeking friend for faith. This course will equip you to do this through exploring and clarifying conversations.
SHAREABLE RESOURCES
Spiritual Conversation Curve Cards
Use this card to help you consider how you can engage in faithful prayer and fruitful conversation with the people in your life who do not share your faith.
In addition to the Spiritual Conversations suite of materials, LHM has developed a multitude of resources in partnership with Barna Group to help Christians strengthen their households, serve their
and develop their God-given talents. Visit lhm.org/barna to learn more.
Thred Digital Platform
As individuals become more present online, Christians are finding new ways to share the Gospel. LHM is once again a pioneering force for good in this space as we proclaim the Name of Jesus to people around the world.
LHM’s digital outreach platform, Thred at thred.org, introduced a fresh look and refined vision last year. While its focus on encouraging an open and honest conversation about life, faith, and Jesus has not changed, one of its main objectives is to help you discover how to integrate your faith into your online presence. Thred offers content through its website and social media platforms to take you deeper into the art of spiritual conversations, giving you practical tips and tools to share your story of hope and better connect with others. Visitors to the website can share ideas and learn from others who are creating authentic, relevant, and meaningful digital experiences. They can also sign up to have content delivered straight to their inbox.
BLOGS
Visit thred.org/blog to find relevant articles for engaging in spiritual conversations. Some article topics include:
• How to Talk About Your Faith
• It’s Okay to Doubt Your Faith
• How to Help Others Feel Safe in Spiritual Spaces
• How to Share Your Faith in 30 Seconds
• Cultivating Faith-Fueled Community Online
ONLINE COURSES
Your Digital Voice
Learn seven core principles to have more meaningful online conversations. Those completing the course’s nine lessons can sign up for the Digital Conversation Pledge, a statement of intent to use social media in ways that lift others up, seeking genuine connections and being mindful of others’ spiritual postures to cultivate vigorous spiritual conversations online.
Guiding Godly Digital Conversations
Discover how to connect with others in meaningful digital conversations, regardless of where they are in their spiritual walk. Gain insights into discerning where people are in their spiritual thinking and how to engage them more effectively.
Identity in Christ
Your spiritual identity impacts the way you interact and engage with others in face-to-face communication and on social media. Find out what it means to understand, embrace, and embody your identity in Christ in this digital world. u Chad Fix oversees the corporate communications of LHM.
New Course Empowers Teenagers in Spiritual Conversations
Spiritual Conversations: Sharing Life, Faith, and Jesus with Friends is a seven-lesson course from Lutheran Hour Ministries. It’s designed for teachers and youth leaders to help high school-aged students recognize and respond to opportunities to have spiritual conversations. Lessons can be presented daily, weekly, or even monthly, depending on the context and schedule of the group. Combining insights from Barna Group research and LHM’s commitment to equipping people to share the Gospel, this course includes interactive group activities, videos, data to consider, opportunities for discussions on Scripture and faith-sharing conversations, and more. “Amusing role-playing videos of teenagers having really bad spiritual conversations enhance the lessons and capture their imaginations,” says Chris Macky, content development manager and course developer.
by PAUL SCHREIBER
The Teacher Guide explains how to implement the course and engage students. Instructors are considered the classroom experts, but being an expert in spiritual conversations isn’t necessary to have a powerful learning experience. Lessons begin with a purpose and learning goals. Kickstarter Questions get students thinking on topic, while videos and group activities create a fun environment for exploring video content and related Scriptures. At each lesson’s conclusion, Exit Tickets give students the chance to share their thoughts, prayer requests, etc., in a confidential manner with their teacher.
The underlying motivator in Spiritual Conversations: Sharing Life, Faith, and Jesus with Friends is the apostle Paul’s exhortation in Colossians 4:5-6 to “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious,
“We
hope this course empowers teenagers to engage their peers in spiritual conversations …”
seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Insights gleaned from LHM’s Spiritual Conversation Curve and LHM Learn’s suite of Barnabased Outreach Essentials courses have played a key role in building this course.
“We hope this course empowers teenagers to engage their peers in spiritual conversations by removing some common assumptions about sharing their faith that might scare them away from these conversations. Regardless of where a student is in their faith journey,
we hope they are challenged to be a friend, not an influencer,” Macky says. “This generation is called the open generation because it’s comfortable talking about important things with others in ways that are nonjudgmental and tolerant. This is the perfect milieu for effective spiritual conversations,” he adds.
Visit lhm.org/schs to find out more about Spiritual Conversations: Sharing Life, Faith, and Jesus with Friends.u
Paul Schreiber reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work in the United States.
WMaximizing God’s Gifts in the Harvest Fields
by KURT BUCHHOLZ, CEO, Lutheran Hour Ministries
e live in a world where you get what you pay for. Lucky for us, our God is not a “you get what you pay for” god. Our God is the “you get what I paid for” God. We sure didn’t earn the Gospel and all it entails by luck or fate. It is simply a gift: a gift for you, not because you deserved it, but freely given because the Giver wanted to provide it for His own reasons.
Often these gifts are best seen in retrospect. God has a way of giving gifts in little ways that sometimes don’t appear to be gifts at all. But then He nurtures and grows them with His love, and they work through our lives as a blessing in wondrous ways both for us and others.
As we enter a new fiscal year of ministry, opportunities, and challenges, I pause to reflect on what God is doing for Lutheran Hour Ministries through His gifts. God has blessed us with the gift of partners in the harvest fields. In addition to nearly 300 passionate, dedicated, and talented staff members on the ground in more than 35 locations around the world, around 365,000 individuals are currently connected to LHM through our resources or
the sharing of their time, talent, or treasure in support of the organizational mission. God used this winning combination to accomplish some truly amazing things through LHM during Fiscal Year 2024:
• People around the world experience the Gospel through LHM programs, services, or materials nearly 235 million times each week.
• People intentionally provided contact information for follow-up more than 1.95 million times last year in response to LHM’s culturally relevant outreach efforts.
• LHM referred people to local churches and Christian communities for spiritual growth and nurturing more than 265,000 times last year.
• Individuals completed an LHM ministry activity nearly 420,000 times last year that equipped them to share their faith more effectively.
While these numbers highlight a growing Gospel impact through our ministry efforts, we know that God wants them to go much higher to reach the billions of people globally
who woke up this morning in spiritual darkness. This is why He has provided us with the resources to expand our ministry to Peru, Nepal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kyrgyzstan; embark on a bold plan for a multidivisional global mission rooted in localized regional leadership; and make additional ministry investments here in the United States.
The next question I’m always asking myself is “What is God preparing us for next?” I’m including YOU here! We are ramping up, challenging the status quo, and redefining what ministry looks like in today’s world. We are doubling down for the same reason that we have always gathered as laypeople through this organization. Because God has prepared the harvest fields and is calling for workers, for you and me, so that all might know Him.
God continues to bless us all through mission and purpose. Let’s not delay rolling up our sleeves to accomplish the work necessary to be the light on the hill that Christ, through His death and resurrection, made us to be! Thank you for partnering with us as together we fulfill our mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. u
Sharing the Hope of Jesus Through Project Connect Booklets
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
The Lutheran Laymen’s League and Lutheran Hour Ministries have been a part of the ministry of Zion Lutheran Church in El Paso, Texas, for many years. Pastor Stephen Heimer has personally used LHM materials and programming since 2001 and has used them in his church since becoming a pastor there in 2011.
One of the main ways Zion uses LHM resources is through their Project Connect booklet display. Originally purchased with a Thrivent Action Team grant, the Project Connect display has been available at the church for about eight years.
Pastor Heimer shared the impact the Project Connect rack has made on not only their members, but on visitors as well. One Sunday, Zion’s organist invited a guest musician to come play during their worship service. The musician’s husband had recently passed away, and she was grieving. While she was at Zion that Sunday, she picked up one of LHM’s booklets on grief and took it home with her. The next week, she went back to Zion, not as a guest musician, but as a visitor to worship.
“She wanted to let us know that this LHM booklet about grief was the first publication that was helpful to her.”
“She wanted to let us know that this LHM booklet about grief was the first publication that was helpful to her,” says Heimer. “She had read some materials about grief that she found at other churches, but she was so thankful for this particular one and wanted us to know it. Our organist eagerly took home more of the booklets to share with other people he knew were going through a difficult time of loss.”
In addition to the Project Connect display, Zion has implemented other LHM resources into its programs and communications, including
Providing Hope to Inmates Facing Hopeless Situations
Madagascar is one of many countries throughout Africa where inmates often experience harsh prison conditions and lengthy waits for trials. These challenging circumstances lead to many prisoners there losing hope and trust.
Given the significance of Jesus’ teachings on freedom for prisoners and the biblical call to remember and support those in prison, LHM staff in Madagascar, as well as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Liberia, have been granted permits that allow entry into national prisons to share the hope of the Gospel. These efforts have been recognized and appreciated by government and prison officials alike.
LHM–Madagascar’s staff members regularly visit prisons to
by CHAD FIX
share God’s Word and distribute Bible Correspondence Courses with individuals who are incarcerated. These visits typically reach groups of more than 500 where staff conduct sports league ministry programs—inside prison walls. People’s lives are truly transformed by the Gospel in these prisons, including a 23-year-old single mother to a nine-month-old baby.
Born into an impoverished family of cattle herders, this young woman had to leave high school after one year to help her brother and parents work on the farm. As many youth do, she found this life unbearable and soon left it to find a waitressing job at a bar in the city. There she met a man and abandoned her morals to follow him. He left when she
videos, Bible studies, Daily Devotions, links to Spanish resources, and more.
The Households of Faith and Gifted for More materials, based on research done in partnership with Barna Group, have served as an outline for a new sermon series as well as stewardship purposes.
“I’m glad to have all the LHM materials available to scatter like seed among my members and the community, praying that people will utilize them even if I never hear about it,” says Heimer.
Do you know locations where you can bring hope to your community by utilizing a Thrivent Action Team grant to set up a booklet display? Beyond your church narthex or fellowship hall, Project Connect displays are a great resource for community recreational centers, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, funeral homes, and other locations where a lot of people visit. To learn more about Project Connect, visit lhm.org/projectconnect. To find out more about Thrivent Action Grants, visit thrivent.com/ about-us/membership/thrivent-action-teams. u Megan McDaniel reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work around the world.
became pregnant, and her family also deserted her. In time she was accused of stealing money from her employer and was imprisoned, where she currently awaits sentencing. At first her family cared for her infant son, but after a month they gave him back to her to care for in the prison. No longer able to breastfeed, she feared for his life as his health deteriorated due to malnutrition.
Four days after her son rejoined her, the young woman met members of the LHM–Madagascar team in
“I am rediscovering my faith, and my strength is growing.”
the prison. She approached LHM staff and asked them to pray for her son. While she was powerless, she knew Jesus could save him. The staff members prayed with her and introduced her to the pastor who was ministering with the team during their visit. In the days that followed, her son’s condition began to improve, and she eagerly agreed to have her son baptized in the prison. “I am rediscovering my faith, and my strength is growing,” she says. “This feeling is priceless.” u
Patient Urgency
SESSION FOUR
Living the Paradox NURTURING YOUR FAITH:
INTRODUCTION
The goal of this five-part study is to invest time and energy into preparing for spiritual conversations by immersing ourselves in the Gospel of Mark’s dramatic narrative about Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we map our lives onto His story. Saved by Him and guided by the Holy Spirit, He becomes the model for our character. Meeting Jesus in Mark’s Gospel, we’ve noted two seemingly contradictory aspects of His character. He is driven by an urgent mission. Yet, as the mission takes root, buds, and bears fruit, He is patient with people—though not always with fig trees (see Mark 11:14)! And since the cursed fig tree is an object lesson for the urgency of His mission and His measured impatience when people don’t get it (see Mark 6:11 and 9:19)—this highlights the tension in Jesus’ paradoxical approach to outreach. The purpose of this session is not to resolve that paradox, but to explore the unintended consequences when we deny either side of it. Noting these consequences will help us hold the tension as we model our lives after Jesus. Following our Lord, we engage others for the sake of God’s kingdom. By His Spirit, they will see His patience and urgency in us.
A PROBLEM TO SOLVE OR A MYSTERY TO EMBRACE?
When we think about character attributes abstractly, we imagine people apart from real-time interactions with others. In the abstract, patience and urgency are contradictory, aren’t they? Patience says, “Slow down.” Urgency says, “Speed up.” Patience says, “Tell the full story. Paint the whole picture.” Urgency says, “Get to the point! Bottom line up front!” Without context, it’s difficult to imagine ourselves being both patient and urgent at the same time. But in context, we can see ourselves tailoring our response to each unique person within the complex situation before us. For example, we can imagine a mother patiently coaching her son how to tie his shoes, but then urgently shouting at him as he’s running into a busy street. Her responses are “paradoxical” only when we think about them in the abstract, apart from context. In real life, we can see how the mother’s actions are unified by love for her son. And her love is displayed in seemingly contradictory forms because her son is learning to wisely navigate a dangerous world. And sometimes he behaves like a fool (see Proverbs 22:15). So, mom responds accordingly. Likewise, Jesus responds to us. The first words we hear from Him are simple and direct. Repent and believe, He says. Now is the time. Don’t delay (see Mark 1:15). But we also see Jesus working patiently.
Slowly, one conversation at a time, He reveals the full scope of His message about who He is and what He came to do. At least 15 times, Mark’s Gospel tells us how Jesus aims to defer or delay the spread of the full truth about His identity and mission (see Mark 1:25, 1:34, 1:44, 3:12, 4:34, 5:43, 7:24, 7:36, 8:12, 8:26, 8:30, 9:9, 9:30, 11:33, 15:5). Eventually, He does want the secret to be shared (see Mark 4:21-22). But sometimes He says, “Wait.” He is waiting until the time is right. Even the Gospel-writer, Mark, models this approach. Right away, Mark gives us the bottom line up front: this is “the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). But then he tells us a two-hour long story to show us what that means. Following Jesus, we can’t settle on a simplistic approach for expanding His kingdom. Each hearing of Mark’s Gospel strikes us in a different way. Perhaps you listened last week and thought, “I need to stop making excuses. I need to tell more people about Jesus. And I need to start NOW.” Or maybe you thought, “I need to slow down and pray more. When I engage others in spiritual conversations, I need to ask more questions. I need to understand, not just to be understood.” Both could be faithful responses. When it comes to being a witness for Jesus, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
1. The phrase “patient urgency” expresses a paradox (two clashing truths that can’t be reconciled in the abstract, apart from context). How comfortable are you with paradox? Would you describe yourself more as a “black-and-white” person? Or are you comfortable in “gray” areas? Why or why not?
2. How do you normally approach a confusing or complex situation? Do you see it as a problem to solve? Or do you see it as a mystery to appreciate? When is one approach more appropriate than the other? What are the strengths and shortcomings of each? see next page
HOW MANY INTERACTIONS?
Read aloud the account from Mark 9:14-32. Count the number of interpersonal interactions Jesus has in this section. How many do you count? The first time I counted, I got four: (1) His interaction with the crowd; (2) with the father; (3) with the boy; and (4) with His disciples. But then I looked again. Jesus also interpersonally deals with the unclean spirit. Have you ever had an interaction with a demon? I haven’t, at least not that I’m aware of. But, as I’m immersed in Mark’s story and beginning to see myself in the universe he’s revealing—maybe I should be prepared for such a thing? Okay, so that’s a fifth interaction. But there are more. Note that there’s a smaller crowd and a larger one. The smaller crowd rushes over to greet Him (see Mark 9:15). The larger one gathers after the demon seized the boy (see Mark 9:25). And Jesus interacts with each group differently. Also, Jesus is engaging with His disciples in smaller and larger groups. First, there are the three who were present at Jesus’ Transfiguration—Peter, James, and John. Second,
there are the other nine who stayed behind (see Mark 9:2, 14). And the disciples sense the distinction: “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” That is, why couldn’t any of the nine left behind in the “outer circle” get the job done? (compare Mark 9:33-50, 10:35-45). If you were part of the nine, how would you feel about the two circles? Jesus has called each of them by name, but now they seem to perceive themselves as two competing groups.
So, adding all of those groups consisting of several individuals, how many interactions is that for Jesus?
Mark is nudging us to imagine how Jesus deals with every person, group, and sub-group uniquely; He meets them where they are. This is a complex social situation, with many contextual tensions, yet Jesus knows each person intimately (see Mark 2:8; compare Luke 12:7; John 2:24-25; and 1 Corinthians 13:12b). And He confidently and patiently responds to everyone there.
1. Noting Jesus’ many interactions in Mark 9:14-32, how do you hear His tone of voice when He speaks in verses 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 29, and 31? Is His tone different in each of these seven instances? If you were to put His tone in two categories: PATIENT and URGENT, which verses would go where? Or is there another category? How do you hear Him?
2. As a representative of Jesus (see Galatians 2:20), how does this encourage you to think about your interpersonal interactions with others?
Watch the video by Dr. Michael Zeigler: Session 4 – “Illustrating the Paradox” at lhm.org/studies
1. What is the result when we try to resolve the paradox by favoring “urgent mission” over “patient relationship,” or vice versa?
2. Do you have an example of when you have lived this paradox more or less faithfully?
CONCLUSION
Which should come first? A patient relationship or an urgent mission? We could try to pick one and resolve the paradox. Or we could follow Jesus and embrace the tension with Him. Doing so, it’s not a matter of putting one over the other, but of putting Jesus first in both. Without the urgency of God’s mission, our relationships become self-serving. We are like foreign ambassadors behaving as tourists, forgetting who sent us and why we’re here. Without patience in relationships, our mission becomes manipulation. We dehumanize people. We handle them like objects. We are like “friends” who call only when they want something for themselves, forgetting that our mission is relationships, and relationships are our mission. We avoid both errors when we let Jesus and His coming kingdom be first in every relationship. Remember, Jesus was willing to die for each person before you. He knows them intimately—every thought and feeling. And He counts the number of hairs on their head. He knows their need for Him is urgent. And He’s patiently working to save them—as He’s doing for each of us.1
Dear Jesus, “You strove with Satan, and You won; Your faithfulness endured; Lend us Your nerve; Your skill and trust in God’s Eternal Word.” 2 Amen.
1 Claudia Hernaman, “O Lord, throughout These Forty Days,” in The Lutheran Service Book, hymn no. 418, v. 2 (St Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006).
2 Note how the apostle Paul can speak (paradoxically) of a Christian’s salvation as something completed in the past, an ongoing work in progress, and a reality still to come, in the future. See Romans 5:9 and 1 Corinthians 3:15 (future tense, “will be saved”); 1 Corinthians 1:18 and 15:2 (present tense, “being saved”); and Ephesians 2:8 (past tense, “have been saved”).
IFulfilling the Great Commission in Our Everyday Lives
by DR KURT SENSKE, Chairman, Int’l LLL Board of Directors
n the Great Commission, Jesus tells His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). These words were not just meant for the first disciples, but for Christians throughout history. With billions of souls today still separated from Christ and in danger of entering eternity apart from Him, God has called all of us to share the Gospel message in our lives, homes, and neighborhoods.
Sharing our faith is not always easy, but when we do we give others the opportunity to know Jesus Christ and experience the hope of eternal life. It is about sharing the Good News in a way that transforms lives. It is about helping people experience healing, forgiveness, and the joy of a personal relationship
with Christ. It is about helping people to grow in their faith. There are many ways that people share their faith: offering our testimony of how Jesus has changed our life, encouraging someone to read the New Testament, inviting others to join us at church or in a Bible study, or simply being a good example to those around us. But how do we know the best approach?
Lutheran Hour Ministries has a variety of resources that will equip you for this critically important task (many of which are highlighted in the lead article of this issue).
My favorite tool, and I believe the most important, is the Spiritual Conversation Curve that serves as a roadmap for engaging in fruitful conversation with the people in our lives who do not share the Christian
Lutheran Hour Ministries Recognized as a Top Workplace
by CHAD FIX
Lutheran Hour Ministries was honored to be named in the Top Workplaces 2024 awards as published this summer by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. LHM ranks number 40 on this year’s list of top small companies in St. Louis (under 149 employees in the St. Louis area). This is the third time LHM has been recognized as a Top Workplace, having previously achieved recognition in 2012 and 2013.
As the nation’s leading employer recognition program, Top Workplaces awards celebrate organizations for their people-first commitment to workplace excellence. Results are based on Energage’s confidential, research-backed employee engagement survey. Participating companies are evaluated against the industry’s most robust benchmarks, drawn from more than 18 years of culture research. The survey measures culture drivers such as alignment, execution, and connection.
“It is extremely rewarding to have a respected independent agency recognize the quality of workplace that our team has worked so hard to build together,” says LHM CEO Kurt Buchholz. “Our success in sharing the Gospel around the world is a result of the commitment that our staff members show every day. We genuinely like working on God’s mission together!”
Read the positive experiences of several employees at lhm.org/ourlhm
The Top Workplaces program recognizes the very best organizations by partnering with the nation’s most prestigious media outlets to bring Top Workplaces to 60 markets across the United States. Eligible organizations can be public, private, nonprofit, educational, or governmental. u
faith. It helps you identify the spiritual posture of the individual you are engaging in conversation (unreceptive, receptive, or seeking) and then apply an appropriate prayerful response (gain a hearing, give good news, or guide towards faith). Knowing where someone is in his or her spiritual journey helps you discern whether it is most helpful to chat, relate, share, connect, explore, or clarify. Pocket-sized Curve cards are a great resource for reminding you of the basic features of the Curve so you can develop an appropriate conversation plan, or you can check out the books, booklets, and online resources available for you to learn more.
LHM’s timely resources have been created to help you share your faith
more comfortably and confidently, but it is important to remember that we are not responsible for the outcome of our efforts. We are simply called to share the Gospel message through our lives so that the Holy Spirit can work in a person’s heart through our testimony. Do not be afraid to proclaim the Good News of God’s love and salvation in Jesus Christ. Pray for guidance and wisdom. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words to say. And trust that God will use you to reach others for His glory and their salvation. Thank you for partnering with us in the critical mission to share Christ’s love around the world. May God continue to richly bless this ministry as we serve as His hands and His feet around the globe. u
NEW BIBLE STUDY FOCUSES ON VETERANS’ GIFTEDNESS
by PAUL SCHREIBER
Just released from Lutheran Hour Ministries is Called to Serve: Utilizing Our Gifts As Veterans. This five-session, video-based Bible study was written specifically for veterans. Based on research by LHM and Barna Group, it focuses on the gifting of veterans and how they see their gifts being used beyond the military. The study includes a leaders guide with details on planning and hosting meetings, pointers for group leaders, tips on coordinating tasks with volunteers, and a friendly reminder to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction.
Called to Serve is hosted by veterans Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour; Rev. Dr. S T Williams, Jr., pastor of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Los Angeles; and Rev. Dr. Steven Hokana, assistant director of the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces. Each session has instructions
for room setup, a scripted opening and prayer, meal-time questions, post-video questions, a closing, and a call to action. Each video features comments from hosts and veterans, with each sharing their perspective on topics like giftedness, leadership, utilizing one’s gifts outside of the military, being a mentor, and the importance of mission in civilian life.
Part of the impulse for the research and development of this Bible study was based on a lack of resources “focusing on the future for veterans,” says Jennifer Prophete, director of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project from LHM. “As I interacted with veterans, I noticed how many gifts they have without even realizing it. And, not surprisingly, they often didn’t recognize how valuable their gifts are to their families, churches, and communities. Most found their gifts helpful primarily for their military careers,” she adds.
Integral to Called to Serve is taking the 1520 minute EveryGift Inventory at everygift.org in Session 1. After this personal assessment, participants discover where their gifts (aptitudes, abilities, and skills) fall within the 12 broad
categories of gifts on the EveryGift Wheel. With this information, veterans will get a clearer snapshot of their core giftedness. From this, “you can better understand your unique combination of gifts and how to connect with others, not only at work but in other areas of your life,” says Williams.
Zeigler adds, “The military trains us with specialized skills. Sometimes it’s hard to map these onto civilian life. That’s why we focus on more fundamental giftings. These God-given gifts are anchor points that give us stable footing in a new career field. We may no longer be in the military, but we’re still caring for God’s creation, serving neighbors, and making disciples for Jesus. This work persists until our King returns.”
Using her gifts in finance, Anita Eickhoff, veteran of the U.S. Air Force, helps people with their tax returns, including international immigrants and refugees. She has also used her skill at church as a financial secretary. She seeks to “weave it [finance] into everything I do,” she adds. For Jerome Terry, U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam, his artistic gift is writing. He’s penned more than 3,000 sermons, two books, and is at
THE LUTHERAN HOUR HITS THE 1,000 MARK ON AMERICAN FORCES RADIO by
PAUL SCHREIBER
For nearly 20 years, The Lutheran Hour has been broadcast over the American Forces Network (AFN) at lutheranhour.org/afn. Along with its many entertainment and information programs, this government television and radio broadcast service provides The Lutheran Hour to servicemen and women on U.S. bases and ships around the world via global radio and television satellite feeds.
“I’m grateful AFN trusts us to share in this important work, and that Jesus is lifted up through it (see John 12:32).”
The idea to use AFN as an outreach vehicle for the Gospel was initially advanced by the late Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour, who helped make arrangements to air the program during the Iraq War. It began in 2005 with a sermon entitled “No Exceptions” by Klaus.
work completing a two-part text on the book of Revelation.
“ … We may no longer be in the military, but we’re still caring for God’s creation, serving neighbors, and making disciples for Jesus.”
“When we see other people as gifts, they become partners rather than adversaries. At a time when the world often feels divisive, and people are experiencing a crisis of purpose in record numbers, there is hope,” Zeigler says. “Hope for all who ask, ‘Why am I here? What is the meaning of my life?’ Our hope and prayer for you is that this study helps you start to discern how you are called to serve, utilizing your gifts in all areas of your life,” Williams adds.
“The topic of gifts in the Bible is vast,” Hokana says, adding, “Most importantly, remember this, you are a forgiven child of God in Christ. This is the greatest gift, and your talents are an avenue, as Jesus directs in Matthew 28:19, to make disciples of all nations.”
You can find Called to Serve at lhm.org/veterans, where you can watch the videos and purchase the study as a USB Flash Drive or a DVD. There you will also find the LHMBarna report, Valuing Veterans’ Gifts in Community; our Warriors of Faith Bible study; and Operation Barnabas, a resource of the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces.
The Gift of Christmas: Advent Devotions for Your Family and Friends
by PAUL SCHREIBER
“Since becoming Lutheran Hour Speaker, I’ve had friends deployed overseas within the military reach out to me to thank us for bringing God’s Word to them wherever they are in the world. I’m grateful AFN trusts us to share in this important work, and that Jesus is lifted up through it (see John 12:32),” says Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler.
The 1,000th broadcast of The Lutheran Hour on AFN aired the week of August 4. u
The Christmas message is timeless. Beyond all the seasonal trappings, the Gift of God’s Son rises above it all. This year to honor Jesus’ birth, LHM’s Advent devotions in English and Spanish pay homage to the King of kings. In Come, Let Us Adore Him, Dr. Kari Vo takes us through the Christmas narrative, shedding light on God’s hand at work in our salvation. In El nombre de Jesús (“The Name of Jesus”), multiple authors speak to the One who holds the Name above all names.
Enjoying LHM’s seasonal and Daily Devotions is easy. “What my family does is set aside a certain time each day to pray and read. It doesn’t have to be super-long,” Vo says. “Some people, like me, do better with a time later in the day, when they’re awake and alert. I have a certain chair where there’s a bit of quiet and privacy, and I do my devotional reading and praying there. The rest of my family chooses different places where they feel comfortable (but won’t fall asleep or get distracted).”
Advent devotions make wonderful passalongs to those in need of some good news in 2024. You can email a message to a friend, print out a few to pass around at your church or Bible study, or even enclose a favorite in a Christmas card. Perhaps the words from Vo's opening devotion will be what a loved one needs to hear:
“I love how John begins his Gospel—first the great cosmic sweep of “in the beginning,” with the One God— the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who has always been and always will be. This is the God who made heaven and earth, and all things in them, including us. … Who could ever dream of a God who would give His own life for the people He made, to redeem them from evil? But Jesus did. And then He rose from the dead, never to die again—and He shares that everlasting life with everyone who trusts in Him.” Now that is some good news indeed!
The authors for El nombre de Jesús are Dr. Héctor Hoppe, Mrs. Abigail Ramirez, Deaconess Erica Dona Jofre, Dr. Leopoldo Sanchez, and Deaconess Perla Rodriguez. Both versions will run from Sunday, December 1, 2024, through Epiphany on Monday, January 6, 2025. You can find them at lhm.org/advent and paraelcamino.com/adviento. u
Results Announced for LHM’s 2024 Election!
Nearly two-thirds of Lutheran Hour Ministries’ registered voting members cast ballots in the recent election to fill five seats on the Board of Directors for the International Lutheran Laymen’s League/ Lutheran Hour Ministries. Mark Duesenberg of Rocky River, Ohio, is beginning his first term on the Board. Linda Arnold of Oswego, Illinois; Melanie Braun of Tempe, Arizona; Vincent W. James of Boston, Massachusetts; and Gordon D. Tresch of Williamsville, New York, have been re-elected to their second terms. Each of these individuals started a three-year term at the July Board of Directors meeting.
As part of a change approved by the membership in 2017, the Board is responsible for appointing its four Officer positions each year from among sitting Board members. The Board of Directors has re-appointed Kurt Senske of Austin, Texas, as chair; Kristi Matus of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, as vice chair; and Donald Scifres of Greenwood, Indiana, as secretary. Eric Brown of Adel, Iowa, is the new treasurer. Visit lhm.org/about/board.asp to learn more about your elected Board members.
Thank YOU for voting!
Bylaws Changes Approved
During this year’s election, the membership also overwhelmingly passed a set of Bylaws changes that the Board had recommended for adoption. These changes will allow LHM to respond in the most effective ways for sharing the Gospel whenever and wherever it needs to be heard. The approved updates will:
• Extend the number of allowable terms for existing Board members to provide more continuity in leadership during times of change.
• Allow past Board members who have termed out but have extensive organizational knowledge to be considered as new candidates for re-election following one or more intervening years off the Board.
• Establish a process to ensure that all constituents may submit petitions to the Board of Directors to have them addressed.
• Remove obsolete language about convention voting since official business no longer takes place at LHM events. Review a copy of the revised Bylaws at lhm.org/about/bylaws_2024.pdf
by CHAD FIX
Board Nominations Now Open for 2025!
Do you know a mission-minded individual who is looking for a meaningful leadership opportunity? Nominations for the Int’l LLL/ LHM Board of Directors 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. You are urged to prayerfully consider the God-given 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 a current 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. To download a nominations form, or learn about additional eligibility requirements for nominees, visit lhm.org/nominations. Nominations must be received by Nov. 1, 2024, to be considered.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s election process! Want to vote in 2025? Anyone who gives a gift to LHM between July 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2024, will be eligible to register for next year’s voting membership. Look for a postcard in the mail in February 2025 with details about how you can register to vote in next spring’s election. u
LWML Presents LHM with Checks for Two Mission Grants
by CHAD FIX
Lutheran Hour Ministries was honored to receive initial disbursements of $50,000 each for two mission grants from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) during a check presentation ceremony May 23 at the LWML office. The two $100,000 grants were approved by LWML’s voting body at their 2023 convention and will help LHM share Christ with women and children in Central Asia and expand Gospel outreach to Hispanics in the United States. The first grant brings the light of the Gospel to a nonChristian area where many face hardships. Through Christian
training programs, resources, and media, families will receive messages of hope and salvation in ways that touch their hearts and resonate with their culture.
This grant allows LHM to work with churches in the area to spread love, strengthen relationships, and build faith in Jesus in communities that need it most.
The other approved grant expands LHM’s ability to reach Hispanic communities across the United States with the hope of the Gospel. Recognizing the vibrant and growing Hispanic population, LHM crafts tailored programming and materials through a by Hispanics for
Hispanics approach to ensure that the Gospel speaks directly to their daily experiences instead of simply translating programming and resources from English to Spanish. LHM spreads God’s message of salvation in their native language, nurturing faith and inspiring a deeper connection with Jesus.
“We are so very thankful to the LWML for their continued partnership,” says Lois Engfehr, LHM’s director of grants and foundation relations. “We look forward to witnessing the beautiful impact of these grants that will reach more people with the Gospel message.” u
(L-R): Ashley Bayless, LHM vice president of program development; Rev Dr . Chad Lakies, LHM vice president of ministry engagement; Vanessa Johnson, LWML executive director; Lois Engfehr, LHM director of grants and foundation relations, and Jeff Craig-Meyer, LHM president of United States ministries
Photo courtesy of Briana Exline
“He said he felt called ‘to spread the Gospel throughout Ghana and to the ends of the world using media with LHM.’”
LHM’s Director in Ghana
Called to Glory
Mr. Nicholas SarkodeeAdoo, the co-originator of LHM–Ghana who served as its director since 2019, died unexpectedly on May 26, 2024. Please join us in remembering his family, friends, co-workers, and LHM’s ongoing ministry work in Ghana in your prayers.
Nicholas often expressed joy at how God managed his life journey, instilling an early love for drama and art learned through LCMS missionaries into future studies of communications and mass media. He began working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG) in his early twenties to develop media outreach and was taking This is the Life films produced by LHM out to rural areas where he would screen them and lead discussion groups among youth. While serving as ELCG’s media director, Nicholas drafted a proposal to create a Christian media ministry that was submitted to the International Lutheran Laymen’s League/LHM and eventually led to LHM opening a ministry center in Ghana.
While serving as refugee secretary for the Christian Council of Ghana in the 1990s, he managed multiagency efforts to provide emergency care and counseling to refugees relocating to Ghana during a civil war in neighboring Liberia. Many of these individuals learned the Christian faith from him and
by CHAD FIX
later established a Lutheran church in Liberia when they returned home.
When LHM–Ghana’s director position became vacant in late 2018, Nicholas quickly joined the team after being highly recommended by the ELCG. He said he felt called “to spread the Gospel throughout Ghana and to the ends of the world using media with LHM.”
As director, he worked closely with the ELCG and volunteers to expand LHM’s ministry, helping launch an online radio program to nurture Christians during their workday and growing LHM–Ghana’s radio outreach from a single English-language program to outreach today that spans six regions throughout Ghana in seven different languages. The week before his passing, he joyfully reported that 1,600 students had just graduated from the ministry’s Bible Correspondence Courses. Many of these graduates were from non-Christian families and had not previously heard the Gospel.
“In his work and his life calling, he met people where they were—in prisons, hospitals, and at the café across town,” says LHM’s regional director for Africa and the Middle East. “Through his genuine love and compassion for others, people he met from all walks of life were able to see the light of the Gospel and learn of God’s love for all through him.” u
Now Is a Great Time to Create a Will
by CHAD FIX
Recent studies show that around two-thirds of American adults don’t have a legal will in place. This is why the annual designation of August as “National Make-a-Will Month” is a timely reminder for individuals to create (or update) their last will and testament. Even outside the month of August, the urgency for making sure you have established this critical legal document remains.
Getting your affairs in order doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming, and it provides peace of mind for you and your family members. Creating a will prevents family conflict, eliminates confusion, and ensures your assets go where you want. This is also a great time to review beneficiary designations on your life insurance policies, retirement accounts, or other investment accounts to make sure they are up to date.
You can also ensure a positive impact on causes close to your heart by leaving a gift for a nonprofit in your will. There are many ways you can use your will to benefit a nonprofit organization like LHM—giving cash, stock, real estate property, and more. Simple language is available to share with your attorney to make certain your objectives are met. Already have a will that includes LHM?
Many people have included LHM in their final plans and have not yet shared this decision. If you are one of these people, please let us know! For more information, or to tell us we are in your estate plans, contact LHM’s gift planning staff at lhm-gift@lhm.org or 1-877-333-1963. u
Take Your Students on A Gospel Adventure!
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
More than 33,000 students have experienced the Gospel Adventures: Awesome Australia program so far this year. Every year, in partnership with Group Publishing, LHM takes grade school- through middle school-aged children, and even some adults, on a week-long adventure. Gospel Adventures: Awesome Australia, an informative and interactive virtual learning experience, is complete with five days of FREE curriculum in two formats and bonus materials. Serving children ages one through 12, Precious Playmates Daycare Ministry at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Martinsville, Indiana, uses Gospel Adventures during their summer programs. “By ‘going’ on our adventure in the summer, our school-aged children are able to participate, and it creates more opportunities for us to expand learning for our little ones,” says Bethany Asher, director. “We start each year by creating a passport for all of our students. This breaks down the content to something a little more tangible and developmentally appropriate. We also try to involve the parents in the mission as much as possible by sending home QR codes with the daily videos.”
Asher shared how they add recipes and snacks as another way to integrate the adventure into their full week of activities. “We research to add more recipes and source ingredients online when they are not available in our local stores. This year, we added Vegemite on toast and kiwis. At the end of the week, we had a community barbecue with our church. Some years, it is easier to source food than others,” says Asher.
Gospel AdventuresTM
Listen to the Gospel Adventures Show wherever you listen to podcasts or at gospeladventures.org . The program is also available on more than 50 radio stations throughout the United States. Visit lhm.org/guide today!
“We encourage our children and families to participate in the Global Kids Fund fundraising effort,” she says. “We incentivize the giving by offering candy for any amount donated (this year, it was a Tim Tam), and the class that gives the most gets to eat first at the community barbecue. We really stress to the families that our children (even the toddlers) should be the ones collecting the funds. This is part of our larger commitment to instilling a pattern of giving in our yearly curriculum.” All the funds raised this year through the Global Kids Fund support LHM children’s programs around the world.
There is still time to register and complete this year’s adventure. Visit gospeladventures.org to sign up now! u
Gospel Adventures is Heading to Kenya in 2025!
Be
on the lookout for more info in the coming months about Gospel Adventures: Wild About Kenya and how you can register your school, church, or home school u
Congregation Spotlight: How YOU Can Join LHM’s Mission
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Congregation name:
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Location: Red Bluff, California
Congregation size: Around 125 members
Contact person: Pastor Dallas Dubke
How does your congregation support LHM?
When I came into the congregation 42 years ago, the support of LHM was already instilled in our members. Once a year, we would have LHM Sunday. We had an LHM Ambassador for many years who would present on LHM, and our members would give to LHM. We recently received a gift from one of our members, and within that gift was the desire to share a portion with LHM.
What was the motivation behind supporting LHM?
The support of LHM has been passed down from generation to generation. I remember going to an LHM rally with Dr. Oswald Hoffmann in Michigan, and I heard all the ways God’s Word was being shared around the world through LHM. My connection to LHM has been because of somebody connecting with me in a personal way. My brother had a significant influence on my life as far as having a mission heart and, of course, LHM was a major part of that. It's that one-on-one ministry of sharing Jesus with a friend that is so important to me.
What has been your members’ feedback? What do your members like about LHM?
Our congregation was searching for tools to provide for our members, so we set up a Project Connect booklet rack in our parish hall, and then later, we moved it to our narthex. A woman who had been a congregation member years ago as a youth came to our church in tears after her husband died. We visited for a little while, and I offered her a booklet on grief. I asked her to follow up with me, and she came back the next week and said it was very helpful. I like to have something that I can hand someone that adds to whatever ministry I’m doing. These booklets are very personal and specifically help the individual. These booklets have really been a blessing to our people.
If your congregation would like to learn more about how you can support LHM’s mission, contact Robin Forsythe at 314-317-4152 or robin.forsythe@lhm.org If you would like to make a gift of support, visit lhm.org/give . u Photo
from Pastor Dallas Dubke
Sharing Their Hearts for GLOBAL GOSPEL IMPACT
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Dean and Penny Johnson met in college at Montana State University. They married and after graduation in 1970 they moved to Glendive, Montana, where Dean began working for Montana Dakota Utilities as a chemical engineer, and Penny began substitute teaching. Dean was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior Lutheran Church 14 years later and was eventually asked to be the LHM representative for the church.
Dean served as LHM Ambassador at the church for many years after that. “Every year for LHM Sunday, I would give a short presentation to our congregation to share the different things LHM was doing around the world,” he says. “When I learned about LHM’s Project Connect booklet ministry, I brought a display into the church and ordered a variety of topical booklets to stock the rack. It quickly became a popular resource for our members and visitors.”
“One year I attended the state convention for the Montana Lutheran Laymen’s League District and learned about LHM’s work in Latvia and its program for getting Bibles to people in Russia,” Dean continues. “It was so interesting. From that point on, I became interested in getting even more involved with LHM.”
“LHM is very important to us and supporting LHM is just one way of spreading the Word.”
“Dean and Penny faithfully served on the Northwest Regional Leadership Team during and for the SENT Initiative that helped LHM nearly triple the number of times we shared the Gospel each week,” says Chief Development Officer Terry Biesboer.
Today, Dean and Penny especially enjoy LHM’s Daily Devotions and The Lutheran Hour and look forward to reading each issue of The Lutheran Layman to stay up to date on what is happening around the world through LHM. “LHM is very important to us and supporting LHM is just one way of spreading the Word,” says Penny, who
continues working today as a substitute teacher. “What LHM does to share the Good News is critical. It’s exciting to see how many countries they keep reaching with creative programs. We want to see all the ministry centers continue to grow and succeed.”
Dean and Penny joined a team in 2017 that worked with the director of LHM–Uruguay at a large Lutheran school. “Uruguay is the most secular country in the Americas, but the 1,200 students were hearing the Gospel during their one-hour religion class each week as well as events at the church next door where seminary students from the United States
were on staff,” says Penny. “One night, we attended an event at the church to celebrate the birth of Martin Luther. We were overjoyed to see the interest from the students and their parents who packed the room.”
In addition to their trip to Uruguay, Dean and Penny worked with the LHM–Nicaragua ministry center and have gone on mission trips to various other countries. “We are thankful for the opportunities to see how people in other countries benefit from LHM’s ministry centers,” says Penny. “The Bible Correspondence Courses and the programs that they have for kids and adults are making such an impact around the world. Their materials and classes are also helping people who are struggling with family issues, alcoholism, depression, and grief by sharing the hope of the Gospel with them.”
In addition to annual gifts through an IRA, Dean and Penny decided to include LHM in their will. “It is important to us that the Gospel is shared with future generations, and naming LHM in our will helps accomplish that,” says Dean. “It’s a very simple process working with the LHM staff to set this up.”
To learn more about how you can support LHM’s global ministry efforts through various giving options, contact LHM’s gift planning staff at 1-877-333-1963 or lhm-gift@lhm.org. u
Help Us Celebrate LHM’s Growing Hispanic Ministry! by
MEGAN MCDANIEL
In the United States, Hispanics are the second-largest ethnic population. By 2060, it is expected that Hispanics will constitute more than 27 percent of the American population. As a mass media Gospel outreach organization, LHM is committed to reaching this rapidly growing audience with the Good News of the Gospel.
“The future is bright for connecting with Hispanics in North America. Join us in these efforts with your prayers that God reaches down through LHM to bring the Gospel to those who have yet to hear, that they might meet Jesus and find a home in His church,” says Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies, LHM’s vice president of ministry engagement.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time designated to celebrate and recognize the rich cultural and historical heritage and contributions of Spanishspeaking communities in the United States. It can also be a time to educate and learn together.
“The future is bright for connecting with Hispanics in North America.”
When did it begin?
It began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to encompass a 30-day period.
When is it celebrated?
It is celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15.
Why September 15?
It begins on that date to commemorate the independence of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, which gained their independence on September 15, followed by Mexico on September 16 and Chile on September 18.
Who is “Hispanic”?
Hispanic Heritage Month is not limited to a single nationality or ethnic group but celebrates the diversity of cultures and countries that make up the Hispanic community, including the millions of people whose ancestors came from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and Spain.
Responding to the increasing need for Spanish resources in the United States, LHM continues developing and growing our Hispanic ministry efforts by pouring significant energy into growing our engagement with Hispanics through a variety of resources and programs (visit paraelcamino.com).
“I love going to get my groceries at 9 p.m. because that’s usually when I find that some Spanish-speaking young families are shopping,”
says Lois Schaefer, of Central Florida. “I want to share the love of Jesus with them and let them know they are welcome in the community. I’m equipped with two things. I give them a card about our early learning center at my church. I also have Spanish prayer cards that I got from LHM so that I can tell them I’m praying for them intentionally. Sometimes it will be the seven-year-old in the family that can speak English. I then have the opportunity to talk to them and ask if there is something in particular I can pray about for their family. They are quite often ready to come up with something that they could offer as a request for prayer. I just love the people of our community, and there are so many opportunities for new relationships.”
“Over the years that I served in the Florida/ Georgia District, we significantly grew our Hispanic ministry, and the resources from LHM were a tremendously helpful way for us to do that,” says Rev. Dr. Gregory Walton. “We’ve been very blessed through our partnership with LHM.”
Rev. Mark Eisold, pastor of Pelican Lutheran Church in Naples, Florida, says, “My heart for Jesus showed me the importance that we have as Christians to reach people. LHM’s resources are incredibly important; most of them are available online for any church to download, so it’s cost-effective. It is such a blessing for anyone who does Spanish outreach. Anywhere you go, and everywhere you look, there are Hispanic people, and they are a blessing, and they want to learn English. But in the meantime, and probably for many years after, they need to hear, read, and receive Christ’s love in Spanish.”
LHM has created a bilingual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration focused on raising support for our U.S. Hispanic Ministries. During this time, your donations to LHM directly support these efforts and continue to provide biblical resources and Gospel-focused outreach to our local Hispanic communities.
Visit lhm.org/hhm to learn more about LHM’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, including free Project Connect booklets and stickers. u
Broadcast Guide Updates Enhance Users’ Experience
by PAUL SCHREIBER
Have you ever wondered if The Lutheran Hour or one of our other radio broadcasts is available in your area? If so, online users can now access LHM’s updated Broadcast Guide at lhm.org/guide. “The new Broadcast Guide allows you to search for airings of LHM programs by zip code, state, and/or program. The zip code search gives users a map showing signal strength in their area,” says Jared Buschkopf, cloud developer for LHM.
Listed below the map is the program’s name, how often the program airs, the signal strength, the call letters of the station carrying the program, the frequency or numbers on the radio dial, the band (AM or FM), the day it airs, and the time. “The map also displays the locations of broadcast towers in an area and the call letters of the radio station transmitting from those towers,” Buschkopf adds.
“The map feature helps people see where they can listen to their favorite LHM radio program, and it provides a visual of the expanded reach of LHM programs across the U.S.,” says Ashley Bayless, vice president of program development for U.S. Ministries. In the months ahead, Gospel Adventures at gospeladventures.org, which features kids programming, a yearly adventure
Bringing God’s Word to Life for Young Viewers
by CHAD FIX
to a foreign land, and the Gospel Adventures Show, will have a broadcast guide. There will also be a guide for LHM’s Spanish website, Para el Camino at paraelcamino.com, which includes the podcast Sentido Latino, devotions, and weekly messages of inspiration.
LHM’s Broadcast Guide also links to faith-based programming at Family Talk Sirius-XM satellite radio. A link to the Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada provides access to numerous resources in English and French.
“The next phase of the update will include airing information for TV and radio specials, which we hope will be ready around the next holiday season,” says Megan Mehrle, manager of project management.
“The map feature helps people see where they can listen to their favorite LHM radio program.”
At the bottom of the Broadcast Guide is a handy, new option to listen to The Lutheran Hour. By dialing in from a phone, individuals with limited internet availability or without access to a local radio station airing The Lutheran Hour can listen to the weekly
LHM’s partnership with the SAT-7 PARS channel continues to support four original satellite television programs that are broadcast to millions of Persian-speaking children, youth, and women throughout Central and West Asia.
Young viewers benefit from two of these that are among SAT-7 PARS’ best-known programs. Golpand and Hashtag use storytelling to bring God’s Word to life and teach children core biblical values through interactive games, educational segments, and theatrical plays that are tailored to the audience (Golpand reaches children ages 5-13 and Hashtag engages teens).
These live programs provide a safe and valuable platform through which viewers can connect, learn about the Bible, pray for one another, and share their own testimonies.
“Golpand has had a big impact on my life and on the things I do,” says Deena, a young girl from Iran. “The stories we are told and the questions discussed add so much to our understanding, as do the Bible verses that are shared at the end of the programs. It helps us to be better connected with the world around us.”
“I enjoy the stories, songs, and ‘around-the-world’ segments on Hashtag,” says Nasrin, a teenage girl. “The most important things I learned from the program are to have faith, believe in God, and worship Him without any doubt. Whenever we have doubts or want to do something against God’s will, we should immediately think of the stories of the Bible and seek guidance from them.”
We look forward to a new program for youth this fall. u
message. Call 800-876-9880 and press option three to be forwarded to The Lutheran Hour sermon audio. Any landline, cellphone, or smartphone will work, and there is no fee. With these updates, you can hear the Good News wherever you live. u
Looking for timely resources for children’s events, holidays, and more? These fun booklets cover a variety of faith topics in a memorable way that is easy for children to understand. Many titles are also available in Spanish!
CHANGING LIVES AROUND THE WORLD with the Gospel
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Southeast Asia
LHM staff in Southeast Asia recently hosted two events One of them was an outdoor show at a local church By God’s grace and His blessings, the local authorities granted the official license and gave LHM staff permission to hold the very big outdoor performance for around 800 people. After the music, a guest pastor shared the Gospel message with the audience When he was finished, 80 adults and children asked to learn more about Jesus. LHM staff is grateful for the opportunity to reach so many people with the hopeful Gospel message
In Southeast Asia, 80 adults and children asked to learn more about Jesus .
The staff member encouraged Selin with the Gospel message and prayed with her .
Selin works at a bakery and was interested in learning more about Christianity. She connected with LHM staff in Central and South Asia through WhatsApp and began asking questions. The staff member encouraged her with the Gospel message and prayed with her . They continue to communicate as Selin learns more about Jesus
Cambodia Central and South Asia
with three children He is a teacher and learned about LHM–Cambodia through their puppet performance held at his school He started talking to the ministry center staff and shared that when he was studying to become a teacher, a friend had shared the Gospel message with him. Chun attended church for a few years, but when he began teaching at a remote school, he lost contact with everyone at church . Since marrying his wife who practices a non-Christian religion, Chun feels like his faith has disappeared He was thankful for the puppet performance at his school that encouraged him to reaffirm his faith.
Chun was thankful for the puppet performance at his school that encouraged him to reaffirm his faith.
The volunteer talked to her and shared that she could find comfort in Jesus.
A volunteer for LHM–Guatemala was at a Project JOEL youth event at a local school when he started visiting with some students . One girl was upset and crying The volunteer talked to her and shared that she could find comfort in Jesus Over the next few weeks, they continued to have ongoing conversations about her struggles, and she asked for his advice to make changes in her life He shared the comfort and hope of the Gospel The girl was interested in learning more about Jesus and began inviting some of her friends to join her for future conversations with the LHM volunteer.
Guatemala
Individuals around the world are reached nearly 235 million times each week with the Gospel through Lutheran Hour Ministries’ culturally relevant programs and resources . 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 .
Madagascar
Misasoa is a student at a local university and oversees the Lutheran youth group at her school While she was in high school, LHM–Madagascar staff visited her class. After their lesson, she enrolled in the ministry’s Bible Correspondence Course and earned her completion certificate. Studying the lessons gave her an inner joy . She wanted to continue following Jesus and make a difference in other people’s lives. When her father passed away, she felt a void in her life . Misasoa says, “Even though God has taken away my beloved father, He still assures me that He will always encourage and guide me through the Holy Spirit . I do remember my dad deep in my heart, but Jesus has taken away the heavy pain and sorrow ”
“Even though God has taken away my beloved father, He still assures me that He will always encourage and guide me through the Holy Spirit . ”
Carmen thanked the staff members for the daily messages that continue to help encourage and strengthen her
Carmen receives daily messages from LHM–Paraguay through WhatsApp She recently contacted the ministry center to share that she has been reading the messages for three years and sharing them with her friends and family She said that one day, the message especially touched her because she was going through a hard time as her sister struggled with cancer Carmen always shared the messages with her sister, but when she became too weak, she could not read them anymore. An LHM–Paraguay staff member recorded a message and prayer for Carmen to share with her sister and she was very grateful A few days later, she wrote to the ministry center again to tell them about her sister’s positive reaction to the video . Carmen also thanked the staff members for the daily messages that continue to help encourage and strengthen her
Paraguay
Russia
Solonicyn enrolled in LHM–Russia’s Bible Correspondence Courses after a friend referred him. He shared that the lessons served as a basis for his understanding of the Gospel message . He began studying the Bible and praying Solonicyn shared that he feels the Holy Spirit at work in his life and he is eager to continue learning more about Jesus.
Solonicyn shared that the lessons served as a basis for his understanding of the Gospel message .
Priscilla was excited about the impact LHM–Ghana is making on her community and wanted to learn more about Jesus .
LHM–Ghana hosted a holistic soup kitchen program where hundreds of people gathered at a park to participate. A girl named Priscilla went to this event and talked with the ministry center staff. Priscilla said that she also went to a film show hosted by LHM–Ghana and shared that the Christian message had a positive impact on her life She was excited about the impact LHM–Ghana is making on her community and wanted to learn more about Jesus and begin attending services at the local church u
Ghana
Make Plans NOW for the 2025 Rose Parade!
by CHAD FIX
Registration is now open to serve as a Petal Pushers volunteer who will help bring to life several floats for the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade scheduled for Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California. The Petal Pushers, a group of thousands of volunteers who decorate the Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) float and up to nine others each year, will begin working on the 2025 parade floats the three Saturdays prior to Christmas (Dec. 7, 14, and 21). They will then work two shifts a day beginning Dec. 26 until the floats are completed.
“I’ve always listened to the television commentators each year describe the detail of each float, but being personally involved provided a completely different perspective,” says Chuck Casey of Canyon Lake, California. “I couldn’t wait to brag to my family and friends about the experience and call out the portions of the floats that I had a hand in helping complete.”
“I enjoyed the camaraderie among the volunteers who come from all across the country.”
Individuals ages 13 and older can work as little as one shift or as many as they want on a variety of tasks necessary to complete the floats. Volunteers of all skill levels are needed; whether this will be your first time, or you are a seasoned veteran, there are dozens of jobs to do.
“I enjoyed the camaraderie among the volunteers who come from all across the country,” says Harry Schilling of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. “I was an aircraft engineer before retiring, so it was interesting to learn about the mechanics of the floats in addition to seeing all the ways different natural items can be used in their creation.”
“I have faithfully watched the Rose Parade throughout my life and volunteered to decorate the floats a few times,” says Laura McDaniel of Evanston, Illinois. “It is always exciting to see the transformation of the floats throughout the week, from the creativity of the artists who designed them to the variety of natural materials that are used to create them.”
Building off the parade theme of “Best Day Ever,” the 2025 LHM float entry is titled “Behold! Jesus the Savior is Born” and marks the 74th time the ministry has been part of the parade. The float will feature two heralding angels calling viewers to the birth of Jesus and to the church where Jesus may be found. The stainedglass windows of the church will feature some of the best days of Jesus’ life.
As the only Christian float in the Rose Parade, the LHM float carries on a mission of providing a Gospel witness to viewers everywhere, from along the parade route to televisions worldwide. The LHM float is a self-funded project of the Southern California District of the Lutheran Laymen’s League and is not included in LHM’s operating budget.
“While the majority of Petal Pushers decorate floats other than the LHM float, this work helps lower the cost of the LHM float being part of the annual parade,” says Dick Gast, chair of the LHM Float Committee.
Visit petalpushers.org to learn more about the Petal Pushers and the tour options, or to register to decorate. If you have questions, please contact Dick Gast at chairman@petalpushers.org. u
Two Tour Options Available
In addition to individuals registering themselves to volunteer, two tour options are available through Luther Tours The tours run from Dec. 28, 2024, until Jan. 2, 2025.
29th Annual
LHM Sightseeing Float Tour
Total Cost: $1,990 (double occupancy; no airfare included)
· Spend one day decorating floats for the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade
· Receive a complimentary Petal Pushers sweatshirt
· Visit a variety of historical and cultural sites throughout Southern California
· Attend the “Behind the Scenes Party” to get a firsthand glimpse of the finished floats before the parade
· Stay at a four-star hotel
· View the parade from a reserved grandstand seat Most meals are included with this package
4th Annual
LHM Decorating Float Tour
Total Cost: $1,090
(double occupancy; no airfare included)
· Spend three days decorating floats for the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade Receive a complimentary Petal Pushers sweatshirt
· Stay at a three-star hotel
· Attend the “Behind the Scenes Party” to get a firsthand glimpse of the finished floats before the parade
· View the parade from a reserved grandstand seat
· No meals are included with this package
Scan this code with your smartphone camera to reserve your spot(s) to help decorate the 2025 Rose Parade floats.
National Good Neighbor Day Website Makes Neighboring Easier
by PAUL SCHREIBER
Are you ready to join a movement that is making communities better, one neighborhood at a time? If so, National Good Neighbor Day (NGND) is the time to begin! On Saturday, September 28, neighborly activities will be taking place around the country. To help you in your neighborhood, The Hopeful Neighborhood Project (HNP) wants to energize and simplify your efforts at making the place where you live a better place to be.
To make your good neighboring a bit easier, HNP manages a website nationalgoodneighborday.org It is full of tips, insights, and FREE resources to maximize your NGND efforts. After you watch the introductory video, you’ll be inspired—and surprised—at how easy being a good neighbor can be! To get you going, a series of Getting Started Guides offer resources and ideas for libraries, local governments, neighborhoods and HOAs, and faith communities. An introductory Good Neighbor Guide is recommended for all.
To stoke the fires of your neighborliness, the website offers compelling stories of people in action, serving their neighbors and enriching their communities. Excellent ideas are offered in “101
Small Ways You can Improve Your City.” There are enough suggestions here to satisfy any would-be neighborhood improver for years. But if you somehow needed more, the University of Missouri Extension’s Engaged Neighboring Program has you covered with its own “101 Acts of Neighboring.”
There are TED Talk videos on neighboring; Love Your Neighborhood workshop videos from HNP; how-to resources on meeting your neighbors, planning neighborhood projects, and throwing a block party; as well as downloadable bingo cards and coloring pages. The website also features interesting details about the history and formation of NGND. Those needing supplies can get them from the HNP store.
“Being a good neighbor doesn’t have to be complicated,” says Jennifer Prophete, director of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project.
UTILIZING OUR GIFTS AS VETERANS
This new, five-session small group Bible Study will help veterans discover and share their God-given gifts with their families, churches, workplace, and communities.
“Being a good neighbor doesn’t have to be complicated.”
“God’s command for loving our neighbors and our neighborhoods is very clear in the Bible, and it starts in Genesis. He directs Adam to care for the Garden of Eden and the people in it. Your neighbors— your neighborhood—are your little “gardens of Eden.” In other words, caring for the place you live is fulfilling God’s earliest call and purpose for humankind. So, on September 28, if you don’t know any neighbors, see if you can meet just one, or one you’ve never met. It all starts with hello,” she adds. u
Learn more and check out our full suite of resources for veterans at LHM.ORG/ VETERANS
Addressing Topical Issues with Biblically-Based Answers
God’s Word has always been shared most effectively when people openly talk to each other about their hopes, fears, ideas, and struggles. Jesus did, and His people have been striving to do it ever since.
As more people today gravitate to the internet seeking answers to life’s most pressing issues, LHM has developed various online platforms around the world that allow staff and volunteers to enter into digital conversations with individuals and provide them with biblically-based answers for their lives. Vivenciar.net is a bilingual platform that offers relevant content to Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking individuals through downloadable e-books, topical videos, courses, and an opportunity to talk to a team of volunteers throughout Latin America and the United States.
Guadalupe is a young woman who was sad and distressed due to the loneliness she was experiencing. She shared details of her problems with friends, but they began distancing themselves from her for various reasons. She went online for help
by CHAD FIX
and discovered Vivenciar.net. She began chatting with one of LHM’s volunteers, who calmed Guadalupe down, pointed out the website’s content about loneliness, and invited her to download the free e-book on the topic. When Guadalupe asked for prayers, the volunteer explained how finding our best friend in Jesus will help fill the voids in her life. Guadalupe said she appreciated the advice and requested additional materials to learn more about Christ’s messages of hope.
Guadalupe went online for help and discovered Vivenciar.net.
María, a 22-year-old student, has been receiving professional treatment for depression for a long time. However, she doesn’t feel like it has helped. She began searching online for ways to deal with her depression and came across Vivenciar.net. During her online conversation with the ministry volunteer, she mentioned that she attended church as a child, but no longer does since she feels more “sinful” in that environment. This depresses her even more because she feels like she
Reaching Individuals Through Informational Booths
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
One of the ways LHM’s global ministry centers reach out to people in their communities is by setting up informational booths to display materials and resources. These booths offer an opportunity for staff members to talk with both Christians and non-Christians, share topical materials, and meet them wherever they are in their faith journeys.
Over the summer, the LHM–Thailand team set up a booth in an education hall for elementary educational services. At the booth, they shared topical booklets and other materials with the students, parents, community leaders, and government officials who were attending education seminars.
The next day, LHM–Thailand staff joined a local church to celebrate its 40th anniversary. This was another opportunity to encourage their partners in ministry and reach individuals in the area with the Good News of Jesus. They set up an informational booth at the church to share resources with those interested in learning more about Christianity.
Over the course of those two days, almost 300 people talked with the LHM–Thailand team and collected materials. Many of those individuals shared their contact information for follow-up from the staff.
The LHM–Thailand team is thankful for the opportunities to share resources and build relationships with members of the community. u
cannot do what God asks of her. The volunteer conveyed the hopeful message of the Gospel and explained how Maria should focus on the comfort, strength, and peace that only God can provide. While Maria was hesitant to accept a referral to speak with the pastor of the Lutheran church in her town, she agreed to talk with LHM’s chaplain pastor through the platform. After several conversations with him, she asked for the Lutheran pastor in her city to contact her. She has started attending services at the church and is participating in a variety of congregational activities as she strengthens her faith. u
Take time this fall to plan your legacy. Write your will or update the one you have. When you do, you will wrap yourself in the warmth of knowing you have taken care of everyone and everything valuable to you.