Celebrating the Past with Eyes on the Future

by KURT BUCHHOLZ, President & CEO, Lutheran Hour Ministries

Every year at this time, I find myself looking back on the year we have just completed. As a global ministry focused on sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with a world in need, the results are outstanding! Through the grace of God, Lutheran Hour Ministries is sharing the Gospel with people more than 163 million times each week. Last year alone, nearly 1.3 million of those people responded to our staff as they learned more about the faith that the Holy Spirit planted in their hearts through LHM programs. In addition, nearly 120,000 were referred to local churches or Christian communities.

Our LHM team is overflowing with talent, experience, and passion for telling others about the love of Jesus. And as a partner in our work, you are a critical member of our LHM family as well. Your prayers and generous support are making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of individuals today.

That in and of itself is more than I could ask for, but there is even more for which I am thankful. The joy is not just in looking backwards; there is immense joy in looking forward, too.

This great team is needed because we continue to have a great challenge before us—a challenge that I know you see as well. In addition to billions of people who have not yet heard about the transformative love of our Savior, study after study shows that many churches have not celebrated an adult Baptism in years, most non-Christians do not even know a Christian personally, and many who have grown up in the church no longer see the point. Many Christians are also more interested in staying in their comfort zones than walking through the doors that the Holy Spirit opens.

As great as the work that you are doing through LHM is, I can’t help but see the