Lutheran Hour Ministries

Summary

Lutheran Hour Ministries ("LHM") is a worldwide multi-media outreach organization. Lutheran Hour Ministries is a service of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League (Int’l LLL), a volunteer organization of 150,000 members. The Int’l LLL is an auxiliary of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and Lutheran Church - Canada. Utilizing the technological advances of the last century, Lutheran Hour Ministries seeks to serve Christ in all nations through its award-winning radio, television, print and Internet programming. Its directors, staff and volunteers work under the mission of "bringing Christ to the nations, and the nations to the church." Support for the work of Lutheran Hour Ministries is entirely by individuals and partner congregations. No denominational support is received. The Int’l LLL membership of more than 150,000 Christians supports an annual budget in excess of $25 million dollars. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Lutheran Hour Ministries ("LHM") is a worldwide multi-media outreach organization. Lutheran Hour Ministries is a service of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League (Int’l LLL), a volunteer organization of 150,000 members. The Int’l LLL is an auxiliary of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and Lutheran Church - Canada. Utilizing the technological advances of the last century, Lutheran Hour Ministries seeks to serve Christ in all nations through its award-winning radio, television, print and Internet programming. Its directors, staff and volunteers work under the mission of "bringing Christ to the nations, and the nations to the church." Support for the work of Lutheran Hour Ministries is entirely by individuals and partner congregations. No denominational support is received. The Int’l LLL membership of more than 150,000 Christians supports an annual budget in excess of $25 million dollars. Some of Lutheran Hour Ministries major programs are:

By Kids ... For Kids® is a unique "hands-on" mission project in which children from North American Lutheran elementary, junior high, Sunday and vacation Bible schools collect and package school supplies to needy children in impoverished nations, while studying the history, geography, language and culture of the focal country.

"Living for Tomorrow" is an ongoing multi-media outreach program using television, radio and print advertisements; a locally-established, toll-free number (1-800-LIVING-4); and voluntary support to offer area residents a free booklet and audio cassette package on communication, divorce and parenting issues.

The Puzzle ClubSM is a unique outreach program utilizing print, television, radio and the Internet to connect families with values lessons through the adventures of a group of junior detectives — Christopher, Korina and Alex along with their mentor, Tobias, and mascot, Sherlock . The Puzzle Club program includes two award-winning, animated television specials, "The Puzzle Club Christmas Mystery" and "The Puzzle Club Easter Adventure"; radio dramas; The Puzzle Club Family Activity Center (www.puzzleclub.org); and a children’s novel series, Puzzle Club Mysteries?.

"Red Boots for Christmas" is an award-winning, made-for-television, animated program sharing the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of giving selflessly through the story of a bitter shoemaker who is changed by God’s grace.

"Woman to Woman" is a nationally syndicated, 30-minute radio talk show promoting the spiritual growth of its listeners through topical interviews on current women’s issues conducted between featured guests and the show’s host, Phyllis Wallace.

"The Lutheran Hour" is the flagship radio program of Lutheran Hour Ministries, which airs weekly throughout North America and features 30-minute sermons by Lutheran Hour Speaker Mr. Ken Klaus.

"On Main Street" is a half-hour television talk show hosted by Dr. Dale Meyer encouraging spiritual growth in viewers through candid discussions of current issues from a Christ-centered perspective.

"Wired with the Word" (www.lhm.org) is Lutheran Hour Ministries’ award-winning home page on the World Wide Web. It provides an overview of the organization and its various outreach programs, daily devotions, RealAudio archives of "Woman to Woman" and "The Lutheran Hour" radio programs, "E-news" releases to keep media informed of ministry updates and the award-winning monthly newsletter, "Ministry Highlights Online," featuring the latest ministry news.

This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Lutheran Hour Ministries expresses its mission and vision as follows:

Mission: "Bringing Christ to the Nations -- and the Nations to the Church."

Our Vision: "We will become a growing number of involved and enthusiastic supporters who evangelize to an increasing number of people worldwide, connecting them to the church."

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

The following are several of LHM's programs:

"IT'S 'OUTTA' HERE" ... SPRING OUTREACH HITS HOMERUN

Beginning in January and wrapping up in April 2000, the "Living for Tomorrow" the outreach program has outdone the projected response goals (13,500) for the metropolitan areas, reaching a combined total of more than 18,500 individuals with free self-help materials and the message of Christ. Since its introduction in 1994, "Living for Tomorrow" has been used as an outreach by churches in more than 50 metropolitan areas nationwide and has provided free materials to more than 160,000 people.

"MAIN STREET" HEATS UP WITH "SEX, LIES AND INFIDELITY"
"Sex, Lies and Infidelity" is scheduled to air the week of May 7.

CONVENTION TO EMPHASIZE ETHNIC MINISTRY DOMESTICALLY
Since 1997, Lutheran Hour Ministries' ethnic outreach has grown to include programs targeting African, Asian and Hispanic Americans. This increase in ministry activity along with the need to reach out with ethnically focused programs in the United States will be the focus of the 83rd annual International Lutheran Laymen's League (Int'l LLL) convention, July 22-26, 2000.

"TEACHER TO TEACHER" GAINS UNEXPECTED POPULARITY
The response to the new "Teacher to Teacher"-Nicaragua project has surpassed expectations. More than 150 North American Lutheran churches and schools have signed up to participate in the program, which will furnish 2,172 educators in Nicaragua with much-needed school supplies and a word of support from the teachers packaging the materials.

The "By Kids ... for Kids" summer 2000 program, "Contigo en Nicaragua," has generated equally impressive support with more than 4,400 boxes scheduled for packaging and distribution. Children participating in "Contigo en Nicaragua" will receive school supplies, a Bible storybook, and personal messages from the packagers.

PARISH MEDIA TEAMS TAKE THE "NEXT STEP" IN OUTREACH
More than 1,500 churches of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod are now prepared to take the "next step" in media outreach. Through the Parish Media Team training program, Lutheran Hour Ministries has empowered these congregations with the media know-how to spread the word about the church and Jesus Christ throughout their communities.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Lutheran Hour Ministries uses the following to express its beliefs:

1. The entire Bible, which points to Jesus as the Savior, is the inspired and errorless Word of God. It is God's message of love and hope for all people.

2. There is only one true God, who exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3. God is the creator of everything that exists.

4. Adam and Eve, our first parents, were originally created by God pure and holy. They lived according to God's will, doing what was pleasing to Him.

5. Adam and Eve, the man and woman God created in the beginning, went against God's will and brought sin into the world. Since that time, all people have been conceived and born in sin.

6. Sin is living out of relationship with God, not living according to God's will, and thus transgressing His holy will in thought, word and deed.

7. People cannot restore themselves by their good works or restore themselves to a right relationship with God.

8. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. He is both true God and true man. He lived to fulfill God's law for us, died on the cross to pay the penalty our sins deserved, and rose from the dead so that we might have eternal life. He ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of The Father to intercede for us.

9. Because of Jesus' death on the cross, God declares a person just or righteous and forgiven. This happens not because of human effort, but because the justification won by Jesus is applied to the one who believes in Jesus as Savior.

10. Faith in Jesus is a gift of God, given by the power of the Holy Spirit; thus all the glory belongs to God.

11. The means of grace are the Word, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. By these means, the merits of Jesus' perfect life and atoning death are personally conveyed to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior.

12. Jesus will come again to take all believers to Himself. On the final day, all the dead will be raised. Those who are sill alive will be bodily transformed. After this the final judgement will take place. Unbelievers will go into eternal damnation, and believers into eternal life.

13. The true Christian church is made up of all believers of all times who believe in the Triune God and in Jesus Christ as their only Savior.

14. God wants Christians to join with other believers in churches which correctly teach God's Word and administer Holy Baptism and Holy Communion according to the teachings of Scripture.

15. Christians are called to tell others that the only way of salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, and to show their faith by their deeds of love and toward others.

History [ Back to top ]

The Int’l LLL was founded in 1917 by lay people committed to helping meet the financial needs of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Media programming began with the North American broadcast of "The Lutheran Hour" in 1930.

1930 - The Lutheran Laymen's League moves its headquarters from Milwaukee to Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis.

October 2, 1930 - The first broadcast of "The Lutheran Hour" airs from Cleveland, Ohio, with Dr. Walter A. Maier as speaker.

June 11, 1931 - "The Lutheran Hour" weekly broadcast is suspended because of uncertain financial support during the Great Depression.

February 10, 1935 - "The Lutheran Hour" returns to the air, broadcasting from Epiphany Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan.

October 20, 1935 - The third season of "The Lutheran Hour" begins, broadcasting from KFUO radio in St. Louis, Missouri.

1941 - Dr. Andrew Melendez is named speaker for the Spanish Lutheran Hour.

1945 - Beginning its thirteenth season, "The Lutheran Hour" is the largest regularly scheduled broadcast in the world.

January 11, 1950 - Lutheran Hour speaker Dr. Walter A. Maier dies.

1950 - Reverend Lawrence Acker, pastoral adviser for the Lutheran Laymen's League, is chosen as interim Lutheran Hour speaker.

1951 - Dr. Armin Oldsen is appointed as Lutheran Hour speaker.

1955 - Dr. Oswald C.J. Hoffmann is appointed as speaker.

1959 - The Lutheran Laymen's League moves its office to 2185 Hampton Avenue in St. Louis.

April 1, 1977 - Reverend Wallace Schulz is appointed as associate Lutheran Hour speaker.

December, 1988 - Dr. Hoffmann retires as Lutheran Hour speaker after his final broadcast airs from mainland China.

January 1, 1989 - Dr. Dale A. Meyer is appointed as speaker.

2000 - The Lutheran Laymen's League moves its office to 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive in St. Louis.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.

Research Analysis

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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

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