In 1960, the ministry of Dr. Walter A. Maier was honored by a portrait painting which was dedicated and placed in the Lutheran Laymen’s League’s chapel. Shown from left: (front) Hulda Maier (wife of WAM); behind her, Rev. Oswald Hoffmann, then-Speaker of The Lutheran Hour; and Dr. Walter A. Schur, chair of the Lutheran Hour Operating Committee.
The
Big Day was
Coming! By Gerald Perschbacher
D
avid’s phone call to the editor of this paper came out of the blue. “It’s important that a new set of readers becomes aware of Dr. Walter A. Maier and how he was like a modern Apostle Paul in getting the Gospel to the whole world as best he could through radio.” The call was not a total surprise. That’s because David Lah has been known and appreciated as the type of person who shows up for all types of church events, the debuts of Christian movies, worshipful activities, and social fellowships. His enduring love always remained with the Good News of Christ and the need to share it. Before anyone sent out a news release or made a special announcement, David knew that January 11, 2015, will mark the 65th year since the passing of the 56-year-old Maier, affectionately called WAM even to this day. Such was his influence and impact. David made the point that the book “A Man Spoke, a World Listened” was a proper title, even more than half a century after the 411 page book was printed. WAM’s young son, Paul, authored the tome. Older son Walter sanctioned it. “Dr. Paul Maier is coming to my church,” said David as his tone rose in excitement. He wanted to be prepared for that big event. For WAM, it seemed each radio broadcast was his own “big event.” Each was an opportunity to share Christ crucified and risen. From the first broadcast of The Lutheran Hour in October of 1930, WAM met every broadcasting commitment possible until a heart attack restricted him to bed late in December of 1949. Still ringing in the hearts and minds of listeners was his recent broadcast in which he explained true joy. “If you have no true peace in your heart but only fear and worry; if you have not yet learned to know what unselfish love is, don’t let the day close without having God bless you with the gift of (His) grace.” WAM always promoted the Good News of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior
for the world. WAM’s son Paul estimated that his father had delivered roughly 2 ½ million words in his 16 ½ years of speaking on The Lutheran Hour. The elder churchman wanted to share more, but his time was running short. At times like that, the memory of listeners and perhaps even that of WAM himself may have wandered to an earlier time in late 1930 as these words of his had been emitted from radio sets: “Even if you cannot analyze the incomprehensible mercy of Christ, you can believe it. Even if you cannot explain Christ, you can believe it…you can feel His abiding, pervading presence and His salvation….” Almost as suddenly as birth, WAM realized his entry through the heavenly portal. Much of “If you have no true the religious world mourned—but not as those peace in your heart without hope of the Resurrection. but only fear and Still, the dream of WAM did not die. The worry; if you have Lutheran Hour continued through succeeding not yet learned to speakers up to the present, each eloquent in his know what unselfish own way and Christ-centered as necessary. David didn’t know it when we talked by phone, love is, don’t let the but he would pass through that same portal the day close without next day, his Big Day. Yet, his encouragement having God bless remains lively and active as we heed the challenge you with the gift of to take the Gospel forward to new generations. (His) grace.” David had his way, in the end. Memorials were directed toward The Lutheran Hour. n Dr. Perschbacher is editor of The Lutheran Layman.
The Lutheran Layman November-December 2014
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