The Lutheran Layman

THE

LUTHERAN L AYMAN

September - October 2015

Your Partner in HIS Mission!

ChangedLives!

by Gerald Perschbacher

The world is filled with people who want to change their lives. Some want more money, some crave power, others want publicity, still more want peace, health, security—the list seems endless. see page 3

Ready, Set, AIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 five14 in Colorado

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Outreach in Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 What Would Luther Think? . . . . . . . 15 Handy Tools for Outreach. . . . . . . . .16 Joan’s Song

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speak ing up

by Rev. Gregory Seltz Speaker of The Lutheran Hour

One at a Time!

“They were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:37-38).

E

very Sunday on The Lutheran Hour, we get to the heart of the matter, don’t we? We preach Christ Crucified, salvation, restoration, reconciliation with God IN HIS NAME! We preach that because it is the foundation of new life, eternal life, now and forever. The one thing that I’ve realized about being the Speaker is that, even though our program and our resources reach over a million people each week here and around the world, we do that work one person at a time. I know that there are people who have come to faith, who are sustained in their faith, who are encouraged in their faith just by listening each week.

For all of you who have sent me letters and emails, I thank you for listening and I strive each week to do my very best to bring the Word of God to you as the blessing that it is. What a joy to share this together.

I think that’s what Peter is experiencing in the text. He gets to speak about the Good News of Jesus and peoples’ lives change by the power of God’s Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, one by one. I love that question, “What should we do now?” When it comes to the things that bring life, that sustain life, that give meaning to life—look to Jesus ALONE! But I want to answer another question that flows from that answer. Now that Jesus has blessed us one by one by one, “WHAT SHALL WE DO?” We Lutherans emphasize it clearly: we are saved to serve. We are blessed to bless others. We look to Christ ALONE for life and salvation, but for service—we look to our neighbor, the people God brings into our lives. That’s what I want to challenge you to do in this letter.

Listen to The Lutheran Hour, YES! Receive the resources of LHM for your faith, YES! But, take these resources out—give them away. Listen to the radio, listen with the APP on your phone, but better, share those programs and resources with others so that they can listen in with you!

With that attitude, can you imagine what could happen? I know that many of you have heard that we are trying to get This is the Life as well as a new, similar program back on TV. At this printing, that possibility is closer than ever. What you may not know is that my good friend, Gary Hall, a VP at FOX studios, a wonderful Christian man in Hollywood, is the reason why this all may be happening. You see, he called us. He wanted to help us bring the program back to TV. Why? Because He came to faith watching it when he was young. Years ago, people found a way to give this Good News away—and now look what God may indeed be doing with that. When I met Gary and filmed the pilots that are now being shopped around the networks, I was amazed at the commitment of this man who not only wants to bring the message of This is the Life to a new generation, I was amazed at his service with people in the LA prison system, with his joy in the Lord and his tireless efforts to give away what he knows is so precious to him!

One by one, person by person—I know that God is blessing people with our program and resources.

But, here’s what I also know. Such blessings shared, person by person, also is the legacy here at The Lutheran Hour and Lutheran Hour Ministries. What shall we do? Let’s imagine together what God STILL can do with people who ask and answer that question today! n

with Rev. Gregory Seltz

now broadcasting on the

bott radio

network

Visit our broadcast guide to find a station near you!

Hear Rev. Gregory Seltz on The Lutheran Hour and online at www.lhm.org!

L AYMAN The Lutheran

Vol. 86, No. 5 September - October 2015

Dr. Gerald Perschbacher (LL.D.), Editor • Denis Kloppenburg & Andrea Thompson, Layout Subscription: $5. Printed bi-monthly. Send color photos for use. Photos sent to the paper may not be returned. Lutheran Hour Ministries, The Lutheran Hour, Bringing Christ to the Nations, BCTN, By Kids...For Kids, JCPlayZone, Life...revised, Living for Tomorrow, This is the Life, On Main Street, Ayer, Hoy y Siempre, Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones, Esta Es La Vida, Para el Camino, Woman to Woman, Family Time, Teacher to Teacher, Reaching Out and The Hoffmann Society are ® registered marks, or SM service marks. The Puzzle Club is a service mark and trademark of Int’l LLL. Copyright 2015, Int’l LLL. LHM Response Center: 1-800-876-9880

Bringing Christ to the Nations — and the Nations to the Church

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The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

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LUTHERANHOUR.ORG

A Congregational meeting in the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Laymen’s League. This was the first district of the LLL, organized in October 1930.

ChangedLives!

And it comes through broadcasts, websites, online exchanges, and more.

HOW it comes is varied. But the One bringing success in the conveyance is the Holy Spirit of God, who enters wilting hearts and weeping souls that reach for more.

Much more, spiritually.

He even helps them in the “reaching.” from page 1 To state it simply, it often boils down to people The need for “more” is what the Lord used to wanting more meaning and purpose in life. motivate the financial founders of The Lutheran Materially, what they want and what they get from it Hour. “It is an unfinished task,” reported the Lutheran can be two different things.

Laymen’s League in August of 1930 as the clouds of A rich man came to Jesus and asked, “What must I economic gloom descended rapidly over America do to inherit eternal life?” Although the man kept the and much of the world. The Great Depression was laws and was a model citizen (Luke 18:18-30), he was deepening and would continue to worsen through the saddened to hear the Lord’s reply: “Sell all that you have decade. Spiritually, “Fields in our own land and abroad and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure are white to harvest. And we have not nearly exhausted in heaven; and come, follow Me.” The rich man’s life our limit of giving,” said the LLL. “What we need is true would have to change. consecration, the conviction that our Lord’s business is The gist of the statement can be summed concisely: our own and that our own business is the Lord’s.”

Put nothing ahead of God—and follow the Savior.

The dream was for an encompassing Christ-centered Period. God first; others second, and (gulp) me last. broadcast over the fledgling technology of wireless That’s sacrificial love. That’s a love that can make the radio. A coast-to-coast broadcast at that, delivered with giver bleed and hurt from giving so much. Yet, it is the all the integrity humans could muster and with all the sacrificial love that took Christ to the Cross for our total drive and expressive determination which a speaker redemption. could deliver. Nearly every sixth person in the United That rich man had spent time and effort to build his States owned or had access to a radio by 1930—a fortune. Yet, he lacked something inside. He wanted business that boomed even faster than the computer more. He HAD to have more. If the rich man’s feelings craze of our recent memory. and desires were not satiated by wealth, perhaps the It was estimated that one radio network alone Savior had a better idea. He did, and the nearly 2,000 reached 60 million listeners! year old story from the Scriptures resonated in the lives Prayers and financial support came from widespread of millions of people over the centuries right to the sectors. Sixteen laymen met for dinner in St. Louis. Dean present.

Fritz of Concordia Seminary shared the Changed lives. It usually Put nothing ahead of vision of a dynamic radio program fostering happens one by one. It can the Good News in Christ. By the end of the God—and follow the dinner, a total of $9,100 was contributed. happen thanks to a Bible or Christian literature. It may Savior. Period. God In New York City future notable theologian come from conversation first; others second, Arthur C. Piepkorn explained the launch. with a friend, pondering the Twenty-one people contributed $4,290. and (gulp) me last. witness of another, hearing a More gatherings were held in Milwaukee family member or a stranger. That’s sacrificial love. and in Rock Island, Illinois, to support

see next page

CHANGING U.S. RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE Between 2007 and 2014, the Christian share of the population fell from 78.4% to 70.6%, driven mainly by declines among mainline Protestants and Catholics. The unaffiliated experienced the most growth, and the share of Americans who belong to non-Christian faiths also increased.

26.3% 23.9%

Change

25.4% Evangelical Protestant -0.9 22.8% Unaffiliated ………… +6.7 20.8% Catholic ……………… -3.1

18.1% 16.1%

4.5%

2007

14.7% Mainline Protestant… -3.4

5.9% Non-Christian faiths* … +1.2

2014

* Includes Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, other world religions and other faiths. Those who did not answer the religious identity question, as well as groups whose share of the population did not change significantly...are not shown.

Source: 2014 Religious Landscape Study conducted June 4-Sept. 30, 2014 PEW RESEARCH CENTER

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

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Wartime soldiers tuning in to The Lutheran Hour

That happened because someone TOLD him the Good News of Christ, news that freed him from the bonds of sin and made him the good person he really WANTED to be.

ChangedLives!

from page 3

“a Lutheran Hour over a national radio chain each week.” More meetings were held elsewhere, and the funds mounted into the thousands.

Eventually, tens of thousands of dollars and perhaps even more in prayers were being given toward God’s mighty work of proclamation.

A movement had begun. A Christ-centered venture was started. A “Lutheran Hour” was in the formative stage.

The societal situation back then held striking similarities to today. “Do you know that less than one half of America’s population belongs to any church?” said the LLL in the summer of 1930. “Have you taken part in a canvass of a community which showed that less than one-third of the people were active members in any church? Have you ever wept over the sad situation that a large percentage of so-called ‘Christian’ churches are today anything but Christian? Where can you find a greater mission field than in the homes, tenements, shops, and streets of America? Will you take advantage of an opportunity to preach the Gospel in this great field?”

As The Lutheran Hour was about to be launched, a survey indicated “that 36.47 percent of the ‘listeners-in’ prefer religious programs.” They were searching, much as the rich man in the Gospel of Luke.

They found what they wanted. “What topic is of deeper interest to everyone, even the worldly man and the infidel, than religion? …Many a front door is opened to the missionary in homes where even the back door was inaccessible before…. The Word is the power of God…. That Word brings people to any Church which will but preach it truly and purely. Will this opportunity not stir you to prayer and action?”

All well and good, you say? Fine back then. But what about NOW? The need to hear God’s Word continues. People long for it. They need meaning in life. And REAL meaning comes in Christ. The rich man in Luke was brought face to face with that realization. Millions have also been brought there, thanks to the regular broadcasts of The Lutheran Hour.

Change.

It was happening, year by year.

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The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

Lutheran Hour Rallies were popular modes of local outreach for years.

According to recent statistics from the Pew Research Center, religious life in America is changing—and not necessarily for the good. In 2007, 78.4 % of Americans claimed to be Christian. In 2014 that dropped to 70.6%. The decline was most notable among mainline Protestants and Catholics. Yet, unaffiliated Christians rose from 16.1% to 22.8% (an increase of 6.7%). Non-Christian faiths increased their numbers by only 1.2 %, but that was still an increase. “The Christian share of the U.S. population is declining,” noted the Pew experts, “while the number of U.S. adults who do not identify with any organized religion is growing.”

On the plus side, the United States “remains home to more Christians than any other country…and a large majority…roughly seven-in-ten—continue to identify with some branch of the Christian faith.”

Unaffiliated Christians are “comparatively young” and the number is “getting younger” when you consider the aging members in established denominations.

Change. It was happening, year by year.

Granted, surveys done in the 1930s usually were not as detailed as those in recent years. Current studies are more discrete in finding trends and tendencies among those surveyed. There has always been a “gray area” between people who ATTEND church

well mannered, clean, and spoke nicely. I asked him, instructed the servants to do whatever Jesus said. When the moment was right, He turned water into wine, his first “What happened to you?” recorded “sign.”

“I got religion,” he said with conviction.

Imagine! Right in their very midst! Jesus performed Truly, there was a change. Everyone noticed it. The mean, dirty, filthy-tongued kid was nice, gentle, and a miracle! This probably was the talk of the town for likeable. The Gospel augmented change as the Spirit months thereafter. The disciples believed in Jesus. went mightily to work. The child spoke respectfully Everyone who attended must have been enthralled by and admiringly about God and how he came to know the results. Was God manifested in a man?

Indeed. And people all around Him changed. the Lord. The young boy’s parents and siblings also Even the Great Pentecost conversion (Acts 2) when changed. One by one, they confessed and seemed much more patient, cordial, and helpful. The Lord the mass of about 3,000 people received the word about Christ and were baptized, was a one-on-one brought a fantastic change!

That happened because someone TOLD him the event. Twelve apostles spoke in different languages, Good News of Christ, news that freed him from the each aiming at the heart of every individual who bonds of sin and made him the good person he really heard. Peter’s significant address put the Good News of Christ in perspective. The Holy Spirit moved mightily, WANTED to be.

When Jesus of Nazareth was invited and souls were saved. One by one, they came to the to Cana for a wedding (John 2:1-11), the knowledge of the Truth in Christ. Many heard, and the For more than 30 years, Dr. Oswald Hoffmann destination was less than 5 ¼ miles from change was individual. met with people of all ages while he Changed lives. It happened then. It happened a his hometown. Since he and his disciples was Speaker on The Lutheran Hour. were invited, and since his mother Mary lifetime ago. But how?

The Lutheran Hour commanded attention as early also appeared, the wedding may have involved his relatives. Mary took the as March of 1931 when the fledgling program was initiative as would a good relative and hardly six months old. A steam ship was bound for told Jesus that the wine had run out. But see page 7 Jesus chose to wait.

Realizing He may do something to fix Social media, online options, the problem, she

Second from left: Dr. Ardon Albrecht with cast and crew members of This is the Life.

regularly and those who IDENTIFY with being Christian.

Some of those people were born into Christian families, were raised by going to Sunday school and church at least on occasion, and still like the idea of attending a worship service now and then, perhaps only a couple times per year. Still, they feel they are Christian.

However, how many have a stilted view of what it means to truly follow the Savior? To REALLY be active in their faith? To have their faith be the MAINSTREAM in their lives?

Pew’s studies indicated that since 2007, there has been a loss of five million mainline Protestant adults.

The loss among Catholics may range as high as three million adults.

Regardless of loss and surveys, the matter of faith is individual. It’s a one-to-one principle with the Holy Spirit guiding and coaxing change toward the better.

Sometimes change can be quietly impressive.

There was a young boy, perhaps age 6 or 7, who moved into my old neighborhood many years ago.

He was rough-hewn, much like his parents. Poor, rash, argumentative, and brimming with filthy language, he cursed other children as they passed by, even throwing rocks their way. After months of this, the neighborhood was absolutely shocked when he changed, practically overnight. He became

apps, and more are parts of LHM efforts today.

LHM uses radio and print outreach plus special presentations to share Christ.

Changed lives.

It happened then.

It happened a lifetime ago.

But how?

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

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FOR DECADES ... individuals have contacted LHM with words of thanks for the proclamation and outreach efforts of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church.

Here is a sampling drawn from numerous comments over the years: “We are a family of nine, and as there are no Lutheran churches in this vicinity of Canada, you can be sure that your services are very thoroughly appreciated.”

– Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada

“We liked the program so much that we attended a Lutheran church on Sunday evening for the first time in our lives. …”

– Cedarhurst, New York

“I am putting my trust and faith in Jesus and am going to make it with His help. …”– Maryland

“I’ve been hoping for a long time that Bott Radio Network would pick up The Lutheran Hour. We can tune this station in clearly in central Missouri.” – Missouri

(Your words) “help me to lead a holy life. I am a Muslim, yet … I read your books. I have peace of mind now. I am losing interest in my religion. I will maintain this communication with you.” – India

“Though I am a Hindu, I find comfort and bliss in your programs.” – India “I am a graduate of your Bible Correspondence Course … and would like to tell you that the course has been … of great help to my spiritual life … and would like to discover more about Christ through your ministry.”

“All these sermons seem to be applied to my life.”

– North Carolina

“The object of writing this letter is to ask … about the love of God, the forgiveness that our Heavenly Father offers, and the work of Christ … I am a student.”

– Guatemala

“Your program has been a real blessing on my life as it has helped me to grow much deeper in the things of God … it is only my hope that you continue to preach God’s Word to a dying nation so that the people … will be saved. …” – Jamaica

“I am sure your programs have saved many lost souls, one of which is me, when I was going into darkness and now I feel different to walk in the light—thanks to God.” – Peru

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The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

– the Philippine Islands

“I am a student and have a problem in life, which I don’t know with whom to share it. It want to know about the principles of Christianity because I want to become one … do I break your rule if I, as a Buddhist, become a Christian?” – Thailand “Your programs have always kept me at peace with myself. What I heard has awakened a dormant feeling and hunger for God’s Word ... listening to your program has brightened my lonely moments.”

– the Philippine Islands

ChangedLives!

Changed lives.

One at a time. from page 5

Bermuda. “The company of passengers was gathered in the salon of the steamer. It was Thursday evening.

The radio was turned on and some dance music … (played) while the company was engaged in a game of bridge. A few minutes before 10 p.m. a middle-aged woman stepped into the circle of fellow-passengers… and said that she had a request to make. ‘Would you permit me to tune in The Lutheran Hour…? I never fail to listen in.’ The company at once assented, and one of the men turned the dial to the New York station. The entire gathering of passengers listened to the program until it was concluded. The cards remained untouched on the table. There was no stir, no interruption, and none left the room.” This was reported as “one of the thousands of incidents on record if the whole story of The Lutheran Hour could be told.”

The program grew to become one of the earliest success stories of radio history.

More than that, it made PROCLAMATION history, too, as nearly every populated spot in North America could catch the dynamic delivery of Dr. Walter A. Maier. By 1940, that Word was winging over much of the globe.

Here was news of the Savior brought on the airwaves into the towns, villages, homes, shops, and hearts of literally millions of listeners who paused to hear. Maier stated: “Misery has come to millions who know no faith stronger than a trust in steel and stones and bank accounts….The Lutheran Hour purposes a faith built not upon towering heights of skyscrapers, but upon the love of God; a faith founded not on hoarded wealth and gilt-edged bonds, but upon the Scriptures and the sacred promise of our heavenly Father; a faith that strengthens the mind and heart for every challenge life offers.”

In succeeding years other voices on the program each hit the same “Gospel-mark” in ways that the Holy Spirit imbued with soul-saving authority. Yet, it was clear that radio was not the sole conveyor of the Good News. It never even intended to be!

Realizing the impact of God’s Word when the verbal was coupled with the visual, the LLL entered the film realm with a series of programs, perhaps the best known of them being “Youth for the Kingdom.” By early 1947 the sound motion picture had been viewed “in numerous public places and in about 1,800 of our churches….One pastor wished to obtain a film for himself in order to show it once a month for an entire year,” the LLL reported. “It has been said, ‘He who controls Hollywood, controls the thinking of the nation.’ ‘Youth for the Kingdom’ will influence the thinking of those who view it.”

Changed lives.

That’s what the Gospel is all about.

An educational movement accompanied the outreach.

Seminars were held across the land. Speakers on TLH were in demand at events. Other men of the Word spoke at numerous gatherings, emphasizing the need for proclamation. Christian summer camps were opened, where youth and youngsters received Christ-centered encouragement. The LLL structured itself for action in congregations, bringing the Word to people throughout the week via special events.

A movement of the Gospel was in full swing.

Lives were changed then and in successive years.

“Our goal is to enroll…groups that will be of real service to their congregations and especially to the Lord,” said Blake Wolf in 1978. As a staff member for what would be known as Lutheran Hour Ministries, he put shoulder to the proverbial plow and worked to bring a bounty in God’s Kingdom. He and other staff members were far from being alone in the effort. Well over 100,000 people had joined prayerfully and financially in that same endeavor of Bringing Christ to the Nations…then the number was boosted to 150,000…and even beyond!”

“Imagine gazing into the eyes of Jesus!” said Rev. Lyle Baker that same year, supported by fellow staff members James Shaw and Matt Welser who aimed to enlist more young adults in the Lord’s work of proclamation. Jesus’ “look penetrates deep inside. Truer acceptance and total love flow from Him, melting our every fear and inhibition. Peace and tranquility shine with the glory of His goodness as He opens His mouth to speak. The words ring with assurance, power, and conviction, ‘You shall be My witnesses…even to the ends of the earth.’”

By 1984, more work was being done on television.

The same basic proclamation of The Lutheran Hour then included This is the Life on TV and a special five-part mini-series on national television: YESHUA (tracing the life and ministry of Jesus Christ).

Tens of thousands responded to the program. One viewer wrote, “The series couldn’t have come at a better time. I felt it helped me obtain a deeper understanding of the Gospel message.” A pastor said this: “I welcome the evangelical outreach, both national and Today youth international….” and young adults are Changed lives. One at a time. reached by Sometimes in large numbers, but five14 each an individual. That’s how Christ was meeting them. That’s how He STILL meets them.

Now Lutheran Hour Ministries is Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church in ways totally unknown some years ago. There is an online presence regularly updated at www.lhm.org, with varied options for hearing the Word of God and realizing its effectiveness. The Men’s NetWork assists in stirring up individuals and groups for service to their Lord. By God’s grace and motivation special efforts such as five14 and Project Connect plus overseas inter-cultural engagements like LHM Volunteer Teams continue the sharing of Christ and His Word. Blogs abound, events sprout, and grace is shared.

You are probably a part of this work already. Your interest in its continuance is important. It is an opportunity to stand beside the Lord and proclaim His message in ways YOU may never have dreamed even a few scant years ago.

YOU are LHM. If you didn’t realize it earlier, you can now. Each prayer you send forth for the advance of the Lord’s Good News, each dollar you contribute, each moment you spend in sharing, adds to the mighty advance of the News that saves.

New opportunities abound. Brad Neathery of LHM’s Constituent Services reports that in May, Lutheran Hour Ministries members were given the opportunity to support the new venture to carry The Lutheran Hour on all 100 outlets of the Bott Radio Network. To date, 300 people have responded with nearly $20,000 in total donations. Such is their dedication.

Changed lives. That’s what the Gospel is all about.

You probably are, too. n Dr. Gerald Perschbacher serves as editor of The Lutheran Layman and manages the LHM Research Center Archives.

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

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a y n Ke

A New Day for Prison Outreach in

by Greg Koenig

W

“

e had come to know that not all who are called come,” John Maina reflects. “We waited, unsure what the outcome would be.”

John is the Director of Lutheran Hour Ministries—Kenya, which is also known as Nuru Lutheran Media Ministry. For 2015, John and the Nuru staff have embraced a vision for revitalized ministry in one of Kenya’s most challenging mission fields: prisons.

Involving local congregations was an important aspect of that vision. “We met with leaders from Lutheran congregations in Nairobi about a new evangelism plan to reach the city,” John relates. One component of the plan was to recruit church choirs to help lead prison worship events.

“The leaders were excited about the idea,” John says, but when an opportunity arose at Nairobi West Prison and Nuru’s Isaac Ngala sent out an invitation to Nairobi choirs, John and Isaac wrestled with doubt. Would anyone answer the call?

“Then we received a response from the Samaria choir at Kawangware Lutheran Church,” says John. “They were ready to go!”

The choir outreach is just one of the strategies that LHM’s Nuru ministry center is initiating in Kenya. Maina outlines five areas in which the Nuru center’s work has been re-tooled for more effective witness: Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC). Nuru has streamlined the “correspondence” part of its Bible courses. Trained on-site volunteers, rather than workers at the Nuru office, now grade BCC lessons that prisoners submit—which reduces

turnaround time and mailing costs.

Holistic outreach to young women.

Nuru is continuing to invest in its Reaching Rahab and Prison Mums programs, which equip Eighteen members of Kawangware young women Evangelical Lutheran Churches convicted and stepped out of their comfort zone incarcerated to witness in song to prisoners for prostitution at Nairobi West Prison. and other crimes to earn a legal living by operating love and message of Jesus in prisons. Men’s small businesses. The programs include Bifellowships and choirs such as Kawangware ble study and spiritual support. Maina reports Lutheran’s Samaria choir are stepping up. a recent surge in interest and attendance.

Maina is encouraged by the Drama teams. Nuru recruits and trains groups choir event at Nairobi West. composed entirely of prisoners to use drama “It was a memorable moment for both to reach other prisoners with the Gospel. Acthe choir and the prisoners,” he says. “Most cording to Maina, the impact has been great. of the choir members had never stepped More prisons, more prisoners. The Nuru team into a prison—and for that matter, never had has expanded its outreach to prisons in the western this prison ever been visited by a choir! region of Kenya. This spring the team reinstated its “The choir presented songs that told of the ministry at Kamiti Maximum Prison in the western faithful love of the Lord,” Maina says. “The response capital of Kakamega, which houses 1,200 inmates. was overwhelming, and the choir members agreed Involvement of local congregations. Nuru that their entire perspective had been changed by is working with an increasing number of Luthe short time that they had shared with the pristheran congregations in Kenya to share the oners. They’re looking forward to more visits.” n

For additional information about the work of LHM’s Kenya outreach center in holistic ministry, prison ministry, children’s ministry—and more!—visit nurulhm.blogspot.com.

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The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

LHM—Kenya’s Isaac Ngala shares the Word of God with inmates at the Kakamega Prison in Western Kenya. According to ministry center Director John Maina, “We were gladly received by the prison fraternity who welcomed us back, for they valued our contribution to the prisoners.”

Certain Action in Ministry segments heard on The Lutheran Hour are expanded visually online via a Vimeo connection.

Shown is Artis Purins who, directs the LHM ministry center in Latvia. Go to www.lhm.org and follow options for The Lutheran Hour.

Ready, Set, AIM:

Keeping Ministry FRONT and CENTER

by Paul Schreiber

Since May 3 The Lutheran Hour radio program began airing a segment called, “Action in Ministry” (AIM). These brief features are designed to highlight the church at work, showing love in deeds and in words of witness to God’s love in Christ. The goal is to see the church in action, not as a judgmental club, but as God’s people who show love to the world. The segments follow the sermon and highlight LHM’s domestic and international outreach as well as other ministries. They precede the Q&A portion at the end the broadcast, giving each program a three-part structure: proclamation (sermon), collaboration (AIM), and application (Q&A).

“We designed Action in Ministry to present a global view of how God is working through Lutheran Hour Ministries in various ways,” says Mark Eischer, senior radio producer for Lutheran Hour Ministries. “Dr. Martin Luther once said, ‘God doesn’t need our good works, but our neighbor does.’ God accomplishes His work even through flawed, imperfect instruments like you and me. In these weekly AIM features you’ll hear these ministry stories, and also you’ll hear about various resources that are available to you. The focus is on encouraging the listener to take action “God doesn’t and use these resources.” need our good A quick look at previous AIM segments includes international content as diverse as the works, but our status of Christians in Mongolia; an update on neighbor does.” the battle against Ebola in Liberia and West Africa; and sharing Jesus in public schools in Jamaica.

Closer to home we’ve looked at the blessings of civic freedoms enjoyed by those in the United States and Canada; and a poignant interview with Ms. Pat Burke, a featured personality in The Journey from Unbelief to Faith, a recent Bible study from LHM. Two AIM segments in particular resonated deeply with listeners. On June 14, Speaker Rev. Gregory Seltz, along with Eischer, interviewed Fadi Khairallah, director of LHM—Lebanon (aka Middle East Lutheran Ministry), with its ministry center in Beirut, Lebanon. In a program entitled, “Syrian Refugees Created

by ISIS,” he described the complex state of affairs in Lebanon and how LHM— Lebanon is responding in Christian love and charity to help these displaced families. Working with staff and volunteers to help alleviate the plight of these war-ravaged refugees, Khairallah opened a window for listeners into the lives of these desperate people.

The strongest response LHM has received to date was an AIM interview on July 12 with Dr. Carol Geisler, who authored a Project Connect booklet called, A Treasure Revealed: Martin Luther and the Events of the Reformation.

Informative and insightful, this little volume introduces Luther and shares some of the key insights God led him to rediscover, namely, that salvation is by grace through faith! It’s also a fine companion primer to the just released Bible study from LHM, A Man Named Martin—Part 1: The Man. Both segments drew strong listener response in terms of LHM materials requested and financial support offered.

The purpose of AIM is to further enhance an already Christ-centered broadcast with takeaway tools and resources for both churched and unchurched listeners to use. Jim Arand, program director of media for LHM, put it this way: “We want to encourage people to be in action with us. As we look around the world we see the need more than ever for the peace that comes through Christ. The Lutheran Hour program reaches all corners of the world, and we want to use that platform to not only proclaim the Gospel, but also to encourage, build up, and put the Gospel in the hands of those feeling the tug of the Spirit calling them.” n In addition to the AIM segment interview, supplemental resources are offered that expand that week’s topic. You can listen to previous AIM segments, along with the entire program of The Lutheran Hour, by going to www.lutheranhour.org.

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The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

9

: 4 1 five

e c a F s n e e s T e u s s I l a i c e p S As a variety of concerns accelerate among young people, five14 offers real answers.

by Paul Schreiber

G

ROWING UP JUST ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE — or so it seems. Young people in the 21st century face a baffling array of issues that can derail them at any turn.

Accelerated are concerns like family break-ups, bullying and extreme peer pressure, violence, gender-related questions, alcohol and drug abuse, money, stress over studies and an uncertain future, eating disorders, and a struggling economy— you may have a few more of your own to add.

Addressing questions like these was one focus of “Collide,” the Rocky Mountain District Youth Gathering held June 18-20 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colorado. Using Collide as a theme showed that when two things come into contact with each other—at least one of them will change. As Collide’s promo materials stated, “The same thing happens every time someone collides with Jesus; they always leave changed.”

The event saw some 300 young people in attendance. Their weekend was packed with keynote speaker presentations, live music, age-appropriate breakout sessions, mission trip options into the community, time afterwards to evaluate their mission efforts, and plenty of opportunities 10

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

for youth to interact with each other as well as the youth leaders and pastoral staff present.

Orchestrating this gathering, also known as an “Amped Event,” was unPaved Ministries, a ministry team that works with pastors and youth leaders “in equipping students to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with their communities through acts of service and love in Jesus’ Name,” according to its website. Production decisions from audio and video to lighting and music and speaker selection are handled by unPaved.

Lutheran Hour Ministries was up front with its ministry presence through five14, which “builds community” where teens and young adults get together online and in person to make a life-changing impact on their generation with the love of Jesus Christ.

“UnPaved Ministries coordinates the involvement of all the speakers, workshop presenters, musicians, and entertainment. So five14 and UnPaved work with the district to decide on an event theme, which then permeates throughout the workshops, mass event sessions, and youth group devotions,” reports Philip Gruenwald, social media marketing specialist with LHM and one of the five14 presenters at the event. Other five14 team members attending Collide were Annie Hutchison, Jessica Bordeleau, Jordan Reinwald, and Sarah Guldalian.

With a willingness to disclose difficult issues

they were facing, the youth offered honest feedback to their peers and adults. Gruenwald adds, “At the first mass event, the youth were asked to anonymously share struggles they face via a text message app that displays the messages on a screen. Some of us were moved to tears to learn of the pain and challenges these youth experience: depression, sexual abuse, addiction, anxiety, and more. There has never been a greater need to support and encourage our church’s youth.”

Collide’s four mass events gave everyone in attendance a chance to gather together and ex-

five14 — a cool time with the Gospel!

perience things on a larger scale. At these times, the impact of in-depth teaching, group worship, and a spirit of fellowship served to initiate real learning experiences. “The personal stories the speakers shared in the mass event and breakout sessions empowered the youth to share their faith. They saw examples of how to reach out with their faith with courage,” Bordeleau explains.

The five14 team led workshops on using social media for outreach, facing rejection, being a man of faith, becoming a God-following woman, shining your light even when life seems boring, seeking a vocational purpose in Christ, and being a bright light in a dark world. Increasing these workshops’ takeaway value is the fact that each contains an outreach component, making it practical for use by participants in real-life situations. “Our presentations deal with God’s love and light, so teens hear the real-deal testimonies of those around them.

They hear the sad things, but then they really hear how Jesus got involved in their situation. The message we share doesn’t play down to them because of their age or youth. Instead, we meet them to discuss the elevation of Christ’s love versus the world’s weapons of mass distraction,” explains Reinwald.

Clearly, five14 workshops are designed to help attendees share the Gospel with confidence. That being said, how we convey this message demands our attention as well. “In the workshop I lead about social media outreach, I encourage the youth to be gentle in your demeanor, not your doctrine. In other words, we can be confident the Word we share is God’s divine truth; however, our approach should be warm and amiable,” Gruenwald notes.

The lion’s share of Friday’s event was the off-campus “mission trip,” where leaders and youth engaged in food distribution activities, Gospel-sharing encounters, passing out school supplies, or some other form of outreach. Us-

Bottom photos: friendly interactions with five14.

Social media can be great, but personal one-on-one support still “rules.”

ing what they gleaned from the mass events and workshops they attended, youth were able to put into action what they had learned, practicing with others, too, before they hit the streets.

“Any kind of teaching or training is more complete and effective when the students are given the opportunity to practice the concepts being taught. By giving the students a chance to serve as a group with adult leaders and peers, they apply what they’ve learned in a safe environment, before going out on their own,” says Bordeleau.

Additionally, five14 presenters teamed up with a local pastor and youth leader to field questions from youth on everything from personal body image and high school peer pressure to extramarital sex, divorce, and the historicity of the Bible.

Guldalian, who previously launched and managed the five14 program at LHM, was in one of those Q&A sessions with Bordeleau. Guldalian said young people today deal with so many more deeper issues than they did just a few years ago, and they want help navigating their course. “They had no shortage of questions,” she said, noting that queries ran the gamut from how we can know the Bible is authentic and trustworthy to what to say to a friend who tells you he or she has been sexually abused.

Both Bordeleau and Hutchison felt the dual presence of unPaved and five14 contributed to make Collide an excellent event for the youth attending.

“As a member of the five14 team,

I loved working with unPaved as a part of this ministry. They served in the area that they are gifted in, and we did the same. Our gifts complemented each other in order to give the kids a well-rounded experience,” Bordeleau explains.

Hutchison added that the youth in attendance weren’t the only ones who were edified. Speaking of the unPaved-five14 partnership, she says, “What I know is that we’re a perfect match because we each have what the other needs. We come together and it’s this awesome Christ-centered event where teens are seeking God’s love and guidance.

Everyone leaves changed, even the presenters.” n

To see what five14 has to offer or how it can be a part of your next youth-focused event, visit its website at www.whatsfive14.com.

You can contact Susan Spitz-Morrison at 314-317-4144 for more information.

Paul Schreiber reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work in the United States.

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

11

ARE You

Content?

S

“I’m overwhelmed by my blessings, but I’m still not content.”

ometimes living the good life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Case in point: the new booklet for Project Connect. Written by Pastor Dion Garrett, the booklet centers on contentment from various perspectives by a guy who—by most any standard—is enjoying a pretty good life Garrett writes, “I am the husband to a beautiful wife, and together we have three healthy, talented, good-looking, and goodhearted kids. We live in a community often touted as one of the best places to live in America … We live in a great house that has more than enough space for our family of five.

My kids are able to play out in the cul-de-sac in front of our house, ride their bikes up and down the street, and just be kids … we have two great cars … we get to take vacations I never dreamed of doing as a kid … we have enough expendable income to eat out … In short, we have a wonderful life!”

So what’s the problem?

Garrett continues, “When I pause and think about these things, I’m embarrassed at how great my life is. I’m overwhelmed by my blessings, but I’m still not content. No, far from it. For whatever reason, it doesn’t translate.”

Now if Garrett’s struggle was simply one of finding happiness in the things he has, one might suggest he count his blessings and let it go. But that won’t do. He wants more—a lot more than family or the things money can buy. He wants contentment— deep down, completely saturated, everlasting contentment. And he thinks he knows how to find it. Citing the apostle Paul’s landmark words in Philippians 4, “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances,” Garrett gives “five practices” that, based on his experience, third-party research, and Scripture, will “take anyone closer to contentment, even an ingrate like me.”

There’s time-tested value in Garrett’s

by Paul Schreiber

practices, which stems from years of outreach experience and in-depth communication with members of his parish. He maintains that there’s a place for “constructive dissatisfaction” with the status quo, if the status quo is less than what you want out of life. From that, a healthy ambition can emerge. Material possessions, while part of life, need not dominate to make one happy.

Experiences, on the other hand—deep, full, rich experiences—enrich one’s life on many levels and can’t be gauged by a price tag. Generosity, too—sharing our money, material goods and, most of all, our time— makes an enormous difference in one’s sense of contentment. Not surprising is Garrett’s reminder that an attitude of thankfulness for all the things we have goes a long way toward an abiding sense of contentment.

Crowning Garrett’s list of practices is the necessity of “finding satisfaction with God.” Here he again cites the New Testament’s itinerant missionary from Tarsus. This time it’s from the third chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Urging readers to move forward in seeking lives of contentment, Garrett keeps his focus sharp: “But whatever you do in your journey ahead, don’t forget that for Paul the secret was Jesus.” With this he reminds us that true contentment is possible, even when all the stuff of life—good and bad—gets in the way. n

To get five FREE copies of then booklet on contentment when you order 20, go to www.lhm.org/contentment and plug in the code LMContent15. The cost is $10 plus S&H, and the offer runs from September 1 to November 30, 2015. Otherwise, for single copies you can find this booklet and all the other titles available through Project Connect at its website: www.lhm.org/projectconnect.

12

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

Thai Ministry Team Brings Special Energy to Wisconsin VBS

L

by Greg Koening

ong-time supporters of Lutheran Hour Ministries are acquainted with LHM’s International Volunteer Trips and know that these short-term mission adventures offer opportunities for North American Christians to travel to an organizational ministry center and work beside local staff and volunteers. The centers are happy to put their American friends to work leading vacation Bible schools or other children’s ministries, making much-needed repairs to all kinds of facilities, teaching conversational English, and more. LHM has deployed 11 North American teams this year to serve in four world regions—Latin America, East Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.

Accustomed as we are to the idea of sending servant teams to faraway places to help Christians there reach out with the love of Jesus, we have perhaps become just as accustomed to the assumption that teams from those faraway places don’t travel to North America to do similar ministry activities.

And yet that’s exactly what was done by a team from Lutheran Hour Ministries—Thailand.

Over the past few years, the LHM— Thailand staff has hosted volunteer teams from Brookfield Lutheran Church in Brookfield, Wis., who traveled to Bangkok to help lead English-language workshops.

In 2015, Brookfield chose a curriculum called “Thailand Trek” for its July 13-16 vacation Bible school program—and an idea was born: let’s bring our friends from Thailand here to help us with this great VBS! Plans were set in motion. The congregation made arrangements for travel, as well as arrangements for Thailand Director Mrs. Monta “Boom” Denow and three members of her staff to stay at the homes of member families. On Thursday, July 10,

(Left) The Thai team introduced VBS students to many aspects of Thai culture such

the Thailand team as the krathong, or floating lotus, which is the focus of an important national festival. (Center) After a thrilling week in Brookfield, Wisconsin the LHM—Thailand team left Bangkok, bound stopped in St. Louis so they could meet the headquarters staff. Boom also recorded for Wisconsin. an interview in LHM’s studio. (Right) Every day, Boom and her team led exciting group Boom reports that activities that featured music, lessons, and plenty of audience participation. they joined almost 100 staff and volunteers in presenting the program to more than 500 children.

“The LHMT team emphasized Thai culture and how they share the Gospel in Thailand,” Boom says.

The team showed videos, taught the children Thai songs and led activities that they often use when they do children’s outreach in Thailand. The Thai visitors rounded out their experience by helping lead the VBS closing worship service on Sunday morning.

“At noon everyone had fun participating in a picnic at the church,” says Boom. Church members had 2015 Outreach Conferences opportunities to learn fun Thai acwill equip, encourage, and tivities such as walking on cocoempower you to be SENT nut shells and Takraw, an exciting where God is leading. traditional sport. “We thank God for this wonderful opportunity to Register Now! partner with Brookfield Lutheran lhm.OrG/rOC Church!” she adds.

A volunteer team from Brookfield is already looking forward to returning to Bangkok in October to help lead another English-language workshop. n

Your congregation can discover the blessings of being involved in the ministry of an LHM center in another part of the world. Want to learn how? Visit www.lhm.org/partner.

Make an

iMpact

in your coMMunity!

Seattle Sept. 25-26

orlando nov. 13-14

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

13

Q&A

EYE ON OUTREACH IN EAST ASIA

by Greg Koenig

or several years Christian mission organizations have observed important demographic shifts worldwide that impact on the way evangelistic efforts are planned and carried out. According to the United Nations, 54 percent of the world’s people now live in urban, not rural, areas. The world’s youth population is on the rise; worldwide, the number of people between the ages of 10 and 24 is 1.8 billion—a new high. It has also been shown that only 10 percent of international missionaries are working among “people groups” that have not already been reached with the Gospel.

With these realities in mind, Lutheran Hour Ministries is working closely with its ministry centers to respond with vibrant outreach that especially targets cities, young people, and people groups who have not had an opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. International Ministries Director Dr. Douglas Rutt has just returned from a trip to Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand with LHM President & CEO Kurt Buchholz and Asia Regional Director Gunya NaThalang. In an interview with Greg Koenig, Rutt reports that they were able to see up-close what ministry in Asia looks like in these contexts.

Koenig: Youth, urban centers, and unreached peoples are Lutheran Hour Ministries’ current priorities for international outreach. What did you see during your visit to Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand that shows intensive outreach to these groups in practice?

Rutt: All three ministry centers are in places that have very little Christian presence. Thailand is only 1.2 percent Christian, Myanmar is only 8.9 percent Christian, and Vietnam only 9.4 percent. The major religion of this area is Buddhism, but there are also some Muslims, especially in Thailand and Myanmar. Besides Buddhism, Vietnam has a significant percentage of

F

14

“non-religious,” a product of the Communist ideology promoted there. So our ministry in these countries is important because most people living there have little or no opportunity to hear the Gospel. We are also working among young people, particularly in Vietnam, where a lot of ministry revolves around soccer tournaments sponsored by our ministry center.

Koenig: Please talk about the value of partnership in bringing Christ to countries in East Asia, especially since there are so many unreached people and so few Christian groups there.

Rutt: First it must be recognized that since Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam are countries where Christians are a minority, we must be able to work with others to support one another and work together. Often, where appropriate, our activities are carried out in cooperation with other Christian entities. It is vital that we coordinate with local Christian federations or Evangelical councils. For example, our offices in Myanmar are located in the YMCA building in Yangon, which provides us with some degree of support and makes a relatively visible location available to us.

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

technology, such as the Internet, social media, etc., to bring the Gospel to more people. In most cases, those tools are available—but only in Thailand, for example, can we broadcast openly Christian radio programs.

Koenig: What aspects of outreach by the ministry centers you visited showed exciting promise for future growth and development?

Rutt: The sports ministry in Vietnam definitely is showing a LHM—Thailand’s radio great deal of promise. Our staff programs air over a is able to reach many peonational network and a ple with the Gospel through number of community radio stations. The the soccer tournaments and center’s broadcasts form matches we sponsor. All of the basis for relationthese events begin with prayer ship-building through Koenig: What interaction with listeners. and include a Christian message, but most importantly, kinds of needs did Here Kurt Buchholz and each team is made up of apyou see that Lu- Douglas Rutt, (center) proximately half Christian and theran Hour Min- along with Gunya NaThistries might be alang (second from right) half non-Christian players. It is that interaction in the comcalled to respond and the staff of LHM— petitive environment that proto in the countries Thailand meet with radio speaker Prawit Chularangsi vides the opportunity to share you visited? (front, third from left) in the Gospel one-on-one, also.

Rutt: Each of these the center’s studio.

We also make use of social three countries is media heavily in Vietnam to different, with rich but unique culpromote the sports events. Facebook tural traditions and languages. The is very popular there.

While we cannot governments of the three countries broadcast on a radio station in Vietare also quite different, and the Chrisnam, an Internet radio station is optian church in each place faces unique erated by our ministry center, and so challenges. far operates openly to boldly proclaim In Vietnam, while the church can operate, it is being observed at all the Gospel.

The challenge of reaching people times and care must be taken not with God’s message of love and salvato raise the ire of the authorities. In tion has perhaps never been greater Myanmar, there have been some than it is across Asia today. Media recases of religious violence, not only sources and technology tools go a long toward Christians, but also between way toward connecting people in new Muslims and Buddhists. In Thailand, ways, and faithful staff and volunteers there is more openness, but still most build relationships that pave the way Thai people view Christianity as an for witness.

Please tell readers that American or Western religion. their prayers and support are vital as In every place, though, there are Lutheran Hour Ministries continues to Christians who are doing what they can respond to Jesus’ call to be His witnessto bring the Gospel to their neighbors.

Our challenge is to discover ways to use es across Asia and around the world. n Greg Koenig reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work globally.

onthemove

Phil Krauss ll Chairman, Int’l LLL Board of Directors

What Would

Luther Think?

I

was sitting in a congregational meeting, trying to hear about a new ministry we would be voting on in a few minutes when a friend leaned over and whispered in my ear, “What would Luther think about this?” At first I thought he was referring to our previous administrative pastor, now five years retired, and whose first name was Luther.

Then my friend followed up, “Do you think Martin Luther would recognize the Lutheran Church after 500 years?”

He went on to explain his question in the context of our congregational discussion, but it reminded me of the annual convention of the Michigan District of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League that I spoke at in May. The pastoral advisor, Rev. Michael Allen, dressed up as Dr. Martin Luther and read from some of the Great Reformer’s works. At the time, I wondered if the real Martin Luther would have enjoyed speaking at the district convention, and what would he have wanted us to know.

Since these things seem to always come in “threes,” I wasn’t too surprised when I listened to The Lutheran Hour a couple of weeks ago via podcast (but also available on the air at more than 1,600 radio stations, through downloadable app, or at lutheranhour.org) and heard the “Action in Ministry” segment. It was an interview with Dr. Carol

Geisler who had written a new Project Connect booklet titled A Treasure Revealed: Martin Luther and the Events of the Reformation. According to the writer, this booklet is intended to be a resource for “readers who might be a little unfamiliar with the story of Luther or not know anything about him at all. I used to be a school principal, and we often had parents come to our school who knew that Lutheran education was a good thing, but they weren’t at all familiar with Lutheran teachings, or probably not even who Martin Luther really was.”

Dr. Geisler and LHM are filling an important need in today’s church. They are trying to answer the question: what would Martin Luther think? They want us to reflect on what Martin Luther did to bring the Church back to the Gospel message, something the Roman Catholic Church of the 16th century had forgotten. Even so today, I think Martin Luther’s teachings have often been forgotten, obscured, or even purposely changed by many of the churches of the Reformation. (Check out A Man Named Martin, a study LHM just released.)

Fortunately The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod keeps the focus on the Gospel message. More to the point of this article, Lutheran Hour Ministries, with its mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church, is constantly proclaiming the hidden treasure of the Gospel message, and training/equipping others to do the same. I think if Martin Luther could see the work of LHM employees and many Lutheran lay volunteers who support LHM, he would be pleased. n

Energize, Equip and Engage Laity For Outreach

Lutheran Hour Ministries is a trusted expert in global media that equips and engages a vibrant volunteer base to passionately proclaim the Gospel to over 51 million

Bring The Gospel To The Unreached Around The World Grow God’s Kingdom Through Expanded Media Outreach

people worldwide each week. We work in areas where other organizations are not present and use local experts who know the language and culture.

Launch a New Online Mission Field The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

15

How LHM Fits with You!

‘Domestic Missionary’

Handy Tools for the

D

eveloping effective tools for Christian outreach is a guiding objective for LHM resources produced by its United States Ministries (USM) division.

From seasonal and daily devotions to on-site youth events, children’s booklets, training workshops, and more—the goal is to share the love of God with a world in critical need of Good News that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.

Here is a brief selection of resources that can be used for outreach by churches and individuals.

GodConnects is a 12-video resource that gives believers a breakdown of key aspects of the Christian faith. These presentations appeal to seekers who harbor questions about faith. Hosted by Rev. Gregory Seltz, Speaker for The Lutheran Hour, topics include the Holy Spirit, Baptism, Jesus Christ, prayer, the nature of God, and more. “Things to think about,” “Digging Deeper” links, and “Pastor’s Resources” add supplemental material. Use of GodConnects has been brisk. Feedback has been positive. Easy to forward as a web link to someone who could benefit, GodConnects is perfect as a pass-along tool. It can be used for new-member classes, in adult Bible study groups, with catechism instruction, by youth groups, or as a resource offered to members and visitors alike. It’s also well-suited for individual study (lhm.org/godconnects).

A Project Connect booklet, A Treasure Revealed: Martin Luther and the Events of the Reformation, written by Dr. Carol Geisler, gives a lively and informative 16

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

account of Martin Luther’s life, detailing his faith struggles, theological insights, and enormous contributions to the Reformation. Nearly 11,300 have been distributed since May and more than 1,200 have been downloaded as PDFs. More than 300 have listened to this study as an MP3 audio file. For those utilizing Project Connect displays, this booklet is a perfect fit for their next reorder. It can also be implemented for Reformation Day celebrations; as an auxiliary instructional text for students in confirmation class; and as a giveaway in freshman orientation packets at Lutheran high schools and universities.

The display rack options from Project Connect (one is a free-standing floor model; the other is a table-top fixture) are built to display PC booklets. Topics range from stewardship and forgiveness to depression and faith-sharing. Expert-written volumes fit nicely into any passive outreach strategy by your church and community. Increasingly, churches are seeing excellent opportunities in placing racks in varied locales (one church recently ordered stands for 15 sites).

Display venues include medical offices; automotive repair shop waiting rooms; information racks outside public restrooms; and counseling centers. These are in addition to the customary church narthex, or the pastor’s and/or principal’s office. Stamping or affixing the church’s name, address, and phone number on the booklet redirects users to your congregation. (lhm.org/projectconnect).

In high demand for children is Do You Know Who Jesus Is? This mini-volume with its rhyming verses and colorful artwork shares who Jesus is

by Paul Schreiber

and what He has done for us. Since late July, nearly 52,000 booklets have gone out the door. Total number of children’s booklets distributed (there are five other kids’ booklets in this series) is more than 286,000. Many orders specifically indicate they will be used in upcoming “trunk or treat” activities this Halloween. Giveaway options include vacation Bible school; children’s messages during church; hospital pediatric units; as part of school supplies; and as stocking stuffers for Christmas. Take advantage of a special two-for-one offer on this booklet. For $7 plus shipping and handling ($4.95), you get another 25 FREE! That’s 50 booklets for the price of 25. To order, go to www.lhm.org/Jesus and enter the special code LMJesus15. Offer ends September 30. For more booklets, visit lhm.org/kids.

Another item that’s tracking well is LHM’s newest Bible study, A Man Named Martin—Part 1: The Man. In five sessions various scholars articulate Luther’s early life, his crucible of faith, his search for truth, and his ultimate confrontation with antagonists. Demand for this study has skyrocketed, proving once again the hearty appetite people have to know more about the life and times of this seminal figure. This study is popular among men’s and women’s Bible study groups; church new member classes; high school and college religion classes; and in-church viewing of select sessions during Reformation Day Services (lhm.org/studies).

These user-friendly resources enhance the faith of believers. They’re also designed to reverberate in a meaningful way with those on the periphery of the church: those who desperately need to hear that there is help—and hope—in the turbulent age in which we live. n

onthemove

by Kurt Buchholz President & CEO Lutheran Hour Ministries

as an ANSWER to PRAYER All around the world, billions of people started this day in spiritual darkness—in fact, nearly 41 percent of the world’s population of seven billion people has never even heard about Jesus. Unfortunately, many of them will end it that way too. In the United States, just two in ten people attend church on a typical Sunday. The need is greater than ever for a Church that has been SENT with a message of hope for the hopeless—to get moving.

Thankfully, you are an answer to prayer.

Not certain about that? Recall with me a brief passage from the Gospel of Matthew: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,

therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field ’” (Matthew 9:35-38).

See? There you are, right there in the final sentence, where Jesus directs His disciples to pray for workers to be sent into the harvest fields of people who need to hear the Good News of the Kingdom. While Jesus made this statement more than 2,000 years ago, it is still a reality to this day —and the urgency is greater than ever before.

Jesus told His disciples to pray for you—you are called to be the workers; you have been SENT by the Lord of the harvest to spread that Good News, in your families, day-to-day relationships, communities, and wherever people still need to hear it.

And here’s a little more great news: you weren’t SENT to go it alone.

I believe the International Lutheran Laymen’s League is built around this understanding: individually called Lutherans who come together in

a Christ-centered community to bear witness to the Gospel of Christ. In your own communities, you are uniquely positioned to be SENT as a movement of rapidly growing, dynamic, multiplying disciples—just like the early church. And when you feel you are not qualified for this task, Lutheran Hour Ministries is here to walk alongside you, encourage you, support you, and equip you with ministry options to reach individuals who desperately need to hear about the love of Christ. That’s why our ministry is steadfast in building relationships, person by person, one heart at a time so that lives can be changed by the Gospel.

And when the task seems too big for any of us to handle on our own, we just have to always remember that we have a God bigger than anything He will call us to do. There is nothing He can’t handle—because the Cross qualifies us to carry out His mission.

On behalf of all of us at Lutheran Hour Ministries, thank you so much for allowing us to support and encourage you in your daily life and for your prayers and financial support, which enable us to continue Bringing Christ to the Nations— and the Nations to the Church. n

ry 1 ! a u n a J n o g in m o C It’s 2016 Online Mission Trip

January 25-28, 2015 J

oin Lutheran Hour Ministries for our 2016 Online Mission Trip and introduce your students to the world of international ministry without ever leaving the classroom! This completely online experience is designed to enrich students’ world-view as they see first-hand the importance of sharing God’s message of salvation through the ministry efforts of LHM-Guatemala.

The LHM float in the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, will tell how “Jesus is the Light of the World.” The float will depict the calling of the first disciples of Jesus. The “light” aspect is based on John 8:12, which promotes Christ as the Light of life. Go to www.petalpushers.org.

The float is a project of the Southern California District of the Int’l LLL. Students in Preschool through eighth grade may enter a Petal Pushers coloring contest of the float. Entries must be postmarked by November 1. Contact dick@rgaltd.com or write: LHM Float Committee, PO Box 20044, Riverside, CA 92516-0044. n

For more information and to register visit www.lhm.org/onlinemissiontrips today!

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

17

New Grants Help

LEBANON MINISTRY Center Continue HOLISTIC WITNESS

by Greg Koenig

New funding from two partner organizations will help LHM—Lebanon, also known as Middle East Lutheran Ministry (MELM), to sustain and even expand its holistic care. Since mid-2013, Lutheran Hour Ministries’ outreach center in Beirut, Lebanon, has been tireless in bringing desperately needed relief and hope to refugees who fled from violence in Syria and Iraq.

About 1.5 million Syrians have crossed into Lebanon and are now eking out an existence in tent camps near villages in the Bekaa Valley. LHM—Leb-

Most displaced Syrians in Lebanon have been women and children. LHM’s Lebanon ministry center tailored holistic outreach activities to address their health and security needs. Close relationships have been built while pointing to Jesus as the source of hope and healing.

anon Audience Relations Manager Katia Sahyouni has seen the need up close.

“Most of the refugees from Syria are women and children, and most are Muslims,” Katia told The Lutheran Hour program announcer Mark Eischer and Speaker Rev. Gregory Seltz in a recent interview recorded for broadcast. “Many of the women’s husbands died in the war; and because Islam permits a man to marry up to four women, some husbands who died left behind multiple widows, and often many children as well. Most of the men who have made it out of Syria must settle for low-paying jobs—if they are able even to find work. Children are not attending school, they have no shoes, and the toys they play with are sticks and the mud that is everywhere. People’s health needs are not being met. There is a lot of suffering.”

MELM delivers relief packages to refugee families in the camps each month. The scale of their refugee care effort is small in comparison to the relief efforts of organizations such as the United Nations, but when MELM staff members visit, they work to build relationships with the people they serve and to combine the sharing of food, clothing and Katia talks about LHM— shelter with the sharing of the Lebanon’s ministry Gospel. to supporters at the “The relief packages are 2015 Convention of opening the door for us to say the Lutheran Women’s what we want to say to them Missionary League.

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The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

about Jesus,” Katia explains. “They are feeling the care, the love, of Christ for them from what we are doing among them.”

Moved by the refugees’ ongoing need and the “open door” for sharing the saving message of Jesus, especially among women and children, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League awarded Lutheran Hour Ministries a grant of $72,000 for Mission Outreach to At-Risk Women and Children in Refugee Camps at the organization’s June 26-28 National Convention. Katia traveled to the United States to represent MELM at the event and acquaint Convention participants with the center’s efforts. Her hope, as she said, was to meet the women attending the Convention and “to bring the image closer to them.”

MELM continues to discover opportunities to relieve suffering and offer hope and assurance rooted in the Gospel. In addition to assisting thousands of Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley, the center is also providing food and supplies to hundreds of Iraqi refugees, many of them Christians sheltering in and around Beirut. MELM’s staff has also traveled outside Lebanon to assist Christians in northeastern Syria and northern Iraq whom the militant Islamic State group has driven from their homes in recent months.

Also continuing as LHM’s partner in this holistic initiative is The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. After providing LHM a $70,000 grant for refugee care and outreach last fall, the synod augmented its support in May with an additional grant of $150,000, to provide assistance with spe-

Combined Federal Campaign Begins Lutheran Hour Ministries is participating for the eighth year in a row in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), a workplace giving opportunity from September through December for United States federal employees and members of the military. If you or someone in your congregation is a federal employee or serving in the military, don’t miss this opportunity to help Lutheran Hour Ministries share Christ’s love with hurting people around the world by designating to the ministry through the CFC. LHM’s designation number is 30494.

Approved national/international charities are required to submit to extensive review of financial and governance practices. To qualify, charities must demonstrate that they provide or conduct services, benefits, assistance, or program activities in at least 15 states or one foreign country over the three-year period immediately preceding the start of the campaign application year.

The CFC is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with almost 200 CFC campaigns throughout the United States and overseas raising millions of dollars each year for more than 20,000 participating nonprofit charitable organizations. For more information about the CFC, visit www.cfctoday.org. n

Board Nominations Open for 2016

cial regard for the needs of vulnerable children and Christian refugees in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.

Experts who study the Middle East and Islamic societies are concerned that there seem to be no satisfactory solutions to the unrest in the region and no end in sight. Meanwhile, human needs continue to increase alongside the stillrising numbers of displaced people.

And for MELM, doors for sharing the Gospel continue to open.

To learn more about Lutheran Hour Ministries’ outreach in Lebanon, visit lhmlebanon.wordpress.com. To help LHM provide food, clothing, medicine, and other necessities along with a clear message of the hope we have in Jesus, call 1-877-333-1963 or visit lhmgift.org/gifts-at-work/lebanon.asp. n (See related story on page 22.)

Nominations for candidates to serve on the Board of Directors for the International Lutheran Laymen’s League/Lutheran Hour Ministries are being requested now for next spring’s election. Lutheran Hour Ministries members (donors who give a gift to the ministry between Oct. 1, 2014, and March 31, 2016) will vote in the Spring 2016 election via mail-in or Internet ballots for chairman and four director positions.

You are urged to prayerfully consider the God-given talents, skill sets, passion for outreach ministry, and service to the Lord of potential nominees who are members of a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod or Lutheran Church—Canada. To download a nominations form, or learn more about eligibility requirements for nominees, visit www.lhm.org/nominations.

Nominations must be received by Nov. 1, 2015, to be considered. n

LHM continues to provide much-needed supplies, show compassion, and share the love of Jesus to Syrians living in the Bekaa Valley and Iraqis located primarily in the Beirut area. New funding from LHM’s valued partners aid the center in reaching additional refugees in other parts of the region.

Through onsite seminars at your church, MISSION U is designed to give you the tools and training to confidently reach people with the real news of Jesus Christ.

for mor e i nfor mati o n, visit w w w.l h m.o r g /missio nu The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

19

At the

Right Time!

by Gerald Perschbacher

T

he Creator Others are not. of Time Certain ones didn’t stop with were tortured to time’s creation. death. Others felt He also has maxithey played the part mized the times. This of a target for those who is clear from Paul’s words would rather restrain them in in Ephesians 1:9-10 that God “made life than consider reforming. known to us the mystery of His will, accordReformation, as a movement, had taken ing to His purpose, which He set forth in hold in Central Europe. No one previously Christ as a plan for the fullness of time….” had seen the likes of it! That reformation era Truly, Christ came in the “fullness” of began even before Luther and it was law-oritime. Historians and theologians point to the entated rather than Gospel-driven. time of Jesus’ birth as being highly significant.

The Frankfurt Reformation of 1509 He was born during matched earlier efforts the Pax Romana, the in Nuremberg in 1503 “The law of God, the most peace which Rome enand Worms in 1499. salutary doctrine of life, forced in its far-flung These facts were set empire that circled the forth in 1984 by Gercannot advance man on Mediterranean Sea hard Koebler in his his way to righteousness, and stretched beyond. study of the ReformaRoad systems had cion der Stat Franckbut rather hinders him.” been constructed and enfort am Meine of the improved. Travel was Holy Roman Empire of relatively safe. Trade generally flourished. the German nation.

Communications never were better in any The movement for reform officially was previous era, and if ever the time was “ripe” sanctioned at the Diet (pronounced DEET) for the word of the Savior to spread through of Worms in 1495. At that national congress the witness of men by the efforts of the Holy of high officials of the empire, it was decided Spirit, THAT time was “right.” to augment and encourage a lasting “PubSimilar thoughts circulate around the timlic Peace” by systematizing the legal system ing of Dr. Martin Luther’s rise to a height in along with court functions and structures, history few people attain. The eye of faith can the settling of feuds among nobility, taxation, see God’s hand in the timing. Do you? and the firm establishment of a monetary Consider this: Luther was not the FIRST system (see A History of Germany from the person to promote a reformation. There were Earliest Times to the Present Day by Bayard others before him who promoted religious Taylor, 1897). change for the better. Some are remembered.

Discontent had arisen from a populace 20

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

that too often labored at the low end of society with little hope of rising to higher status due to restrictions enforced by an old feudal system guided by nobles and royals who wished to keep it that way. It is fairly agreed by researchers that a leading influence for change was fomented by the rise of Free Imperial Cities answerable directly to the Emperor.

Such cities (including Worms, Nuremberg, and Frankfurt) had mainly become self-governing entities. Their prosperity and the rise of the “burgher class” of businessmen increased taxable wealth for the Emperor and the handful of “Imperial Electors” who chose him. These burghers also wished for more authority and self-governance under a revamped see page 24

Christ Serve Ranch, is operated by Lutheran Island Camp in Henning, Minnesota.

New ‘Ranch’ Explains the Creative Hand of God

I

n this era of resource conservation, it is timely to dedicate an environmental learning center. That’s what recently happened at Christ Serve Ranch, operated by Lutheran Island Camp in Henning, Minnesota.

The ranch offers a Dedication of the site Christian, Biblical was held August 28-30. The ranch offers a Christian, world view in science, Biblical world view in science, education, leadership, education, leadership, environment, and environment, and adventure adventure activities. activities. See facts about the dedication at www.christserveranch.org.

The camp was founded by Minnesota pastors and churches primarily as a boys’ and girls’ camp. It also served for over 60 years as the site for Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and Lutheran Laymen’s League retreats and gatherings. Concordia see page 22

SELTZ to be FEATURED on

Worship for Shut-Ins On Sunday, Nov. 1, Speaker Rev. Gregory Seltz of The Lutheran Hour will preach on the All Saints Day Worship for Shut-Ins program. Titled, “Blessed in Hard Times,” Seltz’s message encourages viewers, “You are blessed in loss and in gain, in victory, and in pain because your risen Savior has your life in His hands!”

Produced by Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc., and centered on the mission of “sharing Christ’s love through ministry and media,” Worship for Shut-Ins promotes a one-on-one rapport with each viewer. Weekly programs share Scripture readings, prayers, a pastor’s message, and hymns sung by choirs, all focused around that particular week in the church year.

The traditional worship service can be seen every Sunday nationwide at 11:30 AM (Eastern)/8:30 (Pacific) on Christian station TCT (DIRECTV Channel 377). The program also is carried on 100+ local television stations in the United States. More information, including stations, times, and sermon topics, can be found online at worshipforshutins.org or by calling 1(888)286-8002.

This year Worship for Shut-Ins is celebrating 50 years of sharing Christ’s love. By God’s grace the program has grown into a worldwide ministry, reaching people with the Gospel through a 30-minute weekly worship service that is broadcast on television and the Internet. Lutheran Ministries Media originates from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and its executive director is Matthew Leighty. n Rev. Gregory Seltz will preach November 1 on Worship for Shut-Ins

(or farm) >

Give your home as a Gift and still live in it.

Lutheran Hour Ministries can help you: • Remove a possible burden from your family • Realize a great potential tax deduction • Give a powerful gift to God’s Mission!

Your home, farm, or vacation home are all eligible!

Contact Adam Eggemeyer at 1-877-333-1963 or lhm-gift@lhm.org to learn more!

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

21

New Director in MEXICO

L

LHM’s Outreach

Efforts to MUSLIMS

by Brad Neathery

God has called Lutheran Hour Ministries to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

This includes those lost in Islam. Here are ways LHM is doing it: Ministry centers in countries with large Muslim populations It is no secret that life in many countries with large Muslim populations has become increasingly dangerous. This reality is even more acute for Christians doing ministry work amid the persecution and sectarian violence that often occur in those countries. Despite dangers, LHM still operates ministry centers in countries such as Lebanon, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Kenya, where the presence of Islam is strong. Each center’s indigenous staff and volunteers boldly share the Gospel through media, public events, and congregational training.

And through its holistic outreach to Syrian refugees, LHM’s staff in Lebanon is building relationships and sharing the love of God with Muslim families who have fled the ongoing conflict in their homeland (see related article on page 18).

Gospel radio to the Middle East The ministry center in Lebanon airs a Sunday evening Gospel radio program that is broadcast from Cyprus into nine Arabic-speaking countries, including Syria, Iraq, 22

Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Yemen.

Why broadcast in the evening?

Many people in the Middle East listen to the radio later at night— so evening is one of the best times to reach Muslim listeners with the truth of the Gospel.

Video Bible studies An important part of reaching out to Muslims is educating Christians about the Islamic faith—how it compares with as well as differs from Christianity. The LHM Men’s NetWork has produced a two-part study exploring the challenge of Islamic belief and culture. The study is available at www.lhm.org/studies and can serve as a powerful resource for deepening a Christian’s understanding of Islam. Potentially, a new study exploring the future of Islam may be produced soon.

The Lord has positioned LHM to share the Gospel each year with millions of souls that are lost in Islam. Reaching them requires patience and faithfulness—but by God’s grace, LHM is seeing results.

You can partner with LHM in its worldwide outreach to Muslims; call 1-877-333-1963 to learn how. n

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

utheran Hour Ministries—Mexico installed new Director Rafael Ruelas in a formal service at San Pedro Lutheran Church, Mexico City, on Sunday, May 31. The preacher for the service was Rev. Dr. Nilo Figur, LHM’s regional director for Latin America.

Officiant was Rev. Isaac Guadalupe García, president of Sinodo Luterano de Mexico (Lutheran Synod of Mexico); Deaconess Maria Esther León and Vicar Benjamín Quezada of San Pedro Lutheran Church also participated.

Ruelas comes to LHM—Mexico from the Universidad Tecnológica de México (UNITEC), a private institution in Mexico City, where he taught a variety of communications and design courses. He has also worked for a national government agency and a private company in various marketing and publicity roles.

Rafael and wife Argelia have two children and are members of the San

Pedro congregation.

Please remember Rafael Ruelas, his family, and the work of this important ministry center in your prayers. n

Lutheran Hour Ministries welcomes Rafael Ruelas as director of its ministry center in Mexico City.

To learn more about LHM—Mexico, visit cptlnmexico.wordpress.com.

New ‘Ranch’ …

from page 20

Academy of St. Paul even scheduled a number of football camps on the premises (for details see wwww.christserveranch.org).

This is in keeping with the original view of the site to offer “other types of programs that serve the churches.” Now a new dimension has been added.

This resulted in obtaining 275 acres to form Christ Serve Ranch.

The ranch works to confront an anti-God mindset. The result is an environmental learning center which offers a Biblical world view of the divine Creator.

Wayne Hilchen and Bill Schultz are deeply involved in the whole idea.

They see special ways the site will impact current and future generations.

The ranch “will bring together multiple generations through teaching and learning experiences,” says Hilchen. “It is a beautiful thing to watch an 80 year old man sharing whittling skills with 10-to-14- year-old children who come away from that experience…with a lesson on how and when God created trees and what our responsibility is to maintain forest land for future generations.”

Schultz points out that it can also bring together a generation of people astute in technology as they share the immenseness of God’s creation.

Hilchen adds that Christ Serve Ranch will generate questions. “Our children and our children’s children will face a more challenging society….

They are already being taught things that are not true about God, creation, science, the value of life, and the truth of God’s Word. Our goal is to teach them to question false premises respectfully and knowledgeably.”

The ranch can be a destination for Lutherans from around the upper Midwest and the entire country. Hilchen explains: “Lay people have offered to teach science classes as well as skills ranging from teaching creation to making pickles. Many of the instructors will be lay people trained in science.” n

through the first 60 years of her life. She had no idea at the time, but God was ready to launch her into the mission work of which she had always dreamed.

With the help of Schrieber, Joan continued to work on her songwriting. She had begun to realize that she could express to the world her love for the Lord through music.

Schrieber connected her with Dr. Paul Devantier, who encouraged Joan to finish a song and he would try to interest radio station KFUO in St. Louis to play it on the air. Joan was overwhelmed by this opportunity and worked diligently to finish. The day the song played for the first time, she and loved ones were present at KFUO. As Joan describes: “I was in tears as I thanked God for causing all this to happen.”

That opportunity ignited a fire in Joan and nothing would hold her back. She found that all the time her mind was full of words and rhythms which came together as songs of devotion for her Lord.

She worked with a music artist and producer Chris Bergmann to assemble her songs onto CDs which she distributed through a ministry that she named Joan Voges, front center, and her family, made Lilyfields. To date, four CDs have been produced her song of faith a reality. and touched hundreds of thousands with Joan’s Gospel music (find out more at www.lilyfields.org).

Joan appreciates Lutheran Hour Ministries and its Gospel mission to the world. Most of her connection came through the couple’s annual giving to the ministry. God in His perfect timing was positioning Joan and Lutheran Hour Ministries in an amazing way.

St. John’s Lutheran in Red Bud, Illinois.Ken told her,

by Brad Neathery She was approached with the opportunity to “If you don’t like what they’re being taught, we will share one of her written prayers on a bookmark sent oan Voges did not grow up listening to The take them out of Sunday school.” to more than 60,000 LHM supporters. It was a huge Joan carefully reviewed their lessons every Sun- hit. Many people contacted LHM asking for more Lutheran Hour or hearing about the work of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League. She day. As she did, she was growing in understanding copies to share with family and friends. Inspired, was born as the fourth of 13 children in a dedicat- of the true richness of God’s grace alone and His un- Joan turned the prayer into a song titled, “The ed Catholic family. She attended a Catholic prima- conditional love for her.

Bookmark Hymn.” Soon that hymn was So Joan became a member of St. ry school and high school in Illinois. Joan dreamed featured on the first Lilyfields CD, of becoming a foreign missionary during her school John’s Lutheran Church and re“Lift Your Eyes.” years, but she struggled with the fear of leaving her committed herself to serving Lutheran Hour Ministries SON GS O her Lord. The move resulted home and family. continued to be blessed by F PR AY E Following high school graduation, Joan was in a spiritual awakening. generous support from R & PRA plagued with additional anxiety. She had been She joined a four-voice ISE Joan Voges and her famtaught to “work off” her sins but harbored an ever- choir and an evangelism ily. In 2014, Joan gave present fear that she could never be good enough to team. When an opening her first Lilyfields CD arose, she played piano make up for her sinful nature. to 100,000 LHM supDuring this time she met a young man named Ken for the children’s devoporters! Once again, Voges who was raised Lutheran. Joan was amazed at tions and taught a Suncalls came from peohis unshakeable faith in Christ alone as his Savior. day school class. Now she ple touched by Joan’s She confided her fears and anxieties to Ken. He told serves as a board memmusical sharing of the her, “You don’t have to worry about your sins, Jesus ber-at-large for Christ Our Gospel. Now she was not Lilyfie died for you to take them away.” Joan told him, “That Savior Lutheran High School only spreading the Gospel lds www sounds so wonderful, if only I could believe it.” in Evansville, Illinois. through her own ministry, she .lilyfie lds.or g Dece told God, Joan and Ken were eventually married and had In the mid-1990s she was also making significant fim 4.567 ber FY15 witto x 4I.5want h three children: Kathy, Kevin, and Kim. For the early “I love you so much4that tell nancial investments to help Lutheran D 6 7 Sta VD — /C Pro nda DVD ce DVD LABE years of their marriage, Joan and Ken attended sep- the world about You.” Shesswroterdsongs Size and L Hour Ministries in Bringing Christ to the arate churches because they were not ready to leave poems on her faith experiences. It was at that time Nations—and the Nations to the Church. their families’ churches. Joan began to worry that that she met a man named Dr. Paul Schrieber who Today, God has worked in His unimaginable way the children needed to learn more about God than offered her Biblical interpretation and guidance for to allow Joan to be a missionary in the specific way what they heard in the regular church service. They her writing, something Joan had been seeking. that He had prepared for her. Joan’s hope is that she began attending Sunday school at Ken’s church, This long journey for Joan Voges had taken her see next page

Joan had a Song Waiting in Her Heart

J

Lift Y

our Ey

es

The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

23

Fear Not!

ADVENT is COMING

C

hristmas often is a rushed season that produces stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. So this year’s seasonal devotion is titled, Fear Not! It reminds us that God is in charge, beyond any disruptive circumstance. The author is Rev. Wayne Palmer, theological writer and editor for Lutheran Hour Ministries’ U. S. Ministries division.

Using Luke’s narrative, Palmer highlights how the lives of Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph were filled with uncertainty. But the Holy Spirit worked mightily in the lives of these ordinary people, leading them to trust in God “paying special attention to how God helps His people through their fears and worries,” says Palmer.

Palmer notes the concerns of Zechariah and Mary. “There can be a fine line between outright unbelief and an honest question fueled by faith. Zechariah didn’t believe God could do it—Mary trusted He could, but simply wanted to know if she should do anything….We run into similar situations in our lives. Times when our resources...seem far too meager.... Doubt and unbelief make us think God will fail to accomplish those things in and through us. Faith believes and eagerly watches to see how God will make it all work out.”

Fear Not! “goes live” on September 29 at www.adventdevotions.net. At that time you can find the downloadable version, including a large-font text, bulletin inserts, bulletin shells, and PowerPoint slides. Audio availability begins November 29. Fear Not! will also be available by e-mail subscription.

The Spanish devotion, En la tierra paz (Peace on Earth) by Rev. Dr. Sergio Schelske, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, begins November 29. On October 1 a printable version will be at www.paraelcamino.com/adviento.

Advent devotions are great for outreach by email to family and friends who might not celebrate Christmas or know the Savior. For group or classroom use, these devotions make an excellent opening thought. The message that faith looks to God and not to our earth-bound circumstances works in any context. n

‘Good News’ in Canada

A young lady pressed the Bible against her heart. Her face lit up and began glowing. “I’ve never seen a reaction like that before,” stated Darlene Walters of Grace Lutheran Church in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Darlene was one of 30 volunteers at the Lutheran Hour Ministries Fair Booth at the Regina Queen City Ex this past summer. “It gives you a wonderful feeling that you touched someone—it makes this Ministry all worthwhile,” Darlene said.

Ed Tiefenbach reported that volunteers from local congregations spoke with fairgoers while handing out Project Connect booklets, pamphlets, and Bibles.

The children’s booklet The Bully was the most sought after for the second year in a row followed by the children’s prayer booklet.

Joan Had a Song Waiting in Her Heart

from previous page

would be able to bring people closer to God so they can see His lasting goodness over the shortterm pleasures of the world. “Christ died to give us a perfect and absolute love and that is a greater gift and promise than anything this world can offer,” says Joan, “Everything in this world gives us emptiness in the end, but Jesus’ love is there forever.” Her joy resonates with many people she meets.

LHM gives thanks for the devotion of Joan Voges and the special impact she has made on its global Gospel mission. n

Volunteers in Regina happily worked the LHM booth this year.

Photo by Les Rein.

The booklets The Truth About Angels, Depression, plus Stressed but Connected were the three most popular Project Connect items taken. n

The Lord moves in mysterious ways!

For Joan Voges, that came in 2005 as part of the 150th anniversary celebration of her church in Red Bud, Illinois. Joan contacted LHM regarding partnering on a special mission project. LHM’s ministry work in China was selected.

Since that time Joan has remained connected to Lutheran Hour Ministries and its Gospel mission to the world. She and Ken include LHM in their annual giving.

God in His perfect timing brought opportunities together in an amazing way. Through His guidance, Joan became a missionary in a specific way that He had prepared for her.

He might choose to do it again through you and your congregation! Go to www.lhm.org for ideas. n

Brad Neathery works with philanthropic supporters of Lutheran Hour Ministries..

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The Lutheran Layman September - October 2015

At the Right Time! from page 20

judicial system. Hence, the initial “reformation” of the empire was encouraged by Maximillian I who wore the precious crown. He envisioned positive results to foster his defense of the empire against threatening encroachments by France and the Turks.

Among the electors who participated in the 1495 diet was Frederick the Wise of Saxony, who opted for the establishment of an internal peace in the empire before military intrusions were sent against other lands. Fellow electors agreed as did the Free Imperial Cities. Negotiations, debates, and planning absorbed 14 weeks of the meeting!

Results were slow in coming and difficult to maintain. But at least the German people had begun to think about a common purpose and a new direction in daily living. More discussion came in the diets of 1500 and 1521.

We may long wonder if the Lord used the actual movement of reformation in government to trigger the idea of reformation in religion for Luther. Regardless, the nailing of the Ninety-five Theses by Luther was a ringing bell for religious and spiritual reformation, renewal, and change.

Luther clearly grasped the doctrine of Two Kingdoms (secular and spiritual) and, thanks to his studies in German and judicial law, knew how both functioned. Was the movement toward operational reformation in the empire a stepping stone to the greater reformation in spiritual thought and practice?

It is curious that Dr. Luther began his Heidelberg Disputation of 1518 with this statement as number one: “The law of God, the most salutary doctrine of life, cannot advance man on his way to righteousness, but rather hinders him.” Instead, it is the Gospel that results in positive change.

Amid all the talk of changing laws for the betterment of society, that statement may have set off the ultimate discussion of FAITH versus LAW that became a hallmark of the Lutheran Reformation. More on that in the next issue. n Writer and author Dr. Perschbacher is editor of The Lutheran Layman and has researched German and Reformation history for many years.