MOn the Way, Already Home
by REV. DR. MICHAEL ZEIGLER, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour ®
oving. It’s what we do. Some of us move more than others, but we all move eventually—cross country, across the ocean, across the street. Maybe it means saying goodbye, letting go of what you know, purging what we don’t need. “Why do we need all this stuff?” is the question every mover asks. When we move, we don’t have a clue what we’re getting into, but we start over, grow, become new people. As physical therapists tell us, “Movement is medicine. Motion is lotion.”
Remember the scene from the movie, Forrest Gump, when Forrest is sitting on the front porch, feeling sorry for himself? His mom had just died and the woman he loves left him. He doesn’t know what to do. So, he just starts running. He runs to the end of the road, the end of town, the end of the county, across the state, all the way to the ocean. He runs for three years, two months, 14 days, and 16 hours. For some reason, what he’s doing seems to make sense to people. He gets company along the way—a whole tribe following him, like the children of Israel, following Moses in the desert. But in this case, there’s no destination, no Promised Land, just motion.
God created us for movement— in faith toward Him and in love toward others.
One day, Forrest stops. A hush falls over his tribe. They await a word from their leader. He says, “I’m pretty tired. Think I’ll go home now.” And he leaves. Somebody calls out, “Now what are we supposed to do?”
You can lose your way when you stay in the same place. But even if you’re moving, it may not be toward home.
God’s design for humankind is not stagnation; nor is it motion for motion’s sake. God made us to be at home in the dynamics of faith and faithfulness, always in motion, in faith toward Him, always setting out to serve the people
around us. But you know how it goes. We get lost or distracted trying to find ourselves, stuck feeling sorry for ourselves, or buried under all the stuff we’ve hoarded trying to fulfill ourselves. God created us for movement—in faith toward Him and in love toward others. So, the Bible is one, long trip log. There are changes in scenery, but it’s not about the place. The place makes no difference if your faith is in the wrong person. And so the journey we’re each called to make is from the dead end of trusting in ourselves, or trusting in some other finite creature, to the expanding horizon of trusting our Creator, following His lead, loving like He loves. And the vehicle, the means of conveyance, the way to get there, is God’s Word. This life is movement because we’re not yet where we’re supposed to be. The “where” is not merely geographical but relational, familial. You and I are in the right place; we are home wherever and whenever God’s Word is at work in us, moving us deeper in faith, further up and further out toward our neighbors in love. God is the One who moves. God moved to make a home for us. God moved, not just in fire, in cloud, and tent, but in His personal Word, Jesus, His Son. Jesus leads today by His Word. He still makes His Word visible in the community of people who camp around His Word. He is visible in the bread and wine of holy Communion. He is present in the water and promise of Baptism. In the conversation and encouragement of fellowship Christians, He makes Himself findable, holdonto-able. We are followed, flanked, filled, and forwarded on by God’s Word, still on the way, but home, already. u
Adapted from a sermon for The Lutheran Hour that aired September 28, 2025.
Mauricio, a 42-year-old father with limited financial resources, stopped by the LHM–Chile ministry center after noticing their sign offering free booklets. The LHM team warmly welcomed him, providing not only the booklets he requested but also a free Bible for him and his family to explore the Gospel on their own. Overjoyed by this unexpected blessing, Mauricio expressed his gratitude and excitement to begin reading these materials together at home.
A Growing Gospel Impact Through the CONNECT Initiative
NEW MINISTRY: KYRGYZSTAN
HUB: KAZAKHSTAN
Colored areas represent countries where LHM coordinates outreach efforts through staff, volunteers, and partner organizations.
NEW MINISTRY: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
HUB: CAMEROON
FIRST REGIONAL OFFICE OPENS IN SINGAPORE
NEW MINISTRY: BOLIVIA & PERU
HUB: PARAGUAY
by CHAD FIX
In 1917, 12 laypeople gathered in Milwaukee to support the church in word and deed and formed what is known today as Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM). Since that formation, LHM has been sowing seeds of biblically inspired hope, love, and transformation throughout our communities and around the world. Over the next 100 years and counting, those 12 founders have multiplied into tens of thousands of called, equipped, and sent laypeople driving forward in faithful service to make the Gospel known to people around the world.
“God has called each and every one of us to share the Gospel message in our lives, work, and families,” says LHM CEO Kurt Buchholz. “God has shown that He can do more through people like you and me than we could ever imagine—if we only allow ourselves to go where He is sending us. What a special calling for all of us to CONNECT and welcome others into the Lord’s family as we grow together as the body of Christ.”
To impact people with the Gospel globally, through digital engagement, and right where they are, LHM launched the CONNECT Initiative
NEW MINISTRY: TANZANIA
HUB: KENYA
NEW MINISTRY: NEPAL
HUB: INDIA
Today, the urgency of the Gospel is real, but the good news is we live in a time of great possibilities.
· Billions of people have yet to hear the saving message of Christ.
· As people crave a relationship with God and each other, technology allows us to engage with people more efficiently and effectively than any other time in history.
· We can use our gifts to make a real difference right where we are, among people we know and see every day. Our faith, put into action on a local level, can make an immediate and personal impact in our neighborhood and beyond.
in 2020 as a crucial step forward in achieving our shared mission that is fueled by the generous leadership and support of God’s people like you! Building upon the success of the five-year SENT Initiative from 2015 through 2020 that nearly tripled the number of times LHM reaches people with the Gospel each week, CONNECT has supported LHM’s vision for the future and Christ’s call to reach the world with the hope of the Gospel. It has ignited a movement empowering Christians to use their unique gifts
for sharing the Gospel in word and deed. By implementing these strategies, we have more than doubled the number of times people around the world experience the Gospel each week through LHM programs, resources, and services from the end of SENT. Through the grace of God and the tireless work of our staff and volunteers, this number is now nearly 275 million. But we know that God wants this to grow much further.
MINISTRY
By the Numbers
REACH
The number of times people around the world experience the Gospel through LHM programs, services, or materials each week. 2020: 125 million | 2025: 275 million
RESPONSES
The number of times people intentionally provided contact information for follow up in response to LHM’s culturally relevant outreach efforts. 2020: 968,086 | 2025: 1,950,813
REFERRALS
The number of times LHM referred people to local churches and Christian communities for spiritual growth and nurturing. 2020: 57,417 | 2025: 405,814
EQUIPPING
The number of times individuals completed an LHM ministry activity that equipped them to share their faith more effectively. 2020: 121,771 | 2025: 456,254
ENGAGED CONSTITUENTS
The number of individuals who are actively connected to LHM through its resources or the sharing of their time, talent, or treasure in support of the organizational mission. 2020: 75,000 | 2025: 389,268
“The CONNECT Initiative is really the Holy Spirit working throughout the world,” says CONNECT Cabinet Co-Chair Jill Scifres from Greenwood, Indiana. “It’s amazing to see all the different ways that LHM is reaching people and how God is working through ordinary people like us, just like He has always done throughout history.”
“CONNECT has been all about the Great Commission,” says CONNECT Cabinet CoChair Dave Hove of Stillwater, Minnesota. “Gospel proclamation throughout the world, both internationally and domestically, is one of our greatest callings as Christians, and that speaks well to LHM’s primary mission.”
“We know that Gospel proclamation is more important than anything else that we could get involved with,” says Jeret Koenig, a CONNECT Cabinet member from Indianola, Iowa. “We know LHM is able to use the resources God has given us to effectively spread the Gospel around the world.”
The funding aspect of CONNECT was quietly launched in 2020 in support of this bold plan for sharing the Gospel far and wide. It is with gratitude to God, and deep appreciation to the volunteer leaders and the multitude of people who stepped forward to donate to this effort, that CONNECT raised more than $330 million!
“Ensuring future ministry is more important now than ever,” says Kyle Peters, a CONNECT Cabinet member from Linn, Kansas. “Our future generations are going to need every ounce of help we can give them. This has been an important part of the mission to reach these future generations.”
“By God’s grace and your generous support, our shared mission to bring the Gospel to people around the world continues to grow—spreading hope to new regions, strengthening local ministries, and inspiring more people to live out their faith boldly,” says Buchholz.
CONNECT
Generous Support of CONNECT Has Allowed LHM to …
• Identify and train teams to start ministry in Peru, Nepal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kyrgyzstan, and Bolivia. In the coming years, additional teams will be identified and trained to expand ministry into new areas around the world.
• Work through our existing ministry center in Kenya to begin airing evangelistic radio spots in a new area—in neighboring Tanzania. By working with local Lutherans from Tanzania, the inspiring Gospel messages will advertise LHM’s popular Bible Correspondence Courses via radio.
• Create topical platforms and social media content in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East offering relevant material that people seek online. Individuals can have questions answered by ministry staff and volunteers and build a trusting relationship that introduces them to the Gospel.
• Begin establishing a multidivisional global mission rooted in localized regional leadership by hiring a president of Asia Ministries, LHM’s first regional president living outside of the United States. Shifting regional leadership closer to where ministry is happening ensures that our mission is tailored to the unique needs of specific areas. GOSPEL ADVENTURES™ SHOW LAUNCH
• Expand our partnership with SAT-7 through a multi-language project that uses topical content from LHM’s Project Connect booklets as a framework to develop a new program on each of SAT-7’s channels for adults. Each program is tailored to the unique language (Arabic, Farsi, or Turkish), culture, and felt needs of its audience to address the challenges of daily life with biblical truth.
• Offer The Lutheran Hour on new media platforms that reach audiences beyond traditional radio stations.
• Develop a multitude of resources in partnership with Barna Group to help Christians strengthen their households, serve their community, and develop their God-given talents.
• Establish The Hopeful Neighborhood Project (HNP) as a collaborative network to improve neighborhood well-being. One of HNP’s partner programs was named as Best Neighborhood Program at the 2023 Neighborhoods USA conference.
• Provide resources like devotions, topical booklets, online video Bible studies, online courses, and more to connect with people at any stage of their individual faith journeys.
MENA/ NEW HOPE PROGRAM LAUNCH NEW MINISTRY LAUNCHES IN PERU
NEW MINISTRY LAUNCHES IN NEPAL NEW MINISTRY LAUNCHES IN KYRGYZSTAN
RADIO SPOTS AIR IN TANZANIA ASIA REGIONAL LAUNCHSINGAPORE THRED PROGRAM UPDATE NEW MINISTRY LAUNCHES IN BOLIVIA NEW MINISTRY LAUNCHES IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO THE HOPEFUL NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT® RECEIVES NEIGHBORHOODS USA AWARD SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM
VETERANS BIBLE STUDY
INITIATIVE PUBLIC LAUNCH
CONNECTing the World Through Christ
While the large numbers illustrate the depth and enormous impact of what God has accomplished through CONNECT around the world, the fruit of our ministry efforts is really about the individual people being reached. Here are just a couple examples of individuals whose lives have been changed by the Gospel due to the generous support from people like you.
Chaup is 74 years old and has always followed a non-Christian religion. When he recently became bedridden, he began looking for ways to relieve his suffering. While listening to the radio one day, he came across an LHM–Thailand program discussing how to relieve worries. He was interested in the message and started listening to additional LHM broadcasts. As Chaup heard more about Jesus on each program, he became increasingly interested in expanding his knowledge of the Christian faith. He contacted the LHM ministry team for more information. As the conversations progressed, the staff sent Chaup booklets about Jesus, encouraged him to enroll in their Bible Correspondence Course, and introduced him to a local church. Along with LHM staff, the pastor had several follow-up conversations with Chaup to nurture his faith. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Chaup became a Christian and was baptized. He now has peace in his heart, knowing God will never leave him.
María, a 22-year-old student, began searching online for ways to deal with her depression and came across Vivenciar.net, LHM’s topical platform for Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking individuals. During her online conversation with a ministry volunteer, she mentioned that she attended church as a child but no longer does since she feels more “sinful” in that environment. This depresses her even more because she feels like she cannot do what God asks of her. The volunteer conveyed the hopeful message of the Gospel and explained how María should focus on the comfort, strength, and peace that only God can provide. María agreed to talk with LHM’s chaplain pastor through the platform. After several conversations with him, she asked for the Lutheran pastor in her city to contact her. She has started attending services at the church and is participating in a variety of congregational activities as she strengthens her faith.
As we come to the end of the CONNECT Initiative and celebrate its success, the world is facing new challenges that mean the need for the hope and love of Jesus Christ is even greater than when CONNECT began five years ago. LHM is prepared to once again step up NOW because God has truly called us to share these wonderful gifts that He has given us during challenging times.
“While we have officially closed the books on the initiative known as CONNECT, we know our work to connect the world through Christ is far from done,” says Chief Development Officer, Major & Planned Gifts Terry Biesboer. “None of our efforts would be possible without your generosity. Thank you for your commitment to sharing the transformative love of our Savior with those who desperately need to experience it.” u Chad Fix oversees the corporate communications of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
CONNECT’s CelebratingSuccess!
by CHAD FIX
Around 225 staff, volunteer leaders, and supporters gathered at the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis on October 24 to celebrate what God has accomplished through the CONNECT Initiative. After a short welcome from CEO Kurt Buchholz and a motivational devotion from Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®, attendees heard inspiring updates from program leaders on how CONNECT impacted people globally, through digital engagement, and right where they are.
Following a fellowship hour and dinner, Buchholz and Chief Development Officer, Major & Planned Gifts Terry Biesboer returned to the stage with an exciting announcement. “Even though we are here celebrating the resources God has brought forward for His Gospel mission through CONNECT, we all know it’s about the impact of those dollars and not the dollars raised,” said Buchholz. “When we began the SENT Initiative ten years ago, we were sharing the Gospel 51 million times each week. At the beginning of CONNECT in 2020, that weekly number had increased
to 125 million.”
“Tonight, we are excited to announce we are now sharing the Gospel 275 million times each week, which is made possible by the giving of $330,996,112,” said Biesboer.
Following the announcement of CONNECT’s impact numbers and financial results, Rev. Dr. Tony Cook, LHM’s global chief research and innovation officer, shared an update about transformational global ministry programs in development. These will help Christians more confidently share their faith, allow more children to hear of Jesus’ love, and uplift new leaders to share the Gospel.
“I hope one thing stands out from everything you heard today—the miraculous ways God uses people like you and me to make His Gospel known,” said CONNECT Cabinet Co-Chair Heidi Hove from Stillwater, Minnesota. “The accomplishments we are celebrating do not end with CONNECT—their effects are far reaching and will continue for years to come. In fact, God is just getting started! Thank you for your willingness to partner with LHM through CONNECT.” u
“The accomplishments we are celebrating do not end with CONNECT—their effects are far reaching and will continue for years to come.”
ASharing the Reason for the Season
by DR. KURT SENSKE, Chairman, Int’l LLL Board of Directors
s we enter the beautiful season of Advent, our hearts turn once again to the hope and promise of Christ’s coming. Advent invites us to pause, prepare, and open our hearts to the transforming power of God’s love. This year, I want to encourage each of us to see Advent as a time of reaching out. Our community— and our world—are hungering for connection, compassion, and the light of Christ’s presence. Through acts of kindness and service, we have countless opportunities to share that light. Whether it’s volunteering with a local nonprofit, supporting a family in need, or simply offering a word of encouragement to a neighbor, each gesture reflects the love we have received in Jesus Christ. Let’s make this Advent a season of purposeful ministry and joyful service. Together, we can embody the message of Emmanuel—God with us—for those who need to experience His nearness most. Here
are practical ideas for how you or your congregation might partner with LHM during the Advent season: Distribute LHM’s Advent Devotions.
• Use the devotional series, Born to You … a Savior, from LHM (lhm.org/advent). The messages offered in our Spanish devotions, Luz en medio de las Tinieblas, resonate similarly: Christ, our light, Christ our salvation (paraelcamino.com/adviento).
• Provide printed copies in your narthex or fellowship hall for members and visitors.
• Encourage members to subscribe online (email/podcast) and share the link with friends.
• Use these seasonal devotions in midweek gatherings, family devotions, or small groups. Adopt LHM outreach materials in your community engagement.
• Hand out LHM’s Project Connect booklets at community events (giving away at holiday markets, tree lightings, local parades).
In addition to Christ-centered booklets covering topics that people often grapple with during the holiday season, Christmasthemed booklets are available for adults and children. Explore our library at lhm.org/projectconnect
• Invite your youth, women’s groups, or men’s groups to incorporate LHM outreach kits into their Advent activities within the community.
• Offer “take-one” racks of booklets at visible, high-traffic areas (church entryways, community centers, doctor’s offices, etc.) and encourage attendees to pick and share.
Host an “LHM Sunday” during Advent.
• Dedicate a worship service to highlight the partnership with LHM: share stories, show resources, and invite an LHM Ambassador or congregation member to speak about their involvement with LHM.
• Set up a display table with LHM materials (booklets, information, ways to get involved).
This year, I want to encourage each of us to see Advent as a time of reaching out.
• Encourage members to pick up outreach materials to give to friends, coworkers, or neighbors. Use LHM’s seasonal programs during your family gatherings.
• Listen to LHM’s three Christmasthemed radio specials. These 30and 60-minute broadcasts can be accessed at lhm.org/Christmas.
• Watch one of LHM’s holiday television specials. Find a broadcast in your area at lhm.org/guide to make screen time, together time.
Let us move from waiting to action, and let this Advent be a season of sharing, giving, and bearing witness to the One who came for us all. Thank you for your continued partnership with LHM. May your Advent be filled with peace, hope, and opportunities to share God’s grace. u
At Lutheran Hour Ministries, we strive to create convenient ways for you to connect with
and share your
with others. Our products are free, easy, and digital so that you can use them in your home, on the go, or wherever you may be.
Advent Devotions: Shareable to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime
by PAUL SCHREIBER
Each year LHM offers Advent devotions in English and Spanish. Born to You … a Savior and Luz en medio de las Tinieblas (“Light in the Midst of Darkness”) are this year’s selections. These inspirational messages are freely available to anyone with a computer or a cell phone. This leads to a tremendous opportunity: we can share these timely reflections virtually with anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Contrast this with the “olden days,” when sharing a text was done either as a pass-along document or via handdelivered mail. Today the situation is almost inconceivably different. Now, with the touch of a few keystrokes, compelling, inspirational messages of God’s love can go around the world—to anyone you know who needs to hear—perhaps for the first time—what God has done for us through Jesus.
Accessing and sharing LHM’s daily or seasonal devotions is easy! Everything begins at lhm.org where LHM houses all its content. There you can sign up for podcasts, download our mobile apps, and subscribe to receive devotions as an email in both English and Spanish. Also, options like Spotify, iHeart Radio, Alexa, or Google Home can deliver LHM’s devotions to any computer or mobile device as a podcast.
Today’s electronic means of Gospel-sharing are compatible with God’s concern for every person’s eternal welfare. In Born to You … a Savior, Dr. Kari Vo reminds us that “God doesn’t overlook us—even the last, least, and lowest of us. It was for us that He was born into our world as a helpless baby. It was for us that Jesus taught and served and cared for people.” In Christ, we experience God the Father’s grace and mercy to the fullest: “In Jesus we see the height and depth and breadth of God’s love—for us,” Vo writes. In Spanish, the message of Luz en medio de las Tinieblas resonates similarly: Christ, our light, Christ our salvation. “We’re aware of people’s struggles, especially in times like ours that make our world darker and challenging,” says Rev. Germán Novelli, LHM’s Hispanic Ministries director. “But we also trust in the One who fills our paths with eternal light, and leads the church to bring the same light to the nations.”
Now that’s a message worth sharing! Advent devotions will run from Sunday, November 30, 2025, through Epiphany on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. You can find them online at lhm.org/advent and paraelcamino.com/adviento. u
Paul Schreiber reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work in the U.S.
… we can share these timely reflections virtually with anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Sharing Life, Faith, and Jesus with Friends Through Spiritual Conversations
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Spiritual Conversations: Sharing Life, Faith, and Jesus with Friends is a seven-lesson course designed for teachers and youth leaders to help high school-aged students recognize and respond to opportunities to have spiritual conversations.
Combining insights from Barna Group research and LHM’s commitment to equipping people to share the Gospel, this course includes interactive group activities, videos, data to consider, opportunities for discussions on Scripture and faith-sharing conversations, and more. The lessons can be presented daily, weekly, or even monthly, depending on the context and schedule of the group.
“I enjoyed the vibe of the class,” says Addison, a high school student from Buffalo, New York. “I thought it was a really fun way to learn how to spread faith. I have a couple of friends that I invited over to my house for a sleepover. One of them brought up some questions about why I believe what I do and what Christianity really is to me. I thought it was really moving because she’s not very religious, so it felt cool that I was able to share my faith. I thought this course really helped me know how to share it well with her.”
Lessons begin with a purpose and learning goals. Kickstarter Questions get students thinking on topic, while videos and group activities create a fun environment for exploring video content and related Scriptures. At each lesson’s conclusion, Exit Tickets give students the chance to share their thoughts, prayer requests, and more, in a confidential manner with their teacher.
“I thought it was a really fun way to learn how to spread faith.”
The underlying motivator in Spiritual Conversations: Sharing Life, Faith, and Jesus with Friends is the apostle Paul’s exhortation in Colossians 4:5-6 to “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Insights gleaned from LHM’s Spiritual Conversation Curve and LHM Learn’s online suite of Barna-based Outreach Essentials courses have played a key role in building this course.
The Teacher Guide explains how to implement the course and engage students. Instructors are considered the classroom experts, but being an expert in spiritual conversations isn’t necessary to have a powerful learning experience.
“I just want to thank LHM for all that they do,” says Rev. Matthew Bohlmann, associate pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Missouri. “The materials that they produce, as a pastor, help in a variety of ways. We’re in this together. We’re not just a bunch of individuals, but we’re working together because our goal is to tell the world about Jesus.”
Visit lhm.org/schs to learn more and register. u
Megan McDaniel reports on the impact of LHM’s ministry work around the world.
Life to the Full SESSION FOUR To Live Is to Love NURTURING YOUR FAITH:
INTRODUCTION: LIFE AND DEATH
One of my favorite books of the Bible is Deuteronomy. I know what you’re thinking. Deutero-what? Let me explain. Deuteronomy is the last book of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. It is the last book in which Moses is the main character, after the burning bush, the Exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, and the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. It comes near the end of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, as Moses is about to bring the Israelites to the brink of the Promised Land.
At that point, a strange thing happens. As Moses is leading God’s people through the wilderness, he turns to look at their faces, and notices that they look familiar, but also somehow different and strange. It’s only then that he realizes that these are not the Israelites whom he brought out of slavery in Egypt. These are the children of the Israelites he brought out of Egypt. And it’s only then that he realizes that before they get to the Promised Land, they need to hear the story again.
Thus, Deuteronomy is known as the “second law.” “Hear, O Israel,” Moses says, “how God brought your ancestors out of slavery in Egypt …” But then another strange thing happens. Pretty soon into the story, Moses stops referring to their “ancestors”
and tells the story as if it happened to them.
“Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt …” (Deuteronomy 5:15). It is almost as if, by telling the story, these children become part of the story, too. The same goes for all those who read the story as it is written; we become part of the story. Which brings us to the crux of the matter. After telling the story again, Moses lays it all on the line. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Yet, when Moses sets before us “life and death,” he doesn’t just mean whether our bodies are six feet above or below the ground. So much more is implied in the words, “life” and “death.” By life, Moses means abundance, longevity, flourishing, and wellbeing. By death, Moses means suffering, poverty, oppression, and violence.
There is a whole code of ethics in the choice Moses gives us. It can be summed up in a question we can ask ourselves any time we are about to do anything: Is what I am about to do life-giving or death-dealing, not just for me but also for all those who will be affected by what I am about to do? How we answer the question tells us all we need to know.
1. Can you think of a time when you experienced something “death-dealing”? How did it affect you?
2. Can you think of a time when you experienced something “life-giving”? How did it affect you?
TO LIVE IS TO LOVE:
Read 1 John 4:7-19.
Life or death, Moses says. The choice is before us. But how do we “choose life” when so many things are outside of our control? Or when the forces that would take life from us impose their will on us?
We began this study in the Gospel of John, and we are ending it in John’s first letter to the church. And in the apostle John’s view of things, life and love are synonymous. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The gift of life is given in love. So, for John, to live is to love. Life lived at its fullest, life lived to overflowing, is life in relationship with God, which then places us into fuller relationship with each other. Literally, that’s how life overflows, in receiving, giving, and sharing love with others.
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). In the context of this study (recall what we learned about childlikeness in Session 3: The Spirit of Youth), the fact that John refers to us as “little children” takes on new meaning, doesn’t it? Perhaps no one trusts love as much as a little child. No one trusts love as much as the little child within each of us. There is a wide range of experiences or actions that we refer to with the English word “love.” But in the ancient Greek, there were four words that we would translate as love. Spelling them out helps us see how love is
lived out “in truth and action”:
1. The word storge (pronounced “store-gae”) signifies familial love, the love between parents and children, or the love shared within a family group. We could translate it as affection or kinship.
2. The word philia (or philos) refers to friendship or brotherly love, as in Philadelphia (“the city of brotherly love”). The sense of philia implies companionship, camaraderie, and like-mindedness.
3. The word eros signifies romantic love, from which we get the word “erotic.” But the sexual love between romantic partners is only one part of it. For the Greeks, eros implies our passions or attractions in all of their forms. It involves anything we are truly passionate about, and how we then share in those passions with others. We signify this in English when we say something like, “I love baseball.”
4. The word agape signifies the free, selfless gift of love, given by one to raise up the wellbeing of another, regardless of their status or ability to reciprocate. This is love at its highest level. No surprise that, for the writers of the Bible, this is the love of God toward humankind and all the world.
All of these ways of love embody something about how the apostle John encourages us to “love one another.” But living as broken human beings in a broken world, we also know something about these loves by the ways we often distort them and, in the process, “deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8b). These distortions of love are deceptive because they can look like love, but in fact, they often become a kind of selfabsorption. For example:
1. A distortion of storge might be co-dependency, where the need for affection only enables selfdestructive behavior.
2. A distortion of philia might be cliquishness, where the friendship of some intentionally excludes others. Or even worse, bullying, where someone uses a relationship to intimidate, harass, or torture another’s weakness.
3. A distortion of eros might be, literally, porneia, the Greek word from which we get “pornography.” But this wouldn’t just refer to sexuality. Anything that we obsess over to the point of excess can become a pornographic fixation.
4. Finally, a distortion of agape might be legalism or self-righteousness, anytime we take something that should be freely given and received and turn it into an obligation or reward.
In each case, the difference between the form of love and its distortion is between perceived abundance and scarcity, that is, something that has no limit to its supply (love) is treated as if we’re going to run out of it if we don’t horde it for ourselves. This is also why at the center of love is forgiveness, which makes every broken love new and whole. (There is so much more we could say about that, but that’s another study for another time.)
What probably wouldn’t surprise you is that in every instance where John writes the word “love” in 1 John 4:7-19, he writes agape; because “God is agape” (see 1 John 4:8,16). For us, love is always a verb. It’s something we do. But for God, love is both noun and verb. Love is who God is, and love is what God does. And in Christ, agape takes on flesh and bone, blood, sweat, and tears. Every single thing Jesus did on earth, He did in love. This is how love overflows to us, so much so that the agape of God can deepen and fulfill all our other loves, all our affections, friendships, and passions. Receiving the agape of God and sharing this agape with one another is how love overflows into a life filled to overflowing.
Watch the video by Dr. Travis Scholl: Session Four - “The Other Love Chapter” at lhm.org/biblestudies
1. Think of a person who models Paul’s description of “genuine love” for you. How would you describe how they have lived their life?
2. Which of Paul’s encouragements strike you as particularly important or relevant for your life or for society today?
THE BELOVED DISCIPLE
In his Gospel, John famously refers to himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23b) or what we now call the “beloved disciple.” Many biblical scholars maintain that John refers to himself anonymously out of a sense of modesty, because he doesn’t want to brag that he was the disciple who was Jesus’ closest companion. I don’t think that’s why, though. I believe John refers to himself as the beloved disciple because he saw himself standing in for all of us. The anonymity of it is how we enter into the story. We are each, in our own unique way, the beloved disciple, Jesus’ closest companion.
And at the end of the story, we are the “other disciple,” outrunning even Peter to get to the empty tomb just as fast as we can (see John 20:3-4).
We are running so fast because we have never felt a human love— storge, philia, or eros—as deep or
as wide as the love Christ has for us. Because, in the life of the risen Christ, we now know agape. Which is why the life that arises from this love of God really can’t help but overflow. If we would try to bottle it up inside ourselves, it would pop the cork. So much so that we can’t help but sing about it:
“What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul …”1
“How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure …”2 So much so that we can’t help but live it out in all that we are and all that we do. And then to find it in the lives of others as we love and serve friends and strangers alike. This is God’s gift to us for today, tomorrow, and into eternity; this is life to the full.
1 Anonymous. “What Wondrous Love Is This,” Lutheran Service Book, p. 543.
2 Townend, Stuart. “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” Thankyou Music, 1995.
1. Where have you seen your life flourish more fully as you’ve gone through this study?
2. How have you seen other lives flourish more fully as you’ve gone through this study?
1. How have you experienced God’s agape recently?
2. How might God’s agape deepen how you show love to someone in one of the other areas (storge, philia, or eros)?
Heavenly Father, bring us into a deeper love for You and for those around us. Lead us by Your Holy Spirit to love as Jesus loved—purely, unselfishly—so that we, too, may be known by our love. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
OConnecting People Through the Gospel
by KURT BUCHHOLZ, CEO, Lutheran Hour Ministries
ver the last five years, LHM has fulfilled a bold initiative to CONNECT people around the world to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have expanded the reach of our Gospel-centered resources, engaged with new believers, and expanded our global ministry presence to the next level. It has been a joy to see firsthand how God continues to open new doors for ministry—through global expansion, digital outreach, and individuals and congregations who use our ministry resources to serve as beacons of hope in their local communities.
The CONNECT Initiative has also reminded us that the Gospel connects us to one another, uniting believers across generations, cultures, and continents. CONNECT has served as a movement of God’s people who are passionate about reaching the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Every connection we make—every conversation, every act of service, every shared prayer—is part of God’s greater mission. LHM
Every connection we make—every conversation, every act of service, every shared prayer—is part of God’s greater mission.
exists to equip you to be that connection point as together we fulfill our mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church
Whenever we finish a large-scale, multi-year initiative like CONNECT, something inevitably seems to happen. While people are excited to hear about the initiative and celebrate all that it has accomplished, they are even more curious to learn what is ahead.
The conversation inevitably starts with LHM’s coverage on a world map. While more countries are colored in and more people are hearing the Gospel through LHM than ever before, there is still more work to do. As CONNECT comes to an end, I promise that we will be bold and drive forward as God leads us as workers to His harvest fields. This is why we will continue to work through existing ministry centers where we are already making an impact to expand into additional countries where we can share the Gospel using proven models. We will also continue shifting
Annual Film Forum Introduces Viewers to Christ
by CHAD FIX
In the Baltics, cultural identity is often entwined with music and the arts. Tapping into this heritage, LHM–Latvia has hosted an annual week-long film forum, And the Word Became Film, for more than 20 years that presents award-winning films offering a good moral message or a connection with Christianity. This year, eight films were screened for around 450 people who watched the films and then participated in a discussion about the themes and ideas presented. The event was covered in the national media and received a lot of positive feedback.
Alida is a 33-year-old teacher who was invited by a friend to attend the forum. “I was deeply moved by the messages of the selected films and the issues they brought to light,” says Alida. “One film that particularly resonated with me was the Danish film, The Great Silence, which explores the complex relationship between a brother and sister. It stirred something deep within me and made me reflect on my own relationship with my brother, whom I haven’t seen in several years.”
After this experience, Alida felt a strong urge to visit a church. Since then, she has gone a few times—not during services, but in quieter moments on weekdays. “There’s something indescribable about sitting in silence, gazing at the altar and the crucifix—a deep sense of peace and reflection,” she says. The Holy Spirit continued to work on her heart and led her to enroll in one of LHM–Latvia’s Bible courses to dig deeper. Another attendee went to Facebook to share his thanks. “These wonderful movies were my best spring evenings. Thanks to all who shared their valuable insights after the movies.” u
leadership to regional presidents who are located closer to where ministry is happening to enable more effective ministry that is tailored to the unique needs of the region. Both approaches will lead to an even greater missional impact.
Closer to home, we will double down on our efforts to equip Christians to share the love of Jesus right where they are. We are developing innovative research-based tools to incorporate faith-building habits into daily life so Christians will be ready to respond well to those who are still living in spiritual darkness.
We could not do any of this without you, because we would not have the confidence or the drive to look at what’s next if you hadn’t first said “Yes!” and joined us on this journey known as CONNECT. Thank you for your faithful support, prayers, and partnership. Your commitment sustains this ministry and allows the message of Christ to reach those who most need to hear it. To God be the glory! u
Don’t Miss a Special Anniversary on New Year’s Day by CHAD FIX
The 137th Tournament of Roses Parade will be held on January 1, 2026, in Pasadena, California, beginning at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Building off the 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade theme, “The Magic in Teamwork,” the Lutheran Hour Ministries Float Committee will celebrate 75 years of putting a float in the parade with an entry titled “Bringing Christ to the Nations®” .
The LHM float will feature a “Team Jesus” blimp flying over the world. Coming forth from the church, Jesus celebrates with 12 modern-day disciples under the message of ALL WELCOME. “Team Jesus” serves as a reminder that it takes everyone to fulfill the callings Christ has placed upon us to do the work of bringing Christ and His redeeming love to the world. Additional symbolism on the float will include the Luther Seal on the nose of the blimp, crosses on the side, “75” on the tail in honor of our 75th year having a Christian float in the parade, and a Petal Pushers® banner to
highlight the annual volunteer efforts of around 4,000 individuals. Riders on the 2026 float will include LHM CEO Kurt Buchholz, LHM–Paraguay Director Laercio Knaak, and pastors and laypeople from throughout Southern California. These individuals will represent some of the vocations Christ has called us to the building of His church and the furtherance of the Gospel message: a teacher, a missionary, a pastor, and others.
As a self-funded project of the Southern California District of the Lutheran Laymen’s League, the LHM float is the only Christian float in the annual parade. The
Expanding Ministry to Tanzania
Working through our existing ministry center in Kenya, LHM has launched a new project to reach nearly 5.5 million Swahilispeaking people in the Shinyanga and Mwanza regions of western Tanzania. The new programs are broadcast on Jambo Radio and offer inspiring Gospel messages that advertise LHM’s successful Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC).
Listeners interested in learning more about the Christian faith are enrolled in the courses by congregational volunteers from partner churches who will distribute the courses through our program coordinator in Tanzania and bundle completed lessons for grading.
This new radio program and BCC enrollment effort is a partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania–Southeast of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELCT-SELV) and LHM–Kenya.
“… I am reminded this is a beautiful example of things working according to God’s plan and His timing.”
of Gospel Proclamation Through the Rose Parade!
float provides a Gospel witness to people watching in person along the 5.5-mile parade route in Pasadena as well as viewers around the world. The parade will be available on several television networks and streaming platforms (ktla.com typically carries the entire parade without interruption); check your local listings for the best viewing options.
In addition to sharing Christ along the parade route, volunteers will be stationed in booths around the float-decorating sites to engage in conversations with visitors regarding the spiritual meaning of the LHM float. These English and
by CHAD FIX
The SELV diocese was formed in 2013 and has grown dramatically from 14,000 members with 17 pastors to 49,000 members across 108 congregations today. Their well-structured administration includes innovative programs such as House to House Bible studies and a 52-week women’s devotional used across the diocese. In August, the church hosted around 20,000 youth at a diocese-wide rally.
Western Tanzania is ripe for expansion of the Gospel since the church has been growing there for years. The secular community respects the Lutheran Church in this region since it is viewed as a trusted organization that follows through with its commitments. This has enabled expansion of the church in the region through new congregations.
Church leadership is attracted to LHM for our ability to create and place Christian programs on the radio. They believe this will have a positive impact on listeners and will further attract people to faith and to the SELV diocese. Although the church has published numerous
bilingual volunteers also distribute thousands of souvenir postcards as well as a variety of LHM’s topical Project Connect booklets for both adults and children.
Are you interested in helping decorate floats for the 2026 parade? Hundreds of volunteers of all skill levels are still needed. This is a great opportunity not only for individuals, but families, youth groups, fellowship groups, and Boy/Girl Scout troops. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old and commit to work one or more eight-hour shifts during the month of December. Shifts are available on the three Saturdays prior to Christmas (December 6, 13, and 20) and then for two shifts a day beginning December 26 until the floats are completed.
Visit lhm.org/petalpushers to learn more about the LHM float, volunteer opportunities, tour options, or ways to support this impactful project. Questions? Contact Dick Gast at 949-230-2501 or chairman@petalpushers.org. u
training materials, they are interested in LHM’s BCC program since there is currently nothing specific offered for both new believers and for those seeking. LHM hopes this effort will lead to additional outreach opportunities in other areas of this nation of 70 million people.
“I look at the situation in Tanzania and the progress we’ve made, and I am reminded this is a beautiful example of things working according to God’s plan and His timing,” says LHM’s regional director for Africa and the Middle East. “It is our intent to contribute to the growth and expansion of the church in this region by making God’s Word known further and nurturing new believers through our BCC materials. Please pray for the success of this new venture.” u
Celebrate
LHM Sunday at Your Church
We hope you will consider hosting a Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) Sunday at your church next year. This day is a chance to celebrate the critical partnership between churches, individuals, and LHM in Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. The official date for LHM Sunday, when many churches across the country will celebrate, is February 1, 2026 … but you can host this event any day your congregational calendar permits.
While some local churches conduct their own outreach work overseas, many churches do not. As a global mission organization that brings the hope of Jesus to individuals in more than 60 countries, LHM offers the opportunity to fill that gap. In addition, LHM offers resources to support your church and help strengthen your members’ spiritual walk. These resources include Daily Devotions, video-based Bible studies, felt-need topical booklets, Gospel Adventures for children, research-based materials developed in partnership with Barna Group, and more.
LHM has already mailed physical materials to all LHM Ambassadors. Not an Ambassador? Simply visit lhm.org/lhmsunday to access all the materials you need to host this critical event. Talk to your pastor today about getting LHM Sunday onto the calendar in 2026.
LHM Ambassadors: LHM Sunday qualifies as a Bonus Event for the Ambassador reward program! To learn more about LHM Ambassadors or to sign up as one, visit lhm.org/ambassador.
LHM Ambassador Steve Dahl hosted two LHM Sunday events this year. The first one in January was at King of Kings Lutheran Church and School in Roseville, Minnesota. He set out LHM resources in the narthex and did a mission minute after both services. “The church and school are very active with LHM,” says Dahl. “We have a table and a standing display rack with adult and children’s booklets, we use the Bible studies, and we are using the materials to read through the Bible in a year as a congregation.”
A few weeks later, he hosted an LHM Sunday at Waikoloa Lutheran Church in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, where he spends extended time each year. “It’s a small but growing congregation that is in the midst of a building campaign for its first building. They currently meet (set up/take down each week) in the community center.” The materials were well received by members at both churches, and Dahl is planning to continue developing awareness of LHM resources, including Project Connect booklets that are displayed at these churches, as well as LHM’s Daily Devotions and other digital resources. u
Sharing Hope Through Project Connect with Your Community
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Bring hope to your community through Project Connect—an indispensable, on-site, booklet ministry resource that uses a display (a rotating booklet stand) of pocketsized, topical booklets to promote outreach. These booklets are written from a Christian perspective and address a variety of topics, from forgiveness and the afterlife to depression and anger management. These topical booklets are a great opportunity to reach out to those in your churches and communities with Gospel-centered topics that help them navigate life. Booklets are available in PDF, MP3 audio, or they can be ordered online from LHM’s storefront.
Below are a few examples of how individuals encourage others in their communities with this popular outreach tool.
David Otten, pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Jerseyville, Illinois, shared how they distribute LHM materials at the county fair each year. This year at their county fair booth, over 300 pieces of LHM materials were given out. Most of the materials were children’s booklets, and everyone was happy to receive them. In addition, they have a permanent LHM Project Connect display at the local food pantry and are establishing a display at the local Mexican restaurant.
Megan Barone, LHM Ambassador for Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney, Nebraska, uses Project Connect booklets as a giveaway item at their college welcome night. She distributed about 150 copies of What Is Faith? during the welcome night this year, alongside their campus ministry information. In addition to the welcome night, she keeps booklets about anxiety, depression, and how to talk about your faith in the discipleship house, which is utilized by groups like the campus ministry, youth ministry, life groups, and grief groups.
Shane Mason works at Beacon Lighthouse for the Blind and oversees the Base Supply Store on Fort Sill Army post in Lawton, Oklahoma, which supports the AbilityOne Program that helps create jobs for people who are blind and visually impaired or disabled, as well as Wounded Warriors. Shane worked with a chaplain from the Post who requested LHM’s Project Connect booklets for his ministry efforts.
For more information about Project Connect and to see the library of booklets, visit lhm.org/ projectconnect. u
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
*Photos from LHM Ambassador Steve Dahl
*Photos from Megan Barone & David Otten
by CHAD FIX
Bryan Tay has joined Lutheran Hour Ministries as president of Asia Ministries, LHM’s first regional president living outside of the United States. Stationed in Singapore, he oversees the regional strategy to ensure alignment with the global strategy of LHM by providing leadership for Asia’s ministry center directors, manages the regional advocacy board, and participates in external constituent engagement as the chief spokesperson and fundraiser for the region.
Tay has a diploma in marine engineering from Singapore Polytechnic and obtained a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical & production (honors) from the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is also a certified Adult Educator (facilitation; curriculum design & development; technology-enabled learning) and certified Workplace Learning Facilitator endorsed by the Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore.
Here are a few excerpts from his recent Question & Answer session at the CONNECT Celebration Event.
Hearing the reports and seeing what our teams are doing has really opened my eyes to the impact of radio.
Introducing BRYAN TAY, President of LHM’s Asia Ministries
Can you share a little about your background?
I started my career as a naval officer with the Republic of Singapore Navy. Upon completing my vessel command, I joined the private sector and honed my marketplace management skills via senior management roles in the multi-faceted maritime industry. These positions included container port management (Singapore, Italy, China), shipping consultancy (United Kingdom, Singapore), cruise terminal management, and freight management.
Prior to joining LHM, I helmed the International Lutheran Seafarers’ Mission (ILSM) by setting up its first-ever local team to reach out to seafarers in Singapore’s container terminals and fishery port. The small team achieved a milestone by making more than 1,000 ship visits in 2024 to encourage and strengthen believers onboard and proclaim the Name of Jesus to pre-believers. I also pioneered the “Coastal Welcome Services,” which offers Christian hospitality to seafarers coming ashore. Before my stint in ILSM, I held concurrent appointments as board secretary of ILSM, chairman of the Mission Sub-Committee of the Lutheran Church in Singapore (LCS), and lay representative of the Executive Council, LCS.
My wife, Luang, and I worship at the Lutheran Church in Singapore’s Jurong Christian Church (JCC), where I lead the Church Council Leadership, shepherd cell groups, and serve as head of ministry for JCC’s outreach initiatives, locally and overseas.
What is your vision for ministry in Asia over the next several years?
As we transform into a global ministry organization, I see our team growing in three dimensions. First, I want to help our team develop deep spiritual convictions towards the unchurched. This will help them stay motivated and persevere in mission work taking place in sometimes challenging circumstances. Second, we will shape the teams to focus on organizational excellence. The ministry centers have previously been operating on their own under the direction of a regional director, so we will establish a team culture by standardizing procedures, systemizing processes, and synergizing resources for greater effectiveness and efficiency in ministry operations. Third, with the help of God, we will strengthen the teams to achieve greater missional impact by doing even more to expand the kingdom of God.
What are some of the challenges for ministry in Asia?
Unlike other places where there may be a common language, the languages in Asia are very diverse. In Myanmar alone there are at least 135 languages and in Thailand there are up to 100 languages. This presents a challenge and means we must continue to recruit and train local staff and volunteers that speak the audience’s language and meet them right where they are. Additionally, as the Bible says, the harvest fields are ripe, but the
laborers are few. We need more laborers not only on the front lines, but also on the back end as prayer partners and financial supporters.
Can you highlight some of the ministry taking place
in Asia?
There are many things that our ministry centers are doing; some are common activities while others are specialized. Living in a small country, radio broadcasts have not meant much to me. Hearing the reports and seeing what our teams are doing has really opened my eyes to the impact of radio. I recently heard the story of a widow in Nepal. When her husband died in April, her family blamed her and accused her of being a witch. When she heard our radio program in her own language of Santhali, she called our team and asked to learn more about Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, she has continued to learn more and now attends church. Second, is a focus on youth. Asia is the most populous continent in the world, and there are about one billion youth there. Some of our ministry centers offer age-group soccer training sessions for boys and girls where our directors talk to them about the Gospel through life skills and biblical principles and give them Christian literature. A third highlight is Gospel music. Some of our teams are very creative and write their own songs to upload onto social media. We also cooperate with famous Gospel singers who are very influential. When we put their songs on the internet, people respond. Gospel music is a great way to reach out to the people. u
New Project Connect Booklet Addresses Forgiveness Received and Offered
by PAUL SCHREIBER
We all know how hard it can be to forgive someone. Maybe it was a searing insult or a physical act that can never be excused, much less forgiven. Maybe it was something else. Either way, the roots of our resistance to forgive are many. And left to our own decision making, any reason to forgive is often—in our minds—justifiably cast aside because of the hurt we still feel.
Addressing the power of forgiveness both received and offered is How to Forgive As We Have Been Forgiven, a new Project Connect booklet by Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies, LHM’s vice president of Ministry Engagement. From his opening words depicting one woman’s wartime abuse and the deepseated anger it produced, Lakies considers the highly charged and polarized world we live in and its extreme need for God’s grace, “a kind of grace that runs counter to the unkindness, discord, and brokenness all around us,” he writes. “To become people who can forgive others and respond rightly to the aches and desperation for grace in the world around us, we first must truly receive, experience, and know deeply God’s forgiveness for ourselves. Then we must be enjoined to a forgiving community,
Impact Ministry with an End-of-Year Gift
by CHAD FIX
As we unwrap gifts and wrap up another year, this is a time when we think most about faith, showing appreciation, and helping others. How can you make a difference during this season of giving?
An end-of-year gift to LHM will help share the world’s greatest gift with others. God uses your gifts so that people experience the Gospel through LHM programs and resources nearly 275 million times each week, often connecting with individuals in places where they have no other opportunity to hear of Jesus. As 2025 ends, you can support this mission in various ways:
• Make a direct gift. Donate online via credit card or PayPal at lhm.org/give or call 1-877-333-1963 (Dec. 31 gifts are tax-deductible if made before 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of your billing address). Or mail a check to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141—just make sure it is postmarked for Dec. 31 or earlier.
the church, whose teachings and practices form us to be the kinds of people who can forgive,” Lakies writes.
But to be that kind of human being is not natural.
But to be that kind of human being is not natural.
Lakies considers our longing and need for forgiveness. In truth we are all blameworthy before God. Stained by sin completely, we have all gone astray, seeking our own selfserving interests. But God has dealt with our sins where we couldn’t. In giving us the Gift of His Son as our Savior, God has cleansed us of our transgressions. “In fact, He put to death the very consequences of sin—death itself—for all who believe in Him,” Lakies writes.
And this new and forgiven life God extends to us … it should be a model for our treatment of others, especially in the area of forgiveness. Lakies writes that “our forgiveness of others is a form of God’s forgiveness for them, too. In other words, when we forgive others, they encounter Jesus and the grace of God in us.”
You can order How to Forgive As We Have Been Forgiven and dozens of other Project Connect topical booklets at lhm.org/ projectconnect. There you’ll find booklets organized in six categories, including children’s booklets. u
• Join ministry partners who are committed to regularly sharing Christ’s love through a gift of any amount each month. Visit lhm.org/missionmonthly to sign up.
• Participate in a matching gift campaign where every dollar you give is matched by other generous donors.
• Support ministry through a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA. Or consider other popular giving options like naming LHM as a beneficiary in your will or life insurance policy, establishing a charitable gift annuity, donating appreciated securities, or creating a donor advised fund. Call our gift planning staff at 1-877-333-1963 to learn more. u
Start your Christmas Journey in the Word
Congregation Spotlight:
How YOU Can Join LHM’s Mission
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Congregation name:
Trinity Lutheran Church
Location:
San Angelo, Texas
Congregation size:
383 baptized members
Contact person: Bobbie Haire
How does your congregation support LHM?
Every year, we provide financial support through a designated amount of our outreach budget. This year, our budget for Lutheran Hour Ministries is $2,000. Many of our members also contribute directly to LHM on their own.
What was the motivation behind supporting LHM?
The wide reach of Lutheran Hour Ministries reaches areas of the world where we cannot go on our own. They have also been able to utilize technology and digital platforms to reach even more people through the digital audience around the world.
What has been your members’ feedback? What do your members like about LHM?
Our members are glad to support various outreach efforts, including Lutheran Hour Ministries, especially when they can see that it is successful. Our members also enjoy reading the topical booklets from LHM’s Project Connect ministry, which cover a wide range of life issues. We hear of members who share them with their family and friends. We, as a church, also share the booklets with our school families. In addition, the digital resources available on LHM’s website are very helpful and encouraging.
– Photo from Trinity Lutheran Church
If your congregation would like to learn more about how you can support LHM’s mission, contact Robin Forsythe at 314-317-4152 or robin.forsythe@lhm.org. If you would like to make a gift of support, visit lhm.org/give . u
Journey Through Booklets Basis for 2026 Nurturing Your Faith Bible Study
Project Connect’s four-booklet Journey Through series is the basis for LHM’s next Nurturing Your Faith (NYF) Bible study. These texts explore anxiety, depression, entanglements, and life’s rat race. Each booklet’s focus will be highlighted and presented in a single Bible study corresponding with and available in the four 2026 issues of The Lutheran Layman Each installment features supporting Scriptures, commentary, reflection questions, video, and more.
by PAUL SCHREIBER
of God in Christ Jesus. (See Romans 8:38-39.)
The study’s video host will be Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour. He will interview Rev. Dr. Rick Marrs, senior professor of practical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, who has extensive experience in pastoral care and Christian counseling. Session 1 zeroes in on anxiety—something that troubles us all. While we’ll never be completely free from
anxiety, it can be managed. Our anxiety is a warning light for change and an invitation to get creative in dealing with it. The apostle Paul was no stranger to anxiety. In Philippians he encourages us to surrender our anxieties to God, letting His peace, “which surpasses all understanding,” protect our minds in Christ Jesus. (See Philippians 4:4-9.)
Session 2 addresses depression and a weight that can range from overwhelming lethargy to thoughts of death and suicide. Depression has many causes, but there is a way out of its depths. Even when life is darkest and we feel alone and helpless, nothing—including depression and other mental disorders— can separate us from the love
Register for LHM’s 2026 Election in February
by CHAD FIX
Want to have a say in LHM achieving its mission? As part of the ministry’s annual election process, you can help decide who serves on our Board of Directors in 2026 and beyond.
Anyone who has given a gift to LHM between July 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025, (and is also a member of a congregation of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod or Lutheran Church–Canada) will receive a postcard in early February with details on how to become part of the voting membership in 2026. Eligible constituents will have the option of registering online to receive an electronic ballot (the preferred method since it saves substantial ministry dollars) or mailing
Session 3 concentrates on snares or entanglements in our lives. It will focus on those things that hold us back from growing in our faith. The wilderness of bad habits can bring suffering, both for ourselves and others. But Christ knows our suffering, has experienced it, and can bring us through to the other side. He tells us, “In the world you will have tribulation [suffering]. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). Session 4 speaks to the rat race, the daily grind of activities and measuring up. Throttling back from the myriad responsibilities we face is not easy. The drive to keep pace is a hamster wheel that wears us out with every footfall. So, what can calm the heart from this endless sprint? Learning to say no and finding a beautiful place are two good starts. Jesus came to give an abundant life, not a frenetic one. (See John 10:10.) u
back the postcard to receive a paper ballot for the annual election that takes place April 15 through May 15.
Since a new voting membership is established for each election cycle, you must sign up to participate in the 2026 election regardless of whether you registered (or voted) in previous years.
You will be able to view information about each candidate for the Board of Directors in the next issue of The Lutheran Layman. You are then encouraged to register to vote by March 15 to ensure your participation in LHM’s 2026 election process. u
Planting a Lasting Impact THROUGH AN IRA
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
For Bill and Karen Bade, Lutheran Hour Ministries has always been a part of their lives. Karen remembers listening to The Lutheran Hour broadcast on the radio when she was a child growing up in Central Illinois. “My mom never learned to drive, so when we went to church, we would walk,” says Karen. “A lot of times when we stayed home in the winter, we would turn on the radio to listen to The Lutheran Hour.”
Bill also listened to The Lutheran Hour growing up, but it was also a source for hearing the Gospel message for him while he was deployed in the Navy after attending Concordia Ann Arbor and Concordia Seward. “There wasn’t much opportunity to worship when you’re at sea, so it was nice to have a radio program available to consistently hear God’s Word,” says Bill.
Today, they continue to enjoy listening to LHM’s Daily Devotions and sermons in the on-demand format while driving or doing tasks
around the house and woods on their property. “The Lutheran Hour has been around for so long, it’s almost like a tradition,” says Karen.
“I believe it’s a mainstay for many families. There are so many things that you can’t count on nowadays, but The Lutheran Hour is something you can always count on.”
Beyond having our resources accessible to them when they didn’t have another worship method available, what draws Bill and Karen to LHM is our mission. For decades, LHM has proclaimed the Gospel to the world through a unique ministry model that identifies and equips local laypeople to build their presence and impact using specific strategies and tactics contextual to the culture and language in which they serve. This model offers people the opportunity to hear the Gospel in an understandable way.
“LHM has the opportunity to reach out to people of different cultures in countries around the world, including places where people might face dire
consequences for seeking out Christianity,” says Bill.
“They truly want people to hear the Gospel who don’t have an opportunity to hear it,” says Karen. “At least with LHM, that door is open for people to get involved.”
LHM’s growing Gospel impact around the world led Bill and Karen to consider other ways to support LHM’s work. They decided to pledge one of their IRAs to LHM as a way to get involved with our mission.
“There are so many things that you can’t count on nowadays, but The Lutheran Hour is something you can always count on.”
Once they retired, Bill and Karen moved to his family farm in northern Michigan, where he is the fourth generation to live there. They enjoy planting trees in their 55 acres of hardwoods. “Over the last 40 years, we have put in close to 4,000 seedlings,” says Bill. “In some ways, this effort is similar to our commitment to LHM, as we have the desire to use God’s blessings for the benefit of future generations.”
Bill and Karen’s gift through their IRA ensures people here in the United States and around the world will be touched by the Gospel for years to come.
Looking to make a gift to LHM through your IRA? Consult with your tax advisor to make sure that a gift made through your IRA is a good fit for you. After that, simply contact your IRA administrator and request that a distribution be made directly to LHM. Questions about IRAs or other gift options? Contact our gift planning staff at 1-877333-1963 or lhm-gift@lhm.org u
Multiply Your Impact on the Most Generous Day of the Year!
by
CHAD FIX
Since its inception in 2012, Giving Tuesday has served as an unofficial kickoff to the charitable season when people often begin to focus on end-of-year giving. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (this year on December 2), Giving Tuesday is now a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity by supporting causes that mean the most to them.
Your gift to Lutheran Hour Ministries on Giving Tuesday helps share the world’s greatest gift this Advent season—the Good News of the Savior’s arrival. Who would have expected the King of
kings, the embodiment of the Father’s love, to be born in a manger? The Christ Child came to redeem us from the curse of sin and death.
You can help us proclaim Him in more than 60 countries, including places where people
have no other opportunity to hear of Jesus. God uses your generous support so people around the world can experience the Gospel nearly 275 million times each week through LHM programs, resources, and services.
This year, your gift to LHM on Tuesday, December 2, will be matched up to $50,000. Simply make your gift on that day through an LHM email in your inbox or an LHM social media post, by visiting lhm.org, or by calling 1-800-876-9880. We appreciate your steadfast commitment to making Christ’s Name known to people who have never experienced His transformative love. u
Access Go Mongolia NOW!
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Gospel Adventures™ is heading to Mongolia! Gospel Adventures: Go Mongolia! is a free online resource available to Christian schools, homeschools, churches, and individuals. The curriculum is filled with fun activities and an interactive website for students to learn about Christian children in another country.
Gospel Adventures gives kids an inside look into the day-to-day lives of people like them around the world through music, videos, and fun characters. The curriculum includes videos, maps, colorful graphics and charts, hands-on activities, questions for discussion, and more, all working together to highlight Mongolia’s religion, ethnic groups, ways of living, culture and customs, history, and other features that make Mongolia unique.
We know that everyone uses Gospel Adventures in a unique setting, so we’ve made this resource more flexible than ever. Short activity blocks allow you to customize the lesson to your classroom or homeschool. Pick and choose which options best suit your student dynamics, time frame, space, and situation. Or use all of them—starting with Option One and moving through the last one. It’s up to you! Plus,
each day’s lesson highlights part of Ephesians 3:17-19, integrating faith with real life—here at home and in Mongolia.
The full curriculum is already available! Visit gospeladventures.org/mongolia.asp to register for the virtual “trip” and access this content to gain access to the newest interactive experience.
How Can You Make an Impact on Kids Around the World?
Your gifts will fuel programs for youth in Mongolia and elsewhere that are designed to share the Gospel with those who have not yet heard it. The ministry hosts vacation Bible school, youth gatherings, and workshops; provides holistic outreach to youth in need; and develops a variety of age-appropriate resources that teach about Jesus and offer biblically based guidance.
By supporting our Global Kids Fund, YOU can help share Christ’s message of hope with children throughout Mongolia through LHM’s programs.
Visit gospeladventures.org/globalkidsfund to see how others have raised money or to make your donation. u
“Ger” Building Activity
You can build your own Mongolian home, known as a “ger”! Supplies Needed:
» Craft foam cut in a 3x12 inch strip
» 6 flexible straws
» 1 full sheet of paper towel
» Tape
» Scissors
» A pencil
» A ruler
Follow the directions in day three of the online curriculum to see how you can turn household items into a miniature ger!
Train Like an Eagle Hunter
You can learn how to train like a Mongolian eagle hunter! Supplies Needed:
» Gummy fruit snacks (1 pouch per person)
» Plastic knives (1 for every 2 people)
» Spring-style clothespins (1 for every 2 people)
» Crepe paper streamers (two 3-foot lengths for every 2 people)
» Downloaded video clip: “Eagle Huntress: Team Eagle”
YOU can help share Christ’s message of hope with children throughout Mongolia through LHM’s programs!
Sharing Conversations and Resources at the LEA Convocation
Several LHM staff members gathered at the Lutheran Education Association (LEA) Convocation, October 2-4, in St. Louis, Missouri, under the theme “Together.” Around 3,000 educators from all levels, even some directors of Christian education, were in attendance.
The Convocation began at the Global Symposium on October 1, where LHM staff engaged and equipped those in attendance to teach fellow educators and students how to know when someone is ready to hear the Gospel, and then to share it with them confidently through a presentation titled, “Spiritual Conversations with the Open Generation: Opportunities and Strategies.” LHM staff at the Global Symposium included CEO Kurt Buchholz; Rev. Dr. Chad
Uruguay Ministry Strengthens Faith of Volunteer
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
SLakies, vice president of ministry engagement; Rev. Dr. Jason Broge, vice president of global research; Deaconess Ashley Bayless, vice president of global content; and Chris Macky, content development manager.
The booth offered a variety of children’s and adults’ booklets, including Journey Through Depression, Journey Through Anxiety, How to Talk About Your Faith, and My Digital Voice. There was a QR code linking to LHM’s Spiritual Conversations resources for high school students, as well as Gospel Adventures: Go Mongolia. Staff also gave out stickers highlighting various resources, as well as phone holders, lip balm, and friendship bracelets. The overarching giveaway was a T-shirt for every teacher and staff member of the winning school.
ophie has grown closer to the LHM–Uruguay staff over the last several years. Growing up, her parents did not want her to go to church. After her parents got divorced, she asked the ministry center if she could become more involved in their activities.
LHM–Uruguay hosts an after–school program every Wednesday as a way to reach out to youth in the area with the Gospel message. The LHM–Uruguay ministry center director invited Sophie to get involved with the ministry and join the after–school program.
When Sophie turned 18, she became a volunteer for LHM–Uruguay. When she was recently baptized, she asked the ministry center director and her husband to be her godparents.
The Holy Spirit has worked in Sophie’s life and in her heart. Now Sophie is in college and is working toward becoming an engineer. We look forward to seeing how God works in Sophie’s life through the plans He has for her. u
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Winners will also receive an LHM tote bag and tumbler. LHM staff at the booth included Nicole Heerlein, associate director of external relations; Jen Wood, coordinator of external relations; Rev. Germán Novelli, director of Hispanic ministry; Becky Pagel, vice president of constituency; and Katie Klucker, director of marketing and communications.
From exhibiting to serving Ted Drewes at the “Meet Me in St. Louis” reception, to breakouts “Who Can Reach Gen Z with the Gospel?” and “Travel the World with Gospel Adventures,” LHM staff had the opportunity to interact with so many people. Thank you to everyone who attended for engaging in conversation with us, asking questions, and sharing what resources from LHM are helpful to you. u
CHANGING LIVES AROUND THE WORLD with the Gospel
by CHAD FIX
Cambodia
Samnang is married with three children and raises ducks and chickens for a living. One of his sons recently died in a traffic accident, and Samnang is now raising his grandchildren. Samnang was raised in a non-Christian religious family, but when LHM–Cambodia volunteers visited him and shared the hope found through a relationship with Jesus, he wanted to learn more. Samnang now feels released from his burdens and has connected with a group of Christians in his local province where he continues to learn about Jesus.
When LHM–Cambodia volunteers visited Samnang and shared the hope found through a relationship with Jesus, he wanted to learn more.
Poyfon remains committed to growing in her faith.
Poyfon is a mother of two and comes from a non-Christian religious background. She attended a Gospel concert hosted by LHM–Laos, out of curiosity. There, she heard the message of Jesus for the first time and felt a deep sense of peace and hope stir in her heart. The LHM team followed up with her, prayed with her, and began guiding her through their Bible Correspondence Course materials. Through the power of God’s Word, Poyfon’s faith grew. Despite some initial challenges, Poyfon remains committed to growing in her faith. She continues to attend weekly services with her husband and children and was recently baptized.
Laos
Mongolia
Fifteen-year-old Munkhtsetseg struggles with social interactions that often leave her in isolation. The LHM–Mongolia staff visited her home during their radio distribution ministry. While staff members talked with Munkhtsetseg, her family members, who practice a non-Christian religion, seemed supportive of the conversation. When they heard about hope and faith, a visible spark appeared in their eyes. It was like they discovered a newfound sense of worth. The staff members shared the Gospel with both Munkhtsetseg and her mother and invited them to a local church. They attended a program at the church and are continuing to learn about Jesus.
When Munkhtsetseg and her family heard about hope and faith, a visible spark appeared in their eyes.
Khaled has found comfort in crisis through Jesus.
Khaled recently lost his daughter to illness, one of many trials he has faced. He has long had questions about Christianity and began looking online for answers. He found a Facebook page run by LHM staff in the Middle East and North Africa. He saw their posts about finding comfort during a crisis and sent them a message sharing his background and the pain he has experienced throughout his life. The staff members shared Bible verses with Khaled and asked if he wanted to continue learning about Jesus. He said yes, and they continued the journey with him to help him discover more about Christianity. With each conversation and each passage of Scripture, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Khaled felt himself drawn closer to Jesus. The grief for his daughter remained, but now, it is accompanied by a new understanding, a hope that transcends the pain. He has found comfort in crisis through Jesus.
Middle East & North Africa
Individuals around the world experience the Gospel through Lutheran Hour Ministries’ culturally relevant programs and resources nearly 275 million times each week. Below are just a few examples to show how God has been using LHM recently to change lives around the world with His Good News.
Guatemala
Martín is 59 years old and has been a primary school teacher since 1985. Early in his life, he went to church but didn’t feel comfortable and stopped going. Last year, LHM–Guatemala hosted an activity for children at a local library. Martín brought his son and his nephew. After the event, he shared with the LHM staff how wonderful it was for the children to learn about God. The staff encouraged him to attend services at a local church. He went with his son and nephew, and they have continued attending services for several months. Martín participates in men’s activities there, while the children attend Sunday school. Martín recently shared how happy he feels and that his greatest desire is for his entire family to attend church together.
Martín shared with the LHM staff how wonderful it was for the children to learn about God.
LHM–Uruguay staff spoke to Graciela about how God sees us—as unique, special, precious, forgiven, and created with a purpose.
Graciela connected with LHM–Uruguay staff through Vivenciar.net a few years ago. She reached out seeking advice for her son’s depression while he was going through a challenging time. She had many online conversations with the LHM team until one day the communication abruptly stopped. A few years later, she got back in touch with the LHM staff and shared that her son had taken his own life. The LHM staff asked a local pastor for guidance on how to best support Graciela. On the one-year anniversary of her son’s death, the LHM–Uruguay staff invited Graciela to their ministry center for lunch. They spoke to her about how God sees us—as unique, special, precious, forgiven, and created with a purpose. The LHM–Uruguay staff prays that Graciela continues engaging with them and eventually finds a safe place to grow and establish roots in their faith community.
Uruguay
Latvia
When Rinalds was a teen, he became extremely sick and came close to dying. He made a full recovery and decided he wanted to find purpose for his life. He learned about LHM–Latvia and was so moved by their mission statement that he reached out to the staff to learn more. “I have been looking for the right church where I could feel at home, the right people who would be able to explain the Word of God,” says Rinalds. “My family and I live in the countryside, far from large churches and the opportunity to spend time with church members. We are grateful for the materials offered by LHM–Latvia.”
“I have been looking for the right church where I could feel at home, the right people who would be able to explain the Word of God.”
Douglas feels fulfilled by volunteering and knows he has grown in his faith.
Douglas is 35 years old and runs errands on his motorcycle for his job. He grew up as a Christian and wanted to share the Gospel with others but lacked the confidence to do so effectively. He attended an Equipping the Saints program hosted by LHM–Kenya. “I now have the confidence and tools to tell others about Christ,” says Douglas. “This training opened my eyes by showing that anyone can be used by God to reach others.” Now, Douglas volunteers with LHM–Kenya each week for school ministry and prison visits. He feels fulfilled by volunteering and knows he has grown in his faith.
Kenya
From Main Stage to Bible Summit, LHM’s Hispanic Ministries Is Making Connections
LHM’s Hispanic Ministries has been busy connecting with people in various ways in the United States and in Central and South America. In an event sure to have struck a chord with many, Rev. Germán Novelli, director of LHM’s Hispanic Ministries, spoke to attendee groups at Endure, this year’s triennial LCMS National Youth Gathering (NYG), in New Orleans on July 19-23. His topics were immigration and the role of the church in society. As immigration is much in the news, Novelli knew it would be a sensitive and personal subject.
“I was a little nervous about these presentations due to the charged political climate surrounding the issue. That being said, these discussions helped us explore the tension we have in our dual roles as citizens of the earth and as Christians with a biblical outlook,” Novelli says. “We had a great crowd joining our conversation, which we led four times during the NYG. We discussed three main points: the phenomenon of immigration from a biblical perspective and our divine call to love and welcome immigrants; the work of LCMS churches to serve African, Hmong, Latino, and other ethnic ministries within the U.S., and beyond; and the different ways that Christians must act in their daily lives and contexts to love strangers—whoever they are.”
by PAUL SCHREIBER
In other developments, new Sentido Latino podcasts have been produced, and the program’s YouTube channel has nearly 40,000 subscribers. Also, hosts Rev. Luciano VegaAyala and Deaconess Noemi Guerra will soon record their 400th episode! The website Para el Camino continues to provide daily and seasonal devotions, children’s and adult booklets, and other Christ-centered resources. Recent social media posts share details of talks Novelli gave to students at Word of Life Lutheran School in St. Louis, and First Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Glencoe, Minnesota.
To celebrate U.S. Hispanic and Latino history and culture, More Amor was chosen as the theme for Hispanic Heritage Month. Supporting this annual celebration from September 15 to October 15, LHM offered FREE resources: stickers of hope, PDF downloadable coloring pages, kids’ booklets Preciosos ante Sus ojos (“Precious in His Sight”), ¡Amo mi vecindario! (“I Love My Neighborhood”), and the topical booklet, Perdonar es … dar y recibir (“Forgiveness Is for Giving”). “For those wanting to support Hispanic Ministries, T-shirts with “More Amor” are available for purchase,” says LHM’s Social Media Specialist Christina López-Robin.
In the Project Connect booklet area, the translation and adaptation of two new English booklets have been completed. One is Perdonar como he sido perdonado (“Forgiving As We Have Been Forgiven”) by the Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies, LHM’s vice president of Ministry Engagement. The other is Re-comenzando con la oración (“Getting Re-Started with Prayer”) by Dr. Kari Vo, LHM’s theological writer. In the future, both booklets will be welcome additions to the growing library of topical texts available to Spanish speakers.
On June 26-29, Novelli and López-Robin spoke on LHM’s international ministries at the wellattended Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML) Convention in Omaha, Nebraska. In September, Novelli promoted LHM’s resources and programs at the orientation for new Hispanic students at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. And he also spoke at the Back to the Bible Summit: Empowering Your Church Through Scripture, organized by Lutheran Bible Translators.
“This was an amazing experience,” Novelli says. “We discussed the role of the Bible in our personal contexts, church life, and in discipleship. The Scripture is what we have in common: we may have different worship styles, hymns, prayers, leadership, and missional approach, but we have one Word, one faith, and one Lord. It is God’s Word: the treasure we all share in common and the universal language of the church.” u
Novelli and López-Robin present at the Lutheran Women in Mission Convention in Omaha.
Hispanic Heritage Month resources included T-shirts, stickers, coloring page PDFs, and kids' booklets.
Christina López-Robin, Rev. Germán Novelli, and Kurt Buchholz are all smiles at the LCMS National Youth Gathering in New Orleans.
Rev. Luciano Vega-Ayala and Deaconess Noemi Guerra, the hosts of Sentido Latino
INational Good Neighbor Day Inspires Weeks of Neighborliness
t all starts with an idea: neighbor helping neighbor.
Just like it did for Montanan Becky Mattson back in the early 1970s. That’s when she first conceived of the idea that has since mushroomed into National Good Neighbor Day (NGND). Since then it’s grown into a national phenomenon. In 2025, NGND events were held in every state. Across the board, creative, inspiring, neighborhood-oriented activities point to the simple fact that people are eager to improve the quality of life where they live. Take San Francisco, for instance, where Josh Nesbit’s idea of coffee and donuts in a driveway led to what’s now become the “Cozy Corner” block party. All it took was a little flyer announcing the event and dozens of people came through. “Neighbors showed up across generations—20somethings, 70-somethings, families with little kids. Some folks who’ve lived next to one another for years ended up having their very first conversation,” he says in a Substack blog post. For a look at what NGND has become in the City by the Bay, check out sfgoodneighborweek.org.
by PAUL SCHREIBER
is 42,134 documented acts of neighboring through 433 different actions, pledges, campaigns, and proclamations. “It’s no longer just a week of service—it’s becoming a lifestyle of neighboring,” says David Burton, community development specialist for the University of Missouri Extension–Greene County, in a press release. To see more, go to missourigoodneighborweek.com
“What can I do? How can I get things going in my neighborhood?”
These examples are impressive, but people still wonder, “What can I do? How can I get things going in my neighborhood?” Baby steps. “Every campfire starts with a spark. Then you add kindling, bit by bit. And, before you know it, you have the full blaze. We believe building a culture of neighboring in this country will work the same way. One person doing something on National Good Neighbor Day will inspire someone to do something for Christmas, will inspire someone else to do something this spring, and before you know it, you’ve built a community with care and connection for each other,” says Jennifer Prophete, LHM’s director of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project (HNP) and National Good Neighbor Day.
Back in the Midwest, good things are happening, too. In the Show-Me State, more than 42,000 Missourians from 81 cities in 29 counties got involved during 2025’s Missouri Good Neighbor Week. Breaking it down, this
At whatever stage your neighborhood is at in its quest for community improvement, go to hopefulneighborhood.org for resources, videos, courses, and to schedule a coaching call. u
Sharing the Gospel Through Holistic Health Fairs
What Lutheran Hour Ministries calls “holistic ministry” today is aimed at loving our neighbors, and therefore loving Christ Himself, through word and deed. LHM’s ministry centers often incorporate holistic approaches to sharing the Gospel that address people’s physical and emotional needs as well as spiritual ones.
A popular holistic project for many LHM teams around the globe is hosting a variety of health clinics. During these events, attendees address their physical health while LHM staff and volunteers have an opportunity to offer spiritual medicine to them—the healing power that comes through faith in Christ. Often the recipients of these holistic efforts desire to learn more about the God who motivates these Christians to reach out in love. This opens doors for LHM staff and volunteers to share their Christ-centered resources and invite people to participate in its Bible Correspondence
Courses and other programs.
This summer, the LHM team in Jamaica hosted an eye clinic over four days at its ministry center. Working alongside a team of 15 volunteers from MOST Ministries as well as a local pastor, the event provided eye exams for 565 individuals and provided free eyeglasses for people who needed them. While people registered and waited for their tests, the LHM team was able to have face-to-face conversations with attendees about their ministry resources while also sharing the Gospel message and encouraging individuals to find hope and salvation in Him.
LHM–Mexico held two health outreach events at a local mission as well as San Pablo Church. These health clinics bring the community closer to the church and mission by providing complimentary dental cleanings, haircuts, medicinal therapies, vital sign checks, and medical certificates. These events allow
Annual Golf Classic Supports LHM’s Mission
by
Seventy-seven golfers gathered on the course on October 6, 2025, for the 33rd annual LHM Golf Classic at Westborough Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri. Golfers teed off in the morning and enjoyed a program, fellowship, and prizes in the afternoon.
“Thank you to everyone who supports this annual golf tournament through playing, volunteering, or giving financial support,” says Melissa Bohlmann, LHM’s associate director, shared services. “The tournament is always a fun day filled with fellowship and connecting with others through our shared mission.”
The annual golf classic has raised more than $1 million in its history to support LHM’s mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. u
by CHAD FIX
LHM–Mexico to create a safe space for sharing God’s Word and love in a service-oriented environment. Attendees feel comfortable engaging with the volunteers and congregation members and often participate in future activities at the church or mission and request LHM resources.
In September, a health promotion fair in Panama attracted healthcare professionals, as well as visitors interested in healthcare and well-being. Activities included presentations, health service exhibitions, and entertainment for children. One of the most anticipated moments was the participation of members from LHM–Panama, who presented a captivating puppet theater show. This performance, full of humor and lessons, strengthened the ties between the community, health organizations, and LHM–Panama by leaving a positive impression on everyone in attendance. u
Many people think cash gifts are the best way to bless your favorite nonprofit, but did you know retirement assets are even better?
• They help you increase your impact.
• They simplify your giving.
• They’re a wonderful way to leave a legacy.
If you’re required to make a distribution from your IRA before Dec. 31, consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution to LHM.
MEGAN MCDANIEL