Lutheran Media outreach turns 75
Next month marks 75 years of Lutheran media outreach in Australia.
On 2 September 1945, The Lutheran Hour program was first broadcast on Australian radio, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to thousands of people around the nation. The Lutheran Hour’s Rev Dr Walter A Maier was heard on 36 radio stations across capital cities and many large rural centres around Australia.
The program drew responses by mail from 106 people, while 45 Australian pounds was received in donations. The mission of the ministry was ‘Bringing Christ to the nations, and the nations to the church’. A key Bible verse from the early mission of The Lutheran Hour was Isaiah 55:11: ‘My word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will … achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’
Since then, radio outreach messages have been Australianised and the program’s name has changed several times, with titles including Face to Face and, more recently, Messages of Hope.
The outreach messages have also been produced for TV and, in recent times, adapted for the internet and social media, including inspiring images and short videos. Outreach booklets, sharable and printable electronic files and other resources have also given hope to thousands of people, says Lutheran Media Director Pastor Richard Fox.
‘The message of the good news of Jesus Christ still goes out in relevant ways today to bring Christ to Australians and New Zealanders, and to connect them to the church’, Pastor Richard said.
Outreach messages also go out to families and children through the online game app Happyland, while people of all ages can worship online and by DVD.
Pastor Richard said each of these ministries offered hope to cope with life’s challenges. ‘Thanks to the LCA/NZ reaching out through media with support from people like yourselves, many have heard who Jesus Christ is and now believe in him’, he said. ‘Please pray for Lutheran Media outreach and also for media outlets and platforms to share this good news.’
You can also help reach more people by supporting Lutheran Media with a donation at www.lutheranmedia.org.au or by phoning 1800 353 350.
To learn more about Messages of Hope, go to www.messagesofhope.org.au or
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