Lutheran media outreach turns 75

This week 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 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. Outreach booklets and other resources have also given hope to thousands of people, says Lutheran Media Director Pastor Richard Fox.

‘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 outlets and platforms to share this good news.’

You can support Lutheran Media’s outreach by donating at www.lutheranmedia.org.au or by phoning 1800 353 350. To learn more, go to www.messagesofhope.org.au or www.messagesofhope.org.nz

• Visit www.lca.org.au/spread-the-word to find promotional materials (bulletin inserts, A5 flyers, PowerPoint slides and social media posts) to help you spread the word about our Story of the Week.
• Read the full Story of the Week and other stories like it in The Lutheran. 11 editions/year. Only $45 (Aust), $47 (NZ). Gift subscriptions available. To subscribe: online www.thelutheran.com.au email lutheran.subs@lca.org.au phone 08 8360 7270