Director of Lutheran Media returns to the parish

Pastor Richard Fox has accepted a call to serve the Zion Lutheran Church in Glynde, Adelaide, and will conclude his role as director of Lutheran Media in September 2023. Lutheran Media staff, the Churchwide Office, and the supporters and listeners of Lutheran Media give thanks to God for Richard’s faithful service and love for sharing the gospel via media.

Richard has capably led Lutheran Media for 11 years. Over this period, Richard has witnessed the exponential growth of social media. He has included Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube in the Lutheran Media repertoire while maintaining a much sought-after radio presence. Richard is a gospel encourager, and many congregations have benefitted from his insights and his ability ‘to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have’ doing ‘this with gentleness and respect’ (1 Peter 3:15).

In Richard’s watch, we have witnessed the growth of Messages of Hope, which humbly and gently brings Jesus into everyday concerns such as depression, relationships, parenting, guilt, fear, ageing, anger, loneliness, and suffering. Thanks to Richard, Lutheran Media ventured into video outreach to extend its audio content. We thank God for Lutheran Media’s highlighting of the needs of those with dementia and their carers, and we appreciate the many complex topics that have been addressed, such as chronic pain. Richard was instrumental in establishing streamed worship from St Michael’s Hahndorf and Good Shepherd Toowoomba and was a key player in the first Digital Mission and Ministry Forum.

Throughout his time with Lutheran Media, Richard has demonstrated a genuine and passionate commitment to joining in with God’s mission in the neighbourhood. We thank God for Richard and his dedicated ministry of the gospel.

Richard has grown the reach of Messages of Hope due in part to his conscientious promotion of Lutheran Media, but also thanks to you, the Lutheran Media supporters. It is your donations that enable this life-giving ministry of the Lutheran Church to continue and flourish.

We wish Richard and his wife Kate and daughters Sophie and Maddi God’s blessings for the remainder of Richard’s service with Lutheran Media and his ministry with the Glynde community.

Tania Nelson is the Executive Officer for Local Mission for the LCANZ.