Official Workbook PDF page source text

2026 Convention Workbook 139

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

with a global network of partners. We work in areas where other Christian organizations are often not present and use local staff and volunteers who know the language and culture to create contextu - ally relevant programs that most effectively share the Good News with individuals living in these regions.

God’s Blessings Upon LHM’s Outreach in the Past Triennium As we build upon LHM’s nearly 110-year history and move forward into the mission field, great opportunities abound:

• Five billion people have yet to hear the saving message of Christ.

• Technology allows us to engage with each other more efficiently and effectively than at any other time in history, especially as people crave a relationship with God and each other.

• 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 neighborhoods and beyond.

The following strategic priorities support our vision for the future and Christ’s call to reach the world with the Gospel.

Impacting People Globally Around the world, people long to hear the Good News in a way that speaks to their own lives. LHM stands apart from most global media ministries through the implementation of a ministry model that goes far beyond translation to transformation through the Holy Spirit. Our ministry model identifies and equips local leaders who understand the language, customs, and daily realities of their communities. These cultural insiders are uniquely positioned to share Christ’s love in ways that connect with people, meeting them where they are and addressing the needs they face every day. Through locally developed programs, resources, and media in native languages, LHM proclaims the hope of the Gospel in ways that build trust and open doors for lasting relationships. This personal connection draws people into fellowship and strengthens local Christian communities across the globe.

Our establishment of a multidivisional global mission rooted in localized regional leadership moved forward with the hiring of a president of Asia Ministries based in Singapore, LHM’s first regional president living outside of the United States. By shifting leadership to regional presidents who are located closer to where ministry is happening, LHM can ensure that our mission is tailored to the unique needs of specific areas.

Over the past couple of years, LHM has opened six new mission fields that uplift the next generation of Christian leaders to begin new ministries in partnership with existing ministry centers.

Teams in Peru, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Bolivia are now sharing the Gospel in their home countries through teams of three local people focused on children and youth ministry, digital outreach through social media, and multimedia content creation. In addition, LHM–Kenya started airing evangelistic radio spots in a new area—in neighboring Tanzania.

By working with local Lutherans from Tanzania, the inspiring Gospel messages are advertising LHM’s popular Bible Correspondence Courses via radio.

LHM continues to partner with SAT-7, the largest Middle East and North African Christian satellite network, to make God’s love visible to millions of people in more than 20 countries throughout The district supports a robust campus ministry in Laramie, Wyo., through St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and Campus Center.

Our congregations also reach out and serve students at their local community colleges.

In the fallout of government pressures on the Wind River Reservation, the district suspended its Wind River Lutheran Mission in 2023. Local congregations continue to serve our members from the reservation and have recently begun a renewed effort at outreach and catechesis.

The district provides theologically rich pastoral conferences and continuing education opportunities for our pastors. Winkel attendance is very high, and our circuit pastors regularly study Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and pastoral application and casuistry. We enjoy 100 percent participation in the Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support program for our new pastors. The district sponsors an annual Pastors’ Wives Retreat to support and thank our pastors’ wives.

The Synod’s Set Apart to Serve initiative is reflected in the educational formation and recruitment of our youth in our congregations, schools, and district activities. We actively recruit church work students for studies at our Concordia universities, at Luther Classical College, and at the seminaries, and we provide generous financial support to these students. The district helps with debt reduction for its former students and present church workers.

Our pastors and laymen enjoy an extraordinary unity in doctrine and practice, which also bears the fruit of love and friendship across the many miles. Attendance at our annual evangelism convocation is very strong and includes many youth and young adults. Our annual camp for children and youth strengthens their love of Lutheran worship and hymnody, Lutheran doctrine, and the bonds of friendship. An annual Fathers and Sons Retreat aims at strengthening the fathers of our households in their vocations as Christian men.

Under the leadership of its Marriage, Life, and Family facilita - tor, the district has grown in its engagement with state government and local communities. Some of our pastors have also served as teachers in the foreign mission field.

The district is active in fostering a culture of Lutheran faith and piety, sound worship and bold confession, marriage and family, and love of church work and church workers. God grant that our labors bear fruit in our midst and throughout the Church!

John E. Hill, President

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International Lutheran Laymen’s League (Lutheran Hour Ministries)

The International Lutheran Laymen’s League/Lutheran Hour Ministries serves as a grassroots auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and Lutheran Church—Canada and is proud to extend the mission and ministry of these two church bodies by focusing our energies on a mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations®—and the Nations to the Church. The International Lutheran Laymen’s League (Int’l LLL) is the corporate name under which the organization does business; Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) is the public identity under which we conduct global Gospel outreach. In fulfilling this year’s convention theme of Christ Is Risen Indeed, LHM is a trusted resource in Gospel proclamation