Lutheran Hour Ministries Celebrates 50 Years of TV Excellence
"Little Shepherd" a NATPE conference highlight
St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 15, 2003 —From "This is the Life" to its newest family special, Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) will showcase 50 years of quality television programming January 20-23 at the 40th annual National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, La. Television decision-makers from around the globe will view highlights from LHM's most effective efforts, including the new animated special, "Little Shepherd," and the holiday classic, "Red Boots for Christmas."
"Little Shepherd" premiered worldwide in November and December 2002 and was made available for viewing in nearly 90 percent of all North American households. A whimsical retelling of the first Christmas, "Little Shepherd" is based on a classic children's story. LHM's adaptation blends drama and suspense with the poignant messages of hope and love.
""Little Shepherd" is a fitting crown to a 50-year tradition of quality television, television that combines wholesome messages with high-quality production," says LHM North American Ministries Director Jane Schmotzer. "It continues our tradition of values-centered family entertainment by covering the key topics of sibling rivalry, fear and trust."
The list of LHM television successes includes documentaries, mini series, full-length films, talk shows and animated holiday specials. Since the early 1950s, LHM television programs have garnered more than 100 awards of excellence, including nine Emmys.
Lutheran Hour Ministries maintains a long and proud media history. Its first television program, "This Is the Life," ran from 1952 to 1988. Innovative and controversial, it used drama to apply Christian values to difficult real-life issues, including child abuse, world hunger, teenage sexuality, divorce and alcoholism. "This Is the Life" won six Emmy awards.
A long line of feature films, dramas, mini-series and made-for-television specials followed. These include "Christmas Is," the first of four animated specials featuring Benji and his dog, Waldo; "Miles to Go" (1978), a prime-time drama on epilepsy; "The Stableboy's Christmas" (1979); "Yeshua" (1984), a documentary on the life and times of Jesus Christ, "Red Boots for Christmas" (1995) and "The Puzzle Club¨" series of animated specials (1997-2000).
To encourage spiritual growth through candid discussion of current issues, Lutheran Hour Ministries launched a weekly television talk show, "On Main Street," in 1994. "On Main Street" has earned three Emmy awards for programming excellence.
Lutheran Hour Ministries is the media outreach ministry
of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League, an auxiliary of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and Lutheran
Church—Canada. The ministry airs TV, radio and Internet programming
in 44 countries and has ministry centers in 41 countries. It is based in St. Louis,
MO. Its flagship radio program in North America is “The
Lutheran Hour,” the world’s oldest continually broadcast Gospel
radio program, airing since 1930.
For more information, please contact:
Kathy Bernard
(800) 944-3450, ext. 4152
