Making Sense of America at War
Special Lutheran Hour Ministries' programs offer comfort; promote healing
St. Louis, Mo., March 26, 2003 —To help Christians deal with the physical and psychological consequences of the war in Iraq, Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) has produced two special wartime messages scheduled for broadcast on "The Lutheran Hour®" and "Woman to Woman®" syndicated radio programs scheduled to begin airing during the week of March 30.
Lutheran Hour Speaker the Rev. Kenneth Klaus puts fear, uncertainty and hatred into a biblical perspective in "We Should Have Known," on "The Lutheran Hour." His inspirational words find solace and hope in the forces that transform the human spirit. Klaus explores the range of emotions brought on by war and offers hope for each of us.
"If we listen to the sounds of the centuries, we will pick up two constant reverberations," notes Klaus. "We will hear the beating of the war drums and the prayers of people for peace."
In "Those Left Behind," "Woman to Woman" host Phyllis Wallace visits with former U.S. Naval Reserve chaplain and President of Concordia University-Irvine, Dr. Jack Preus. Wallace and Preus discuss the emotions and common concerns of military families faced with wartime deployment - fear, separation anxiety and anger. Those left behind also are confronted with new roles, overwhelming responsibilities and often the need to secure special legal and financial arrangements.
"Being deployed and going off to war is frightening," says Preus, who served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. "It's very difficult and preparation is important. For those who stay behind, deployment is a tremendous shock and an intrusion to normal and daily life. It's an emotional strain for parents as well as young children."
Broadcast station information and airing times for "The Lutheran Hour" and "Woman to Woman" can be found at www.lhm.org/broadcastinformation.htm.
Lutheran Hour Ministries, in response to questions of violence, justice and political unrest, also has created a Web gateway to Christian resources. Log on to www.lhm.org/turmoil for messages that promote healing, hope and understanding. Read an article by pastor, professor and family counselor Dr. David Ludwig as he walks parents through important steps in helping children understand terrorism. Chat privately online with an LHM Response Center representative or click on links to continually updated armed forces Web sites.
In addition, www.lhm.org/turmoil includes special devotions for military personnel and free downloadable booklets on anger, fear and talking openly with God. Audio of "We Should Have Known" and "Those Left Behind" also is available in easily downloadable MP3 format. LHM also has created special Web sites on Muslim outreach as well as dealing with stress and loneliness.
"Today, America is at war and the world is afraid, " says Klaus in his message on "The Lutheran Hour." "But, Christians can be at peace. It's important to remember that in times of great adversity, through Christ there is hope. In Christ there are tomorrows."
"The Lutheran Hour" is the world's oldest continually broadcast Gospel radio program and can be heard nationwide on more than 900 radio stations. "Woman to Woman" first aired in 1993. Recognized with Silver Angel and Bronze Omni awards, it is broadcast weekly on 430 radio stations across North America.
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
