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Today, The Lutheran Hour is the world's longest-running Christian outreach radio program, airing since 1930. It is produced and distributed by St. Louis-based Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) and airs on more than 800 North American radio stations to an audience of more than 1.2 million people each week, and to a potential audience of 800,000 military personnel via the American Forces Network.

"Dr. Hoffmann was an incredible blessing to Lutheran Hour Ministries and to the millions of listeners who tuned into The Lutheran Hour during his tenure as speaker of the program," says Greg Lewis, Executive Director of Lutheran Hour Ministries. "He shared the hope of Christ with people around the world."

"The Holy Spirit used Dr. Hoffmann to tell the world about its Savior. And the world listened. For a preacher that is enough; that is everything," says the Rev. Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour radio program since 2002.

Ordained a Lutheran minister in 1939, Dr. Hoffmann served the church as a religious leader and ambassador. He served his Lord and Savior for nearly 70 years in a career that included varied roles as an author, pastor, broadcaster, classical and linguistics scholar, teacher, translator, public relations director, film production advisor, and member of various organizational boards. He was the author of eight books, including his 1996 autobiography, "What More Is There to Say But Amen," magazine articles, and thousands of sermons. Dr. Hoffmann was also a consultant and friend to foreign dignitaries, U.S. presidents (including presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Nixon), and world religious leaders, including the Rev. Billy Graham.

Dr. Hoffmann spent the early years of his career as an instructor and professor at Bethany College in Mankato, Minnesota; the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis-St. Paul; and Concordia Collegiate Institute in Bronxville, New York. In 1948, he helped found The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Department of Public Relations in New York City and served as its director until 1963.

Dr. Hoffmann was appointed speaker of The Lutheran Hour in 1955. During his career with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Lutheran Hour Ministries, he was instrumental in pioneering several successful media ventures, including the This is the Life weekly television drama. He also hosted and narrated a five-hour television mini-series, Yeshua, which focused on the life and times of Jesus Christ.

A recognized Protestant church leader, Dr. Hoffmann represented The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at the 1964-65 Second Vatican Council in Rome, Italy. In 1969, he chaired the U.S. Congress on Evangelism in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He also served as North American chairman for the 1974 World Congress on Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Dr. Hoffmann served as president of The Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. (1970-73) and president of the United Bible Societies (1977-88), serving as its honorary president until his death. He was president of the Religious Public Relations Council (1953-55) and was a board member of Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent Financial for Lutherans) from 1962-1983. In 1989, he was named a life member of the Religious Public Relations Council. A life member of the American Bible Society, Dr. Hoffmann served the American Bible Society for more than 30 years as a board of trustees' member and translations committee chairman.

Dr. Hoffmann was the recipient of multiple honors. In 1993, he received a Wittenberg National Clergy Award from the Luther Institute in Washington, D.C. In 1987, he was the first recipient of the American Bible Society Award and spoke at the dedication of the Amity Printing Press in Nanking, China, on behalf of the United Bible Societies. Religious Heritage of America named him "Clergyman of the Year" in 1973, and honored him with a Gold Medal Award in 1992. In 1982, he received the Gold Medal "Angel Award" from Religion in Media as "International Media Clergyman of the Year." He was inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Hall of Fame in 1999 and received the William Ayers Distinguished Service Award from NRB in 1989. The U.S. Department of Defense also recognized Dr. Hoffmann's many visits to overseas military personnel with the Secretary of Defense Award for Outstanding Service in 1980.

The Oswald Hoffmann School of Christian Outreach at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, was named in honor of Dr. Hoffmann when the university established the school to prepare church professionals for outreach ministries.

Dr. Hoffmann held a Master of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary-St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, he held an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary--St. Louis, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Philippine Christian University in Manila, the Philippines.

He is survived by his children, the Rev. Peter (Elaine) Hoffmann of Chicago, Illinois, the Rev. Paul (Jane) Hoffmann of San Jose, California, Katharine Ann (Brian) Bates of Pearland, Texas, and John Hoffmann of Kirkwood, Missouri, and also by ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His wife of 60 years, Marcia Hoffmann (nee Linnell), preceded him in death in November 2000.