New Executive Director Shares Thoughts about LHM's Strengths, Future
 At the 92nd annual convention of the International Laymen's League held in July in Greensboro, North Carolina, it was announced that Bruce Wurdeman would become the new executive director of Lutheran Hour Ministries beginning Aug. 1. We took a few minutes and asked Wurdeman some questions about LHM, his vision for its ministries, its relationship with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and the organization's relevance to younger Lutherans.
MU: What do you think is LHM's greatest asset?
Wurdeman: Unquestionably, the greatest asset is the message we have to share and the God who promises to bless the proclamation of that saving Gospel message. When you put that together with a gifted, dedicated staff in the U.S. and in our 35 other offices around the world—supporters all over the U.S. and Canada whose time investment and monetary gifts make this all possible—you have a combination that is hard to beat. When God works through His Word and uses His people to deliver that message, miracles happen.
MU: What new and worthwhile things are LHM doing now that it hasn't done in the last few years?
Wurdeman: Certainly, LHM Men's NetWork and Woman to Woman® come to mind. The first is a local and national ministry with an emphasis on men that has captured the imagination of more than 2,300 churches. The latter is a radio program for women. While Woman to Woman is actually a return to production, the new shows certainly are addressing new, timely, and timeless topics.
MU: Do you have any particular vision for LHM, both in the United States and internationally?
Wurdeman: I believe there are a whole host of good things Lutheran Hour Ministries could do in the future. In this day and age, I think we have to focus on the best things we can do. My vision is that we would very intentionally and carefully focus our resources and efforts on the programs and places where God would appear to be bringing about the greatest harvest. I think, in the future, that will mean using every communication means at our disposal to share His Story. It will probably mean that LHM will continue to take a leadership role in our church body and in our partner churches around the world in innovative kinds of print and electronic communication of the Gospel. And it may mean we make significant use of the growing field of distance education for training laity and communicating the Gospel.
MU: How might we work more efficiently with the LCMS in getting the Gospel message out?
Wurdeman: That's a great question. I think we have to make sure the avenues of communication stay open always. That would include communicating with LCMS boards and staffs in this country and with their counterparts in partner churches around the world. We need to listen to congregations here and abroad. We need to be asking questions about what we can do with our expertise in media and outreach to help indigenous congregations reach out in their communities with the Gospel. The congregation is still where the action is and we need to grow in our ability to help them in their proclamation and outreach ministry.
MU: What can LHM do to become more relevant—and visible—to younger Lutherans?
Wurdeman: The LCMS and Lutheran Hour Ministries both have an aging constituency. We've discovered that our users in the Men's NetWork are younger than our average LCMS member. The LHM Men's NetWork is intentionally different, intentionally edgy, intentionally fun, and intentionally Gospel-centered. I believe we need to continue to help people realize—and especially to help younger people realize—that Christianity doesn't have to be stuffy and uninteresting. We can have fun. We can laugh and we can revel in the Good News that God's love in Christ covers our sins. We can also help them see that service in His Church can be so rewarding and, yes, even fun at times. Younger Christians will put themselves into causes with which they identify and that they can see make a difference. Certainly fighting spiritual battles is a cause worth taking on. We will provide solid Gospel-centered materials. They will be fun and interesting. And they will direct people to that cause to which He calls us—to "Share His Story" in word and deed.
Special thanks to Paul Schreiber for conducting and submitting this interview with Bruce Wurdeman.
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