Jane recently participated in an LHM Equipping to Share evangelism training workshop. She said, “Having witnessing put into my mind as a more central, conscious, intentional and purposeful activity, I found an opening, of sorts, that I had not expected.” Her son is not practicing his faith, and her daughter-in-law is Jewish, but also not practicing her faith. Though they live far away, Jane has used the opportunities in phone conversations to talk to her about Christ.

Jane’s church puts on a live nativity scene at Christmas and imports animals, such as llamas, sheep, and goats to surround the nativity. Jane told her daughter-in-law that she should bring her daughter to see it since she loves animals so much. The invitation has opened up conversations about different religions and also Mary’s genealogy.

Jane has been praying for more non-threatening situations like this, and God has answered her prayers.

A year ago John listened to a couple of broadcasts of The Lutheran Hour, and he called to request some booklets. He was very depressed and admitted that his wife was about to leave him because of his gambling problem, but he did not want a divorce. Lutheran Hour Ministries’ Response Center sent him booklets on addiction, depression, and divorce.

He wrote back recently and said that the booklets had helped him and that he and his wife are working out their problems. He wanted to thank LHM and become a supporter to help continue the production of Christ-centered programming.

Joan is frustrated with her husband of 26 years because he is an alcoholic. She has wanted to leave him, but her children do not support her. They make excuses for him, forgetting about all of the broken toys and furniture, the times they ran to their rooms to hide from him, and the times he stumbled around at family functions. They are grown and out of the house, but they continue to make excuses for him. LHM sent her three booklets, Dealing With Depression, Alcoholism: Road to Recovery, and Alone, Alive, Fulfilled, along with a list of churches in her area that might be able to comfort her.

Joan says that the booklets were just what she needed. “The church is a friendly place to go after a week of tears and sorrow,” she said. She has given her husband two choices: get a divorce or get help. She also told her children that they need to face the fact that their father has a problem and they need to support her. She has also asked them to start going to church with her. Her daughter and two grandchildren have gone with her, so she is making progress, thanks to the moral support from LHM and the church.

A Lutheran college student does not have a car on campus while attending college, so she finds it difficult to attend church services. When she discovered that The Lutheran Hour^® is broadcast on the Internet, she began to tune in every Sunday morning and hold her own worship service in her dorm room. She still attends formal services when she goes home for visits and over the summer, but The Lutheran Hour keeps her faith alive through the difficult times in college.

A 22-year-old single mother of three in Texas, heard one of LHM’s public service announcements for the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. She called and said that she had not been affected by the hurricane, a blessing for which she was very thankful to God, but she just needed prayer. She spoke with an LHM Response Center employee about her ex-husband, her boyfriend, her longing for a good, stable relationship, her love of her children, and her relationship with God. She loves God, but often finds it hard to say no to temptation. She loves her children, and wants to raise them in the Christian faith, but has not attended church in a very long time.

She seemed to only want prayer, but she did agree to let LHM contact an area church and have a pastor call her. The Response Center also sent the woman a letter that included information about a church in her area and included three LHM booklets: Own the Zone, Taking Control, and Discovering Hope.