| Lutheran Hour Ministries Selects New Executive Director
St. Louis, MO, Jun. 17, 2009 — After prayerful consideration, the Board of Governors for the International Lutheran Laymen's League has selected Bruce Wurdeman as the new Executive Director for Lutheran Hour Ministries. Wurdeman, who currently serves as LHM's Director of United States Ministries, will take the reins beginning Aug. 1. He will replace Larry Lumpe, who will be retiring at the end of July following his second stint as Executive Director for the ministry.
 "Bruce has a great vision for the ministry and high expectations for excellence," says Mick Onnen, President of the Int'l LLL. "I praise God for Bruce and his willingness to accept the Executive Director position, and I pledge my full support for his work and service among us."
"I am both honored and humbled to become the next Executive Director for Lutheran Hour Ministries," says Wurdeman. "God is accomplishing tremendous things through this life-changing ministry, and I look forward to working with our staff to boldly proclaim the salvation story of Jesus Christ to ever-increasing numbers of people."
In his current position, Wurdeman oversees the production of The Lutheran Hour®, Woman to Woman®, and Para el Camino radio programs, seasonal television specials, and print materials, as well as ministry fulfillment and referral services. Under his direction, the ministry also launched the LHM Men's NetWork in January 2009, a program geared to help congregations reconnect with men and build local men's ministries.
"In only its first six months of operation, the program has witnessed unprecedented growth and excitement," says Onnen. More than 2,000 churches from the The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and other denominations have already signed up.
Wurdeman previously worked at Lutheran Hour Ministries from 1994 through 2002 in the Volunteer Opportunities department as an assistant director and manager, positions that allowed him to recruit and train more than 100,000 volunteers throughout North America. He most recently served as a mission and ministry facilitator for the Texas District of the LCMS, where he was a resource person for 100 congregations in West and South Texas.
Prior to his first stint at Lutheran Hour Ministries, Wurdeman filled a variety of roles throughout Lutheran circles, including principal and director of adult education at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Eureka, Missouri, director of campus ministry for the North Dakota District of the LCMS, director of youth ministry at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota, and a math/science teacher and youth director at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, Illinois.
Wurdeman has a bachelor's degree in Education and School Administration from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois, and a master's degree in Exegetical Theology (Old Testament) from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Ellisville, Missouri. He and his wife, Marijane, have three grown children and one grandchild.
Lutheran Hour Ministries is a Christian outreach ministry supporting churches worldwide in its mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church. It is also a volunteer movement more than 100,000 people strong. LHM produces Christian radio and TV programming for broadcast, as well as Internet and print communications, dramas, music, and outreach materials, to reach the unchurched in more than 30 countries. LHM's flagship program, The Lutheran Hour, is the world's longest-running Christian outreach radio program. It airs weekly on more than 900 stations.
For more information, please contact:
Chad Fix
(800) 944-3450, ext. 4193 |
|
|
