Churches Benefit Where ‘LHM Sundays’ Are Held
More churches everywhere are hosting LHM Sundays. All that’s necessary to do this is to determine which Sunday in the year works best; visit lhm.org/lhmsunday to download LHM’s materials to assist you; and then to include these materials in your church’s services for LHM Sunday.
More than a chance to display and highlight LHM’s varied ministry resources, these special Sundays show how God is changing lives with the Gospel at home and abroad, and for church members to discover new resources that can help them grow in their faith.
For a growing number of churches, it’s an LHM Ambassador who spearheads an LHM Sunday. “There have been about 2.5 times as many churches doing LHM Sundays this fiscal year over last,” says Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies, LHM’s vice president of Ministry Engagement. “By far, Ambassadors are leading this engagement!”
This increase has involved the work of many people, including Lakies; Suzie Sallee, community facilitator, congregations; Polly Gregali, community facilitator, LLL; and the many calls made by Team 360, notes John Heithaus, director, Annual Giving & Donor Engagement. “Honestly, it’s the pastors and Ambassadors who make LHM Sunday possible. Without them, all LHM can do is produce LHM Sunday materials, which would sit unused without their willingness,” Heithaus says.
A genuine love for LHM’s mission prompts many to become Ambassadors. “I love the goal of Lutheran Hour Ministries,” says Jo Riester, an Ambassador who attends Ascension Lutheran Church and School in Tucson, Arizona. “Often in my visits with older people, they wonder why they are still here. Your resources help me remind them that when we say, ‘Come, Lord Jesus,’ it’s important to remember that He’s not going to come, until everyone has had an opportunity to hear about Him. And that’s where we come in!”
For some, their love of mission goes back 50 years. Gregg Kremkow has been an Ambassador since 1977 when he was recruited by Rev. Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, former Speaker for The Lutheran Hour. Watching This Is The Life episodes in high school sparked Kremkow’s early interest. After his military service in Vietnam, it was involvement in the LLL that ignited his passion. He enjoys networking and the people connections. “I’ve used LHM material in Bible class, and I also have a Project Connect stand. I put up a display at our county fair, too. It’s a great time to meet people and kids.” He attends Guardian Lutheran Church in Dearborn, Michigan.
Rachel Happel’s ambassadorship is less than a year old. She works closely with her pastors at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids Iowa, who take care to mention LHM in their Sunday prayers and encourage congregants to visit the LHM display table on LHM Sunday. Tableside, Happel shares LHM’s resources with members and visitors and points them to LHM’s Project Connect display stand. Her reason for becoming an Ambassador: “I feel LHM does so much good in the variety of ways it shares the Gospel at home and around the world. I wanted my church to see what LHM offers and does.”
LHM Sundays are an ideal vehicle for Ambassadors to promote LHM resources, but it’s only one way. “LHM’s ministry begins at the grassroots level with the laity. It begins with individual relationships, one by one. But LHM’s staff isn’t large enough to personally interact with every church and pastor—we wish it was—so that’s where Ambassadors come in,” Heithaus says. “Ambassadors are our representatives. By organizing LHM Sundays, they have a multiplying effect in spreading the word about LHM’s ministry work and in resourcing others in their faith walk.”