On Easter Sunday 1947, Dr. Rodolpho Hasse preached the message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone in Portuguese for the first time under the banner of A Hora Luterana-A Voz da Cruz (The Lutheran Hour-The Voice of the Cross) on 10 powerful radio stations spanning most of Brazil. While he first preached over the airwaves in 1929, this broadcast launched a new ministry operation in Brazil under Hasse's management, one of the first offices established as the Lutheran Laymen's League began its rapid expansion around the world.
That first broadcast paved the way for an outreach that has been instrumental in the lives of Brazilians over the past 70 years, especially those suffering from inequalities in social class, insufficient education, health care, and basic needs. Outreach programs now include text messaging, podcasts, emails, smart phone messaging, print materials, Bible Correspondence Courses, and person-to-person evangelism. The center's Messages of Hope voicemail service receives more than 10,000 calls every month; each call is answered with a Gospel-based message with words of comfort and hope in Jesus Christ.
To celebrate all that God has done and is currently doing through the staff and volunteers of LHM-Brazil, the ministry kicked off a celebration of its 70th anniversary on April 2 with the first of seven events scheduled nationwide. The initial event was a rally at Peace Lutheran Church in Rio de Janeiro with participation from all congregations in the metropolitan area as well as a sermon preached by the president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil. Additional regional events will take place later this summer and fall.
Paulo Warth has witnessed much of the ministry center's longstanding success firsthand. In addition to serving with LHM-Brazil since 1966, including as director for nearly three decades, his father Rev. Rodolfo Warth was the speaker of The Lutheran Hour in Brazil for more than 40 years. The celebration of the 70th anniversary inspired Paulo, the staff, and the local Board to embark on a challenging project of becoming a self-sustained ministry center within the next three years. The project includes detailed plans to maintain a strong partnership with LHM after becoming financially independent.