The Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour® radio program, died March 23 at his home in Texas. He served as Speaker of The Lutheran Hour from 2002 until his retirement at the end of 2010. Following his retirement as full-time Speaker, he continued recording one sermon a month for The Lutheran Hour before returning as interim Speaker in 2017 and 2018. Using stories, parables, and common-sense messages, Pastor Klaus was known by listeners for one thing: preaching Christ crucified and risen.
In addition to his weekly sermons on The Lutheran Hour, Pastor Klaus initiated the writing and recording of Lutheran Hour Ministries' popular Daily Devotions, a resource that shares God's love in Jesus Christ with readers and listeners worldwide. He also developed and hosted several LHM Bible studies, spoke at conferences and events across the United States and Canada, led ministry tours internationally, and published many works, including volumes one and two of Stories from The Lutheran Hour: A Changeless Christ in a Changing World and two prayer books (one for use by people in the military and a companion book for loved ones at home).
"Tens of thousands of listeners have been blessed to learn from and be strengthened in the faith through the powerful messages delivered by Pastor Klaus," says LHM President & CEO Kurt Buchholz. "We give thanks for his faithful service as we remember his family and friends in our prayers."
"In 2004, I was serving in the military, praying to see if God wanted me to be a pastor," says Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour since 2018. "Hearing Ken Klaus on The Lutheran Hour and seeing some of the materials he had written for military members encouraged me to take the next steps to become a preacher."
Before taking the Speaker's microphone, Pastor Klaus was administrative pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Dallas, Texas, and served the International Lutheran Laymen's League as its pastoral advisor from 1996 through 2000. During his more than 30 years of parish ministry, he held pastoral positions at Lutheran churches in Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, and South Dakota.
Pastor Klaus is survived by his wife, Pam, and three adult children, Kurt, Kirsten, and Kristianna. He was a beloved grandfather as well as a friend to many people around the world.
To listen to sermons from Pastor Klaus, visit lutheranhour.org/archives.asp and select his name from the drop-down menu of speakers.