Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The need to boldly proclaim the love of Christ is greater than ever.

Many people in the world today have come to believe that they don’t need God or they doubt His existence. Those without Christ in their lives aren’t even aware of the eternal crisis they are facing, but for Christians the dire stakes for these individuals are all too clear.

That’s why we rejoice that you made the decision in the past year to partner with Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Our tireless focus is on reaching individuals who desperately need the love of Christ. We are steadfast in building relationships, person by person, one heart at a time so that lives can be changed by the Gospel.

As a trusted expert in mass media proclamation with a global network of partners, we reach more than 51 million people around the world each week with the Gospel, and nearly 400,000 individuals responded to our outreach efforts during the past year.

All of this happened because of your support. Your gifts, prayers, and volunteer involvement allow hurting people to find answers and relief in the Gospel. Please explore this year’s ministry report to see examples of how God is working through you and LHM.

Again, thank you for your faithful support, and may God bless you richly in the coming year!

In His Service,

Kurt BuchholzPresident & CEO Lutheran Hour Ministries

The Power of the Gospel in 2015ANNUAL MINISTRY REPORT

North American Stations Airing The Lutheran Hour

1,600

We are LHM

51 million+People Reached with the Gospel Globally Every Week

1917

Bible Correspondence Course Students Enrolled Annually Around the World42,500

Founded

50+ countriesMinistry Reach

LCMS Churches Using LHM Resources

4,500

80,000Members Today

B Y T H E N U M B E R S

People Trained in Evangelism in the U.S. and Internationally

111,325Annual Responses to Outreach Efforts

400,000

bringing christ to the nations—and the nations to the churchMission Statement

Listeners to The Lutheran Hour Each Week

1 million

People Connected with Christian Communities Every Year Internationally15,000

Local Staff in LHM’s International

Ministry Centers 213

Print Materials Distributed Annually Around the World2,500,000

Registered Users for Men’s NetWork21,500

Video Views in the Last Year

LHM Staff throughout the United States110 187,000

Annual Referrals to Churches Internationally

41,500

A Year in Review:

The Power of the Gospel through You

GuatemalaIn July 2014, an 11-member Volunteer Team from Faith Lutheran Church, Grand Blanc, Michigan, went to Santiago Zamora, Guatemala, to serve with LHM’s Guatemala ministry center staff and volunteers. The team led a spirited VBS for village children and installed a metal roof on a building at Redentor del Mundo Lutheran Church. A team member said, “Praise God for the opportunity to serve Him in this way!”

United StatesReaching younger generations requires creative content with them in mind. LHM children’s booklets cover issues that are relevant to kids’ lives and faith. Two new titles, Sharing Your Faith and Learning to Pray, were distributed to more than 42,000 children, parents, and teachers.

As society moves further away from Christianity, being present with clear Gospel proclamation is crucial to reaching nonbelievers with Christ’s love. A new partnership with the Bott Radio Network expands The Lutheran Hour’s North American station count past 1,600 and its weekly listeners to more than one million as the program now fills prime slots formerly used by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

LiberiaThe Ebola epidemic of 2014 brought long-lasting social challenges in Liberia. Many families lost nine months of income, and children lost as much as nine months of school time. LHM—Liberia’s “Project Isaac” provided free supplemental educational activities for children of families devastated financially. Project Isaac helped to build relationships and openness about faith in Christ.

NicaraguaIn May 2015, LHM—Nicaragua celebrated the fifth anniversary of Radio Cristo Nica—the center’s dynamic Internet radio station. Thanks to the low cost of Internet radio broadcasting, the LHM center transmits eight hours a day, six days a week. Since Radio Cristo Nica is Internet-based, it’s a worldwide Spanish-language Gospel outreach!

UruguayDrama is an important tool in LHM’s efforts to share the Gospel worldwide. LHM—Uruguay’s Paula Rebollo has created the character of “Estrellita” to engage children with the Good News of Jesus. Dressed in a lavender jumper, canvas “Chucks,” and a giant purple hat, Estrellita (“Little Star”) visits schools and events to teach children about God’s love and goodness.

GhanaAfter a flash flood caused a freak explosion and fire in Accra, Ghana, an LHM—Ghana team joined the response, assembling and distributing an estimated 2,000 emergency packages containing food, supplies, and a Gospel message of comfort and hope.

russiaChristmas celebrations formerly prohibited in Russia have become an official part of the country’s New Year observance. Christmas is also the title of a powerful production that combines modern theatre with folk music, dance, and drama to tell the story of Jesus’ birth to hundreds of people. LHM’s Russia ministry center supports the program that is put on at the largest shopping mall in St. Petersburg. Audience members are invited to discover the Bible through LHM’s online courses.

VietnamLHM—Vietnam’s expansion of its futsal sports ministry program has introduced teams of young men to each other as they live their faith and reflect Christian ideals in action. The program is attracting attention—and admirers—as doors open for the Gospel. LHM’s centers in Myanmar and Indonesia are seeing similar responses to their sports outreach.

ThailandWhen the popular host of LHM—Thailand’s “Home for Love” program left LHM in 2014 to care for his ailing mother, former LHM—Thailand radio speaker Mrs. Tongtip Hanpradit reconnected with the ministry and launched a new program called “Relieve Your Worry.” In October, listeners of shows by Mrs. Tongtip were among 78 people gathered to celebrate. More than 20 listeners who were not Christian heard the Good News of Jesus.

LebanonLHM—Lebanon, known locally as Middle East Lutheran Ministry (MELM), reaches the majority of the Arabic-speaking world with Gospel-based radio programming. Throughout 2014-2015 MELM has provided food and other necessities each month to more than 4,500 refugees from Syria and Iraq who fled war and violence. Relationships with staff and volunteers open refugees’ minds and hearts to the Good News.

MadagascarLHM—Madagascar’s 2013 soccer tournament outreach at the notorious Antanimora Prison was such a powerful witness among male inmates that the women inmates asked the LHM staff to sponsor a similar event for them. A choral competition was born! Five women’s choirs lifted songs of praise to God in what LHM Program Manager Louis Rakoto Rabehajaina called a “moment of glory.”

International Lutheran Laymen's League and SubsidiariesConsolidating Statement of Activities (in thousands)

Year ended May 31, 2015, with comparative totals for 2014

2015 2014 Int’l Lutheran LHM Consolidated Consolidated Laymen’s League Foundation Totals Totals Operating Support and RevenueDonor support $29,929 $2,103 $32,032 $27,417 Other income, net 626 767 1,393 2,805 Operating income 30,555 2,870 33,425 30,222

Operating ExpensesMinistries 23,580 - 23,580 21,820Admin and Fund Development 6,982 171 7,153 6,746 Operating Expenses 30,562 171 30,733 28,566

Operating Income in (7) 2,699 2,692 1,656Excess of Expenses

Non-operating income 1,292 - 1,292 1,295Non-operating expenses 971 277 1,248 1,304Non-operating Net Income 321 (277) 44 (9)

LHM Foundation 1,100 (1,100) - - Distributions, net

Change in Net Assets 1,414 1,322 2,736 1,647

Net Assets, Beginning of Year 29,322 15,708 45,030 43,383 Net Assets, End of Year $30,736 $17,030 $47,766 $45,030

Lutheran Hour Ministries is the registered d/b/a name for the International Lutheran Laymen’s League. A copy of the audit report is available online at lhm.org/about.

Consolidated Operating Expenses

Consolidated Operating Income

Ministry77%

Fund Development

16%

Administration7%

Contributions62%

Estate Gifts34%

Other Income4%

SENT Forward Beyond 2015

Energize, Equip and Engage Laity for Outreach

LHM is focused on providing relevant tools and training to help congregations and individuals reach their community with the Gospel. God has always called this ministry to embolden the laity to be missionaries in their daily lives.

Grow God’s Kingdom through Expanded Media Outreach

LHM’s media outreach makes use of radio, video, online, and print to reach a diverse audience with the Good News. We aim to reach people wherever they are through unique strategies and media approaches.

Bring the Gospel to the Unreached Around the World

Globally, billions have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through expanded radio and online ministry, as well as strategic personal and holistic outreach, LHM will reach millions more with this life-saving message.

Launch a New Digital Mission Field

LHM will launch ministries online to reach new audiences and walk with them as they learn more about Jesus and the church. By God’s grace, we will bring them to a point where they are ready to go off-line and join a welcoming Christian community.

Lutheran Hour Ministries is immeasurably blessed by our members who generously give of their time, resources, and passion to this ministry. In order to act as even better stewards of these investments, Lutheran Hour Ministries is following God’s call and focusing our work on four strategic ministry priorities. Each of these bold priorities have the potential to reach millions while making use of modern communication tools and media platforms. Most importantly, these priorities rely on the partnership of God’s people, like you, who are called to share His Gospel to all who would hear. Lutheran Hour Ministries has been, and always will be, a grassroots ministry. As we are SENT forward beyond 2015, we can only move forward with your prayers, involvement, and support.

LHM BOARD OF DIRECTORS (As of fiscal year ending May 31, 2015)

ChairmanPhilip Krauss IIWestland, Michigan

The Lutheran Hour Ministries Foundation (As of fiscal year ending May 31, 2015)

ChairmanDr. Marvin SwanGrant, Nebraska

Vice ChairmanV. Dale StonerLady Lake, Florida

PresidentJeffrey Craig-MeyerSt. Louis, Missouri

Executive Vice PresidentAdam EggemeyerWaterloo, Illinois

Vice PresidentLarry PritchettSt. Louis, Missouri

SecretaryLoren PodollRiverton, Wyoming

Pastoral Advisor Rev. Gregory SeltzSt. Louis, Missouri

Vice ChairmanPhillip JohnsonMaplewood, Minnesota

SecretaryJanice WendorfGrafton, Wisconsin

TreasurerPaul PettitLincoln, Nebraska

DirectorsLonda Borer-SkovSacramento, California

Michael BrownWestminster, Colorado

Jack FickenFairview, Tennessee

Richard GastMission Viejo, California

Kay MeyerSt. Louis, Missouri

Leonard PranschkeSt. Louis, Missouri

Andreas SchwabeEdmonton, Alberta, Canada

Weldon SchwiebertWestland, Michigan

Richard SindlingerYork, Pennsylvania

William SnowWatertown, South Dakota

TreasurerCurtiss WittbrachtWaterloo, Illinois

Assistant SecretaryLois EngfehrCollinsville, Illinois

Assistant TreasurerDavid LaniusSt. Louis, Missouri

TrusteesKurt BuchholzLHM President & CEOSt. Charles, Missouri

Jared DollarJefferson City, Missouri

Betty DudaCocoa Beach, Florida

Glenn GerberKaty, Texas

John W. KidwellBay City, Michigan

Philip Krauss IIInt’l LLL Chairman of the BoardWestland, Michigan

Brian MitchellLee’s Summit, Missouri

Calvin NeemanWaterloo, Illinois

Roy SchmidtBay City, Michigan

660 Mason Ridge Center Dr. St. Louis, MO 63141-8557 www.lhm.org 1-800-876-9880

facebook.com/LutheranHourMinistries vimeo.com/luthhourmin @LHMglobalmin

The LHM Board of Directors and The Lutheran Hour Ministries Foundation want to thank you for being part of the LHM family in 2015. The work that we are blessed to do is only possible because of God’s grace and the tens of thousands of passionate lay members and volunteers who partner with this ministry every day. Please continue to remember us in your prayers as we work to discern and follow the Lord’s guidance for Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Weldon SchwiebertInt’l LLL Board of DirectorsRepresentativeWestland, Michigan

Karen SoekenEllicott City, Maryland