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	June 11, 2003 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 47

	LHM cuts staff,
	rolls out plan
	to widen appeal

	Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) announced in May that it is
eliminating 25 of 166 staff positions at its St. Louis County
headquarters, closing 18 offices affecting an additional 60 of its 296
full- and part-time international staff, and discontinuing production of
its On Main Street television and Woman to Woman radio programs.

	Lutheran Hour Ministries is the name used by the Intl
Lutheran Laymens League (Intl LLL), a Synod auxiliary, in its outreach
efforts.

	At the same time it announced the cutbacks, LHM began the
rollout of a five-pronged restructuring strategy aimed at
Gospel-outreach ministry appealing to a broad base of people.

	The Intl LLL Board of Governors on April 26 approved a budget
of $25 million for LHMs fiscal year which began June 1. That amount,
although considerably below the previous years $31 million budget, is
still more than LHM took in last year. The Intl LLL made up last years
shortfall by drawing down on the leagues cash reserves and cutting
expenses.

	This year, says Jim Telle, LHMs director of marketing
communications, the Intl LLL Board gave LHM direction to reduce its
costs to bring them in line with expected 2003-04 revenues.

	That decision resulted in a number of changes, including the
cancellation of new television and radio shows, although they will
continue to be aired in syndication wherever possible, said Telle. He
added that The Lutheran Hour, LHMs flagship program, will continue
radio- and Internet-based programming. Also, LHMs animated
family-oriented programs will continue to be available.

	Some of the money that LHM receives each year comes from donors
investments in the stock market, said Telle.

	Theyre [donors] saying to us, Can you wait until things
improve? said Telle, adding, its economics ... that are bothering
our donors.

	As part of the restructuring, 16 employees accepted
early-retirement packages. The remaining employees were laid off
beginning May 12.

	Worldwide, the office closings will reduce the number of
countries in which LHM operates from 54 to 39.

	According to Telle, the list of nations in which LHM will cease
operations will be available at a later date. It is not being
distributed at this time since not all offices scheduled to be closed
have been notified.

	Notification is expected to be completed by July 17, opening day
for LHMs three-day 2003 Outreach Expo and Convention in Peoria, Ill.

	The event is a departure from the organizations usual, four-day
annual convention which, in the past, has concentrated mostly on
business meetings, delegate voting and worship services.

	While those events will still take place, a separate track,
one incorporating events meant to interest families and a younger
demographic segment, will simultaneously take place, said Telle.

	Included in that track are family seminars, nine servant events,
a Christian-comedy/music concert, motivational speakers and worship.

	The move, says Telle, is in line with the Intl LLL Boards
adoption of five strategic initiatives aimed at stimulating ministry
growth: promoting evangelism and follow-up training, using effective
media to proclaim the Gospel worldwide, increasing the linkage between
LHM and Lutheran congregations, reaching ethnically diverse audiences,
and engaging youth and young adults in ministry.

	At some point, said Telle, the initiatives will come together
under a theme that will replace the Go ... Tell a New Generation
theme that LHM used between 1994 and 1998.

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