Lutheran Hour Ministries has worked with the St. Louis Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) for the last four years in the production and execution of a citywide school awareness and recruitment campaign to encourage young people to attend Lutheran schools. The preliminary results from the 2004/2005 campaign are encouraging -- with only 20 percent of the schools reporting, there were 41 new enrollments at the recruiting open houses promoted in the radio ads produced by LHM. Jim Brackman, Executive Director of LESA, said that this year’s campaign looks to be the most successful one yet.

The campaign featured Ted Drewes, an LCMS member and owner of a famous St. Louis custard stand. LHM provided script writing, production, and distribution of the custom radio ad. Additionally, LHM provided call center services for the campaign, providing an operator to receive the inquiry calls and referrals to local Lutheran schools. The radio ad is a key component of the multimedia school campaign, along with TV, billboard, and newspaper ads.

“Lutherans have a long history of supporting education and understanding how it can be used as an effective way to reach out,” said Jim Arand of Lutheran Hour Ministries. According to LCMS District and Congregational Services, the first Lutheran school was established in the U.S. in 1640. Since then, the common reasons for starting a Lutheran school are:
· To nurture faith
· To grow in grace and knowledge
· To teach the Word
· To communicate and establish Christian values
· To equip for Christian service
· To reach out with the Gospel to others

LCMS District and Congregational Services report that approximately 16 percent of students attending a Lutheran school during the 2003/2004 school year did not have a church home and 737 children reported being baptized as a direct result of their attending a Lutheran elementary or secondary school. In addition, 2,485 adults reported being baptized or confirmed as a result of their children attending a Lutheran elementary or secondary school. “These are important numbers to consider in growing LHM’s relationship with LCMS schools and students,” said Arand.

LHM can provide similar marketing services to other LCMS schools. There is no cost for script writing, production, or distribution. LHM requires a brief tag promoting LHM in all ads.