Posted on 09/10/2005 2:47:12 PM PDT by lunarbicep
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Rev. Oswald Hoffman, the longtime voice of the "Lutheran Hour" radio program, died Thursday in St. Louis after a brief illness, radio station KFUO said on its Web site. He was 91.
The show, which is still broadcast weekly, is credited with making Hoffman one of the best-known Protestant evangelists in the United States. The Lutheran Hour Ministries said he consulted with former Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, along with world religious leaders including the Rev. Billy Graham.
"For more than 33 years, Dr. Hoffman was a Sunday radio institution, touching millions worldwide with his inspirational broadcast of the Lutheran Hour," the KFUO Web site said. The station is owned by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, based in Clayton.
When Hoffman retired in 1988, the show was carried on 1,200 radio stations in the United States and more than 600 stations in 30 other English-speaking countries.
Hoffman also was the author of eight books, including "Hurry Home Where You Belong" and "God’s Joyful Spirit."
Dale Meyer, who took over for Hoffman after his retirement, described the evangelist as kind and encouraging. "As a child growing up, I heard his deep voice on the ‘Lutheran Hour.’ And then when I started my career of studying for the ministry and would hear him in person, I was absolutely inspired," Meyer, now the president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, told the station.
Condolences to his family
Used to get played in my house when I was a kid.
I'm not acquainted with the gentleman, either, but it seems he had a long and productive life. Good for him, happy times in the Hereafter.
Here's a pic from his younger years:
BTW, I am sitting a few hundred yards from that microphone.
Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, Worldwide Religious Radio Pioneer, Dies at Age 91
Renowned religious broadcasting pioneer and Protestant church leader, the Rev. Dr. Oswald C.J. Hoffmann, died Sept. 8, 2005 in St. Louis, Missouri, after a brief illness. He was 91.
For more than 33 years (1955–1988), Dr. Hoffmann was a Sunday radio institution, touching millions worldwide with his inspirational broadcasts of The Lutheran Hour until his retirement in 1988. During that time his voice was heard weekly by millions of people in more than 120 countries.
“Dr. Hoffmann was an incredible blessing to Lutheran Hour Ministries and to the millions of listeners who tuned into The Lutheran Hour during his tenure as speaker of the program,” says Greg Lewis, Executive Director of Lutheran Hour Ministries. “He shared the hope of Christ with people around the world.”
“The Holy Spirit used Dr. Hoffmann to tell the world about its Savior. And the world listened. For a preacher that is enough; that is everything,” says the Rev. Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour radio program since 2002.
Ordained a Lutheran minister in 1939, Dr. Hoffmann served the church as a religious leader and ambassador. He served his Lord and Savior for nearly 70 years in a career that included varied roles as an author, pastor, broadcaster, classical and linguistics scholar, teacher, translator, public relations director, film production advisor, and member of various organizational boards. He was the author of eight books, including his 1996 autobiography, “What More Is There to Say But Amen,” magazine articles, and thousands of sermons. Dr. Hoffmann was also a consultant and friend to foreign dignitaries, U.S. presidents (including presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Nixon), and world religious leaders, including the Rev. Billy Graham.
He is survived by his children, the Rev. Peter (Elaine) Hoffmann of Chicago, Illinois, the Rev. Paul (Jane) Hoffmann of San Jose, California, Katharine Ann (Brian) Bates of Pearland, Texas, John Hoffmann of Kirkwood, Missouri, and also by ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His wife of 60 years, Marcia Hoffmann (nee Linnell), preceded him in death in November 2000.
Memorial Service Arrangements
A memorial service for Dr. Hoffmann will be held Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at 11 a.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church, 505 S. Kirkwood Rd., in Kirkwood, Missouri.
He was a liberal.
I think he went to Bethany Seminary, which seems to be inordinately influential in the Lutheran Church: Preuses, Ottens, Casciones, Al Barry, etc.
Ironically, Hoffmann died exactly one day after the 60th anniversary of "The Statement of the Forty-Four," which he signed on September 7, 1945--a document which really set the tone for the liberalizing tendency in the Missouri Synod in the decades to follow.
However, at this time of his death, I think it better to emphasize the good work Ossie Hoffmann did over many years in "Bringing Christ to the Nations." He did preach Christ crucified, the Savior of sinners--including Oswald Hoffmann himself.
Hoffmann was born in Snyder, Nebraska, on December 6, 1913. He was graduated from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1932, and subsequently received the Master of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1935; the Bachelor of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri; and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. In 1982, he received the Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Philippine Christian University in Manila. From 1936 to 1940, Hoffmann served as instructor and dean of Bethany College, Mankato, Minnesota. In 1939 he was ordained and installed as pastor of English Lutheran Church, Cottonwood, Minnesota, and in 1940-41 served as instructor in linguistics and classical languages at the University of Minnesota, where he inaugurated Lutheran campus services. From 1941 to 1948, he was professor of Greek and Latin at Concordia Collegiate Institute (now Concordia University), Bronxville, New York, and served as director of publicity and promotion.
In 1948, Hoffmann was named director of the newly established Department of Public Relations of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. He established offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis, Missouri, and supervised the activities of about 350 volunteer public relations representatives throughout the United States.
Hoffmann was appointed Lutheran Hour Speaker in 1955. He continued to serve as public relations director of the LCMS until 1963, when he resigned his post and moved his office from New York City to the International Lutheran Laymen's League headquarters in St. Louis Missouri, where he maintains an office. From 1948 to 1963, Hoffmann served as assistant pastor of America's oldest Lutheran Church, St. Matthew Church, New York City; and in 1948 was guest speaker on "The Lutheran Hour," during the latter days of Dr. Walter A. Maier's service as Speaker.
In 1977, Hoffmann, a life member of the American Bible Society Board of Managers and Chairman of its translations committee, was elected president of the United Bible Societies, the world association of national Bible Societies. He served in that position until his retirement in 1988, when he was named honorary president. He continues to serve as Chairman of the ABS Translations Subcommittee. In December 1994, he was honored for 30 years of service on the ABS Board of Trustees.
In 1980, Hoffmann received the Gutenberg Award from the Chicago Bible Society. In 1987, he was the recipient of the first annual American Bible Society Award, and he spoke on behalf of the United Bible Societies at the dedication of the Amity Printing Press in Nanjing, China.
Hoffmann, who is widely recognized as an outstanding Protestant church leader, is listed in Who's Who in America.. He was named "Clergyman of the Year" by Religious Heritage of America in 1973. In 1982, he received the Gold Angel Award from Religion in Media as "International Media Clergyman of the Year." In 1989, he received the William Ayers Distinguished Service Award from the National Religious Broadcasters association. In 1992, he received the Gold Medal Award from Religious Heritage of America. Hoffmann was president of the Lutheran Council in the United States, 1970-1973; president of the Religious Public Relations Council, 1953-1955; and was a member of the Board for Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL), 1962-1983.
In 1989, he was named a life member of the Religious Public Relations Council. In November of 1993, Dr. Hoffmann received the Wittenberg National Clergy Award from Luther Institute in Washington, D.C., for his contributions to church and society. In September of 1980, Hoffmann received the Secretary of Defense Award for Outstanding Service from the United States Department of Defense for his service to United States military personnel. His service to military personnel began with a visit to Alaska in 1958 and has included spending the Christmas season in South Vietnam, Korea, Thailand and Okinawa from 1969 to 1972; and in Korea again in 1978.
Hoffmann has appeared on numerous network television and radio programs and receives a continual flow of requests for preaching and public speaking. He served as host and narrator for the five-hour television mini-series, "Yeshua," released by the International Lutheran Laymen's League in 1984. Hoffmann is the author of many magazine articles and a number of books, including Hurry Home Where You Belong, God is No Island, Life Crucified, God's Joyful People--One in The Spirit, Lord, I Pray To You For a Sunny Day, The Lord's Prayer, There is Hope, and his autobiography, What More is There To Say But Amen...
Travels on behalf of "The Lutheran Hour" and the United Bible Societies have taken Hoffmann to Russia, China, Europe, the British Isles, Africa, India, Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, South Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Mexico, Guatemala, the Caribbean, and Thailand. In recent years, Dr. Hoffmann has led tours for Lutheran Hour Ministries to the Holy Land in Israel, the Luther Sites in Germany, and in the footsteps of St. Paul in Greece and Turkey.
From 1936 to 1940, Hoffmann served as instructor and dean of Bethany College, Mankato, Minnesota.
I remember seeing The Rev. Hoffmann open one of a number
of Lutheran Sr. high rises here in San Diego several
yrs. ago.
His words and works will be remembered.
Condolences to his family
He certainly got around ... NO person in a high position MUST see him. It is the CHOICE of the person in the position of authority for a meeting.
May God Bless him and his loved ones.
Yes, what a sad truth. But many of us loyal LCMSers are fighting the good fight to keep the liberal tide at bay in our respective congregations. May God help us all.
Keep in mind, we're not talking "liberal" in the "advocating depravity" sense or in denying the deity of Christ, etc. This was more in questions of church fellowship. Not good, but not as far off the deep end as the extreme leftist church bodies of today. And Hoffmann did preach biblical sermons that presented Christ Jesus as the Savior.
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