History of Envoy Productions
Radio Programming
In 1930, the International Lutheran Layman's League (LLL) made a commitment to fund one year of broadcasting a weekly national radio program to be called The Lutheran Hour®. The first program was broadcast Oct. 2, 1930. The Lutheran Hour continues on the air today, making it the world's oldest continually broadcast Christ-centered radio program. From the show's early years to today, speakers Dr. Walter A. Maier, Dr. Armin C. Oldsen, Dr. Lawrence Acker, Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, Rev. Wallace Schulz, Dr. Dale A. Meyer, Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz and in currently Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler have shared God's changeless Word and offered comfort and hope to millions.
The success of The Lutheran Hour led the organization to kick off another radio show in 1991. Woman to Woman, hosted by Phyllis Wallace, took an in-depth look at issues facing women and handled these topics in a caring Christian manner. Guests included Kurt Warner, Wynona Judd, and Barbara Mandrell. At its peak, the program was heard on more than 400 stations throughout North America, and on the Internet.
In May 2011, after 20 years and more than 1400 shows the Woman to Woman the longtime host of the program, Phyllis Wallace announced her retirement. The final show aired in August 2011.
Television Programming
In 1952, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod ventured into television with a dramatic series entitled This Is the Life. The program examined contemporary moral problems and gave Christian solutions. In the early years, This Is the Life was a drama series featuring the Fisher Family. In the later years, it was an anthology series with a different set of characters each week. Several famous actors made guest appearances on This Is the Life during this period, including Jack Nicholson, Buddy Ebsen, and Leonard Nimoy. The program aired from 1952 until 1988, first in syndication and then on NBC. This Is the Life reruns continue today on a limited basis in the U.S. and other countries, where the voices are often dubbed into native languages.
In 2017, nine special episodes were re-released with new material from Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz.
On Main Street (OMS) was also a popular TV program. Hosted by Dr. Dale Meyer, the former speaker of The Lutheran Hour, the program shared practical spiritual teaching on today's issues from a Christ-centered, Biblical perspective. Guests included Jimmy Carter, Kathy Ireland, and Mary Lou Retton. While new programs are no longer in production, these can be purchased through our online store.
In spring of 2011, Envoy productions released "The Bible on Trial", this production based on the Telly Award winning Bible study "How we Got the Bible". This 60 minute special from Envoy Productions takes a unique look at the subject and presents facts about the most widely printed book in history. Internationally recognized experts including: Dr. Randall Price, Dr. Paul L. Maier, Craig Parton , Dr. Jeff Kloha and Joel Lampe illuminate the efforts taken throughout history to ensure the integrity and significance of this ancient text. The "Bible on Trial" invites your viewers to be the jury in this case.
Envoy's wide variety of special holiday television programming includes versions dubbed into several languages and broadcast on stations around the world through LHM's international ministry centers.
In October 2012, as the public debate regarding the issues of church and state reached a fevered pitch, Envoy Productions release "The Intersection of Church and State".
The Intersection of Church and State explores the history of this issue, especially in light of the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It will explore the surprising fact that every state in colonial times had an established faith. It will examine the origin of Jefferson's description of the church-state relationship as a "high and impregnable wall of separation."
The Intersection of Church and State traces the history of cooperation between these two groups-in bringing care to the needy, the settlement of refugees, the adoption of children, the service of military chaplains, and others ways. It also considers how these historical church and state partnerships are jeopardized.