Our History

Originally called the Lutheran Laymen’s League (LLL) upon its formation in 1917, the organisation was renamed the International Lutheran Laymen’s League in 1972 to reflect its growing impact globally. The International Lutheran Laymen’s League (Int’l LLL) is a dedicated group of supporters and volunteers who are active in ministry domestically and around the world. These are people of all ages and walks of life. The ministry of the organisation is currently expressed through a wide range of Christ-centered outreach efforts under the name of Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM). Today, the Int’l LLL’s business and financial affairs are overseen by a Board of Directors consisting of a chair, vice chair and 12 directors.

During all the years of the League’s history, tens of thousands of people have provided prayers, volunteer work and financial support which, under the blessings of God, have accomplished great things for the Kingdom. League membership now numbers just under 100,000 individuals and also includes hundreds of local congregational groups including both men and women.

Our Heritage: 1917-Present

In 1917, a group of 12 men attending a convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in Milwaukee met to settle a $100,000 debt incurred by the church body. They accomplished that goal, and in the process formed the Lutheran Laymen’s League. The LLL next raised more than $2.7 million to fund a pension plan for professional church workers.

Radio Programming

In 1930, the 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 and 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, Dr. Wallace Schulz, Dr. Dale A. Meyer, Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus and Rev. Gregory Seltz have shared God’s changeless Word and offered comfort and hope to millions.

Christian Mass Media Ministry in India started with a humble beginning in the year 1951 in a small room in Triplicane area in the Chennai City, the capital of the Southern State, Tamilnadu. We are the pioneers in the field of Christian Radio Broadcasting and also pioneers to use the local folk arts for proclaiming the ‘Good News’ to reach the unreached people in this great land – India.

It was started in the name of “Lutheran Centre” and renamed as “Christian Arts and Communication Services” and again changed, to be called as “Christian Media Centre- India.” The Lord has been our Guide and strength to complete 63 years of Service in India.

Our Radio Programs are known as “Vaan Malar” in Tamil, “Swarga Sudha” in Malayalam and “Swarga Swara” in Kannada and Swarga Suman in Hindi languages. Though we are not on air at present, our programmes are still praised and remembered by large number people from all over India and the neighbouring countries. However, at present we are on the “Online FM Radio”- for 24 hours a day. The Programmes on our Online-FM consists of songs, Messages, short Dramas and other interesting Bible Related information. You may listen to our programmes throughout the day and encourage your friends and relatives also to listen.

Our area of Ministry is broadened now and our Programs come out in six languages, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Oriyya, Telugu and English.