In the 80 years since Lutheran World Relief was founded, we have seen generations come and go. New Lutheran denominations have sprung up, while others have merged or changed. New churches have been built, while others have closed.
The whole world has changed in so many ways!
Just for fun, we thought about some of the developments we’ve seen since 1945. A lot has happened in 80 years... but through it all, the compassion of Lutherans like you has been steadfast.
Here are a few things your ministry predates:
The United States Interstate Highway System (1956)
LWR transportation truck, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1950. ELCA Archives image
More than a decade before interstates made highway travel faster and more convenient, Lutherans across the U.S. were shipping quilts, kits, clothing, food and other aid to hard-to-reach communities around the world.
Alaska and Hawaii (1959)
There were just 48 states in the U.S. when LWR’s mission began. (Now, this part is trickier to calculate ... but LWR is also older than roughly one-third of the world’s current nations!) Although the world may change, your love transcends maps and borders.
The polio vaccine (1952)
Administering preventive treatment for River Blindness in Tanzania, circa 1997.
Lutheran World Relief has helped to protect millions of children against dangerous diseases such as measles, tetanus, River Blindness and more through vaccines and other preventive treatments. But it wasn’t until 1955 that a vaccine for polio became publicly available.
Color television (1953)
Although the first color TV programs were broadcast in the U.S. in the early to mid-1950s, color TVs did not outsell black and white sets until the 1970s. By then, LWR had been serving the world for nearly 30 years!
The Moon Landing (1969)
Transferring LWR packages, Germany, late 1940s. ELCA Archives image
Before man walked on the moon, LWR was carrying your love to every corner of planet Earth. Truck, train, airplane, ship, motorcycle, bike, canoe, cable car... we’ve used just about every form of transportation to get the job done — except a rocket.
The Internet (1969)
Although the origins of the Internet date all the way back to 1969, the World Wide Web was not accessible to the public until 1993.
Imagine how much more challenging (and slow!) it must have been to serve remote communities without email, GPS or even the ability to collect donations online.
Kudos to our forebearers for their dedication to organizing lifesaving programs by mail and long-distance phone calls.
The Frisbee (1948)
Shopping for toys, which used to be included in LWR “Activiti Kits.” Tyler, Minnesota, 1965. ELCA Archives image
It’s hard to imagine a world before the Frisbee, but Lutheran World Relief was there — bringing joy and smiles to children who have endured difficult times. Although LWR no longer distributes toys, we do offer activities such as art therapy for children living in war zones and teen-friendly community centers where youth can attend counseling and robotics classes as their families recover from natural disasters.
Continuing the legacy of love
Eighty years is a long time — but as long as war, disaster and poverty cause our neighbors to suffer, our work together is not finished. Thank you for shining Christ’s light around the world yesterday, today and tomorrow.
