The Lutheran Hour is a U.S.-based Christian radio program produced by Lutheran Hour Ministries. The weekly broadcast began on October 2, 1930, as an outreach ministry of the Lutheran Laymen's League, part of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). Since 2018, Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler is the current speaker of The Lutheran Hour. During the 1950s–1980s, the program was heard on 1,200 stations in the U.S. and in thirty other nations. Its motto is "Bringing Christ to the Nations". History On October 2, 1930, the Lutheran Laymen's League began the weekly national broadcast of The Lutheran Hour with Walter A. Maier as the first speaker. Initially, the program was on 32 stations of the CBS network. Maier continued as the program's well-known speaker for the next twenty years (1930–1950). In 1940, The Lutheran Hour began a Spanish-language broadcast by Dr. Andrew Melendez. Beginning in 1955, Oswald Hoffmann became speaker for the next thirty-three years (1955–1988), heard on 1,200 stations in the U.S. and in thirty other nations. In 1992, the Lutheran Laymen's League selected "Lutheran Hour Ministries" as the overall identity for its media outreach programs. By 2012, The Lutheran Hour was heard on 800 stations in the U.S. and on the American Forces Network, consisting of organ and choral music preceding the speaker's sermonette and a recitation of the Lord's Prayer. Current and past speakers Since October 2018, Michael Zeigler is The Lutheran Hour speaker. An engineering graduate of the Air Force Academy, he served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force until 2006, when he entered Concordia Seminary to become a Lutheran minister. He holds Master of Divinity and PhD degrees. Although music is no longer a part of the program, the traditional conclusion of each broadcast with the speaker's offering of the Lord's Prayer continues. Past speakers are: Dr. Walter A. Maier (1930–1950) Dr. Andrew Melendez (1941–1972) (Spanish Lutheran Hour) Dr. Lawrence Acker (1950–1951) Dr. Armin C. Oldsen (1951–1953) Dr. Oswald Hoffmann (1955–1988) Dr. Wallace Schulz (1977–2002) (associate speaker) Dr. Dale A. Meyer (1989–2001; guest speaker November 2017–September 2018) Dr. Kenneth R. Klaus (2002–2011; guest speaker November 2017–September 2018) Rev. Dr. Gregory P. Seltz (2011–October 29, 2017) Controversy in 2002 In July 2002, weeks after his promotion from associate speaker to main speaker, Dr. Wallace Schulz was involved in an LCMS controversy that resulted in his leaving the broadcast. Acting in his capacity as LCMS Second Vice