Our Story

Our radio ministry traces its roots to “Your Hour of Worship,” which was initiated through the Church Brotherhood of Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Iowa. Those in the fellowship were greatly concerned about a large number of shut-ins and elderly who were not able to attend Sunday worship services. In addition, they were highly motivated to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who were not in church. The first broadcast went over the airwaves on September 6, 1936 and was greeted with many letters of appreciation.
Our first radio preacher was Rev. Dr. G.E. Melchert, the dynamic preacher of Trinity Lutheran Church. In October of 1956, the broadcast was moved to First Lutheran Church of Waterloo with Rev. Bruno Schlachtenhaufen assuming the duties of radio preacher.

In January 1962, Pastor Schlachtenhaufen answered another church call. Rev. Dr. Homer Larsen of Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls became radio preacher. In 2005, the Board and Rev. Larsen asked Rev. Steve Kramer, Senior Pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Afton, Minnesota, to serve as associate radio preacher. When Pastor Larsen retired in 2013, Pastor Kramer became the (current) main radio preacher. At that time Rev. Lee Laaveg of Faith Lutheran Church in Spencer, Iowa was called to preach the last Sunday of the month as the (current) associate radio preacher in 2014. Pastor Kramer has since retired from his Senior Pastor role, but remains the main radio preacher. 

As the cost of broadcasting and sweeping changes with internet technologies have occurred, a couple things became clear:  First, one church alone could not support the growing ministry. And second, to have maximum impact with our Christ-centered, Gospel-oriented, Bible-based message, we had to take full advantage of every platform and format available...not just broadcast radio, but also social media, podcasts, and other modern formats for our content. Today, thousands of listeners, hundreds of individual donors, and scores of congregations benefit from and/or generously support Christian Crusaders and its various programs and content. Support comes through general gifts, as well as memorial and estate gifts, from grateful listeners, their families and churches.