The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

How did Concordia University students have conversations about church work while serving as Young Adult Representatives at this year’s Higher Things conferences? In the first half, Joshua Price (Concordia University, Wisconsin; Junior; Pre-Sem) and Samuel Wilkins (Concordia University, Wisconsin; Junior; Pre-Sem), and in the second half Emily Lindau (Concordia University, Nebraska; Sophomore; pre-...

We’ve talked about what it means to love our neighbors. Now, what does this actually look like in practice? In this crossover series with the Friends for Life podcast, we’re exploring “loving your neighbor” from a variety of perspectives! In Episode 7, Darlene Chier (Director of Victory Resource Center, Chula Vista, CA) and the Rev. Tim Gerdes (Pastor at Victory Church in Chula Vista, CA) join Sar...

We go west to (again) meet the vice president of the West/Southwest Region, following Rev. Dr. Scott Murray's retirement! The Rev. Dr. Alfonso Espinosa (newly elected and installed 3rd Vice President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, West/Southwest Region; pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Irvine, CA; author of several books; Regent of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN) joins...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in South Africa? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Helmut Paul (Bishop, Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa) joins Sarah and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (execut...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Portugal? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Adalberto Hiller (President, Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church) joins Sarah and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executive e...

How does a pair of musicians end up playing with the Getty band? Zach and Maggie White (singer-songwriters and recording artists, also known as Zaggie) join Andy and Sarah from the 2026 Getty Sing! Conference to talk about the Christian tradition in which they were raised, how they met, their paths to becoming accomplished musicians and recording artists, their parts in Getty Music, and what they'...

How does a Lutheran church in a college town serve the needs of students? The Rev. Bryan Spang, (Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, State College, PA) joins Andy and Sarah as the KFUO Radio Church of the Week to talk about the community of State College and Penn State University, how Good Shepherd reaches out to college students, other ministries at Good Shepherd, and how ministry has changed...

How is church worker formation influenced by family life? The Rev. James Woelmer (pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Manhattan, KS), the Rev. Joshua Woelmer (pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Paola, KS), the Rev. David Woelmer (pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Smithville, TX), the Rev. Jacob Tuma (pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Pierce, NE), and Kantor Bethany Johnson (kantor at St. John’s E...

We’ve talked about what it means to love our neighbors. Now, what does this actually look like in practice? In this crossover series with the Friends for Life podcast, we’re exploring “loving your neighbor” from a variety of perspectives! In Episode 6, the Rev. Trae Fistler (Mid South District Disaster Response Coordinator) joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Steph Neugebauer (host, Friends for L...

We head west to the beautiful Northwest for today’s conversation! The Rev. Dr. Michael Von Behren (President, Northwest District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and journey to seminary, how he has served over the years, unique things he...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in the Philippines? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Antonio Reyes (President, The Lutheran Church in the Philippines) joins Andy and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executiv...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Norway and Iceland? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Torkild Masvie (Bishop, Lutheran Church in Norway and Iceland) joins Andy and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executiv...

How do music artists create meaningful stories through song? Blake Flattley, (singer-songwriter; Director of Worship Arts, Concordia University Irvine) joins Andy and Sarah from the Getty Sing! Conference to talk about what he gets to do as a singer-songwriter, how hymns have been an important part of his life, what goes into writing new hymnody for the church, how The Songwriter Initiative from C...

What does formation for service in the church as a musician look like? Dr. Kurt von Kampen (Professor of Music, Chair of the Music Department, Concordia University, Nebraska) and Paul Soulek (Cantor and Director of Music, St. John Lutheran Church and School, Seward, NE; Adjunct Faculty in Music, Concordia University, Nebraska) join Andy and Sarah to talk about where their love of church music came...

We've talked about what it means to love our neighbors. Now, what does this actually look like in practice? In this crossover series with the Friends for Life podcast, we’re exploring “loving your neighbor” from a variety of perspectives! In the first half of Episode 5, Rev. Max Phillips (Chief Executive Officer and Chaplain, Perry Lutheran Homes, Perry, Iowa ) joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host...

We head west to the beautiful Pacific Southwest for today’s conversation! The Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson (President, Pacific Southwest District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and journey to seminary, how he has served over the years, unique t...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Nigeria? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Dr. Christian Ekong (Archbishop, Lutheran Church of Nigeria) joins Andy and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of t...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Norway? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Thor With (Bishop, The Evangelical-Lutheran Diocese in Norway) joins Sarah and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of...

What are the latest updates from our friends in Lutheran Mission - Australia? The Rev. Michael Prenzler (Interim Principal, Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia) and Deaconess Kathleen Mills (Registrar, Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia) join Sarah and guest co-host Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about the very exciting first Sy...

What are the latest updates from our friends in Lutheran Mission - Australia? The Rev. Michael Prenzler (Interim Principal, Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia) and Deaconess Kathleen Mills (Registrar, Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia) join Sarah Gulseth (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about the...

What's it like to be a freshman church work student at Concordia University Chicago? Eva Maria Askins (Classical Lutheran Educator program, secondary track majoring in English), Thea Ball (Classical Lutheran Educator program), Abby Warren (deaconess program), Elizabeth Wendt (English/Linguistics, aiming to be a Concordia Professor), and Mary Egger (Classical Lutheran Educator program) join Andy an...

What are the hard questions that affect how we love our neighbors? In this crossover series with the Friends for Life podcast, we’re exploring “loving your neighbor” from a variety of perspectives! In the first half of Episode 4, Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann (Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary St. Louis) joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Steph Neugebauer (host, Friends for Life po...

We head to beautiful New England for today’s conversation! The Rev. Robert Beinke (President, New England District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and journey to seminary, how he has served over the years, unique things he has experience...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Sweden? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Bengt Ådahl (Bishop, Mission Province in Sweden) joins Sarah and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Paraguay? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Alceu Figur (President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay) joins Sarah and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executive...