Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries

A hallmark of childhood is asking a lot of questions. Kids will inevitably and eventually have questions about abortion. Deaconess Marissa Kroenke joins Steph to help prepare and equip parents with age-appropriate responses to some tough questions about abortion.   Bio: Deaconess Marissa Kroenke is a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary. In her first call she served Grace Lutheran Church & S...

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor joins Steph to talk about the compassion, mercy, and forgiveness that Christ has for couples who have had abortions and how the church can care for men and women who are post-abortive.   Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life Search LCMS RSO’s at lcms.org/rso   files.lcms.org/file/preview/M8t5yczDAyMjBMtUIbnD8z5lpeMuqdq3 lcmslif...

Kari Smith from Lutheran Family Service joins Steph to talk about the many factors that may put a woman at risk for considering abortion and how the church can care for women vulnerable to abortion.    Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

In this episode, OB/GYN and researcher, Dr. Donna Harrison, shares how easy access to abortion pills, via mail-order and reduced safety restrictions, has led to great physical, mental, and emotional harm to women.  Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your p...

Dr. Gene Veith joins Steph to talk about family, vocation, and how abortion is a rejection of God’s gifts given in the family and within vocations.   Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Rev. Timothy Pauls joins Steph to talk about LCMS views on pre-born life and the issue of abortion. How does the LCMS differ from some other Christian denominations on the issue of abortion? What value does God place on pre-born life? How can we oppose abortion and still be truly loving? Answers to these questions will kickstart Season 13.  Bio: Timothy Pauls was born and raised in Seattle, Washin...

Pastor Jesse Kueker shares the story of his youngest son Creed, who received surgery in utero for a rare health condition. Creed’s life – both within the womb and after birth – continues to be a testament of God’s power and presence.   Bio: Rev. Jesse Kueker is Director of Enrollment at Concordia Seminary. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO and his Master...

Deaconess Christianna joins Steph to talk about the prenatal diagnosis her son received while in the womb.  Bio: Christianna Nemec is a child of God, a wife, and a mother of two children in heaven and one on earth. She graduated from CTSFW in 2023 with a Master of Arts in Deaconess Studies. She served as the Deaconess of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lubbock, TX, where her husband is called as the s...

Pastor Dan and Karen Kempin share about the life of their daughter Katherine, who was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 shortly after birth.   Bio: Dan and Karen Kempin have been united in marriage and ministry for 30 years, faithfully serving the Lord and His Church together. Dan serves as Senior Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Midland, Michigan, and Karen serves alongside him as Director of Wors...

Join Tiffany and Steph as they introduce Season 12 of Friends for Life – a season dedicated to talking about the incredible challenges and grief that families endure when they receive a difficult diagnosis prenatally or postnatally.   Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any q...

What happens to relationships when offenses are harbored and people become embittered? Licensed Professional Counselor Cheryl Thompson joins Andy and Steph to talk about how Christians are called to handle offenses within relationships.   Bio: Cheryl Thompson is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has worked with children, adults and couples specializing in anxiety, mood and complex trauma diso...

People are becoming increasingly distrusting of others – even people in their own neighborhoods! Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford joins Steph and Andy to talk about how the lack of trust in other people hurts our closest human relationships.   Bio: Rev. Dr. Lucas V. Woodford, (MDiv, STM, DMin), is President of the Minnesota South District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and Associate Pastor of Trin...

Deaconess Michelle Downey joins Steph and Andy to talk about the differences and similarities between guilt and shame, and how to respond to both when they creep into our relationships.   Bio: Deaconess Michelle Downey serves as Executive Director at Concordia Counseling: A Lutheran Outreach Ministry. Concordia Counseling exists to provide Biblically sound, clinically effective, and financially af...

In an ever-increasingly digitized world, isolation from true community has become the reality of many. God has a better vision for His people – a way of life that makes people members of each other through their connection to Christ. Listen in as Pastor Brian Davies talks about the Christian community as remedy for isolation.   Bio: Brian Davies serves as pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in...

Recent statistics make a shocking claim: 1 in 2 U.S. adults report loneliness! What’s the remedy to loneliness and how do the people of God respond? Rev. Dr. David Petersen joins Steph and Andy to address the issue of loneliness.   Bio: Rev. Dr. David H. Petersen became Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in 2000. He earned a B.S. in History from Central Michigan University. He also earned a Master...

Join Steph and Andy as they talk about the gift and complexity of relationships and share what you can look forward to in Season 11!  Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  LCMS Family Ministry: lcms.org/family  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, takes some time during the Gathering to talk about Christ’s life and Christian love for all human life.   Bio: The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison has served as president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) since 2010. As president, he is the chief ecclesiastical supervisor of the Synod and is responsible for the min...

Kristen Clapper is a local of New Orleans and share her passion for life in a creative way at the 2025 Gathering.  Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Join Allison Daigle, CEO of Women’s New Life Clinic, as she discusses the clinic’s partnership with LCMS Life Ministry for the 2025 Gathering. Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Dr. Latoya Kuester is an OB/GYN in Jacksonville, FL, and she joined Friends for Life at the Gathering to talk about what life means to her as a physician.   Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Rev. Jonathan Petzold shares how he delivers Christ’s hope and forgiveness to his people as they face very real life issues.   Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Hear from a high school and university student about why LCMS Life Ministry is so important for youth!   Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Grant and Sam take the mic to New Orleans for the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering!  Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Rev. Brandon Metcalf talks with Steph and Andy about his strategies for family ministry and why men play a vital role in the church and home.   Bio: Brandon Metcalf currently serves as the Associate Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, IL and previously served as a DCE in the Missouri District. He is a contributing author to numerous books and Bible studies for youth ministries and has spok...

Rev. Dr. Todd Biermann joins Andy and Steph to talk about why family is so important in Christian theology and gives us simple habits that can make families stronger in both faith and love.   Bio: Married to Heather Stange of Frankenmuth, MI in 1995, Rev. Dr. Todd A. Biermann has always had a passion for fostering marriages and families in God’s way. This has been true in his role as a parish past...