The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

How did two brothers both end up in church work programs at Concordia University, Nebraska? Daniel Ascher (sophomore at CUNE in Secondary Education, Science) and Luke Ascher (freshman at CUNE in Elementary Education) join Andy and Sarah to continue our conversation with the Ascher siblings! The brothers share where they grew up and when they began to consider church work, who encouraged them to pu...

How can we study the Nicene Creed for its historical and theological significance? The Rev. Timothy J. Winterstein (pastor of University Lutheran Church on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and author of Worshiped & Glorified: A Study of the Nicene Creed from CPH) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what creeds are and what we mean when we say we confess something, why it's...

What does deaconess service look like in Asia and Germany? Deaconess Sandra Rhein (serving the Lord in Asia as a Sacred Music Educator) and Deaconess Kim Bueltmann (serving the Lord in Germany as a missionary in Leipzig and Chemnitz) join Andy and Sarah to talk about their recent projects and some mission work highlights, how deaconesses are perceived in Asia and the Philippines specifically, chal...

Why should and how can adults and young adults be prepared to enter challenging conversations in the public square? The Rev. Dr. Mark Wood (Pastor of Shepherd of the Canyon Lutheran Church in Gold Canyon, AZ, former managing director of Church Planting, Renewal and Support for the LCMS Office of National Mission) and Dr. Lisa Clark (Senior Editor, Curriculum Resources, Concordia Publishing House)...

How are Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) trained? The Rev. Michael Meyer (Director of Training, LCMS Disaster Response and Managing Director, LCMS Office of National Mission), Kris Schuldt (LERT Training Committee, District Disaster Response Coordinator, LCMS Missouri District), Bryce Cramer (LERT Training Committee, Chainsaw trainer), and the Rev. Trae Fistler (LERT Training Committee, Distri...

What are the joys and challenges of becoming a second-career pastor? Rev. Don Stein (pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the congregation he serves, his previous career working for Congress in Washington, D.C., what led him to pursue pastoral ministry, how his experiences in Washington, D.C. gave him skills and insight for ministry in a congregat...

How are Directors of Christian Education formed at Concordia University Chicago? Dr. Debbie Arfsten (Professor of Christian Education and DCE Program Director at Concordia University Chicago), along with DCE students Nathaniel, Shanell, Joey, Rachel and Caleb, join Andy and Sarah to talk about how the students learned about the DCE role in Lutheran churches, their respective journeys to Concordia...

Are you looking for great resources for Advent and Christmas at church and at home? Elizabeth Pittman (Director of Public Relations for Concordia Publishing House & Concordia Gospel Outreach) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the resources available from CPH for Advent and Christmas this year, including, "Every Heart Prepare - Preaching, Worship, and Children’s Christmas Service," Wise Men Seek t...

How does Worship Anew help people hear God's Word? Matthew Leighty (Executive Director with Worship Anew) and Thomas Moll (Director of Content and Innovation with Worship Anew) join Andy and Sarah to talk about Worship Anew's new partnership with KFUO Radio, how listeners can interact with Worship Anew, the resources and care packages available from Worship Anew, and the feedback they've received...

What is it like to live in Asia and share the Gospel? The Rev. Matthew and Kali Wood (serving the Lord in Indonesia) and Mindy Thews (serving the Lord in Taiwan) join Andy and Sarah to talk about their work in the places where they serve, how they share the Gospel with those around them, what they’ve learned about the local culture, and what life is like in their communities. They also share what’...

How does Lutheran Braille Workers make it possible for the blind and visually impaired to read God's Word? Rev. Dr. Robert Hartwell (President of Lutheran Braille Workers) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his path to serving as president of Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW), why this work is so important to him, a few stories that exemplify the work of LBW today, how churches can become more welcom...

How have church work students connected with youth who are interested in church work vocations? Rebekah Saucerman (sophomore in the deaconess program at Concordia University Chicago) and Ryan Munro (senior in the pre-seminary program at Concordia University Wisconsin) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about their journeys into their respective church work programs, the...

How does a Director of Family Ministries serve in the Lutheran Church-Canada (LCC)? Samantha Neeb (Associate Director – Family Ministries, Lutheran Church–Canada) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about her path to becoming a church worker as a Director of Parish Services, how a Director of Parish Services serves in the LCC, why her new role as Associate Director – Family Ministries was created, and ho...

How are children given a place to be loved and empowered in an urban center? Lydia Beasley (Executive Director of SOS Center in Milwaukee, WI) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the Strength of Savior Center in Milwaukee. She shares where the idea for this center began and how it has grown into what it is today, how students and families are served and cared for, and how the SOS Center makes a dif...

What is adiaphora and why does it matter? The Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District and host of KFUO Radio’s Concord Matters, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the Formula of Concord reading plan he created for 2025, including the questions concerning Adiaphora that are addressed in October's readings. What does adiaphora mean, and was there a controversy about it in...

In 2013, a popular national TV host provoked a sharp reaction from Christian viewers when he asserted that much of the Bible is allegorical, meaning that the narratives of Adam and Eve, Noah, and Jonah are non-literal and symbolic. This is not how Christians have historically understood allegory. Even in the Middle Ages, when ingenious allegorical interpretation sometimes resulted in nonsense, Chr...

How is colloquizing to become a rostered Lutheran educator a benefit to both the educator and the school? Robi Flach (Administrator of Altamont Lutheran Interparish School in Altamont, IL) and Annie O’Donoghue (Manager with Standing Partnership and the Set Apart to Serve team) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about Robi's background and how she decided to become a Luth...

What is catechesis, and why does it matter for us in our daily lives? The Rev. Dr. Peter Bender (Senior Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church and Academy President of the Concordia Catechetical Academy (CCA) in Sussex, Wisconsin) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what catechesis is and is not, why catechesis is important for us in our daily rhythms of life, how Recognized Service Organization (RSO) sta...

How is the Concordia University System helping young people attend Concordia Universities? The Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy (President of Concordia University System) and the Rev. Dr. Douglas Spittel (Vice President of Concordia University System) join Andy and Sarah for the monthly update from the Concordia University System, including what's been happening in the first few weeks of classes at our univ...

How does LESA make Lutheran education possible for families in St. Louis? Amee Colvin (Director of Fund Development and Marketing, Lutheran Elementary School Association, St. Louis, Justine Eckhoff (parent of students at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Des Peres, MO) and Laura Montgomery (Director of Education Resources, Lutheran Elementary School Association, St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah to talk ab...

Why should we study what the Church Fathers taught? Flame (Grammy-Nominated and Stellar Award-Winning rap artist and author of Extra Nos: Discovering Grace Outside Myself and his newest book, Because Jesus Taught It: Christianity through the Eyes of the Church Fathers) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about where the idea for his newest book began, who the Church Fathers are, and why he chose to study...

Where did Glenn Rollins get to travel this summer to share about Set Apart to Serve? Mr. Glenn Rollins (Manager, Set Apart to Serve) joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about the opportunities he's had this summer to meet with leaders and youth about futures in church work. He shares about the duties of the Young Adult Representatives at Higher Things conferences and wha...

Who is the Buszin family, and how did they influence the writing of a book about the history of American Lutheran Sacred Music? Benjamin Kolodziej (Church Organist and Musicologist, author of Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947 available from Concordia Publishing House) and the Rev. Scott Schilbe (Assistant Pastor/Minister of Music at Our Redeemer in Overland, MO, and Theology T...

We're looking at upcoming hymns of the day in our church year! The Rev. Sean Daenzer (LCMS Director of Worship and LCMS IC Chaplain) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about three beautiful hymns people may sing this weekend in church, covering themes of anxiety, trust, hope, comfort, and angels. Chaplain Daenzer talks about LSB 760 "What God Ordains Is Always Good" (15th Sunday after Trinity, One Year...

How can high schoolers learn more about all that the Concordia Universities have to offer? Joshua Swartz (LCMS Missouri District Director of Schools) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what makes a Concordia University experience unique and valuable, what will happen at the Missouri District Lutheran College Fair on November 15, and what students and parents will learn about futures in church work...