The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

In this crossover episode with The Lutheran Witness podcast, The Rev Roy Askins shares his interview with Sebastian, an Iranian convert in Germany.This edition of The Lutheran Witness podcast was recorded almost a year ago in Berlin-Steglitz, Germany. In it, we speak to Sebastian, who was baptized during our trip to Germany. In this podcast, he discusses the importance of dreams in Iranian culture, how he came to faith, and how the Lord is working through Trinity Lutheran Church, Berlin-Steglitz, Germany. For the full story, visit engage.lcms.org/persian-project-winter-2025.To learn more about the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK), visit lcms.org/partner-church-bodies/independent-evangelical-lutheran-church.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

What does it mean to be an artist in the church? Michael Scheer (Director, Center for Liturgical Art) and Deb Jurchen (Director, University Institutes at Concordia Nebraska) join Andy to discuss the significance of the Center for Liturgical Art at Concordia University, Nebraska, sharing about its history, mission, and the role of visual arts in the church. To learn more about the Center for Liturgical Art, visit liturgicalart.org.To register for the CLA's 20th anniversary celebration, visit CUNE.edu/homecoming.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Movies have the power to both shape and reflect our society. But what can happen when we look at film through the lens of faith? Andy Bates and guest host Jordan Harms sit down with professors from Concordia University and Concordia Seminary to discuss the intersection of film and Christian faith. They explore how cinema can reflect and shape societal values, the importance of recognizing biblical themes in various films, and share about an upcoming continuing education course that aims to equip pastors with tools to use movies as a means of witness. To learn more about the six-week virtual continuing education course, visit csl.edu/2025/08/movies-and-mission-explores-film-through-biblical-lens/. To register for "Movies and Mission", visit one.csp.edu/s/286/20/interior.aspx?sid=286&gid=1&pgid=3149&cid=11384&ecid=11384.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How does a family legacy of church work influence younger generations? The Rev. Dr. Todd Allen Jenks (pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ames, IA) joins Andy for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about his journey into the pastoral ministry, who had the greatest influence on his decision to consider and enter the pastoral ministry, the story of his family of church workers including his father and siblings, an endowed scholarship in honor and memory of his father at Concordia Seminary St. Louis, how a scholarship like this helps others pursue the pastoral ministry, and his encouragement for those who are considering entering the pastoral ministry.Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers.Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations.Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS:1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers.2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers.3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation.To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How did the vocation of "church musician" develop in the 19th century Missouri Synod? Benjamin Kolodziej (Church Organist and Musicologist, author of Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947 available from Concordia Publishing House) joins Andy and Sarah for Episode 2 of our series on Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music. Benjamin talks about the vocation of teacher/musician, what Luther taught about the vocation of teacher and musician, the key figures in retaining this understanding, an introduction to Friedrich Lochner, and how musicians and teachers at this time shared valuable information about their profession. Find Benjamin Kolodziej’s book Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947 at cph.org/portraits-in-american-lutheran-sacred-music. Find all episodes in this series at kfuo.org/tag/portraits-in-american-lutheran-sacred-music.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

In this crossover episode with The Lutheran Witness podcast, The Rev Roy Askins shares his interview with missionaries serving Germany.The Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens, the Rev. Dr. David Preus and the Rev. Dr. Christian Tiews join the podcast to discuss the work at Trinity Lutheran Church, Berlin-Steglitz, Germany. This congregation of the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK) cares for Persian immigrants seeking asylum in Germany. The conversation includes an explanation of the political situation in Germany, and the LCMS mission with Farsi speakers in Germany and beyond. For the full story, visit engage.lcms.org/persian-project-winter-2025.To learn more about the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK), visit lcms.org/partner-church-bodies/independent-evangelical-lutheran-church.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

What are the latest updates on Concordia University System scholarships and the new school year? 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 to talk about their time at the LCMS Youth Gathering, what it was like for them to represent CUS and meet thousands of Lutheran youth, the scholarships available from CUS, what these scholarships mean for CUS students entering a new school year, where Dr. Hardy and Dr. Spittel will be present for opening services, and upcoming conferences. Learn more about CUS and how you can support the scholarship fund at cus.edu.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

What is still relevant today as we celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea? Dr. Joel Elowsky (Professor of Historical Theology, Dean of Advanced Studies and Director of the Center for the Study of Early Christian Texts at Concordia Seminary St. Louis) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the upcoming Theological Symposium at Concordia Seminary all about "Nicaea 1700," including the state of the church at the time of the Council of Nicaea, why the Council was called, who was present or represented, what it accomplished, and what Symposium attendees will learn about the Council, the Nicene Creed, and its contemporary applications. Learn more about the Theological Symposium happening September 16-17 at Concordia Seminary St. Louis by visiting csl.edu/resources/continuing-education/theological-symposium.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How does learning to witness the faith to others help form future church workers? The Rev. Andrew Jagow (Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA) joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about his congregation and the community it serves, his journey into the pastoral vocation, how his experiences sharing his faith in high school provided a space for formation into church work, the Set Apart to Serve pilot program he is participating in, and how he and his congregation are encouraging young people to consider church work vocations.Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers.Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations.Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS:1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers.2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers.3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation.To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Why has sacred music always been important to the Lutheran church, and who is Ferdinand Winter in this story? Benjamin Kolodziej (Church Organist and Musicologist, author of "Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947" available from Concordia Publishing House) joins Andy and Sarah for Episode 1 of our series on Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music. Benjamin talks about the development of sacred music pedagogy (teaching), the development of Addison Seminary (1864-1913) and then its successor institution Concordia Teachers College River Forest, how the teachers of sacred music ensured this treasured gift of sacred music would be retained in the church throughout time, and why this history is so important to retain and share.Find Benjamin Kolodziej's book "Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947" at cph.org/portraits-in-american-lutheran-sacred-music. Find all episodes in this series at kfuo.org/tag/portraits-in-american-lutheran-sacred-music.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.