The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

The Rev. James Sharp, who serves the Lord in Uruguay with the LCMS Office of International Mission, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the community where he and his family serve, the work that they do in planting churches and teaching English, how the Gospel is received by the people in Uruguay, and how the Lord has provided for them through the challenges they've faced. Read the Sharp family story and how to support their work at lcms.org/sharp.

Rev. Stephen Kieser, Headmaster of Faith Lutheran School in Plano, Texas, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how Faith Lutheran School (FLS) serves their neighbors in the Plano area and worldwide, what is unique about education at FLS, why Classical Lutheran education is still important and relevant today, and the upcoming Golf Tournament and North Texas Giving Day support opportunities. Learn more about the Golf Tournament at flsplano.org/2021/06/2021-golf-tournament and North Texas Giving Day at northtexasgivingday.org/faith-lutheran-school.

Rev. Seth Moorman — pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Long Beach, California, and Leslie Sullivan — Celebrate Director at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the important role volunteers play in the LCMS Youth Gathering, how Team Flex volunteers serve at the Gathering, and how to apply for Team Flex. Learn more and apply at lcmsgathering.com/volunteer.

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor of St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, Texas, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about St. Cyprian of Carthage, whose commemoration date in the Lutheran Church is September 16. They discuss who Cyprian is, what his life was like in the early church, the challenges he faced, and what we learn from his life and death.

Rev. Ruben Dominguez, retired pastor serving in South Texas, joins Andy and Sarah to share the story of Casiodoro de Reina (ca. 1520-1594) during Hispanic Heritage Month, including what we know about his life, how the Reformation came to Spain, why it was important to Casiodoro to translate the Bible into Spanish, the difficulties Casiodoro endured in order to create this translation, and how this translation has impacted Spanish-speaking culture still today.Casiodoro de Reina (ca. 1520-1594), translator and publisher of the first complete Bible in SpanishCasiodoro de Reina, a monk, was one of the first Spaniards to embrace the principles of the Reformation of the church in the Seville area around the mid-16th century. Those principles are grounded solely on the text of the Bible. Aware of the importance of spreading the Bible among his fellow citizens, Reina set himself the goal of publishing it completely in Spanish.After years of work and challenges found outside of Spain to gather, translate and revise various existing translations of the biblical text, Reina completed his work. Afterward, he received the assignment of finding a printer, nothing easy in those years.The first printing of the complete Bible in Spanish was finished in 1569 in Basel, Switzerland. The original cover contained an illustration of a standing bear trying to eat honey from the honeycomb hidden in a tree trunk; for this reason, it conventionally received the name of The Bear Bible. Using that cover to introduce it into Spain, Reina concealed its content from the Inquisition, an institution which had previously condemned him as a "heresiarch" (teacher of heretics), and had burned him in effigy in the Auto-de-Fe executed in April 1562 in the main plaza of Seville.Reina wanted all Spain to get the benefits of the Gospel message, especially the teaching of achieving justification by faith alone before God thanks to the sacrifice and merits of Jesus Christ won on the cross. Reina died in Frankfurt, Germany while serving as pastor of a Lutheran congregation of foreign refugees.Reina's translation and publication of the biblical text have made a significant impact among Spanish-speaking people. His legacy will surely carry on because his version, now commonly known as Reina-Valera, is the most widely read in evangelical churches and circles in the Spanish-speaking world.

Rev. Gary Schuschke, who serves the Lord through the LCMS as the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfurt, Germany, joins Andy to talk about his journey to this call in Germany, the community where he serves, what makes this community and call unique, the challenges he's faced, and how the Lord has provided for him during these times. Read his story and how to support his work at lcms.org/schuschke.

Rev. Sean Daenzer, LCMS Director of Worship and International Center Chaplain, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the festival of Holy Cross Day in our church year, including the history of this festival in greater church history, how we as Lutherans observe this festival that seems a bit odd in our Lutheran doctrine, and a beautiful hymn for this day, "Sing My Tongue, the Glorious Battle."

Rev. James and Pearl Rhiver, planning committee members for the Lutheran Older Adult Retreat on October 20-21 at Pere Marquette Lodge in Grafton, IL, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the need for a retreat for older adults, stories from previous retreats, the wonderful list of activities and sessions available at this retreat, and the beautiful location for this retreat. Learn more and find the retreat brochure/registration form at sidlcms.org/single-post/yes-there-will-be-a-senior-older-adult-retreat.For questions, contact Margo Wolf.Phone: 618.979.3376Email: dmwvette74@gmail.comMake your room reservations by calling or writing:Pere Marquette Lodge13653 Lodge BoulevardGrafton, IL 62037618.786.2331

Heather Smith, wife of the Rev. Sean Smith, joins Andy to share insights on their parsonage life in rural Southern Illinois and the many lessons in history, faith, and witness from the church graveyard. Read her article, "The Very Stones Cry Out" in the September 2021 issue of The Lutheran Witness. Find LW online and subscribe at witness.lcms.org.

The Rev. Vance and Linda Becker, who serve the Lord in Kenya with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy and Sarah to talk about how they were led to the mission field, the community where they serve, how the coronavirus pandemic has affected their work with seminary and deaconess students, and how the Lord is providing for them in the midst of their challenges. Learn more about the Becker's story and how to support their work at lcms.org/becker