

The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio
KFUO Radio
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.
The Coffee Hour is underwritten by Concordia University Wisconsin. Live Uncommon. Learn more at cuw.edu.
The Coffee Hour is underwritten by Concordia University Wisconsin. Live Uncommon. Learn more at cuw.edu.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 23, 2025 • 27min
Studying the Nicene Creed
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 important to have a clear confession, why the Nicene Creed is significant in church history, the controversies it addresses, how the Nicene Creed has been used in the life of the Church, and why it matters that we still recite it today. Find Worshiped & Glorified: A Study of the Nicene Creed from CPH at cph.org/worshiped-and-glorified-a-study-of-the-nicene-creed.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.

Oct 22, 2025 • 24min
Serving the Lord in Asia and Germany
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, challenges they face and how the Lord provides through them, and the exciting things happening in both of their regions. Learn more about Deaconess Rhein at lcms.org/rhein and Deaconess Bueltmann at lcms.org/bueltmann and facebook.com/DeaconessKim. Find out how you can serve at servenow.lcms.org.Deaconess Rhein is leading a tour of Germany! Learn more in "Lutheran Women on a Journey" on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578587306443As 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.

Oct 21, 2025 • 26min
Prepared with a Reason, Ep. 1: Worldview Conversations in the Public Square
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) join Andy and Sarah for episode 1 of our "Prepared with a Reason" series to talk about why a curriculum on being prepared for challenging personal and public conversations was important for CPH to create, some scenarios that exemplify the need for education and training in this area, the topics covered in "Prepared with a Reason," how the curriculum prepares us in each of these topics, how this curriculum is different from other apologetics curriculum from CPH, and what readers and listeners can expect to learn. Find the curriculum at cph.org/prepared-with-a-reason-leaders-guide-digital-edition.Other helpful books mentioned by Pastor Wood include:The Universe Next Door: ivpress.com/the-universe-next-doorNaming the Elephant: ivpress.com/naming-the-elephantAs 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.

Oct 20, 2025 • 30min
Lutheran Early Response Team Training
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, District Disaster Response Coordinator, LCMS Mid-South District) join Andy and Sarah to talk about what LERT is, how LERT teams serve and why proper training is so important, why the LERT training curriculum was updated, and how teams can be trained using this new curriculum. Learn more at LCMS.org/disaster and LCMS-LERT.org.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.

Oct 17, 2025 • 22min
Set Apart to Serve: Pastoral Ministry as a Second Career
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 congregation, the joys and challenges of pursuing the pastoral ministry as a second career, and his encouragement to other men to considering the pastoral ministry as a second career.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.

Oct 16, 2025 • 24min
DCE Formation at Concordia University Chicago
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 Chicago, what they've been learning in their courses, why Dr. Arfsten brings DCE students to the LCMS International Center, and what DCE work looks like today compared to the past. Learn more about DCE formation at Concordia Chicago by visiting cuchicago.edu/dce.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.

Oct 15, 2025 • 13min
Advent and Christmas with CPH
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 the Savior, Christmas Water Reveal Activity Book, and My First Christmas: A Touch and Feel Bible Story. Find these and more Advent and Christmas resources at cph.org!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.

Oct 15, 2025 • 13min
Worship Anew, Now on KFUO Radio!
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 from viewers. Hear Worship Anew on KFUO, Sundays at 7:30am and 1:00pm Central Time. Learn more about Worship Anew at worshipanew.org.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.

Oct 14, 2025 • 23min
Serving the Lord in Indonesia and Taiwan
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’s ahead as they prepare to return to their respective mission fields. Learn more about the Woods at lcms.org/wood. Learn more about Mindy Thews at lcms.org/thews.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.

Oct 13, 2025 • 25min
God's Word for the Blind and Visually Impaired
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 welcoming for the blind or visually impaired, and the variety of free resources available from LBW. Learn more about Lutheran Braille Workers at lbwloveworks.org.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.


