The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Hear about our Lutheran brothers and sisters in Christ in Chile! In our special crossover series "From Wittenberg" with The Lutheran Witness Podcast, the Rev. Roy Askins (Executive Editor of The Lutheran Witness) speaks with President Rev. Juan Pablo Lanterna of the Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile / Iglesia Luterana Confesional de Chile (ILC-Chile). In this conversation, President Lanterna discusses the history of the church, its current state, and its challenges. The church was founded 70 years ago through the Lutheran Hour radio program and has grown to eight churches and numerous preaching stations. The church body recently worked to create a new Spanish hymnal. It also operates a large school and is actively involved in disaster relief efforts, particularly after a recent earthquake that affected 50,000 people. President Lanterna emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and the power of the gospel in overcoming challenges. Find the ILC-Chile online at soyluterano.cl.Learn more about LCMS Church relations at lcms.org/about/leadership/president/church-relations.Find The Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.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.

This week, we celebrate a partnership with our Church of the Week: Good Shepherd Lutheran in Arnold, MO. The Rev. Warren Woerth, Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Good Shepherd's 55th Anniversary on November 10, how members and guests participate in Sunday Services and Christian Education, and several upcoming events that the public is welcome to participate in:- 55th Anniversary Celebration- Veterans Day events - Thanksgiving services - Cookie Parade - Advent services - Christmas servicesLearn more about Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at goodshepherdarnold.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.

How are students formed for church work vocations at Christ College at Concordia University Irvine? Rev. Dr. David Loy (Professor of Philosophy, Theology, and Ethics, and Dean of Christ College at Concordia University Irvine) and Carrie Donohoe (Director of LCMS Recruitment, Christ College Program Coordinator, and Assistant Director of LCMS Placement at Concordia University Irvine) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about what Christ College at CUI is, why church worker formation is important to them and to the university, what makes CUI a unique place for church worker formation, how alumni are serving today, and who they see influencing youth and young adults to consider church work vocations. Learn more about Concordia University Irvine at cui.edu.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.

Hear about our Lutheran brothers and sisters in Christ in Kenya! In our special crossover series "From Wittenberg" with The Lutheran Witness Podcast, the Rev. Roy Askins (Executive Editor of The Lutheran Witness) speaks with Archbishop Joseph Ochoa Omolo of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK). In this conversation, Archbishop Omolo discusses the history, growth, and mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK). He shares insights into the church's formation, its current status with 350,000 members, and the importance of liturgy and diaconal work in their mission. The conversation highlights the collaborative efforts of various Nordic mission organizations in establishing the ELCK and the church's commitment to gospel proclamation and community service.Learn more about LCMS Church relations at lcms.org/about/leadership/president/church-relations.Find The Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.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.

Hear about our Lutheran brothers and sisters in Christ in South Africa! In our special crossover series "From Wittenberg" with The Lutheran Witness Podcast, the Rev. Roy Askins (Executive Editor of The Lutheran Witness) speaks with Bishop Helmut Paul of the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA). In this conversation, Bishop Paul discusses the FELSISA and its history, growth, and collaboration with other Lutheran churches. They explore the challenges and opportunities faced by FELSISA, including the importance of mission work and the role of the seminary in training future leaders. The conversation highlights the significance of international conferences in fostering support and sharing experiences among church leaders. Prayer support is crucial for the ongoing work of FELSISA, and you can learn more about FELSISA at felsisa.org.za.Learn more about LCMS Church relations at lcms.org/about/leadership/president/church-relations.Find The Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.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.

How does YouthLead raise up young leaders in the church? DCE Julianna Shults (Program Manager for LCMS Youth Ministry and Host of the End Goals Podcast), DCE Cindy Twillman (King of Kings Lutheran Church, Kansas City, MO), DCE Josh Eckstein (Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, St. Peters, MO), and Ava Dradzynski (YouthLead Executive Team member) join Andy and Sarah to talk about YouthLead and who it is for, how each of them has benefitted from YouthLead, how they've seen YouthLead grow young leaders in ministry, why young leaders are important for congregations, and what to expect from the ministry this year. Learn more and register for the 2025 YouthLead training at lcms.org/youthlead.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 Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ (OAFC) help people share their faith? The Rev. Martin Herzberg (Executive Director, Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ) and Jim Meyer (Board Member, Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the history of OAFC, the work of OAFC today, how each of them became involved, how this work has been personally meaningful to them, and how congregations can host their own OAFC events. Learn more about Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ at oafc.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.

Why should we read the Book of Concord? The Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District and host of Concord Matters from KFUO Radio, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the 2025 Book of Concord reading plan he wrote for The Lutheran Witness, including what he's learned while hosting Concord Matters and studying with fellow theologians, the most challenging aspect of reading the Book of Concord, what makes the Formula of Concord and the Epitome of the Formula of Concord unique, and what we need to know before digging in. Find the Book of Concord reading plan at witness.lcms.org/2024/reading-plan and files.lcms.org/file/preview/formula-of-concord-reading-plan.Find Concord Matters podcast episodes at kfuo.org/category/concord-matters.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's legacy of church work vocations encourage the younger generations to follow in these footsteps? Al Bardeleben, a retired LCMS Teacher, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about the generations of church workers in his family, the role his great-grandparents played in this long line of church workers, who encouraged him to consider full-time church work and why he chose that vocation, what he learned through the trials and challenges, and how he encouraged youth and adults to consider full-time church work.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.

What are the challenges facing Global Lutheranism? Beginning our special crossover series "From Wittenberg" with The Lutheran Witness Podcast, the Rev. Roy Askins (Executive Editor of The Lutheran Witness) speaks with the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison (President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) and the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Shaw (LCMS Director of Church Relations) from the 2024 International Church Relations Conference (ICRC) held in Wittenberg, Germany. This conference brings together Lutheran church leaders from around the world to discuss theological issues, build relationships, and provide mutual support. The theme of the 2024 conference is "Christ the Lord of History," with speakers including the LCMS President, Matthew C. Harrison, and Chaplain Jonathan Shaw. In this episode, they discuss the challenges facing global Lutheranism, such as persecution, financial difficulties, and secularism. Learn more about LCMS Church relations at lcms.org/about/leadership/president/church-relations.Find The Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.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.