The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

What does a Christ-centered understanding of vocation look like in daily life? Deaconess Kristin Wassilak (Dean of the College of Theology, Arts & Humanities; Program Leader for Deaconess Studies and Classical Lutheran Education), Rev. Dr. Chad Kendall (Assistant Vice President for Mission & Identity; Associate Professor of Theology; Supervisor of the Office of Church Relations) and Rev. Simeon Raddatz (University Chaplain, Program Lead for the Pre-Seminary Program) from Concordia University Chicago join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about what vocation looks like in daily life and in church work, what influenced each of them to pursue a church work vocation, some of the greatest joys and challenges of church work, and the opportunity for high school students to explore studying for church work vocations at the Careers for Christ weekend at Concordia University Chicago. Learn more and register for Careers for Christ at cuchicago.edu/c4c.Hear Deaconess Kristin's story in our Set Apart to Serve series at kfuo.org/2023/12/08/coffee-hour-120823-set-apart-to-serve-deaconess-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.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 7, KFUO's Lead Producer Jenny Williams joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about her many years with KFUO Radio, how she's seen technology changed during her time with KFUO, some of her favorite memories over the years, and why she's loved working with KFUO Radio.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 6, former on-air host Rev. Doug Nicely ("In His Steps" and "Do You Have A Minute") joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how he served KFUO as an on-air host, stories of his time with KFUO Radio, the impact he saw while sharing the Gospel over the radio, and what he loved about talking about Jesus to listeners worldwide.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

What is the need for a biblical understanding of reconciliation? Dwight Schettler (President of Ambassadors of Reconciliation) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what reconciliation is from a Biblical viewpoint, how Ambassadors of Reconciliation has equipped Christians with the truth and skills to live lives of reconciliation, how reconciliation is a "heart" matter, and the various upcoming opportunities to learn more about and practice reconciliation. Find details about these upcoming opportunities at aorhope.org.

Why should we consider the relationship of technology to the soul? Dr. David Maxwell (Professor of Systematic Theology and Chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), Dr. Kevin Golden (Director of Resident Field Education, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology, and Dean of Theological Research and Publication at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), and Erika Petsch (Director of Continuing Education at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the 2024 Theological Symposium "Technology and the Church: Promise and Peril" happening September 17-18 at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. They discuss why artificial intelligence and other technologies are important to them as individuals and seminary professors, what questions have arisen among students about emerging technology, and what attendees will learn and experience at this year's Theological Symposium. Learn more and register for Symposium at csl.edu/event/34th-annual-theological-symposium.

Why are hymns important for young adults, and how can we teach young people to love and appreciate hymnody? Rev. Kevin Twit, Campus Minister with Reformed University Fellowship at Belmont University (Presbyterian Church in America) and the founder of Indelible Grace Music, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his service as a campus minister of the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), how hymns shaped his faith in childhood and into adulthood, why hymnody is important to him and crucial to teach to young adults, how he introduced traditional hymnody to students who may be unfamiliar, and the next album from Indelible Grace available now on streaming platforms. Learn more about Indelible Grace and find their music at igracemusic.com.

Concordia University students studying to become church workers had the chance to share about church work vocations at Higher Things Conferences this summer. In Part 1 of 2, Young Adult Representatives (YARs) Brianna Pike and Josh Rueter join Andy and Sarah to talk about their church work programs, how they were chosen to be YARs, the conversations they had with Higher Things participants at the Wisconsin and Portland conferences, and how this experience shaped how they view their own future vocations as church workers. Learn more about Higher Things at higherthings.org.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.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 5, former on-air host Rev. Don Matzat, joins Sarah and guest co-hosts Joanie Harwell and Gary Duncan to talk about how he served KFUO as an on-air host, stories of his time with KFUO Radio, the impact he saw while sharing the Gospel over the radio, and what he loved about talking about Jesus to listeners worldwide.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

Could a Catholic be on the Throne of England? In this final episode of our series on the Puritan movement, we hear how the Church of England worked through this question with Catholic James as heir to the throne. Learn about the creation of the Whigs and Tories, the reign of King James, how religious freedom ebbs and flows during this period, and the Act of Toleration in 1689 that finally allowed dissenting churches (Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians) freedom of worship, although not yet freedom to participate in government. It wouldn’t be until the 1829 Catholic Emancipation Act that Roman Catholics would be granted admission to politics in England.Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. MacKenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.Interested in going deeper? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

How is relief organized after a community experiences a disaster? Rev. Trae Fistler (Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinator) and Ms. Janet Simko (former Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinator) join Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson (Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS) during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about where their interest in disaster response began, how LCMS congregations have been impacted by disasters in the Mid-South District, how disaster response is carried out in communities, and how this response of mercy has changed the communities where they serve.Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.