The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

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.

Rev. Peter Bender, Director of the Concordia Catechetical Academy, and Rev. Dr. Al Espinosa, member of the board of directors for the Concordia Catechetical Academy, join Andy and Sarah to talk about what catechesis is, what the Catechism is, why catechesis is important, how the Concordia Catechetical Academy began, how the Concordia Catechetical Academy serves the church at large, and how the status as a Recognized Service Organization will help them better carry out this faithful work. Find the Concordia Catechetical Academy at peacesussex.org/cca.This program originally aired on September 19, 2023.

How does a young man explore the possibility of pursuing a future pastoral vocation? Ninth-grader Emmit Ohlde, who recently attended a Higher Things conference, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about his experience at Higher Things, what he enjoyed about the worship and learning experiences, how Higher Things helped him consider what a pastoral vocation would look like, and how he lives out his faith along with his passion for athletics. 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 4, John Fischer, who was Chief Engineer for KFUO Radio for about 50 years, joins Sarah and guest co-hosts Joanie Harwell and Gary Duncan to talk about how he served KFUO for many years, some of the fun he used to have while on staff, stories about radio engineering from many years ago, and what he loved about working in radio for all that time.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

Coming out of the Interregnum period, what happens when the English monarchy is restored? In episode 8 of our series on the Puritan movement, we learn about Oliver Cromwell’s son making a mess of politics, leading to Charles II agreeing to come back as the Constitutional Monarch in 1660. Under Charles II, religious liberty becomes a critical issue for the variety of denominations in England. Hear about how politics embroiled with religion in the Act of Uniformity, the Test Act, and the discovery that the heir to the throne was a Catholic.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.

What does mercy work look like immediately following a natural disaster? Joel and Kathy Matthews, Disaster Response Site Coordinators in the LCMS Florida-Georgia District, 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 they see this mercy work as a part of their Lutheran identity, how Hurricane Ian impacted the Florida-Georgia region, the opportunities they had to serve their neighbors during this time, what disaster response looks like immediately and after time has passed, and how they care for themselves as caregivers during these difficult times. Learn more about LCMS Disaster Response at lcms.org/disaster. Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.

How does a Christian care for someone suffering with depression and anxiety? The Rev. Dr. Stephen Pietsch, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what sparked his interest in pastoral care and counseling, how his pastoral ministry shaped how he teaches pastoral care to his seminary students, how the teachings of Martin Luther informed how he cares for people suffering from mental illness, and what attendees at the Lay Bible Institute on “Christian Caregiving for People Suffering with Depression and Anxiety” can expect to learn. Find the Lay Bible Institute and registration information at concordiasem.regfox.com/lay-bible-institute-fall-2024.

How do Directors of Christian Education (DCE) serve in the Parish? National Association of Directors of Christian Education members Kayla McGowan (Director of Christian Education at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Aiea, HI) and Katie Morgan (Director of Christian Education at Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, CO) join Andy and Sarah to talk about their paths to becoming DCEs, their DCE formation, how each of them serves in different roles, how they collaborate with other professionals in the church, where they find joy in serving as a DCE, and how NADCE serves DCEs in their vocations. Learn more about NADCE at nadce.wildapricot.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 3, Rev. Dr. Chuck Spomer, former guest and co-host on The Bible Study and former pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in St. Louis, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell, to talk about how he served KFUO over the years, how he saw people being reached with the Gospel during his time with KFUO, and his favorite memories of KFUO over the years.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 2, Dr. Mary Manz Simon, former host of “Front Porch Parenting” for 15 years on KFUO, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell, to talk about how she served KFUO over the years, how she saw Front Porch Parenting reaching listeners in practical ways, and her favorite memories of working for KFUO.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.