The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

What is it like to serve on a short-term team for English Bible Camp in Taiwan? Mindy Thews (LCMS Lutheran Education Coordinator, Taiwan) and Myles Williams (Short-Term Mission Volunteer, English Bible Camp) join Andy and Sarah to talk about why Myles was interested in this opportunity and how he prepared, how Mindy and the Taiwan team created this English Bible Camp in Taiwan, and how Myles worked with Mindy and the team for an outstanding week with the kids who attended the camp.If you are interested in serving on this team in 2025, view the opportunity at servenow.lcms.org/opp/2025-english-bible-camp-taiwan.View all opportunities to serve at servenow.lcms.org.

How can sacred music help us grieve the children we have lost? The Rev. Brian Hamer (US Navy Chaplain) who writes a monthly column "Lifted Voice" for Around the Word: Theology for the Curious Christian, at whatdoesthismean.org, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why we depart from the rhythm of the church year this month in his column on sacred music; who René Clausen is and what his piece 'In Pace' brings to light; Clausen's inspiration for this piece; the origin of the text; where else we see the connection between sleep and death in our Lutheran liturgy; and how this piece brings comfort to those who are grieving children. Read Chaplain Hamer's column at whatdoesthismean.org/lifted-voice--brian-hamer/sacred-music-for-child-loss-month-in-pace-by-rene-clausen.Listen to ‘In Pace’ by René Clausen at youtube.com/watch?v=yIgudJRJfCQ.

How have three of the Clausing siblings made the journey into church work? Ellie Clausing (Concordia University, Nebraska, graduate and teacher at Emmanuel-Faith Lutheran School in York, Nebraska), Eunice Clausing (Freshman at CUNE in Elementary Education), and Ernie Clausing (Junior at CUNE in Elementary Education), join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about what it was like growing up on the mission field, when they began thinking about church work as Lutheran teachers, how CUNE has and will prepare them to be Lutheran educators, Ellie's joy and challenges of being a first-year Lutheran teacher, and Ernie and Eunice's hopes for life after graduation. Read more about their story at cune.edu/news/concordia-nebraska-home-away-home-clausing-siblings-whose-parents-serve-missionaries-tanzania.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.

How do KFUO Radio Interns help us share the Gospel AND learn valuable skills for future vocations? John Fiene (current KFUO Radio Intern), Aubrey Blank (current Digital Media Associate and former KFUO intern), and Jordan Harms (Media Operations Manager for KFUO) join Andy and Sarah to talk about why John applied to be an intern with KFUO, what he's learning this semester and how he expects to use these skills, where Aubrey's interest in becoming a KFUO intern began and how her internship prepared her for a full-time position with KFUO, and how Jordan uses these internship experiences to build up future radio talent. Learn about KFUO internship opportunities at lcms.org/careers.

What is it like to serve on a short-term mission trip to Belize? The Rev. Micah Wildauer (LCMS missionary serving the Lord in Belize), Beverly Wildauer (Grand Island, NE; led a teacher training in Belize), and the Rev. Weston Wildauer (pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, MO; led an English Family Bible Camp in Belize), join Andy and Sarah to talk about how Beverly and Pastor Weston learned about the opportunities to serve on short-term mission teams, how they prepared for their service, who they met and served alongside, how Pastor Micah serves in Belize, the people and communities of Belize, and how short-term mission volunteers serve with him and others in Belize. Learn about upcoming ways to serve on short-term teams in Belize and around the globe at servenow.lcms.org.

Are you getting prepared for the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering? We have important information for you! The Rev. Mark Kiessling (Director of LCMS Youth Ministry), Julianna Shults, (DCE and Program Manager for LCMS Youth Ministry), Meredith Smith (Communications Specialist for LCMS Youth Ministry), Charessa Koontz (Youth Gathering Planner and DCE at Bethany Lutheran Church in Austin, TX), and Rev. Lawton Thompson (Assistant Pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, MO), join Andy and Sarah to talk about why we gather the youth of the LCMS, an overview of the theme of ENDURE, how bringing a group of youth benefits the local congregation, how district coordinators help congregations plan to go to Gathering, and the immediate next steps to prepare for travel. Learn more at lcmsgathering.com.

What does Hispanic Ministry look like in Southwest Detroit? The Rev. Ricardo Granado, Michigan District Missionary for Hispanic Ministries, joins Andy, Sarah, and translator the Rev. Stephen Heimer (Manager of All Nations Ministry with the LCMS Office of National Mission) during our Hispanic Heritage Month series to talk about his Lutheran heritage and growing up in Venezuela, his journey to become a Lutheran pastor and how he served the Church in Venezuela, his family's journey to the United States and how he has served the church here, and the amazing ministry happening in Detroit. Learn more about Pan de Vida on their Facebook page: facebook.com/pandevida1820. Read more from Rev. Granado at michigandistrict.org/commission/granado-leads-michigan-district-hispanic-ministry.Learn more about LCMS Hispanic Ministry at lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/hispanic-ministry.

The Rev. Idonis King, a recent graduate of Concordia Seminary and now Associate Pastor and “Missionary to the City” of Saint Trinity Lutheran Church and Saint John (Morganford) Lutheran Church in St Louis, MO, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to share his story of becoming Lutheran and entering the seminary, his favorite experiences from pastoral formation, the experience of receiving his first Call, his great joy for serving the Lord as a pastor, and what he is most looking forward to as he serves in this Call.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 13, Joanie Harwell (former director of development for KFUO) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how KFUO was a part of her childhood and family culture, how she ended up joining the KFUO Radio staff, her path to eventually becoming director of development, her favorite memories of working for KFUO Radio, how KFUO changed the trajectory of her life, and her favorite memories of the people she met and worked with over the years.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

How is the LCMS responding to the damage done by Hurricane Helene? The Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, Director of LCMS Disaster Response, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the devastation from Hurricane Helene and subsequent flooding across the Southeast, how LCMS congregations have been impacted, the needs of those affected, how LCMS Disaster Response is partnering with districts and congregations to respond to those needs, and how listeners can volunteer and donate. Learn more and give at lcms.org/disaster._____________________________________________________________________If you would like to support the ongoing efforts of LCMS organizations to meet the needs of those affected by Hurricane Helene:LCMS DISASTER RESPONSEWorking through LCMS districts and congregations as well as with international Lutheran churches and other partners, LCMS Disaster Response builds capacity of the church’s partners to respond to needs with Christian care. The ministry reaches out to LCMS congregations and their communities with services that include on-site assessment, emergency relief and development grants, pastoral care for LCMS church workers and members, and other resources.Give online at https://www.lcms.org/givenow/disaster or text DISASTERSLCMS to 41444.You can also check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LCMSDisasterResponse for additional updates.LCMS-LERTWithin LCMS Disaster Response, LERT (Lutheran Early Response Teams) deploys teams of volunteers in the immediate aftermath of emergencies. There are several current deployments across the Southeast, with more likely to be announced in the near future.View those current volunteer opportunities here: https://www.lcms-lert.org/need/index?need_id=996139&need_init_id=11431DISTRICTSAdditional volunteer and giving opportunities are also being organized at the district level. There is information about Amazon wish lists, hygiene kits, "flood buckets," and more on their respective Facebook pages. If you live within one of these districts, you are encouraged to work closely with your local congregations and district leadership—these Facebook pages are a great place to find out what is going on, if you don't already know.Florida-Georgia District: https://www.facebook.com/FLGADistrictMid-South District: https://www.facebook.com/MidSouthDistrictSoutheastern District: https://www.facebook.com/sedlutheranPRAY!Please continue to keep everyone affected by Hurricane Helene in your prayers. The people in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia have suffered a great deal, and they need our prayers. Disaster Response has a lot of resources for praying for those affected by a natural disaster, as well as specific ones to Helene (see above). If you need some things to pray for, consider praying for:families who have lost or been displaced from their homes, that the Lord would comfort themfirst-responders, that the Lord would give them strength and support as they serve their neighborall those who grieve, that God would give them His peace which passes all understandingall those who have been separated from a loved one, that their anxieties would be stilled and the Lord would grant them a joyful reunificationfor all those suffering from physical, emotional, or mental hardship, that the Great Physician would bring healingswift and efficient response from local, state, federal, and volunteer agencies