The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

How can parents respond when a child wanders from the faith? Kay Meyer — Founder and Director of Family Shield Ministries, and Paula Isakson — Founder of Faith Family Reunion, join Andy and Sarah to share Paula's story of bring raised in a Christian family, wandering away from faith, how her parents responded to her decisions, and what ultimately brought her back to the church. Learn more about Family Shield Ministries, including the merger with Faith Family Reunion, at familyshieldministries.com.

J.S. Bach's St. John Passion is an experience like none other during Holy Week. Dr. Maurice Boyer, Music Director of the American Kantorei, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Bach's St. John Passion and how it fits into his body of work, why this is an important piece in music history as we celebrate its 300th anniversary, some key highlights of the work, and what will sound familiar to those listening to the work. Learn more about American Kantorei at americankantorei.org.Resources from this episode:The Beginner's Guide to the St. John Passion: witness.lcms.org/2022/a-beginners-guide-to-bachs-st-john-passionSt. John Passion from the Netherlands Bach Society: youtube.com/watch?v=zMf9XDQBAaISunday, March 24thThe Chapel of St. Timothy and St. TitusConcordia Seminary801 Seminary Place, Clayton, MO 63105Tuesday, March 26thSt. Paul’s Lutheran Church12345 Manchester Road, Des Peres, MO 63131Additionally, Concordia Seminary is celebrating J.S. Bach in additional ways! You are invited to a celebration of the 300th anniversary of the St. John Passion at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, beginning with a lecture at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in the Hasse Library and will continue with a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24 — Palm Sunday — in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on the Seminary campus, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105. The lecture will feature Dr. Maurice Boyer, music director of the American Kantorei. A reception will follow at 6 p.m. in the Hasse Library. The free concert will feature the American Kantorei, with a reception following the performance at 5:30 p.m. in Koburg Hall.p.m. To learn more about the Seminary’s annual music events, including the Concordia Seminary Concert Series, please visit csl.edu/music.

How does the LCMS English District make it a priority to raise up church workers from their congregations? Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy, Bishop of the LCMS English District, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his own story of how he became a pastor, what the English District is doing to encourage men and women to consider full-time church work, some stories of how he has witnessed men and women enter full-time church work, and how Set Apart to Serve is a resource to help the English District form and recruit church workers.Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve.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.

In what ways are LCMS Chaplains and others providing spiritual care for the incarcerated today? Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Nehrt, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Greenville, IL, and Prison Ministry Coordinator for the LCMS Southern Illinois District, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how he became involved in prison ministry, how prison ministry has made a difference for the incarcerated, who serves in prison ministry, and how continuing education is important for those serving in prison ministry. Learn more about the Prison Ministry Coordinator Conference on April 15-16 at sidlcms.org/2024/03/05/prison-2024-ministry-coordinator-conference. For registration information, email sidlcmssage@gmail.com or text/call Pastor Nehrt at 618-292-4392.

Why does good leadership matter, and what makes an effective leader? Dr. Elisabeth Bennett, Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Science in Leadership at the Batterman School of Business at Concordia University Wisconsin, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about her own leadership story, some key qualities of an effective leader, and how the leadership programs at CUW and CUAA help leaders develop these qualities. Learn more about these faith-based programs at cuw.edu/academics/programs/leadership-masters/index.html and cuaa.edu/academics/programs/leadership-masters/index.html.Register for the upcoming Master of Science in Leadership Information Session on March 20 at 2:00 p.m. CT at cuwaa.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RhTlTII0Ro6rd5yMwAmkzw.

What should someone look for when identifying a mental health professional for myself or a loved one? Stephen M. Saunders, PhD, Schneider Endowed Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Marquette University, and author of Martin Luther on Mental Health: Practical Advice for Christians Today available from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about factors to consider when looking for a mental health professional, red flags to avoid, how to overcome some fears of seeing a mental health professional for the first time, expected outcomes of a first session, and how to speak about faith with a mental health professional.Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9:00 a.m. CT, or listen to all episodes at kfuo.org/tag/mental-health-monday.Disclaimer: Dr. Saunders is a professional clinical psychologist and is very pleased to offer ideas and suggestions about mental health and mental health problems on these shows. However, one of the most important pieces of advice Dr. Saunders frequently gives is to get professional help when you need it. Nothing said on these shows should be taken as therapy or treatment or as a substitute for personal consultation with a professional.

How do relationships, opportunities, and invitations encourage young people to remain in the church and consider church work? Rev. Seth Flick, pastor of Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hartland, WI , joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his formation as a pastor and who encouraged him in this pursuit, his congregation's emphasis on their duty to raise up future church workers, how they use relationships and opportunities and invitations to encourage children in the faith, and the roles of other church workers and parents in their approach. Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve.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.

What's it like to lead a team of college students on an international mission trip to the Czech Republic? Rev. Richard Woelmer — Pastor of University Lutheran Church at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and Erin Alter — Director of Short-Term Missions for the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy and Sarah to talk about how international mission trips have been a valuable part of Pastor Woelmer's ministry to students, what was most helpful to him in preparing to lead a team, what was the most challenging part of leading an international team for the first time, what students are looking forward to on the upcoming trip to the Czech Republic, and how LCMS Office of International Mission equips team leaders for short-term mission events. Find ways to serve at servenow.lcms.org and follow LCMS Office of International Mission at facebook.com/LCMSInternationalMission and instagram.com/lcmsinternationalmission.

How did the new "Missouri Synod" position itself in the midst of other synods? Was fellowship possible with other groups? What became of the other synods that existed in the mid-1800s, and when did the German identity become less significant for the Lutherans who founded the Missouri Synod? Hear these stories and the influence of characters such as Johannes Andreas August Grabau and L.F.E Krause.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 LCMS. Find more from Dr. Mackenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.

This issue of LW encourages us to be a hopeful community. In current English usage, “hope” usually expresses a wish about something yet to be determined, such as, “I hope I don’t have cancer,” or “I hope the Astros win the World Series.” In the Bible, hope does not convey mere wishfulness; rather, it conveys expectation — patiently waiting for God’s reliable promises in His Word to be fulfilled, since He “has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Christian hope is not in this life, with all its changes and chances. Paul says, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:19–20). Through Christ, you “are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:21). Your hope is sure and certain because it rests upon “the word of the Lord [that] remains forever” (1 Peter 1:25).Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the March 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled "A Community of the Word" on 1 Peter 1:22–2:3. This year, "Searching Scripture" is themed "Elect Exiles" and will walk through the First Epistle of St. Peter. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us!Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.1 Peter 1:22–2:322 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.The grass withers, and the flower falls,25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”And this word is the good news that was preached to you.A Living Stone and a Holy People2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org