The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Mike Fischer, Senior Gift Planning Advocate with LCMS Mission Advancement, and Mark Hofman, Executive Director of LCMS Mission Advancement, join Andy to talk about what LCMS Mission Advancement is and how it supports the LCMS, Why Mission Advancement offers and promotes gift planning, what the theme of “Blessed to Be a Blessing?” means for Mission Advancement, and how to learn more about gift planning. Learn more at giftplanning.lcms.org.

Crysten Sanchez, Events Executive for Higher Things, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Retreat in a Box and the 2024 "Who Am I" Conferences, including what comes in the Retreat in a Box and how congregations can use it, the theme for next summer's main conferences, who will be presenting at these conferences, and what these conferences on identity and vocation will teach youth and young adults. Find Retreat in a Box at higherthings.org/events/riab and 2024 Summer Conference information at higherthings.org/events/who-am-i-2024.

Dr. Russell Dawn, president of Concordia University Chicago (CUC), joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his interesting path to becoming a church worker, how his varied background gives him perspective in leading a university and forming young people for service, CUC's role in preparing men and women for full-time church work, what sets the deaconess program apart from other programs, how to overcome distance when attending a university far away from home, and how CUC has partnered with Set Apart To Serve to raise up more church workers. Learn more about Concordia University Chicago at cuchicago.edu.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.

Karen Lanter, Executive Director of St. Louis Health Equipment Lending Program (HELP), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how St. Louis HELP has made a difference for individuals and families, how St. Louis HELP began and how it continues to meet the needs of the community, the upcoming Equipment Drive on Saturday October 21, and what to donate to this equipment drive. Learn more and find locations for the equipment drive at stlhelp.org.

Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, Director of LCMS Disaster Response, joins Andy to talk about flooding in southern Brazil, including the LCMS's relationship to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB), his visit to southern Brazil, the damaged caused by flooding and how it impacted the homes and communities of Lutherans, how the IELB is working to serve communities affected by floods, and how LCMS Disaster is supporting the IELB. Learn more about LCMS Disaster Response at lcms.org/disaster.

Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy, Bishop of the LCMS English District and author of Pastoral Leadership, Shepherding and Caring for God’s People available from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah for our series on Leadership to talk about uplifting others in their leadership positions, including why it's important to do this to be an effective leader, what we mean by "servant leadership," where we find examples of this in Scripture, the role recognition plays in raising up new leaders, and what it means to lead without a title.Find Bishop Hardy's book from CPH at cph.org/pastoral-leadership-shepherding-and-caring-for-gods-people.

Aubrey Blank, KFUO Radio Intern, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why she was interested in serving as an intern at KFUO Radio, some of the skills she's gained so far, what's been most challenging and most enjoyable, and what she's hoping to gain from this experience. Applications are open now for Spring 2024 internship opportunities. Apply at lcms.org/careers.

Rev. Ken Krueger, President and Chair of Ministry Focus, joins Sarah to talk about the investment and cost of the education to become a rostered church worker, how debt can become a distraction for pastors and other called workers, how MinistryFOCUS addresses this challenge, who supports this ministry, and who is eligible for support. Learn more and apply at ministryfocus.org.

Kay Berry and Julia Petrovic — volunteer team leaders for short-term mission trips, Erin Mackenzie — volunteer coordinator for the Latin America & the Caribbean region, and Anne Gonzalez — manager of Short-term Mission Training and Engagement with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy and Sarah to talk about Kay and Julia's service as team leaders, the different mission trips they've experienced, the responsibilities of a team leader, how a team leader ensures success of the trip, how Erin interacts with the team leaders, and qualifications for serving as a team leader. Find current opportunities to serve at servenow.lcms.org.

Dr. Alan Freeman — Director of LCMS School Ministry, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about the faithful service of Lutheran Teachers during Church Worker Appreciation Month, including the teachers that influenced his journey to church work, what sets Lutheran teachers apart, and how he's able to interact with Lutheran educators in his role. Learn more about LCMS School Ministry at lcms.org/schools.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.