The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

How does the LCMS National Youth Gathering feed and nourish the faith and vocations of the participants? The Rev. Mark Kiessling, Director of LCMS Youth Ministry, joins Andy for our Set Apart to Serve series to discuss his own vocational journey, the work of LCMS Youth Ministry, a brief history of the Youth Gathering and how it's grown over the years, the Gathering's impact on the faith and vocations of participants, and how the Gathering forms and recruits both youth and adults for full-time church work. Find all thing LCMS Youth Gathering at lcmsgathering.com.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.Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Why was complaining a temptation for Israel after they left Egypt, and why is it still a struggle for us today? The Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing (Professor of Theology & Ministry, Paul Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies, Director of the Pre-Seminary Program, and Director of The Center for Biblical Studies at Concordia University St. Paul) joins Andy and Sarah for a series on his book Deliver Us: God's Rescue Story in Exodus to talk about Israel’s relationship with shame in Exodus, why complaining is such a temptation, what is significant about Rephidim, the role of Mount Sinai in the Exodus story, and how God’s redemptive activity is for all creation. Find Deliver Us: God's Rescue Story in Exodus here.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Mark your calendars for April 3rd-5th so you can join us for Sharathon 2025! KFUO Team Members Mary Schmidt and Rev. Doug Griebenaw join Andy and Sarah for a preview of KFUO Sharathon 2025, including this year's giving levels and special thank-you gifts, why your support is vital to our operation, and how to participate this year. Learn more and give your gift today at kfuo.org/sharathon.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How can you serve at the upcoming English Bible Camp in Taiwan? Mindy Thews, LCMS Lutheran Education Coordinator in Taiwan, and Erin Alter, Director of Short-term Missions with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy to talk about what happens at an English Bible Camp. Tune in to hear some highlights from last year’s English Bible Camp in Taiwan, how volunteers serve, and what last year's participants have shared about their experiences. Learn more and join this year's team at servenow.lcms.org/opp/2025-english-bible-camp-taiwan.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How can theological education strengthen the Lutheran church in Taiwan and beyond? Rev. Dr. Tom Park, Serving the Lord in Taiwan as a theological educator, joins Andy to discuss the Lutheran presence in the region and the LCMS’s partnerships there. He shares about the current need for theological education in Taiwan, the request that led to the creation of a new seminary, and how Concordia Theological Seminary Taiwan will serve China Evangelical Lutheran Church and other Lutherans across Asia. Learn more about Dr. Park's work at lcms.org/park, and stay updated on LCMS Asia region news at international.lcms.org/asia.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Dive into the origins of the Puritan movement and discover how their critique of the Protestant Reformation shaped their journey. Learn about the tensions with the Anglican Church and the desire for authentic preaching that propelled them towards the New World. Explore the pivotal moments during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I that fueled their aspirations for reform. Finally, follow the Separatists' harrowing journey as they sought religious freedom, escaping persecution for a fresh start in America.

Why is it important to provide young adults with a space to grow in theological understanding? The Rev. Harrison Goodman (Executive Director of Mission and Theology for Higher Things) and Crysten Sanchez (Executive Director of Operations for Higher Things) join Andy for our Set Apart to Serve series to discuss the upcoming HT Beyond: Eyes to See - A Young Adult Event from Higher Things, including what HT Beyond is, the significance of this space for young adults, what young adults will learn about art and architecture through the event, the topics liturgical artist Ed Riojas will present on, and how events like these inspire young adults to consider church work vocations. Learn more and register here.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 is significant about the miracles in the exodus story? The Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing (Professor of Theology & Ministry, Paul Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies, Director of the Pre-Seminary Program, and Director of The Center for Biblical Studies at Concordia University St. Paul) joins Andy and Sarah for a series on his book Deliver Us: God's Rescue Story in Exodus to talk about who Moses is, the significance of miracles in this story, how the plagues directly address Egypt's gods, the context of the Passover, and where we still sing Israel's song of deliverance today. Find Deliver Us: God's Rescue Story in Exodus here.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Why do we have a Concordia University System? The Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy (President, Concordia University System) and the Rev. Dr. Douglas Spittel (Vice President, Concordia University System) join Andy and Sarah to talk about what the Concordia University System (CUS) is, where each of the Concordias are and how this has changed over the long history of CUS, their visits to campuses and what happens on an official visit, the incredible things going on at our Concordia Universities, and where you can find both of them at upcoming conventions this year. Subscribe to the CUS newsletter and learn more about CUS at cus.edu.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

What lessons can we learn from the book of Joshua? Donna Snow, author of many books including the new Strong and Courageous: Studying God's Promises in Joshua from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why she chose to write a new book on Joshua, what she found most interesting about Joshua as she considered writing this study, her research for this book, what she has learned in her study of God’s Word that has changed her, and the most challenging part of the writing process. Find Strong and Courageous: Studying God's Promises in Joshua here.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.