The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

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 RESPONSE
 Working 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-LERT
 Within 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=11431
 
 DISTRICTS
 Additional 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/FLGADistrict
 Mid-South District: https://www.facebook.com/MidSouthDistrict
 Southeastern District: https://www.facebook.com/sedlutheran
 
 PRAY!
 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 them
 first-responders, that the Lord would give them strength and support as they serve their neighbor
 all those who grieve, that God would give them His peace which passes all understanding
 all those who have been separated from a loved one, that their anxieties would be stilled and the Lord would grant them a joyful reunification
 for all those suffering from physical, emotional, or mental hardship, that the Great Physician would bring healing
 swift and efficient response from local, state, federal, and volunteer agencies

LCEF has new All Access Accounts! Rehema Kavugha (Synod Relations Director with Lutheran Church Extension Fund) and Sharon Bollinger (Assistant Vice President for Product Development with Lutheran Church Extension Fund) join Andy and Sarah to talk about what is included in the LCEF All Access Account, what makes this account different from others available from LCEF, how this account benefits LCMS ministries, and how investors can benefit from the account. Learn more at lcef.org/allaccess.

How does the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) provide Lutheran resources for Spanish speakers? The Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise (Executive Director for Lutheran Heritage Foundation) joins Andy and Sarah during our Hispanic Heritage Month series to talk about how the Lord is providing for and reaching people of Hispanic heritage with Christ-centered resources, the types of resources available in the Spanish language, how Spanish resources are used in the United States, and how LHF builds relationships with missionaries and partner churches to meet needs. Learn more about LHF and request resources at lhfmissions.org.
 
 Learn more about LCMS Hispanic Ministry at lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/hispanic-ministry.

How can we identify false churches, and how do we know if we're in a faithful church? The Rev. Matthew Richard, author of Will The Real Church Please Stand Up? 7 False Churches, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his motivation behind writing this book, how he would define a false church, what we as humans tend to gather around instead of Christ, the questions we should ask when evaluating a church, and characteristics of a true and faithful church. Find Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? Seven False Churches at cph.org/will-the-real-church-please-stand-up-seven-false-churches.

How does Lutheran High School South's Kaleo Theology Academy form students for future church work? Rev. Christopher Sommer (Head of Campus Wellness at Lutheran High School South in St. Louis) and LHSS Theology Academy students Ellie and Kevin join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how the idea for the Lutheran South Kaleo Theology Academy began, how this Academy fits in the bigger picture of the mission of Lutheran South High School, why Ellie and Kevin enrolled in the Theology Academy, what they are learning through this special study, their plans for graduation, and what Pastor Sommer wants students to gain from the Academy. Learn more about the Kaleo Theology Academy at lslancers.org/academics/kaleo-academy.
 
 
 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 12, Ron Klemm (Former Director of Classic99 and host of Joy!) joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about where his love for classic music began and how it grew into a career, how he came to KFUO-FM (Classic99), how the sacred music program Joy! began, the people he got to meet and work with during his time with Classic99, and what he enjoyed most about his time with Classic99.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

This issue of the Lutheran Witness focuses on the Christian church as a confessing community. 1 Peter 4:7–19 teaches how we confess our faith through words, works and, perhaps surprisingly, through suffering as Christians (1 Peter 4:16). Jesus had promised this would happen to His followers: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:18–20). But for some reason, we are shocked when His promise comes true in our own lives. Peter helpfully reminds us not to “be surprised” (1 Peter 4:12) when sufferings come but, rather, to “rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings” (1 Peter 4:13).
 
 Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the October 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “A Suffering Community” on 1 Peter 4:7–19. 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.

How did the Rev. Dr. Andrew Melendez become the first speaker of the Spanish Lutheran Hour, and what is that legacy today? Prof. Lori Siekmann, Professor and Theatre Department Chair at Concordia University Irvine, and granddaughter of the Rev. Dr. Andrew Melendez, joins Andy and Sarah during our Hispanic Heritage Month series to share her stories of Grandpa Melendez, including her memories of visits with her grandparents, how her grandparents met and how that meeting shaped their future, the challenges that a Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican Lutheran pastor might have faced in the 1930s and 40s, how his ministry was affected by WWII, and how his ministry shaped her family. Find Spanish-language Lutheran Hour resources at paraelcamino.com.
 
 Learn more about LCMS Hispanic Ministry at lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/hispanic-ministry.

How does Project 24 care for children with the love of Christ? John Kissinger Nyang'au, Director of Project 24, and Zach Schnare, LCMS Mission Advocate and Liaison to Kenya, join Andy to talk about the struggles that many children face in Kenya, how the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya (ELCK) and the LCMS are meeting the needs of these children through Project 24, stories about the children served by Project 24, and what the future holds for Project 24 and the children it serves. Learn more at lcms.org/ccck and facebook.com/Project24Kenya. You can also financially support Project 24 at lcms.org/make-a-gift/christs-care-for-children-kenya.

How has the Center for Hispanic Studies formed men and women for church work vocations over the years? The Rev. Dr. Ely Prieto (Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Director of the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary) and the Rev. Paul Flo (Assistant to the Director of the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary) join Andy and Sarah during our Set Apart to Serve series in Hispanic Heritage Month to talk about their own journeys into pastoral and Hispanic ministry, the need that led to the creation of the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) at Concordia Seminary, the students at CHS and how students are equipped to serve upon completion of the program, and the vision for the future of the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary. Learn more about the Center for Hispanic Studies at csl.edu/academics/programs/center-hispanic-studies.
 
 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 11, we are joined by Dr. Gerald Perschbacher, who served as editor of The Lutheran Layman (a bimonthly publication of Lutheran Hour Ministries) for 35 years, is the Founder of The Lutheran Laymen’s League Research Center, and is also the author of "A Voice for the Gospel: KFUO Radio in Retrospect" in the September issue of The Lutheran Witness. Dr. Perschbacher joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how the idea for KFUO got off the ground and who initiated it, KFUO's programs in the early years, how the “rush to radio” of the mid-1920s impacted KFUO's programming, and how KFUO continued the legacy of "Keeping Forward, Upward, and Onward." Read Dr. Perschbacher's article in the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org/2024/a-voice-for-the-gospel-kfuo-radio-in-retrospect.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

How is Bible translation done today? The Rev. Dr. Rich Rudowske (Executive Director of Lutheran Bible Translators) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how many translations of the Bible exist today, current Biblical literacy across the globe, how early Bible translations into the vernacular paved the way for Bible translation today, where Lutheran Bible Translators is working, and the process of Bible translation— from discovery of a need to a published Bible put in the hands of new readers. Learn more about Lutheran Bible Translators at lbt.org.

What does Hispanic Ministry look like in the Indianapolis area? The Rev. Daniel Fickenscher, Associate Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran/Iglesia Luterana San Pablo (Columbus, IN) and Missionary Pastor at Trinity Lutheran/Iglesia Luterana La Trinidad (Indianapolis, IN), joins Andy and Sarah during our Hispanic Heritage Month series to talk about how he became involved in Hispanic ministry, the communities where he serves, how the churches serve the Hispanic population in these areas, how he has seen God at work in these ministries, and how Hispanic heritage and culture are valued and preserved.
 
 Learn more about LCMS Hispanic Ministry at lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/hispanic-ministry.

Earlier this year, southern Brazil suffered historic flooding, affecting many Lutheran churches and members of our sister church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB). The Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, Director of LCMS Disaster Response, and the Rev. Airton Schroeder, Vice President of the Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil) working in the Mercy Area, join Sarah to share how LCMS Disaster Response works with international church partners after disasters, the extent of the historic flooding in the Rio Grande do Sul state, how Lutherans were affected by the flooding, how the IELB has responded and how the LCMS is walking alongside the IELB in this disaster response effort.
 
 Read more about this disaster and the response from both the LCMS and IELB:
 https://international.lcms.org/unprecedented-floods-the-church-responds/
 https://reporter.lcms.org/2024/brazil-flood-response-continues/
 https://engage.lcms.org/disasters-fall-2024/

The Rev. Peter Deberny (Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Mastic Beach, NY) joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about his journey into pastoral ministry, who influenced him to consider becoming a pastor, what gives him joy in his vocation of pastor, how he has experienced the community around him in New York, how he is sustained when the vocation becomes challenging, and how he stays sharp in God's Word.
 
 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 10, Mrs. Norma Schroll (wife of the late George Schroll, former KFUO On-Air Host and Engineer) joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how she and George met, his career plans when they met, his interest in broadcast journalism and how joining the staff at KFUO fulfilled that dream, the programs he produced and hosted on KFUO, how she was involved in his programs, and why it was important to her family to help carry out this work of proclaiming the Good News of Christ on KFUO.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

How did Luther's 1522 translation of the New Testament impact the church and society? Rev. Dr. Gerhard Bode (Professor and Chairman of the Department of Historical Theology, Director of the Center for Reformation Research at Concordia Seminary, St Louis) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Martin Luther's translation of the New Testament in 1522, including the translations that existed prior to this time, how Luther translated and published this text, how risky it was to have an unauthorized translation of the Bible at this time, and how Luther's translation has impacted the life of the church to this day. Learn more about the Center for Reformation Research at Concordia Seminary at csl.edu/resources/centers/center-reformation-research.

What does ministry look like along the U.S.-Mexico border? The Rev. Dr. Karl P. Heimer, who served with Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care for over 40 years, joins Andy and Sarah during Hispanic Heritage Month to talk about his background and what brought him to the United States, what first moved him to pursue ministry among the Hispanic community, how Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care first started, how Ysleta served people in the surrounding community, and his hope for the future of ministry along the U.S.-Mexico border. 
 
 Learn more about LCMS Hispanic Ministry at lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/hispanic-ministry.

How do grief and loss affect us? Dr. Mark Vande Braak, PhD, FT, MT-BC (Director of Grief, Loss, and Trauma with Lutheran Family Service) joins Andy and Sarah for Mental Health Monday to talk about thanatology and the study of grief, how we experience grief, the difference between grief and loss, and what is important to understand when speaking with or caring for someone who has experienced a loss. Find the webinar support groups mentioned in this episode at lutheranfamilyservice.org/supportgroups.
 
 Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT! Find all episode with the tag "Mental Health Monday."

How can a family culture encourage children to consider church work vocations? Cheryl, Phillip, and Evan Magness join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about their family culture. Evan, junior at Concordia University Chicago, shares where he is in his formational journey, when he decided to consider studying to become a pastor, the experiences in high school and college that helped form him as a young adult, and the family culture which shaped him as a Christian. Cheryl and Phillip share what has been important in raising their children to help them consider future vocations, how spiritual formation happens in their home, and how worship and congregational life have been a significant part of that spiritual and vocational formation.
 
 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 9, Rev. Dr. Stanish Stanley (Executive Director of Christian Friends of New Americans) joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how he came to St. Louis, his experience listening to KFUO, his first time as a guest on KFUO, how KFUO and CFNA have partnered together for the sake of the Gospel, and how KFUO supports him and those he serves.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

How can you have fun golfing while supporting the important work of Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA)? Mike Albers (CFNA volunteer) and Kerry Pozaric (CFNA Business Manager) join Andy and Sarah to talk about how they've seen CFNA showing love and mercy in the name of Jesus to refugees and immigrants in St. Louis this year, why they are personally involved with this Gospel-driven work, the responses they've received or heard from those who have benefited from the support of CFNA, and how everyone can support the work of CFNA during the Annual Golf Tournament. Learn more and register at cfna-stl.org/golf.
 
 CFNA Golf Tournament
 Please join us at Greenbriar Hills Country Club for a day of fun and fellowship while supporting refugees in the St. Louis area.
 
 Monday, October 14, 2024
 
 11:00 am — Check-In and Box Lunch
 12:00 pm — 18-Hole Scramble
 5:30 pm — Dinner and Prizes

It's almost time for Advent and Christmas! Elizabeth Pittman (Director of Public Relations for Concordia Publishing House) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the exciting offerings from CPH for this Advent and Christmas season, including the beautiful Enduring Grace: A Church Year Journal, the Enduring Grace journal for kids, and this year's Advent and Christmas package for congregations titled "His Name Shall Be Called" which includes Daily Devotions, a Children's Book, a Christmas Program, and other resources.
 
 Find these resources at:
 cph.org/enduring-grace-a-church-year-journal-year-c
 cph.org/enduring-grace-a-church-year-journal-for-kids-year-c
 cph.org/advent

What makes a hymn a hymn? Dr. John Behnke (Organist at Trinity Lutheran Church of Southwest Florida, Composer, and Professor Emeritus of Concordia University Wisconsin) and Rev. Stephen Starke (published hymnwriter and retired Pastor of St. John Amelith Lutheran Church in Bay City, MI) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the upcoming "A Day with Hymnwriter, Rev. Stephen Starke" happening on January 24, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Southwest Florida in Port Charlotte, Florida. Hear a conversation about what makes a hymn different from other types of music we sing, what makes a hymn a good hymn, how hymns from hundreds of years ago are still relevant today, and how hymns create community among God’s people. Learn more about this event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1142207233541604 and about Trinity Lutheran Church at trinitylutheranchurchswfl.org.

Concordia University students studying to become church workers had the chance to share about church work vocations at Higher Things Conferences this summer. In Part 2 of 2, Young Adult Representatives (YARs) Hannah Weaver, Jakob Nath, and James Pape join Andy and Sarah to talk about why they wanted to serve as YARs, stories about their experiences talking with Higher Things participants at all three conferences, what they loved about this experience, and their advice for anyone considering church work vocations. 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 8, Rev. "Jolly" John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how he began working with KFUO Radio, how Wrestling with the Basics began, the impact he has seen while sharing the Gospel over the radio, and what he loves about talking about Jesus to listeners worldwide.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

Most of Peter’s First Epistle is straightforward in meaning, but this month’s reading contains two difficult passages: 1 Peter 3:18–20 and 4:6. Consulting a faithful and reliable resource such as The Lutheran Study Bible is advisable when you are faced with challenging texts. For the first difficult passage, one should ask, “What else could this refer to other than Christ’s victorious descent into hell to proclaim defeat over sin, Satan and the enemies of God?” This is the proper meaning, as we confess in the Apostles’ Creed: Christ “descended into hell.” With the second difficult passage, other Scriptures clarify the meaning: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27; see also Luke 16:19–31). “Those who are dead” (1 Peter 4:6) to whom the Gospel has been preached must be those dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) in this life who need to hear and believe the life-giving Word of Christ. In the verses for this month, Peter makes it perfectly clear that Baptism is a saving bath that unites us with Christ’s resurrection and gives us power for a new life. As a baptized community made alive “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21), we now “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
 
 Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the September 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “A Baptized Community” on 1 Peter 3:18–4:6. 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.

What makes teaching 5th grade at a Classical Lutheran School a unique experience? Mrs. Brittany Wilber, Fifth Grade Teacher at Faith Lutheran School in Plano, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what she loves about being a teacher at Faith Lutheran School, what is unique about teaching 5th grade, how catechesis is included in the curriculum, how classical education forms young adults in the Lutheran faith and prepares them for future vocations, and the relationship between teachers, parents, and pastors at Faith Plano.
 
 Learn more about Faith Plano, including the upcoming Golf Tournament to support the school, at flsplano.org.

Josh Douglas, Gift Planning Advocate with LCMS Mission Advancement, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why he joined LCMS Mission Advancement, what a Gift Planning Advocate does, how he builds relationships with people across Synod as he helps them plan their giving, why joyful giving matters, and how to start the process of a long-term gift for the LCMS. Learn more at giftplanning.lcms.org.
 
 This program originally aired on October 2, 2023.

What does a Christ-centered understanding of vocation look like in daily life? Deaconess Kristin Wassilak (Dean of the College of Theology, Arts & Humanities; Program Leader for Deaconess Studies and Classical Lutheran Education), Rev. Dr. Chad Kendall (Assistant Vice President for Mission & Identity; Associate Professor of Theology; Supervisor of the Office of Church Relations) and Rev. Simeon Raddatz (University Chaplain, Program Lead for the Pre-Seminary Program) from Concordia University Chicago join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about what vocation looks like in daily life and in church work, what influenced each of them to pursue a church work vocation, some of the greatest joys and challenges of church work, and the opportunity for high school students to explore studying for church work vocations at the Careers for Christ weekend at Concordia University Chicago. Learn more and register for Careers for Christ at cuchicago.edu/c4c.
 
 Hear Deaconess Kristin's story in our Set Apart to Serve series at kfuo.org/2023/12/08/coffee-hour-120823-set-apart-to-serve-deaconess-ministry.
 
 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 7, KFUO's Lead Producer Jenny Williams joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about her many years with KFUO Radio, how she's seen technology changed during her time with KFUO, some of her favorite memories over the years, and why she's loved working with KFUO Radio.
 
 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 6, former on-air host Rev. Doug Nicely ("In His Steps" and "Do You Have A Minute") joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how he served KFUO as an on-air host, stories of his time with KFUO Radio, the impact he saw while sharing the Gospel over the radio, and what he loved about talking about Jesus to listeners worldwide.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

What is the need for a biblical understanding of reconciliation? Dwight Schettler (President of Ambassadors of Reconciliation) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what reconciliation is from a Biblical viewpoint, how Ambassadors of Reconciliation has equipped Christians with the truth and skills to live lives of reconciliation, how reconciliation is a "heart" matter, and the various upcoming opportunities to learn more about and practice reconciliation. Find details about these upcoming opportunities at aorhope.org.

Why should we consider the relationship of technology to the soul? Dr. David Maxwell (Professor of Systematic Theology and Chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), Dr. Kevin Golden (Director of Resident Field Education, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology, and Dean of Theological Research and Publication at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), and Erika Petsch (Director of Continuing Education at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the 2024 Theological Symposium "Technology and the Church: Promise and Peril" happening September 17-18 at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. They discuss why artificial intelligence and other technologies are important to them as individuals and seminary professors, what questions have arisen among students about emerging technology, and what attendees will learn and experience at this year's Theological Symposium. Learn more and register for Symposium at csl.edu/event/34th-annual-theological-symposium.

Why are hymns important for young adults, and how can we teach young people to love and appreciate hymnody? Rev. Kevin Twit, Campus Minister with Reformed University Fellowship at Belmont University (Presbyterian Church in America) and the founder of Indelible Grace Music, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his service as a campus minister of the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), how hymns shaped his faith in childhood and into adulthood, why hymnody is important to him and crucial to teach to young adults, how he introduced traditional hymnody to students who may be unfamiliar, and the next album from Indelible Grace available now on streaming platforms. Learn more about Indelible Grace and find their music at igracemusic.com.

Concordia University students studying to become church workers had the chance to share about church work vocations at Higher Things Conferences this summer. In Part 1 of 2, Young Adult Representatives (YARs) Brianna Pike and Josh Rueter join Andy and Sarah to talk about their church work programs, how they were chosen to be YARs, the conversations they had with Higher Things participants at the Wisconsin and Portland conferences, and how this experience shaped how they view their own future vocations as church workers. 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 5, former on-air host Rev. Don Matzat, joins Sarah and guest co-hosts Joanie Harwell and Gary Duncan to talk about how he served KFUO as an on-air host, stories of his time with KFUO Radio, the impact he saw while sharing the Gospel over the radio, and what he loved about talking about Jesus to listeners worldwide.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

Could a Catholic be on the Throne of England? In this final episode of our series on the Puritan movement, we hear how the Church of England worked through this question with Catholic James as heir to the throne. Learn about the creation of the Whigs and Tories, the reign of King James, how religious freedom ebbs and flows during this period, and the Act of Toleration in 1689 that finally allowed dissenting churches (Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians) freedom of worship, although not yet freedom to participate in government. It wouldn’t be until the 1829 Catholic Emancipation Act that Roman Catholics would be granted admission to politics in England.
 
 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.

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.