The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Rev. Jeremy Gorline, pastor of Child of God Lutheran Church in St. Peters, Missouri, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the history of Child of God Lutheran Church & School, how COGLCS serves the surrounding community, and what’s coming up for COGLCS this summer. Find them at coglcs.com.

Alyssa Anders, who currently serves through the LCMS in St. Petersburg, Russia, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria (an LCMS partner church) enabling them with English as a Second Language skills, the history of the Ingrian Lutheran Church, and adjusting to Russian culture and language. Learn more about Alyssa at lcms.org/anders.

Bonnie Hartman, RN, Volunteer with a Mercy Medical Team to Sierra Leone, and Anne Gonzalez, DCE, Manager of Short-term Mission Training & Engagement for the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy and Sarah to talk about Bonnie’s experience on MMTs to Sierra Leone, the life-saving work that happens during these MMTs, and the need for team members for the upcoming MMT to Ghana in September 2019. Learn more and apply at lcms.org/mercyteams.

Rev. Merritt Demski, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Illinois, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the modern mythology we find in super hero movies and comics, how we process Christian themes in these movies, and where we find our real Savior. Read movie reviews from the LCMS at blogs.lcms.org/tag/movie-review.

The Rev. AJ Espinosa, new host of Thy Strong Word on KFUO Radio, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what he’s been up to, why linguistics is so fascinating, his love for his daughters and wife, and what we can expect on Thy Strong Word. Find episodes at kfuo.org/category/thy-strong-word.

Daniel Jenkins, Vice President of Ministry Advancement with Lutheran Braille Workers, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the rich history of Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW), misconceptions about Braille and the visually impaired that are helpful to understand, and the resources, products, and services that LBW provides free of charge to people around the world. Learn more, request resources, and inquire about volunteering at lbwinc.org or facebook.com/LutheranBrailleWorkers.

Andy and Sarah, along with Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, share more stories of their favorite teachers as we wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week.

Rev. Dr. Heath Trampe, Senior Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in York, Nebraska, and Aunnee Trampe, music teacher and voice of The Lutheran Songbird Project, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the idea that turned into the Lutheran Songbird Project, why it’s important for the music of the church to be accessible to everyone, and how people use The Lutheran Songbird Project. Find the music at facebook.com/songbirdlcms or on YouTube.com.

Rep. Nick Schroer, who represents part of St. Charles County (District 107) in the Missouri House of Representatives (R) and is the Primary Sponsor of Missouri House Bill 126, known as the Heartbeat Bill, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the origin of House Bill 126, why many states have moved forward with their own Heartbeat Bills, what Missouri’s HB 126 will accomplish, and the status and outlook for HB 126. Follow the progress of HB 126 at legiscan.com/MO/bill/HB126/2019.

Samantha Bear, Adult Living Skills Professor/Campus and Community Life Coordinator with Bethesda College Of Applied Learning at Concordia University Wisconsin, and Kalindi Drewry, second year Bethesda College student, join Andy and Sarah to talk about what Bethesda College of Applied Learning is and how it prepares students with intellectual and developmental disabilities for independent adult living, including job training and servant events. Learn more about Bethesda College at CUW.edu/Bethesda. Read about Bethesda in the online LCMS Reporter at blogs.lcms.org/2019/campus-clips-people-projects-and-lists.

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Oschwald, Associate Professor of exegetical theology, Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles, why we often jump to the “fireworks and sound effects”, how we sometimes read Acts the wrong way, and tips for reading Acts. Read Dr. Oschwald’s article “To You. Through You. By the Spirit.” in in the May edition of the Lutheran Witness. Find your copy of the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness, and read online articles at witness.lcms.org.​

Jessica Ingraham, Founder and Executive Director of Different Dynamics, and Jessica Crawford, Director of Children and Families with Special Needs at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, Missouri, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the impact music literacy and music therapy have on those with special needs, what Concordia offers for families with special needs, and why opportunities like inclusive music classes are important for families who have children with special needs. Learn more about Different Dynamics at differentdynamicsstl.org, facebook.com/DifferentDynamicsSTL, and instagram.com/DifferentDynamicsSTL. Different Dynamics Open House! Monday, May 13, 2019, from 5 PM – 7:45 PM Concordia Lutheran Church-Kirkwood facebook.com/events/856594541353253

Rev. Dr. Steve Schave, Director of Urban and Inner City Mission and Church Planting with the LCMS Office of National Mission, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the ‘Partners in Hope’ seminar in Washington, D.C. that was co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National League of Cities. Dr. Schave shares the purpose of the seminar, what the LCMS brings to the table regarding the opioid epidemic, how we approach a crisis like this from a unique standpoint, and how we are helping to address the issue. Read more at blogs.lcms.org/2019/partners-in-hope-schave-speaks-d-c-seminar-addiction-joblessness.

Bethany Andrews, Director of Christian Education at Zion Lutheran Church (Harvester) in St. Charles, Missouri, joins Andy and Sarah to share her story of being diagnosed with Lyme Disease, the challenges she faced, and how God provided for her during this time. Learn more at globallymealliance.org and cdc.gov/lyme/index.html.

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week in the U.S. How have teachers made an impact on your life? Andy and Sarah share just a few of their stories from their teachers over the years and how those teachers made a difference for them. Thank you, teachers!

Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life USA, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how scouting programs have provided faithful character development for boys, how Christian congregations have been key partners in scouting programs, and the unique difference for boys in Trail Life USA Troops. Find your local Trail Life USA troop or begin chartering your own at traillifeusa.com.

Rev. Dr. Thomas Kuster, Director of the Christ in Media Institute at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the Christ in Media Institute, how the first article gifts of technology and media being used and misused today, and the exciting new projects happening through the Christ in Media Institute, including the upcoming annual Gospel Outreach with Media Conference. Learn more at christinmedia.org and find archived sessions from the Gospel Outreach with Media Conference at gowm.org.

Rev. Dr. Curtis Giese, Professor of Religion at Concordia University Texas, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the Holy Spirit, the unique work and promises of the Holy Spirit, what we do with our emotions, and the proper understanding of how the Holy Spirit works. Read his article “What About the Holy Spirit” in the May edition of the Lutheran Witness. Find your copy of the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness, and read online articles at witness.lcms.org.

Deaconess Kim Bueltmann, serving the Lord in Germany, and the Rev. Hugo Gevers, missionary with the LCMS’s partner church in Germany, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the continual language acquisition of Persian and Arabic, how the Gospel changes the lives of the refugee population they work with, and the partnerships that have blessed their service. Read more about their work in Germany with the refugee population at engage.lcms.org/germany-fall-2018. Learn more about Deaconess Kim at lcms.org/bueltmann and follow her story at facebook.com/DeaconessKim.

Dr. Jackie Veith, Executive Director of School Accreditation and Teacher Certification with the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education (CCLE), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the CCLE Student Contests, what this year’s contests include, and how these contests support the greater mission of CCLE. Submission deadline is May 10, 2019! Find details at ccle.org/2019-student-contests.

Brenda Jank, CEO & Founder of Run Hard. Rest Well, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about church worker fatigue in the season after Easter, what we learn from this fatigue, and how to give ourselves the space to rest properly in order to serve others. Find more about Run Hard. Rest Well at runhardrestwell.com.

Dr. Matt Hurtienne, Assistant Dean of Business at Concordia University Wisconsin, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the future of careers in trades and technology, how CUW is preparing professionals for Construction Management, and the open house happening on May 9 at the CUW Appleton campus. Find details at cuw.edu/events/details.php?id=33326.

Rev. Micah and Robin Wildauer, who serve the Lord as missionaries through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Togo, join Andy to share about their story of becoming missionaries, what their service in Togo entails, and the needs of the people they serve. Learn more about the Wildauers at lcms.org/wildauer, and follow the work in West Africa at facebook.com/LCMSWestAfrica and international.lcms.org/africa.

Mary Schmidt, Manager of Development for KFUO Radio, joins Andy to give a recap of Sharathon 2019, including our overall goal, what Day Sponsors are and if they’re still available, and the levels of giving and thank-you gifts. Find details about Sharathon and give at kfuo.org/sharathon! Find photos from Sharathon 2019 at facebook.com/kfuoradio and instagram.com/kfuoradio. A hearty THANK YOU to all of our faithful donors for supporting KFUO during this year’s Sharathon.

Phil Zielke, founder of Phil’s Friends, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his story of being a cancer survivor, how Phil’s Friends started, and how congregations and individuals can get involved. Learn more, including how to volunteer and follow their work on social media, at philsfriends.org.

Rev. Dr. Joel Heck, Professor of Theology at Concordia University Texas and co-founder of the Society of Creation, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why the age of the Earth matters, some different theories about the age of the Earth, and the upcoming Society of Creation Conference in June at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis. Read about this conference at blogs.lcms.org/2019/society-of-creation-to-host-conference-at-lcms-international-center and learn about the Society of Creation at societyofcreation.org and facebook.com/SocietyofCreation.

On Sharathon today, Rev. Charles Henrickson and Rev. Marcus Zill join Sarah Gulseth to talk about the mission of KFUO Radio and encourage you to support us. Give today at kfuo.org/sharathon.

On Sharathon today, Rev. Michael Meyer and Kelly Schumacher join Sarah Gulseth to talk about the mission of KFUO Radio and encourage you to support us. Give today at kfuo.org/sharathon.

Dawn Hawk and Paul Lindberg, Operation Barnabas volunteers at Catalina Lutheran Church in Tuscon, Arizona, join Andy and Sarah during National Volunteer Month to talk about how Operation Barnabas makes a difference for veterans in Tuscon, the needs of veterans in their community, an how this opportunity has been a joyful way to serve the community. Learn more about LCMS Operation Barnabas at lcms.org/OperationBarnabas. Find stories on Facebook of volunteers around the LCMS using the hashtag #LCMSVolunteers. Find out how you can serve as a volunteer in a variety of ways at home or around the globe at lcms.org/serve.

Kerry Pozaric, business manager for Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the work of CFNA, ways the community and churches can volunteer, and stories from participants of the 5K Run and Walk. Find details and register at cfna-stl.org/walk.

Chaplain Craig Muehler, Director of LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, joins Andy and Sarah to share about his experiences as a deployed military chaplain during Lent and Easter, how services in the midst of battle are both similar and vastly different to services at home, and how military chaplains are incredibly important to our service members. Learn more about LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces (MAF) at lcms.org/armedforces. Interested in military chaplaincy? Contact LCMS MAF at [email protected].

Christine Behnke, Director of Parish Education for Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, sharing about the fire at Trinity in Milwaukee almost a year ago, and the hope that we have in Christ even when our buildings are destroyed. Read articles about these churches: blogs.lcms.org/2018/fire-guts-historic-milwaukee-church-pastor-sees-tremendous-opportunity blogs.lcms.org/2018/bells-still-are-chiming-and-calling-damaged-lcms-churches-carry-out-ministry-while-working-to-rebuild cnn.com/2019/04/16/opinions/one-year-after-milwaukee-church-burned-its-rising-from-ashes-behnke/index.html

Rev. Merritt Demski, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Illinois, and Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the immense imagery in our wonderful Easter hymnody, especially Lutheran Service Book 458, “Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands.”

Deaconess Kimberly Trombley, Vice President for Religious Life with Bethesda Lutheran Communities, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about celebrating Bethesda’s 115th anniversary in 2019, including the early history of Bethesda from 1904, how their ministry has expanded since that time, and the importance of community for people of all abilities. Learn more about Bethesda’s work providing homes and other services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at BethesdaLC.org.

Phillip Magness, Director of Sanctuary Worship at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, Missouri, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Holy Week and Easter hymns from the Lutheran Service Book, including 617 (O Lord, we praise Thee), 454 (Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle), 467 (Awake, my heart, with gladness), and 486 (If Christ Had Not Been Raised).

Cindy Twillman, DCE, National Youth Gathering / LCMS Youth Ministry Volunteer, and Rev. Mark Kiessling, Director of Youth Ministry with LCMS Office of National Mission, join Andy and Sarah during National Volunteer Month to talk about the integral role of volunteers with LCMS Youth Ministry and the National Youth Gathering, how Cindy got involved with volunteering for NYG, and how volunteering makes a difference in the lives of young people. Find stories on Facebook of volunteers around the LCMS using the hashtag #LCMSVolunteers. Find out how you can serve as a volunteer in a variety of ways at home or around the globe at lcms.org/serve.

Rev. Trevor Sutton— Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan, and author of Clearly Christian available from Concordia Publishing House, and Joe Willmann— Senior Instructional Designer with Concordia Publishing House, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the CPH FaithCourse on Clearly Christian, why it’s important to be clear about what we believe, what leads to confusion, and what you’ll get out of this CPH FaithCourse. Find the course at cphfaithcourses.com/clearly-christian and find your copy of the book at cph.org/clearlychristian.

Rev. Roy and Eliza Askins with their children, who serve through the LCMS in Asia, join Andy and Sarah to talk about Rev. Askins’ work as the Witness & Communications Manager for the Asia region, the family transition from Hong Kong to Taiwan, and the children share song and prayer in Mandarin. The Askins have several ways to follow their work and the work across Asia. Learn more about them and how to support their work at lcms.org/askins, and follow their personal story at facebook.com/askinsinasia or on their blog askinsinasia.com. Follow the work being done with partner churches in Asia at international.lcms.org/asia and hear podcast episodes at lcmsasia.fireside.fm.

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois, our KFUO Radio Church of the Week, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the history of the Easter Vigil service, why this service is so unique in the church year, and what attendees can expect. Find directions and service information for Bethany Lutheran at bethanylcms.org.

Lisa Clark, Senior Editor for Curriculum Resources with Concordia Publishing House, and Mark Knickelbein, editor of music/worship at Concordia Publishing House, join Andy and Sarah to talk about their collaboration on hymns, including the process of writing the text and composing the music, where inspiration comes from, and how the marriage of text and tune create a certain experience for the singer.

Rev. Mark Kiessling, Director of LCMS Youth Ministry, and Rev. Derek Broten, Program Director for the LCMS National Youth Gathering, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the current preparations for the 2019 National Youth Gathering, the pre-Gathering materials and Bible studies for groups to be studying, and how the theme will play out throughout the Gathering. Learn more and find materials at lcmsgathering.com.

Kelsey, Kara, and Kyla, wives of students at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, join Andy and Sarah to talk about life at the seminary, what it’s like to move so frequently, the best parts of seminary life, and what they’re looking forward to for Call Day and beyond. Learn more about Concordia Seminary and how you can watch Call Day at csl.edu or at Concordia Theological Seminary at ctsfw.edu.

Lavonne Pappert, Superintendent of Our Savior Christian Academy (OSCA) in Platte City and Smithville, Missouri, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the unique makeup of military families at OSCA, the challenges and opportunities this unique makeup presents, and how OSCA makes military families and children welcome in order to build a welcoming community. Learn more about OSCA at oursavioracademy.org.

Rev. Matthew Wietfeldt, Director of Admission and Director of Christ Academy with Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Christ Academy High School at CTSFW in June 2019, including the opportunities available for young men and women, what attendees will learn, and why this opportunity is important for young men and women. Learn more and register at ctsfw.edu/ChristAcademy.

Rev. James Butler and Leslie Colligan, Volunteers with LCMS Short Term Missions, and Anne Gonzalez, DCE— Manager of Short-term Mission Training & Engagement for the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy and Sarah during National Volunteer Month to talk about why they volutneered for the short-term mission team going to Poland, their experiences during their time in Poland, and how their time made a difference in their lives and the lives of the people they served. Find stories on Facebook of volunteers around the LCMS using the hashtag #LCMSVolunteers. Find out how you can serve as a volunteer in a variety of ways at home or around the globe at lcms.org/serve.

Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what “Joy:fully Lutheran” means, how viewing the Small Catechism through a joyful lens can help us see these tenets of faith in a new light, and how praying the catechism has changed him. Find President Harrison’s book at cph.org/joyfullylutheran and read stories about joyful Lutherans across the LCMS at joyfullylutheran.org.

Anne Gonzalez, Manager of Short Term Training and Engagement with the LCMS Office of International Mission, joins Sarah to talk about important things to think about while preparing for a short term mission trip, including insurance, cultural preparation, and spiritual preparation. Find short term service opportunities at lcms.org/service.

Dr. Martin and Marie Dicke, who serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as missionaries in Papua New Guinea (PNG), join Sarah and guest co-host Anne Gonzalez, Manager of Short Term Training and Engagement with the LCMS Office of International Mission, to talk about their journey to the mission field in PNG, the music education work that they do in the field, and the the culture they’re a part of. Learn more about the Dickes at lcms.org/dicke, read Martin Dicke’s music blog at jubalslyre.com, and follow their story at facebook.com/dickesbacktopng.

Signe White, President of the National Lutheran Outdoors Ministry Association and Executive Director of Camp Perkins (campperkins.org) in Stanley, Idaho, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how summer camp makes an impact on summer camp staff, the staffing needs for this summer, and how to prepare for an amazing summer as a camp staffer. Apply to be camp staff at camps across the United States at nloma.org.

Rev. Alexey Shepelev, pastor of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (ELCIR) in Simferopol, The Crimea, and evangelistic missionary to Russian and Slavic speaking Jews, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how he came to know the Good News of Jesus, the nature of his mission work today, challenges he faces in his outreach, and how the Lord has provided for him. Learn more about outreach in Russian and other Slavic languages at WORDrus.org.