The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

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. The Coffee Hour is underwritten by Concordia University Wisconsin. Live Uncommon. Learn more at cuw.edu.

Episodes

February 12, 2026 24 mins
Why is it important for the Church to encourage the creation of theologically rich and musically beautiful hymnody? Dr. Jon Vieker (Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of Chapel, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), Katie Schuermann (author and storyteller, most notably of the Anthems of Zion series from CPH), and Dr. Lisa Clark (hymn writer, Senior Editor of Curriculum Resources at CPH) join Andy and Sarah to talk about ...
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How did small synods fight for church unity during the Civil War years? The Rev. Dr. Cameron MacKenzie (the Forrest E. and Frances H. Ellis Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN) joins Andy and Sarah for a series on the Battle for the Augsburg Confession in American Lutheranism to explore the historical context and implications of the breakup of the General Synod during the Civil War e...
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What does the LCMS Youth Ministry team learn from each Gathering's Youth Poll? The Rev. Mark Kiessling (director, LCMS Youth Ministry) and DCE Julianna Shults (program manager, LCMS Youth Ministry) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the history of the Youth Poll, how this poll helps inform those who care about young people, the topics usually covered in the poll, what we've learned from past polls, and interesting insights from this...
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Are you ready to be refreshed through an evening of poetry, storytelling, and music? Tanner Olson (author, poet, speaker) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what he's been working on in the last few years, including his most recent book Getting Through What You're Going Through. He shares his upcoming tour dates, what he loves about traveling and presenting poetry for an audience, and why he thinks you'll enjoy poetry more than you...
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February 9, 2026 11 mins
How does a community market support the mission of CFNA to support new Americans? Amy Ziegler (Community Engagement Associate, Christian Friends of New Americans) and Grand Market vendor Edit Daliri join Andy and Sarah to talk about how Edit became involved in CFNA; where the idea for the Grand Market began; what happens at the Grand Market; Edit's creative outlet through her jewelry-making business, Zeenora; how Edit and other ven...
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How are laypersons involved in church worker formation? John Schmall and DoRena Wirgau join Andy and Sarah to talk about where they live and how they serve in their congregations, their experiences in the SAS Pilot Program and what they learned about church worker formation, how large and small churches can engage youth in the Divine Service, how they see the Church supporting and mentoring youth to consider church work, and conver...
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“Free will” is not a phrase found in the Bible. The concept seems to have been brought into Christian theology by the church father Tertullian (160–240), who likely borrowed it from Stoic philosophy. Augustine (354–430) wrote a treatise called "On Free Choice of the Will" early in his career but altered some of his views later, which led to much debate and confusion on the issue throughout the Middle Ages. The Roman Catholic Deside...
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How did Samuel Simon Schmucker and Benjamin Kurtz influence the development of American Lutheranism? The Rev. Dr. Cameron MacKenzie (the Forrest E. and Frances H. Ellis Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN) joins Andy and Sarah for a series on the Battle for the Augsburg Confession in American Lutheranism to explore the historical tensions within American Lutheranism during the 19th c...
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February 3, 2026 29 mins
Concordia Publishing House has launched free online access to the Book of Concord! The Rev. Dr. Jacob Corzine (Vice President of Publishing, Concordia Publishing House) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why it's important to CPH to make the Reader's Edition of the Lutheran Confessions accessible, why it's important for lay people to have easy access to the Lutheran Confessions, who they had in mind as they developed the functional...
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Where are we in the current convention cycle? The Rev. Dr. John Sias (Secretary, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about where we currently are in the convention cycle, including President/Vice President nominations, President/Vice President voter registration, overture submissions, what happens during Floor Committee weekend, and what documents to watch for in the coming weeks. Find everything about ...
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February 2, 2026 10 mins
How can families participate in MO Scholars for next school year? Joshua Swartz (Director of Schools, Missouri District – LCMS) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what MO Scholars is, who is eligible, how this program makes a difference for families, and the application deadline. Find all the details at mo.lcms.org/mo-scholars. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth...
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How are church work students formed at Concordia University Wisconsin? The Rev. Dr. Aaron Moldenhauer (Vice President for Mission and Church Relations and Associate Professor of Theology, Concordia University Wisconsin) and the Rev. Dr. Brian German (Department Chair and Associate Professor of Theology, Concordia University Wisconsin, and host of Christ in Every Word, Concordia Bible Institute) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart...
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How does Concordia University Chicago help graduate students Advance with Purpose? The Rev. Dr. Chad Kendall (Associate Vice President for Church Relations and Mission, Concordia University Chicago) and Sean Yerkes (Associate Vice President for Graduate and Accelerated Admission, Concordia University Chicago) join Andy and Sarah to talk about what they get to do with Concordia University Chicago (CUC), examples of how graduate stud...
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How did Samuel Simon Schmucker and Benjamin Kurtz influence the development of American Lutheranism? The Rev. Dr. Cameron MacKenzie (the Forrest E. and Frances H. Ellis Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN) joins Andy and Sarah for a series on the Battle of the Augsburg Confession in American Lutheranism to explore the development of American Lutheranism in the 19th century, focusing ...
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It is National Lutheran Schools Week, and we're celebrating the gift of Lutheran schools in our communities! Dan Snyder (Headmaster, Concordia Academy, Wichita, KS) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the original dream for opening a classical Lutheran school in the Wichita area, the need for a classical school in the community, how this dream moved from vision to reality, the community's response to a classical Lutheran school, wha...
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It is National Lutheran Schools Week, and we're celebrating the gift of Lutheran schools in our communities! Mr. Sam Eckman (Principal, Christ the King Lutheran High School, Washington, MO) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about this brand-new Lutheran school, now enrolling for Fall 2026! Eckman shares about the need they saw for a Lutheran high school in the community surrounding Washington, what it has taken to bring this dream from ...
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It is National Lutheran Schools Week, and we're celebrating the gift of Lutheran schools in our communities! The Rev. Joey Bluege (Executive Director and Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church & School, Branson, MO) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the community of Branson, and the need for a Lutheran high school there. He describes the journey toward opening Faith Lutheran, what he loves about his part in this school, and what families h...
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It is National Lutheran Schools Week, and we're celebrating the gift of Lutheran schools in our communities! Stephanie Grandestaff (Executive Director, Springfield Lutheran High School, Springfield, MO) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the original dream of opening a Lutheran high school in Springfield, the need for a Lutheran high school in the community, how the dream became a reality, and what students and families are enjoyin...
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Today we continue our Set Apart to Serve series, now hearing from the layperson’s perspective! Tom Jennings and Blake Pieper join Andy and Sarah to talk about where they live and how they serve in their congregations, their experiences in the SAS Pilot Program and what they learned about church worker formation, how engaging youth in district or synod events and service trips has borne fruit for formation, how they see the Church s...
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January 22, 2026 27 mins
How does a congregation foster faith that lasts in the young people of the church? The Rev. Roger Drinnon (Associate Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bourbonnais, IL) and Katrina Drinnon (Director of the Youth Ministry Board, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bourbonnais, IL) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the call they received to serve at St. Paul's and the assignment they were given: working with the church's youth ministry. They sh...
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