What is the Vicarage Placement Service and what's it like to experience this? Henry and Stacey Eising, second-year seminarian family at Concordia Seminary, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about what a vicarage is, what preparation happens before vicarage assignment day, how field work and classes prepared Henry to serve, the planning that happens before moving for vicarage year, and what happens after vicarage.  Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative...

This issue of LW encourages us to be a praying community. First Peter 2 presents Jesus as the Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep on the cross, which brings to mind two of Jesus’ prayers from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) and “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46; see also, Psalm 31:5). While the Righteous One suffered for sinners in order to reconcile them to God, He also showed us how to be patient under affliction...

Who is Jeremiah, and what are we going to learn from him in this series? Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, author of Overcoming Life’s Sorrows: Learning from Jeremiah, joins Andy and Sarah for Part 1 of our series on Overcoming Life's Sorrows to talk about how Jeremiah is, what we can understand about Babylon and Assyria, a brief overview of the timeline of Jeremiah, how the themes of hope and destruction are presented in Jeremiah, the writing style of Jeremiah, and what we have to look forward to in...

What is a mission education team, and what is its purpose? Aaron Wade — First-year student at Concordia Theology Seminary Fort Wayne, Patrick Randolph — Fourth-year student at Concordia Theology Seminary Fort Wayne, and Erin MacKenzie — Volunteer Coordinator for the Latin America and Caribbean Region with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy to talk about their service on a mission education team, why Aaron and Patrick were interested in the mission education team to the...

What is the emotion of Agency, and how do we experience it? Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, MSW, joins Andy and Sarah in our mini-series on Emotions to talk about how "agency" is defined, where or when we experience agency, how agency is subjective and/or objective, how agency is related to accessibility, and a helpful exercise to experience agency. Find your copy of Emotions and the Gospel: Created for Connection at books.cph.org/emotions-and-the-gospel. Listen to all episodes in this series...

What does formation as a Director of Christian Education (DCE) student look like? Concordia University Chicago DCE students Scott Treptow, Josh Meeks, Emily Minor, Justin Weber, and Mckenna Stanley, along with Dr. Debbie Arfsten — Professor of Christian Education, DCE Program Director, Director of Synodical Placement for Concordia University Chicago, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about the students' interest in becoming a DCE, how the DCE program has affirmed...

What happens during Christ Academy events at Concordia Theological Seminary? Rev. Matthew Wietfeldt, Assistant Vice President of Admission and Director of Christ Academy at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how Christ Academy has become a regular part of seminary life for the seminary community, the various offerings of Christ Academy each year, the focus of Christ Academy Family Institute, and what happens at Christ Academy Family...

How is Vocatio a great experience for high schoolers considering church work? Rev. Micah Glenn, Director of Recruitment and Enrollment at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what "Vocatio" means, how students gain a clearer understanding of church work and vocation at Vocatio, what students learn and experience during this event, and how this event has made a difference for past attendees. Learn more and register at csl.edu/admissions/visit/vocatio-high-school.

Why have a conference on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music? Rev. Sean Daenzer — Director of Worship for the LCMS, and Christina Roberts — Kantor at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, MI, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music happening July 9-12, 2024, at Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE) in Seward, Nebraska. They talk about how this conference will benefit pastors and church musicians, the theme of this year's...

What is the place of singing in Classical Lutheran education? Rev. Robert Paul, Associate Pastor and Headmaster at Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston, Texas, joins Andy and guest co-host Jordan Harms to talk about why classical Lutheran education is important to him and why he is invested in it, what happens at a CCLE conference, the place of singing in classical Lutheran education, and what this year's conference attendees will learn. Learn more and register at...

What is the emotion of anger, and how do we experience it? Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, MSW, joins Andy and Sarah in our mini-series on Emotions to talk about what may be difficult to understand about anger, how anger is associated with justice and fairness, some anger-adjacent emotions, and how we can healthily process anger. Find your copy of Emotions and the Gospel: Created for Connection at books.cph.org/emotions-and-the-gospel. Listen to all episodes in this series at...

How is gift planning beneficial for KFUO Radio and its donors? Mike Fischer, Senior Gift Planning Advocate with LCMS Mission Advancement, joins Andy and Sarah during Sharathon 2024 to talk about his work with Mission Advancement, what Mission Advancement's guiding theme of "Blessed to be a Blessing" means for KFUO Radio listeners, and how Mission Advancement can help KFUO listeners with planned giving. For more information, contact Mary Schmidt at (314) 996-1518. Learn more about Sharathon...

How is KFUO Radio an essential part of prison ministry? Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Nehrt, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Greenville, IL, and Prison Ministry Coordinator for the LCMS Southern Illinois District, joins Andy and Sarah during Sharathon 2024 to share the success of the recent Prison Ministry Conference and how KFUO Radio has been helpful to him and those he serves.  Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

Why is it important to tell the church’s story of how she raises up faithful church workers? Rev. Dr. James Baneck, LCMS Executive Director of Pastoral Education and Executive Director of Set Apart to Serve, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series during Sharathon 2024 to talk about the Set Apart to Serve stories we've shared over the last two years, who these stories have shaped his view of church work, some of his favorite stories, why it's important to share these stories,...

Why is it important to remember and teach the church’s history today? Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah during Sharathon 2024 to talk about why learning history is so important for Christians, why it's important for laity as much as pastors and church leaders, his favorite era in church history to teach, and what we can look forward to in the next series in church history. Learn more...

Why is it important to hear God’s Word daily? Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Sarah during Sharathon 2024 to talk about the treasure of God's Word, what he would say to the team of founders of KFUO as they were considering this new medium of AM Radio 100 year ago, and how important our listeners and donors are as we continue this radio ministry for another 100 years. Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

How does the LWML share God's Word, and how does KFUO partner with LWML? Eden Keefe, President of LWML - Lutheran Women in Mission, joins Andy and Sarah for Sharathon 2024 to talk about how LWML partners with other organizations and ministries to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, what is beautiful and good about these partnerships, how the tiny little mite boxes make a big difference for these opportunities to support Gospel work around the globe, what's on deck for LWML this year and next...

What do we learn about Christ in the Five Books of the Psalms? Does the order of Psalms actually matter? Rev. Dr. Adam Hensley, associate professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the order of the Psalms and why that matters, the pictures of Christ in the Psalms, what we learn about Christ through these pictures, and how the Psalms shape his own teaching and devotional life. Dr. Hensley is a Keynote Speaker at the upcoming LCMS...

KFUO Radio's Annual Sharathon is happening April 18-20, and we need your support to continue sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Mary Schmidt — KFUO Radio Director of Development, and Rev. Doug Griebenaw KFUO Radio Mission Advocate, join Andy and Sarah to talk about what we mean when we say we are listener-supported, what happens during Sharathon each year, how KFUO programming supports Lutherans in their daily lives, how necessary your contributions really are (hint: very...

What is the emotion of calm, and how do we experience it? Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, MSW, joins Andy and Sarah in our mini-series on Emotions to talk about what "calm" actually is and how it's different from "peace," why we seek calm, how calm is related to anxiety, the relationship between brokenness and calm, and how we recognize or find calm.  Find your copy of Emotions and the Gospel: Created for Connection at books.cph.org/emotions-and-the-gospel. Listen to all episodes in this...

How do Lutheran Schools elevate church work vocations and raise up the next generation of church workers? Alicia Levitt — Director of Academic Excellence and Interim Executive Director of The Lutheran Schools Partnership in Northeast Indiana, and Jacob Pennekamp — Head of School for Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how they serve in Lutheran Schools, their journeys into church work, the role each of them...

What do we mean when we say “principles of biblical interpretation”? Dr. James W. Voelz, Dr. Jack Dean Kingsbury Professor of New Testament Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his book Principles of Biblical Interpretation for Everyone, including who this book is for, what "biblical interpretation" means, why it's important to have a common or shared set of principles of interpretation, why we can't just leave the Bible literally, and a key...

How do the Psalms form us in our daily lives and the rhythm of worship? Dr. Geoffrey Boyle, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the posture of worship, how the Lord speaks to us in the Psalms, what the Psalms reveal about our Lord, how the Psalms shape our worship, and how the Psalms form us as children of God.  Dr. Boyle is a Keynote Speaker at the upcoming LCMS Institute On Liturgy,...

What's it like to serve on a short-term mission team with the LCMS? Rev. Richard Woelmer — Pastor of University Lutheran Church at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, Lewis Ostermeyer — Member of University Lutheran Church at IU and short-term mission participant, and Anne Gonzalez — manager of Short-term Mission Training and Engagement with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy and Sarah to share about the team from University Lutheran Church who served in the Czech...