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How does philosophy impact our understanding of God's command to love our neighbor? In this crossover series with the Friends for Life podcast, we’re exploring “loving your neighbor” from a variety of perspectives! In Episode 3, Dr. Angus Menuge (Professor and Chair of Philosophy Program, Concordia University, Wisconsin) joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Steph Neugebauer (host, Friends for Life podcast) to talk about philosophy and its implications on how we understand who we are as human beings, different philosophical influences on our culture, the difference between modernism and post-modernism and how both affect how we love our neighbors, and how AI affects our understanding of vocation and loving our neighbors. Resources mentioned in this episode: A recent Roman Catholic Note on human beings and AI: vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20250128_antiqua-et-nova_en.html Dr. Menuge's paper, “Powers of the Soul Beyond AI”: mdpi.com/2077-1444/17/1/8 A collection on mind-brain relationships Dr. Menuge coedited, "Minding the Brain": amazon.com/dp/163712029X?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback "AI, Vocation, and Human Dignity" by Dr. Angus Menuge: AI Vocation and Human Dignity Find the Friends for Life podcast at kfuo.org/friendsforlife. Find Every One His Witness at resources.lcms.org/general/every-one-his-witness-lutheran-evangelism-program. 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: [email protected].

We head to Oklahoma for today’s conversation! The Rev. Dr. David Nehrenz (President, Oklahoma District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and journey to seminary, how he has served over the years, unique things he has experienced in his time in the parish and serving as district president, his duties as a district president, what makes the Oklahoma District unique, and why he loves being a pastor in the LCMS today. Learn more about the LCMS President and Vice Presidents at lcms.org/about/leadership/president and the 35 LCMS Districts at lcms.org/districts. 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: [email protected].

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Lithuania? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, Bishop Mindaugas Sabutis (Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania) joins Sarah and guest co-host Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of Lutheranism in Lithuania and the history of his church body, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of Lithuania, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans. Find the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania at liuteronai.lt. To learn more about Global Lutheranism: Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules. Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies. Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members. 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: [email protected].

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Kenya? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Dr. Joseph Omolo (Archbishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya) joins Sarah and guest co-host Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of Kenya, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans. Find the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya at lcms.org/partner-church-bodies/evangelical-lutheran-church-in-kenya. To learn more about Global Lutheranism: Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules. Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies. Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members. 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: [email protected].

How can you bring the Gospel to the next generation of First Nations communities? The Rev. Dr. Steven D. Schave (Executive Director, LAMP - Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the present needs of the communities LAMP serves in Northern Canada, how these communities embrace the teams who come year after year, what the new Luke 24 Project is, how this project will further the mission of LAMP, and what people can do to get involved. Learn more about the Luke 24 Project and LAMP at lampministry.org. 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: [email protected].

How did Concordia University students have conversations about church work while serving as Young Adult Representatives at this year's Higher Things conferences? Heidi McKeage (Concordia University, Chicago; Sophomore; Deaconess Program), Maximus Fritsche (Concordia University, Nebraska; Junior; Pre-Seminary) and Isabel Seifferlein (Concordia University, Nebraska; Sophomore; Lutheran Teacher Program) join Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about the church work programs they're in, the Concordia Universities they're attending, their individual journeys into these programs, who encouraged them to consider church work, campus life on their respective Concordias, their experiences at Higher Things over the summer, the conversations they had with youth who were considering church work, and why it's important to have these conversations with young people. Find 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. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: [email protected].

What does "mercy" mean? In this crossover series with the Friends for Life podcast, we're exploring "loving your neighbor" from a variety of perspectives! In Episode 2, Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor (Managing Director, LCMS Office of National Mission) joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Steph Neugebauer (host, Friends for Life podcast) to talk about mercy. Deaconess Manor explores how we consider mercy and grace, how mercy is loving your neighbor, who is given to show mercy, if loving your neighbor always means sharing the Gospel at the same time, and if there's a difference in how we show mercy to Christians and non-Christians. Find the Friends for Life podcast at kfuo.org/friendsforlife. Find Every One His Witness at resources.lcms.org/general/every-one-his-witness-lutheran-evangelism-program. 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: [email protected].

We head to North Dakota for today’s conversation! The Rev. Mark Chepulis (President, North Dakota District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and journey to seminary, how his varied studies in high school and college lend to being a pastor, his time serving in congregations and what makes a tri-point parish unique, his duties as a district president, what makes the North Dakota District unique, and why he loves being a pastor in the LCMS today. Learn more about the LCMS President and Vice Presidents at lcms.org/about/leadership/president and the 35 LCMS Districts at lcms.org/districts. 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: [email protected].

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Ghana? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. John Donkoh (President, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana) joins Sarah and guest co-host Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history and culture of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, the church body's relationship with the LCMS, how the church fits into the broader culture of Ghana, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, challenges the church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans. Find the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana at lcms.org/partner-church-bodies/evangelical-lutheran-church-of-ghana. To learn more about Global Lutheranism: Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules. Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies. Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members. 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: [email protected].

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Germany? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, Hans-Jörg Voigt (Bishop, Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church - SELK, Germany) joins Sarah and guest co-host Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of SELK, the SELK's relationship with the LCMS, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of Germany, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans. Find SELK at selk.de. To learn more about Global Lutheranism: Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules. Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies. Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members. 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: [email protected].

How do LCMS missionaries share the love of Christ in Tanzania? The Rev. Bryan and Deaconess Keah Payne (Theological Educator and Deaconess, Serving the Lord in Tanzania) join Sarah to talk about where they serve, their journey to the mission field, what has happened since our previous conversation with them in April 2025, how they are able to partner with the local church body in Tanzania, what theological education for pastors and deaconesses looks like in Tanzania, and their family life on the field. Learn more about the Paynes and how to support their work at lcms.org/payne. 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: [email protected].

What are the joys and challenges of sending a student off to college to prepare for a life of church work? Ally Moreno (Senior at Concordia University, Wisconsin, Director of Church Ministries Program) and her dad the Rev. Mike Moreno (Senior pastor, Christ Lutheran Church in Norfolk, NE) join Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about what Ally is studying, why she chose the Director of Church Ministries program, what makes this program unique, her faith formation since childhood, and who has encouraged her along the way. Pastor Moreno talks about his own journey into pastoral ministry, how he and his wife encouraged Ally in the faith, their experience sending Ally to college, and his encouragement to other parents whose children might be considering church work. 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: [email protected].

What does it mean to love your neighbor? In this crossover series with the Friends for Life podcast, we're exploring "loving your neighbor" from a variety of perspectives! In Episode 1, Rev. Dr. James Fickenscher (Assistant Professor of Exegetical Theology and Director of Certification, Concordia Seminary St. Louis) joins Sarah and guest co-host Steph Neugebauer (host, Friends for Life podcast) to talk about "love" in Scripture. Dr. Fickenscher explores where "loving your neighbor" is recorded in Scripture, various Old and New Testament examples of love, gives an exegetical study of the words "love" and "neighbor," and shares what these words mean for us today as we live out our God-given vocations in our contexts. Find the Friends for Life podcast at kfuo.org/friendsforlife. 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: [email protected].

We head to southern Wisconsin for today’s conversation! The Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador (President, South Wisconsin District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and journey through school, his pathway to seminary, stories from his service in the parish after seminary, his duties as a district president and how he sees the district serving the local parish, how his service in the parish influences how he serves as President, what makes the South Wisconsin District unique, and why he loves being a pastor in the LCMS today. Learn more about the LCMS President and Vice Presidents at lcms.org/about/leadership/president and the 35 LCMS Districts at lcms.org/districts. 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: [email protected].

What does Lutheranism look like in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Mark Schroeder (President, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) joins Sarah and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about the history of WELS, the relationship between WELS and LCMS, what WELS looks like today in the United States and abroad, the current emphases of the WELS, how WELS does pastoral formation, challenges they've faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, and what he's enjoyed about being among Lutherans from around the globe. Find the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod at wels.net. To learn more about Global Lutheranism: Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules. Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies. Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members. 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: [email protected].