Podcast
Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries
Hosted by KFUO Radio · EN
We believe that God is the author and sustainer of all life. We also know it can be hard to speak about the intrinsic value of life, health and the family when it feels like the world is trying to drown us out.
We’re right here beside you. In this podcast of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Life, Health and Family Ministries, we’re coming alongside one another as a community of Christ’s redeemed people. Together we’ll explore life, health and family issues in a way that honors our heavenly Father’s value of human life, serves our neighbor, shares the faith and connects us to others who are doing the same. Join us, so that together we can be friends for life.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S12Ep4. Creed | Rev. Jesse Kueker
Apr 1000:40:56Tap to summarizePastor Jesse Kueker shares the story of his youngest son Creed, who received surgery in utero for a rare health condition. Creed’s life – both within the womb and after birth – continues to be a testament of God’s power and presence. Bio:Rev. Jesse Kueker is Director of Enrollment at Concordia Seminary. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO and his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He previously served as pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, MO from 2015-2022. His hobbies include running, gardening, raising chickens and watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball. Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
Transcribe →S12Ep3. Charles | Deac. Christianna Nemec
Apr 1000:40:22Tap to summarizeDeaconess Christianna joins Steph to talk about the prenatal diagnosis her son received while in the womb. Bio:Christianna Nemec is a child of God, a wife, and a mother of two children in heaven and one on earth. She graduated from CTSFW in 2023 with a Master of Arts in Deaconess Studies. She served as the Deaconess of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lubbock, TX, where her husband is called as the sole pastor. She is currently blessed with the joyous privilege of raising their daughter full-time. She also spends her time reading, enjoying music, gardening, and attempting to keep their three cats out of trouble. Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/lifeRead Christianna’s article in the Lutheran Witness witness.lcms.org/2024/a-living-hospice-loving-my-unborn-son-after-his-diagnosis/ Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
Transcribe →S12Ep2. Katherine | Rev. Daniel and Karen Kempin
Apr 1000:24:36Tap to summarizePastor Dan and Karen Kempin share about the life of their daughter Katherine, who was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 shortly after birth. Bio:Dan and Karen Kempin have been united in marriage and ministry for 30 years, faithfully serving the Lord and His Church together. Dan serves as Senior Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Midland, Michigan, and Karen serves alongside him as Director of Worship Music. Together, they have been blessed with four children. Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
Transcribe →S12Ep1. Life-Altering Prenatal and Postnatal Diagnoses | Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor & Steph Neugebauer
Apr 1000:13:28Tap to summarizeJoin Tiffany and Steph as they introduce Season 12 of Friends for Life – a season dedicated to talking about the incredible challenges and grief that families endure when they receive a difficult diagnosis prenatally or postnatally. Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
Transcribe →S11Ep6. Taking Offense | Cheryl Thompson
Jan 1600:36:50Tap to summarizeWhat happens to relationships when offenses are harbored and people become embittered? Licensed Professional Counselor Cheryl Thompson joins Andy and Steph to talk about how Christians are called to handle offenses within relationships. Bio:Cheryl Thompson is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has worked with children, adults and couples specializing in anxiety, mood and complex trauma disorders. She has extensive training in Gottman Couples Therapy and is a certified Prepare and Enrich facilitator. She founded Concord Counseling STL, a private practice in St. Louis, where she served until retiring in 2024. Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life LCMS Family Ministry: lcms.org/family Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
Transcribe →S11Ep5. Lack of Trust | Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford
Jan 1600:34:43Tap to summarizePeople are becoming increasingly distrusting of others – even people in their own neighborhoods! Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford joins Steph and Andy to talk about how the lack of trust in other people hurts our closest human relationships. Bio:Rev. Dr. Lucas V. Woodford, (MDiv, STM, DMin), is President of the Minnesota South District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and Associate Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Farmington, MN. He is the author of Great Commission, Great Confusion, or Great Confession? (Wipf & Stock, 2012). He is co-author with Harold Senkbeil of Pastoral Leadership: for the Care of Souls (2nd ed Lexham Press, 2021) and their book on contextual mission, The Culture of God’s Word: Faithful Ministry in a Post-Christian Society is forthcoming from Lexham in Feb. 2026. He has written numerous articles published in The Lutheran Witness, Logia, and Seelsorger, including a monograph "What does this mean? Responding to Social Justice and Critical Race Theory" (2021). Woodford is a member of the Board of Regents of Concordia University, St. Paul, MN. He has served as an adjunct instructor for Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN and the graduate school at The Institute of Lutheran Theology in Brookings, SD. Dr. Woodford is a Fellow in the Collegium of DOXOLOGY: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel, charged with research, writing, and speaking regarding the care of souls in the contemporary context. He frequently presents on matters related to soul care, missiology, marriage, sex and gender issues, as well as critical race theory. He is a husband to Becca and father to their seven children, five girls and two boys: Isabella (married to Zach), Thaddaeus, Aletheia, Ekklacia, Soteria, Titus, Basileia, and grandfather to Aurora. Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/lifeLCMS Family Ministry: lcms.org/family Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
Transcribe →S11Ep4. Guilt & Shame | Deaconess Michelle Downey
Jan 1600:40:40Tap to summarizeDeaconess Michelle Downey joins Steph and Andy to talk about the differences and similarities between guilt and shame, and how to respond to both when they creep into our relationships. Bio:Deaconess Michelle Downey serves as Executive Director at Concordia Counseling: A Lutheran Outreach Ministry. Concordia Counseling exists to provide Biblically sound, clinically effective, and financially affordable counseling services. Michelle is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the State of Indiana. She received her Master's Degree in Counseling & Educational Psychology from Marquette University and Master's Degree in Deaconess Studies from Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort Wayne (CTSFW). Michelle and her husband, Patrick, have five children (Elizabeth, Ann Marie, Caroline, Victoria, and Michael) and attend Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour, IN. Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/lifeLCMS Family Ministry: lcms.org/family Find Concordia Counseling on lcms.org/rso Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
Transcribe →S11Ep3. Isolation | Rev. Brian Davies
Jan 1600:30:09Tap to summarizeIn an ever-increasingly digitized world, isolation from true community has become the reality of many. God has a better vision for His people – a way of life that makes people members of each other through their connection to Christ. Listen in as Pastor Brian Davies talks about the Christian community as remedy for isolation. Bio:Brian Davies serves as pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in Grayslake, Illinois, and as chaplain for the Grayslake Fire District and the Round Lake Fire Protection District. Rev. Davies graduated from Concordia River Forest (now Concordia Chicago) in 2002, studying communications and biblical languages, and then went on to earn his master of divinity at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He is the author of Captivating Conversations: How Christians can Reclaim the Lost Art of Listening (CPH, 2024) and Connected to Christ: Overcoming Isolation through Community (CPH, 2021). He is married to his wife, Elizabeth, who serves as the Mayor of Grayslake. Together they have three children: Kate, Megan, and Luke. Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/lifeLCMS Family Ministry: lcms.org/familyFind Rev. Brian Davies’ books at cph.org Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
Transcribe →S11Ep2. Loneliness | Rev. Dr. David Petersen
Jan 1600:39:31Tap to summarizeRecent statistics make a shocking claim: 1 in 2 U.S. adults report loneliness! What’s the remedy to loneliness and how do the people of God respond? Rev. Dr. David Petersen joins Steph and Andy to address the issue of loneliness. Bio:Rev. Dr. David H. Petersen became Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in 2000. He earned a B.S. in History from Central Michigan University. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree, a Master of Sacred Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne. He and his wife Jacqui have three grown children and seven grandchildren. He is a regular guest on Issues, Etc, a contributing editor to Gottesdienst: The Journal of Lutheran Liturgy, where he writes both for the print journal and the blog, and a frequent blogger at the Lutheran Witness. He has served on the English District Board of Directors and is currently on the Commission on Theology and Church Relations for the LCMS. A collection of Pastor Petersen’s teaching ministry in various media forms is available at Theological Commonplaces: Spiritual Renewal for Pastors and Laity. Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/lifeLCMS Family Ministry: lcms.org/family Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
Transcribe →S11Ep1. Relationship Challenges & Gospel Remedies | Rev. Andy Becker & Steph Neugebauer
Jan 1600:14:26Tap to summarizeJoin Steph and Andy as they talk about the gift and complexity of relationships and share what you can look forward to in Season 11! Resources:Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.orgLCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life LCMS Family Ministry: lcms.org/family Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
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