Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 69

2026 Convention Workbook
34 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
As a self-funding ministry, KFUO partners with generous 
LCMS congregations, pastors, other church workers, recognized 
services organizations, and laity to serve the LCMS and the neigh-
bor with resources that nourish and strengthen faith in Christ Jesus. 
Triennium Update
KFUO began broadcasting in the St. Louis area on Dec. 14, 
1924, using the new technology of AM radio. Now, over 100 years 
later, KFUO continues to employ established and emerging tech -
nologies to reach a global audience. On Oct. 12, 2024, KFUO cele-
brated its centennial anniversary with a service of thanksgiving and 
open house at the LCMS International Center (IC).
KFUO Radio continues to broadcast from the studios at the IC 
in Kirkwood, Mo.; however, the radio transmitters have relocat -
ed to East Carondelet, Ill. (as necessitated by the 2022 Concordia 
Seminary Campus Plan). With the move, KFUO acquired an addi-
tional signal (now operating two AM signals, 850 and 1380, and 
three FM signals, 92.7, 104.5, and 105.3, in the St. Louis metropol-
itan area). This was a three-year multifaceted project consisting of 
acquiring land, radio towers, and the additional AM radio and FM 
broadcast signals.
The annual budget of KFUO Radio is only $1.7 million. This 
encompasses all broadcasting operations, sacred music royalties, 
program host stipends, and personnel (nine full-time, one part-
time, and the trimester internship program). Funding comes from 
the generosity of listeners and program sponsors/underwriters and 
from partnerships with congregations, recognized service organi-
zations, and other LCMS ministries, as well as bequest gifts, the 
KFUO endowment, and purchased airtime payments for programs 
not produced by KFUO. 
KFUO is led by the executive director of broadcast services, 
who reports directly to the Office of the President.
KFUO Programs
The Coffee Hour airs weekdays at 9:00 a.m. (central time, as are 
all following), sharing stories of mercy work, missionary updates, 
and practical conversations for living boldly Lutheran, and features 
special series like Set Apart to Serve and Lutheran Church History 
with the Rev. Dr. Cameron MacKenzie from Concordia Theolog -
ical Seminary, Fort Wayne. It is hosted by KFUO Radio’s Andy 
Bates and Sarah Gulseth. The Coffee Hour was the third-most pop-
ular KFUO program overall in 2025 with 90,120 total downloads 
by 18,459 people. It is sponsored in part by the Concordia Univer -
sity System. (kfuo.org/category/the-coffee-hour/)
Concord Matters airs Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., studying the 
Lutheran Confessions found in the Book of Concord with lively 
discussions led by host the Rev. Brady Finnern, president of the 
LCMS Minnesota North District, and a guest LCMS pastor. To 
view this program, visit: kfuo.org/category/concord-matters/.
Daily Chapel airs weekdays at 10:00 a.m., broadcasting live the 
IC chapel service. It is sponsored in part by the LCMS International 
Mission and the LCMS Ministry to Armed Forces. (See the sched-
ule: kfuo.org/daily-chapel-schedule/)
The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Podcast is released weekly and 
engages Lutheran women with inviting conversations, laughter, 
and fellowship and is hosted by KFUO’s Sarah Gulseth, the Office 
of International Mission’s Erin Alter, and Rachel Bomberger. The 
Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge holds eight of the top ten most download-
ed KFUO podcasts in 2025. The affiliated Facebook group has over 
G. Challenges
In its work to serve LCMS ministries, districts, and congrega-
tions, LCMS Communications faces significant challenges: 
•	 The cost of printing and distributing print publications con-
tinues to increase dramatically. These costs affect all print 
publications, with a special burden on those subsidized di-
rectly by the Synod, namely Lutherans Engage the World 
and Reporter. 
•	 Decreasing subscriptions for The Lutheran Witness, along 
with the aforementioned increase in the costs of printing and 
distribution, will require the LCMS and Concordia Publish-
ing House to work together over the next triennium to review 
the subscription process and develop creative ways to con-
tinue publishing this nearly 150-year-old magazine.
•	 The psychological and spiritual harm that comes with so-
cial media usage has led the Communications department to 
approach its use with caution. This will require continued 
and regular evaluation of these platforms over the next tri-
ennium. 
•	 Talk of artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the world by 
storm, for good or ill. AI platforms have dramatically ex-
acerbated many of the issues inflamed by social media. The 
department remains aware of these problems and concerned 
about the effects of AI on polite discourse within the church 
and the public square. 
•	 The cost to expand video production is significant. YouTube 
is one of the most used platforms and provides a channel 
for long-form, educational content without as many of the 
potential harms seen in platforms such as Facebook and X. 
Expanding content on YouTube is expensive but also benefi-
cial for the witness and work of the church. 
H. Looking Forward
LCMS Communications is prepared to face these challenges in 
ways that will help the church proclaim Christ and Him crucified 
for the sins of the world. Whether this means creating content for 
new platforms, evaluating current and new channels to determine 
their fitness for the church’s message and work, or sharing the mes-
sage of the Gospel in various formats, service to the Church—and 
God’s mission through her—remains the top priority of the depart-
ment. We stand ready to serve with and for you. 
Roy S. Askins, Interim Executive Director
R1.3
KFUO Radio
KFUO Radio is the official broadcast ministry of the Synod 
and shares the Gospel of Christ Jesus with listeners around the 
world through worship services, Bible studies, sacred music, and 
Christ-centered practical talk programming. KFUO’s mission is 
expressed in its theme verse: “So faith comes from hearing, and 
hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). 
Employing mass communication and multimedia, including 
broadcast radio, internet streaming, social media, mobile apps, pod-
casts, video, and so on, KFUO supports the baptismal life of listen-
ers and our life together in Christ whenever and wherever needed: 
Christ for You. Anytime. Anywhere.