Have you ever thought of marriage as a “life issue?” If you haven’t, guests Jonathan and Christa Petzold, are here to convince you that it is. Authors of the newest CPH release, Male & Female: Embracing Your Role in God’s Design, Rev. Jonathan and his wife Christa join this episode to talk about God’s unique design for marriage. Are the roles God assigned to Adam and Eve in the garden still relevant to marriages today? What does a biblical marriage look like in today’s modern world? What’s the secret to a healthy marriage? Get answers to these and other questions in Episode 9!

Find Male & Female: Embracing Your Role in God’s Design by Rev. Jonathan and Christa Petzold at books.cph.org/male-female-embracing-your-role-in-gods-design. Email us at [email protected] and learn more about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life.

Bio: Rev. Jonathan and Christa Petzold are the authors of Male and Female: Embracing Your Role in God's Design, published by Concordia Publishing House, July 2021. Jonathan holds an MDiv from Concordia Seminary Saint Louis and serves as Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Roselle, Illinois. Christa has an MA in Theology from Concordia University Irvine. She works as a stay-at-home mother, homeschooling their four children. Jonathan and Christa have been married since 2010 and enjoy learning and teaching God’s Word together. They also love coffee, Star Wars, traveling, and quiet evenings at home.

Friends for Life is an entire podcast devoted to the intersection of church and life issues, theology and how it informs our personal caring of ourselves and our neighbors. Now 8 episodes in, we pause to answer some foundational questions, including “What does it mean to be pro-life,” “Is there a better term to use than the politically charged term pro-life?,” and “How does our Christian theology lead us to be a life-affirming people?” Professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary, Dr. Jeff Gibbs, joins us to give his Gospel-centered answers and to challenge listeners to rethink their motivation when it comes to involvement in the life arena. Because the Gospel. Changes. Everything.

Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life.

Find Matthew – Concordia Commentary by Dr. Jeffrey A. Gibbs at cph.org/p-685-Matthew-11-111-Concordia-Commentary.aspx.

Find the resource "Gracious and Multi-Faceted - When Theology Drives Involvement in the Life Arena" in Winter 2020 issue of Concordia Journal by clicking this link. (Article Copyright Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 2020. Linked with permission.) Subscribe to the Concordia Journal at csl.edu/resources/publications/concordia-journal.

Bio: Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs is a professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He retired in 2020 after 28 years of distinguished service. His areas of interest and expertise include the Synoptic Gospels, New Testament eschatology and Matthew. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va. (1995). He earned a Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind. (1988, 1979). After graduating from Concordia Theological Seminary, Dr. Gibbs was ordained in 1979 and was called to two congregations in northwestern Oregon. He served there for 10 years. His writing works include Jerusalem and Parousia: Jesus’ Eschatological Discourse in Matthew’s Gospel (Concordia Publishing House [CPH], 2000); Matthew 1:1—11:1, Concordia Commentary (CPH, 2006); Matthew 11:2—20:32, Concordia Commentary (CPH, 2010); and Matthew 21:1-28:20, Concordia Commentary (CPH, 2018). Dr. Gibbs and his wife, Renee, live in St. Louis and are active in life-affirming ministry, especially on behalf of unborn children. They have four grown children and more than a dozen grandchildren, the total number of which is happily beyond their control.

In this episode, host Steph Neugebauer sits down with not one, but two special guests, Tim and Rebekah Janke. This is the first episode in the debut series titled Friends in Real Life, which will appear throughout the regular season to highlight real stories of people living out the gospel in the life arena. Tim and Rebekah come on the show to share their experience of wading (and waiting) through the process of adoption. They began the adoption process in late 2020, and now nine months later, are here to share the joys, the struggles, the hurdles, and the emotional roller coaster that is adoption. Even as they are yet waiting to be matched with a child to bring into their home, they are filled with hope and expectation. Listen in on their story. Put yourself in their shoes. And learn how to support adoptive families as an extension of the work of the Church.

Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life. Email us at [email protected]. Find the RSO Directory of the LCMS at lcms.org/RSO.

Bio: Tim and Rebekah Janke live in North Dakota with their young son, Elijah. Tim is a veterinarian at a local veterinary clinic and loves caring for “all creatures great and small.” Rebekah is a trained Lutheran school teacher and currently works as an instructional coach for other teachers at her local middle school. Together, their family loves outdoor activities, including camping, hiking, and fishing. They’re active in their local church and have a special heart for children and passing along their faith.

Most of us use some type of social media, whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, or the latest digital platform. So it’s likely that we’ve had the experience of scrolling through our feeds only to be surprised that a friend or follow has posted something that shocked us. Maybe it’s a comment about being pro-choice. Maybe it’s a post about immigration ethics that we disagree with. Or a shared news article on any given life topic that is warring with our biblical worldview. Whatever the situation, it calls for wisdom and discernment about whether to engage, or to just keep scrolling. In this episode, guest Sarah Gulseth, of KFUO Radio, walks us through some helpful considerations and gives us some guidelines for engaging life issues in a winsome way on social media.

Find the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Podcast at kfuo.org/lutheranladieslounge and The Coffee Hour at kfuo.org/thecoffeehour. Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life.

Bio: A proud Michigan native and fan of anything with the Mitten State on it, Digital Media Specialist Sarah Gulseth is also a lover of historical war movies and anything with the label PBS Masterpiece. An avid bicyclist and women’s biking advocate, she rides her bike to work year-round and has the massive bike clothing and accessory collection to prove it. If it’s the weekend, she and her husband Luther are probably out riding bikes, or finding the next awesome coffee shop to frequent, or rehearsing for the next choir concert. You may also find her down a new rabbit hole on Google, researching the latest random fact she found on social media, while eating an unhealthy amount of apples (Macintosh from Michigan, of course) and raw almond butter.

When we think of what it means to be “pro-life” in regards to end-of-life issues, we often spend our time talking about euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. But we don’t give as much airspace to what it means to uphold, care for, and affirm the gift of life as it naturally approaches its final hours. How are Christians called to care for the elderly, the aging, the terminally ill? Even when death is close and inevitable, what role might these saints have in the life of the Church? And finally, how can our simple presence bring comfort and peace to the dying and to the grieving family? Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life. A resource mentioned in this episode is The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart by Harold Senkbeil, which you can find at lexhampress.com/product/169227/the-care-of-souls-cultivating-a-pastors-heart.

Bio: Rev. Brian Heller serves as chaplain at Laclede Groves – Lutheran Senior Services in the St. Louis, MO, area. Prior to this, he served as pastor in the parish setting at a church in northern Illinois. He is married to his wife of 8 years, Deaconess Jennette Heller, and they have been blessed with three children. These vocations keep him very busy, but Chaplain Heller also serves as the Command Post Superintendent at the 110 Wing in the Michigan Air National Guard.

What does it look like for a body of believers to be pro-life...together? How can a church be pro-life, not just in word and name, but in deeds and actual service? Creating a pro-life culture within a congregation requires intentionality and teamwork. It’s done from the pulpit and it’s done from the pew. Listen in as Pastor Kirk Neugebauer joins his wife (our host Steph) to talk about some very practical ways that you can help create a culture of LIFE that reach both within and beyond the four walls of your own church.

Find worship resources for life ministry and Life Sunday, as well as LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life. Find the book Whisper, Whisper: Learning About Church by Dcs. Mary Moerbe at cph.org/p-28053-whisper-whisper-learning-about-church.aspx.

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected].

Bio: Rev. Kirk Neugebauer is husband to our host, Steph Neugebauer. He graduated with his M.Div. from Concordia Seminary and is now serving at his second call at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Paragould, Arkansas. Kirk and Steph have two children who are the greatest gifts and source of giggles in their home. Kirk is also a talented musician, New England sports fanatic, and winning coach of their son’s 4 year old soccer league.

Have you ever thought about when the right time is to start teaching your kids about life issues? The time is now. When they’re newborns. When they’re infants, toddlers, and sassy 6 year olds. It’s never too early (or too late) to teach little ones about the value God places on human life. It just takes some open eyes, some creativity, and some intentionality...and the home is the place to start! Join Adriane Heins and Steph Neugebauer as they talk about cultivating a pro-life culture in the home, beginning even when children are itty bitty babies. You’ll hear simple ideas and practical tips to incorporate into your own family life and rhythms. Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life.

Brave New Family: G.K. Chesterton on Men and Women, Children, Sex, Divorce, Marriage and the Family by G.K. Chesterton amazon.com/Brave-New-Family-Chesterton-Children/dp/089870314X

Alive Before You Were Born by Kim E. Bestian books.cph.org/alive-before-you-were-born

Bio: Adriane Heins majored in English at Concordia University Wisconsin and graduated with an MA from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. She used her combined training to serve as the editor for The Lutheran Witness from 2010-2017. She still remains active in communications on behalf of the LCMS, particularly for LCMS Life Ministry. She lives on a dairy farm in Missouri with her husband Chris and together they have been blessed with five children.

Author and speaker Katie Schuermann and Stephanie Neugebauer talk about suffering and barrenness. Katie describes how using gift language puts barren women in a position to be comforted by the Lord. God always promises to save the crushed in spirt and this truth drives her to the true source of comfort, Jesus Christ.

Visit Katie's website at katieschuermann.com. Find her book He Remembers the Barren at emmanuelpress.us/books/he-remembers-the-barren and To Live with Christ by Bo Giertz at cph.org/p-499-to-live-with-christ.aspx. Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life.

Bio: Katie Schuermann’s “earthy and joyful” voice is as refreshing and invigorating as the Midwestern sunshine in which she was raised. Writing in vignettes which so perfectly suit the charm of small-town life, Schuermann’s stories call to mind the warmth and realism of Montgomery’s Avonlea. Always leaning toward the arts, Schuermann earned graduate degrees in music. Her professional experiences are as varied and eclectic as any writer’s, ranging from walking beans to singing with a Baroque orchestra to directing children’s musical theater camps. No doubt, her cornfield roots and curriculum vitae factor heavily in her writing, but it is Schuermann’s confession of faith in the Triune God that readers have come to expect and trust in her published works. When not writing, she can be found singing, gardening, cooking, holding babies, or trying to climb the nearest tree.

The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to transform lives, including the hearts of people who are pro-choice. Lutherans witnessing the faith, sharing Christ’s love and mercy form a supportive community when a pro-choice person needs to learn God’s truth. Deaconess Tiffany Manor, director of LCMS Life Ministry joins host Stephanie Neugebauer to talk about her transformation from pro-choice to pro-life.

Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life.

Bio: Deaconess Tiffany Manor serves as the director of LCMS Life Ministry. After a first career in marketing she received an M.A. from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. Tiffany is a doctoral student at Bethel Seminary. She is married to the Rev. Jonathan Manor, they have five children and a granddaughter.

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 that life 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 Ministry, we’re coming alongside one another as a community of Christ’s redeemed people, ones who are speaking up for and living out the sanctity of human life. Together we’ll explore life issues in a way that honors our heavenly Father’s value of human life, serves our neighbor, and connects us to others who are doing the same. Join us, so that together we can be friends for life.

Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life. Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcasting platform!