Dr. Ronald Rall and Mary Anne Rall, missionaries to the people of Papua New Guinea, each share a story from the mission field about how God saved their lives in very tangible ways. This episode is a special feature that accompanies Episode 69, "Called to the Jungles of Papua New Guinea."

Dr. Ronald Rall and Mary Anne Rall have been missionaries to the people of Papua New Guinea since 1973. Over the past fifty years, they have seen God's church grow and flourish. "Still today, the people always say to me, 'Thank you for bringing us the light because we were in total darkness.' Their faith is so strong!" said Mary Anne Rall. Join the Ralls as they share their story as overseas missionaries and how it changed their ministry back home.

Developing an attitude of outreach in your congregation is fostered by church leaders and carried out as a community. Join Dr. Douglas Rutt, professor emeritus of practical theology; Dr. David Loy, dean of Christ College at Concordia University in Irvine, California; and Kristin Woods, New American Families Facilitator at Word of Life Lutheran School in St. Louis, as they discuss ways to intentionally look outward.

"I use songwriting as a tool for engaging with the text of scripture and bringing my questions to God. It's meant to be a moment of reflection," says singer-songwriter Rev. Hayden Lukas. Join us in a conversation between Lukas and Dr. Timothy Saleska, professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary, as they discuss the connections between Psalm 22 and the song it evoked. This conversation leads to music!

"If God has placed an immigrant group in your community, we have the opportunity to reach out and share the lovely gifts that God has given us," said Rev Jeff Thormodson, the executive director of the Lutheran Society of Missiology. "The Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology raises up leaders who speak Congolese, Aramaic, Telugu. It's a wonderful opportunity to make disciples of all nations." Learn more about how the Lord is raising up leaders in his church through Concordia Seminary, St. Louis!

"The schools in the Concordia University System are an incredible gift; we have a responsibility to steward them well for the next generation," says Dr. Peter Nafzger, associate professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. In this conversation Nafzger and Rev. Jeff Cloeter, pastor of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, compare their experiences as alumni and as parents of students attending a Concordia University. "Concordia Universities are a ligament of the church," said Cloeter. "The relational connectivity that happens in the classroom or on the basketball court benefits the kingdom of God." Join us in a discussion of the benefits and potential disadvantages of studying at a CUS school.

Join us for a conversation about the text for June 28, 2026! The readings for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost are Jeremiah 28:5–9, Psalm 119:153–160, Romans 7:1–13, and Matthew 10:34–42.

Raising children to be faithful followers of Jesus starts in the home. We will discuss the books "Family Discipleship with Christ" by Dr. W. Mart Thompson, associate professor of Practical Theology, and "Courageous Fathers of the Bible" by Dr. Joel Biermann, professor of Systematic Theology. Join us in a conversation about the vocations of parenthood!

What do writings from the fourth century have to do with Christians today? Why do we frequently speak one out loud together in church services? "The Nicene Creed provides a summary of what we believe as Christians," said Dr. Joel Elowsky, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, "but I wouldn't want to leave your listeners with the impression that it's just that." Join us to learn the history of the Nicene Creed and its relevance for today!

"The Lutheran church in Ethiopia is just under three times larger than all the Lutheran church bodies in America combined," said Dr. Samuel Deressa, Associate Professor of Theology and the Global South at Concordia University, St. Paul. "We can learn from each other to address and apply Lutheran theology in different contexts," said Deressa. He asked, "How can we embrace this diversity and move towards a multicultural and multiethnic kind of church?" Join Deressa and Dr. Leo Sánchez, Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in a conversation about Lutheranism in the Global South.