Past Newsletters

Scroll down to read other articles. Family Shield Ministry’s Final Chapter Friends of Family Shield Ministries, it is with a heavy heart that we share with you the bittersweet announcement that the ministry is closing. Kay Meyer, our founder, was a stalwart evangelist for Jesus Christ for almost 40 years. She had a huge heart and passion for her neighbors and the Christian family, and poured her heart and energy into searching the Holy Scriptures to know all she could so that she could tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love to everyone God brought into her ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. Making a New Year’s Resolution? Not so fast… There’s not one of us who lives a dream life without problems or disappointments, unless we’re actually asleep. At some point, everyone has their heart broken, has been fired, has trouble paying bills, or has just made stupid choices or done things they regret, and isn’t sure how to fix them. Though we rarely want to admit it, whether we’re married or not, have a bunch of friends or not, or are alone on a holiday or not, we’ve felt lonely. Our negative feelings are a ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas “Inspired by the traditional cadence of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (public domain), this retelling follows the biblical Christmas story.” ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land,God’s plan of salvation was finally at hand. From the book of beginnings, and the very first sinGod’s Word made it clear how by grace he would win. Prophecy hinted at what it would beThe king, long-awaited, would set us all free. People were living as they always had beenThey knew he was coming, but didn’t know when. An angel ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. Blessings in Disguise – What’s Yours? As Christians, we are thankful for the blessings God gives us throughout the year and our lives; however, we take special time to reflect on these blessings on Thanksgiving Day. Many families will go around the table telling each other what they’re most thankful for: family and friends, having a job or getting a new job, their health, their home, and many of the luxuries that make our lives easier or more fun. Hopefully, Christians include Jesus, our Savior, who gave us the greatest gift: salvation. These are ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. How Do I Parent My Adult Children? A Portrait of Today’s Young Adults Many things affect the description of a generation. That information helps parents see things from their child’s perspective, not only their own. Through technology, the changes in society and the world have happened much more quickly for recent generations than they did for us. Thanks to smartphones, social media, and a constant connection with everything good or evil on the internet, they have been exposed to or experienced things we never would have at a much younger age. A portrait of ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. Let’s Talk About Confirmation Many people today have forgotten why we teach Confirmation in the Lutheran Church. They ask why it takes so long, why we do it in middle school when so many kids are busy with school activities and sports, why Pastors or churches have the requirements that they do, and on and on. Hopefully, this information will answer some of those questions and remind parents, grandparents, and kids that a child’s earthly life is but a moment compared to their eternal life. Confirmation is a useful tool in teaching the faith ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. Faith and Busyness We live in a culture that glorifies busyness. Everywhere we look, everyone is busy. We wear it like a badge of honor so everyone can see it. We’re so busy that we pass it on to our kids so that they learn to be busy, too. But they’re also learning other things. As a society, we’ve come to believe two myths: MYTH #1: If you’re busy, you’re important, productive, and will be successful. Being or appearing busy does not mean any of those things. Being busy is just being busy; often ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. Summer Stories Summer is a great time to share stories. Everybody slows down and, hopefully, takes time to be with family. Sitting around a fire pit in the backyard, the campfire on a camping trip, hanging out with grandparents, or driving in the car on the way to a vacation spot, people love stories. Everyone in a family loves retelling their own stories or reliving memories. How many of us wish we had heard the stories of when our parents and grandparents grew up, what silly things they did, how they got through difficult ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. The Practical Side of God’s Top Ten, Part 2 Last month, the FSM newsletter led with The Practical Side of God’s Top Ten, Part 1, talking about the first three commandments that relate to our relationship with God. If you missed it, you can read that article here. Part 2 of this topic reminds us that God is also concerned with our relationships with each other. People may think, “We have to do these things or we won’t be saved.” But God always knew our behavior would never be good enough to repair our ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. The Practical Side of God’s Top Ten, Part 1 At one time or another, everyone (even if we’re Christian) wanders through life searching for something we can’t quite put our finger on. We may feel lost or empty. We may seek happiness or joy in what the world has to offer. If we only had more money, a bigger house, a better car, more popular stuff, people admired us, or we were beautiful, we could finally live the good life. But many people have all those things and still feel unhappy, unloved, and have ... More

Scroll down to read other articles. When a Father Forsakes His Child My pastor husband is a word guy; lately, he’s been thinking about the words forsake and forsaken. One or the other of those words is used 122 times in the ESV Bible. The more common word used today is abandon. You may remember Jesus as He hung on the cross with the sin of the world weighing Him down, saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) Some people say that Jesus was never forsaken by His Father; it just felt to Him ... More

What’s Next for Family Shield Ministries? While we were working on her retirement plans, Family Shield’s beloved leader, Kay Meyer, went to be with her Savior on December 9, 2024. Needless to say, for believers this is often bittersweet news. Kay did a lot of work on her own out of love for the Lord and her ministry (and without financial compensation), that none of us could do with our family and work commitments. The Board of Directors had a very big question to answer: What happens next for Family Shield Ministries? One thing was sure, if we continued, some ... More

November 5, 2024 Meet Our New Business & Ministry Coordinator We are excited to announce that we have hired a new Business & Ministry Coordinator, Shirley Durrwachter. Prior to the Pandemic, she was a Project Manager for Maritz Motivation. She currently works part-time for Family Shield Ministries and Visiting Angels. Shirley is married to Jerry. They have 4 grown children and live in Fenton, Missouri. Shirley will work with Family Shield employees, the Board of Directors, volunteers and supporters. Shirley attends Zion Lutheran Church in Maryland Heights, MO. She enjoys worship and attending Bible studies. Her pastor is Rev. Dr. Mark Femmel. He is ... More

October 10, 2024 A Little of This and That! My brother-in-law, Pat, passed away recently. He remained my brother-in-law even after my sister and he divorced. They remarried once, but again divorced. My husband thought of Pat as the brother he never had. My husband is an only child. Jill and Pat remained great friends through the years. A few weeks after Jill passed away in 2019 we took Pat to lunch. He told us about the first time he asked her to make him breakfast after they were married. My mom loved to cook. But, she didn’t teach us ... More

September 10, 2024 A Family Shield Prodigal Parent Training A Prodigal Parent Training for LCMS leaders and Prodigal Parents will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 765 Lemay Ferry Rd., Lemay, Missouri 63125 on Saturday, October 26th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Paula Isakson will be the trainer. She is the founder of Faith Family Reunion and was a prodigal child for 25 years before she returned to the faith. There is no cost to attend, but registration in advance is required. Lunch will be provided. The training is provided through the Family Shield Ministries grant from The Oscar ... More

August 15, 2024 An Employment OpportunityAs Administrative Assistant for Family Shield Family Shield Ministries is searching for a part-time six hours a week Administrative Assistant. If you would like to learn more and/or review the job description, contact us at witnesstofamily@gmail.com. Please include your email and telephone number when you write. A Prodigal Parent Training will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Lemay, Missouri on Saturday, October 26th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Paula Isakson will be the trainer. There is no cost to attend, but registration in advance is required. Lunch will be provided. The training is provided ... More

July 24, 2024 Evangelism Podcasts Dear Friends and Supporters, One of my friends who is also a Family Shield supporter asked me a couple weeks ago about Family Shield podcasts that address evangelism and witnessing. She wanted a list for her church’s evangelism board. All of the following podcasts are available on our website. Directions for how to find them are included below. You can listen as a small group and then discuss it together or listen alone. Then ask the following: What did I learn? Is this something our church could do? Is this something my family could do? Is this something ... More

July 8, 2024 Family Shield Ministries Update An Employment OpportunityAs Administrative Assistant for Family Shield Family Shield Ministries recently began its search for a part-time Administrative Assistant. If you would like to learn more and review the job description, contact us at witnesstofamily@gmail.com. Please include your email and telephone number. Family Shield is prayerfully seeking an LCMS church in the metro St. Louis area to be a partner with us as we present a Faith Family Reunion Training Event for Prodigal Parents and Families Family Shield Ministries will fly Paula Isakson into St. Louis from Colorado in October of 2024 to do a Faith ... More

June 28, 2024 Fourth of July and Summer Activities Remind Me of God From Kay Meyer’s column in the St. Louis Metro Voice newspaper  What are your favorite memories of summers? What about the 4th of July-is it a holiday you and your family enjoy? Memories of this summer holiday may include: the fireworks, the American flag, picnics at home and away, visiting with family and friends, and barbeque chicken, pork steaks, or brats. The 4th of July and summer activities can offer us opportunities to enjoy time with our family and friends and give us opportunities to share our faith. It’s ... More

June 20, 2024 Comfort – How the Lord Provides Comfort I often speak with my father about what was going through his mind (and my mom’s) when I walked in darkness. I look back and wonder what in the world I was thinking, why did I go on the path that I did? Sometimes I feel a deep regret for choosing the path of the world, wondering how my life would or could have been different. As a believer now, I do not hold on to the past, but instead I now realize that the LORD is able to use ... More

June 6, 2024 Just Words? We all have heard the rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” But is the saying really true? When someone gives us an encouraging word, we feel our spirits rise, but when someone says something that is hurtful, we often find that the negative words seem to stay with us. The negative words spin round and round in our minds, often blinding us to the life that is going on right in front of us. We all have to be on guard when it comes to words. Words ... More

May 23, 2024 We encourage you to take a family prayer walk together this week! Parents – Teach Your Children to Share Their Faith and Pray! From Kay Meyer’s column in the St. Louis Metro Voice newspaper.  “Mom, today the new neighbor, Tyler, said he doesn’t attend Sunday school or church. I invited him to come with us this week. Can we pick him up on Sunday?” *** “My daughter, Lisa, and the next door neighbor’s little girl are close friends and play together all the time. Yesterday I overheard them talking. Lisa was telling Christy that Jesus loved her. ... More

May 9, 2024 We encourage you to take a family prayer walk together this week! Fun Family Devotions for the Home From Kay Meyer’s column in the St. Louis Metro Voice newspaper from 1994 to 2013. It’s tough, isn’t it? Even in Christian families tempers sometimes flare. Christians sometimes find themselves irritated by insignificant events. Then, too, we don’t talk with one another about our faith or about our Savior as often as we might like. Family devotions scare many Christians. We all know we should worship and pray together as a family, but sometimes we don’t because we just ... More

April 23, 2024 You are invited to attend THIS IS MY BODY SUMMIT Saturday, May 4, 20248:30am – 12:00pm Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church907 Jungermann RoadSt. Peters, MO 63376 Our speaker will be Reverend Michael Salemink, Executive Director of National Lutherans for Life. You may view Rev. Salemink’s promotional video here: In three sessions, Pastor Salemink will lay a foundation to help us understand the growing phenomena of gender dysphoria and pan-sexuality and equip us to speak with the love of Jesus to those involved. This free event will be from at 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Coffee and snacks will ... More

April 11, 2024 Kay Meyer to retire! Thanks for reading the Family Shield newsletter! I founded Family Shield as a non-profit organization in 1994. 2024 is our 30th anniversary. It has been my joy and privilege to serve each of you! I want you to know that I am retiring from Family Shield Ministries. Please join me in praying for the Lord to guide and direct the Board of Directors, and the new Transition Committee, to make wise and Godly decisions in the future. I would love to hear from our readers and encourage you to send a card or ... More

March 27, 2024 Praying for Prodigals Discover Renewed Hope for the Prodigals in Your Life From time to time we like to make our Family Shield listeners and supporters aware of resources offered by other ministries that we believe will be especially helpful to you. We found a 7-day devotional that will help guide your prayers for the prodigals in your life. KCBI.org is making this available to you at no cost. Request your free copy today. Radio Programs, Podcast Topics, and Guests with host, Kay L. Meyer, founder & president of Family Shield Ministries www.familyshieldministries.com. April 1-8 Topic: Unshakable: ... More

March 7, 2024 Held by Grace: When a Child Walks Away from the Faith By Alice Trebus Note: This article will discuss why children turn away from God; reveal the author’s own story of what happened in her daughter’s case; and offer some suggestions as to what parents can do when they find themselves in a similar situation. *The following is a true account. Pseudonyms have been used  to protect the identities of specific individuals. WHY DO CHILDREN TURN AWAY FROM GOD? Every child faces different challenges as he or she grows up. When that child rejects Jesus after being brought ... More

February 19, 2024 Can’t Leave Those Hugs Behind! I want to share some stories of my friend, Ellen Hetz, and her family. Ellen is now with the Lord. One of my earliest memories is of Ellen’s oldest son, Ross and my oldest son, Kevin, as they played with their little cars in our front yard. Rchel and Coreen were also playing nearby. At the time, Ron, Ellen, Chad and I were meeting about our Married Couple Club at church. The boys became good friends that day and remained friends though out their lives. Ellen always had a hug for everyone, ... More

January 12, 2024 Ask, Seek, Knock Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opening to you. (Matthew 7:7) God has given to use the privilege of prayer. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, our sins are forgiven and our relationship with the Father is restored. We can talk with Him about our problems, praising Him for His mercy and abundant blessings. Have you prayed often for a relative who doesn’t know Christ, for healing, or for a new job? Whatever the prayer, we can be confident that God hears ... More

January 12, 2024 I Have a Prodigal, Now What? Paula Isakson was the presenter for the January 2024 Missouri District Webinar. Here it is: The video above, “I Have a Prodigal, Now What?” is presented by Paula Isakson. Sadly today, there are many who were raised in the faith, but have fallen away. Too often parents of these children become isolated and feel alone with their immediate family and their church family. Join Paula Isakson, a prodigal child for over 25 years herself, as she answers the question of how we can help and support parents of prodigals and shows ... More

December 20, 2023 And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7) Dear Family Shield friend, Thank you for your prayers and support of Family Shield Ministries. We are thankful for you! And we are thankful that we can share the message of God’s love through Christ with people that don’t yet know Him and equip Christians to tell others about His love for us. It’s because of your partnership with us that we can share the ... More

December 11, 2023 Share Your Faith During the Holidays “We couldn’t wait to tell the shoppers about the greatest gift of all…Jesus, the Savior or the world!” Several years ago, members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Eureka, Missouri, used the Saturday before Christmas to witness within their community in a unique way. The local Wal-Mart gave them permission to have a gift-wrapping table in the storefront. As shoppers entered the store, they were handed a tract that said, “Two free gifts for you.” The first message was simple, “Our greatest Christmas gift is from God. He sent His only ... More

November 21, 2023 Strengthen Your Family – Eat Meals Together How can you strengthen your family? That’s a question that many people ask us. One way to strengthen your family is to eat meals together regularly. Did you know that many families don’t eat together on any regular basis? Turn off the television, radio, social media, and other electronic devices that can distract you from communicating with each other and eat a meal together. Begin your meal with a prayer. Here is a simple prayer that even very young children can memorize and pray. “A.B.C. One, two, three. Thank you, ... More

November 10, 2023 Celebrating Life in the Midst of Opposition Luke 2:21-40 How did you celebrate the birth of your child or grandchild? Fathers sometimes hand out cigars when a baby is born. New parents send out birth announcements to family and friends. And they open their home to welcome family members and close friends to see the new baby. Soon after the birth, many Christian parents have their child baptized. Through the water and the Word, God makes the child His own. Baptisms at the congregation are often followed by a special baptism celebration with family and close friends. ... More

October 5, 2023 Thank you for your partnership in the gospel! Dear Family Shield Friend, Thank you for your prayers and support of Family Shield Ministries! Your support enables us to accomplish our mission & vision. We are blessed that you are a ministry partner! Together we share the Good News about Jesus with hundreds of thousands of people each year, reach those who do not yet know Christ, and strengthen families for Christ! Because of you, individuals and families are being equipped, encouraged, mentored, and transformed through the gospel of Christ. Did you know that the gospel-focused, Christ-centered Family ... More

September 27, 2023 God Loves Our Prodigals More! By Rev. Kevin Arndt and Laura Langhoff Arndt The word prodigal is a description of the son’s extravagant and lavish lifestyle described in the parable found in Luke 15. In the church, we have come to use the term to describe someone we consider as having fallen away from the true Christian faith or having chosen a worldly life or lifestyle apart from God and His desires for them. Whether it be a brother, a sister, a child, or someone else, nearly every family has a prodigal. As Christians, we want to ... More

September 25, 2023 Unshakable: Standing on the Rock When Life Quakes Yesterday I interviewed Donna Snow, the author of a new Bible study entitled, “Unshakable: Standing on the Rock When Life Quakes Hard.” It is such a great Bible study that I want to let you know about it. Donna and I talked about three Biblical characters. They included James, the half-brother of Jesus; Saul who became Paul after his life was shaken on the Road to Damacus; and the Apostle John, the disciple that Jesus loved. The Bible study shares information about eight remarkable men and women from God’s Word. Each of ... More

September 7, 2023 Can God Ever Forgive Me? There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).  “God will never be able to forgive me for what I did. What should I do?” A distraught man shared this with his Christian friend. He went on, “I grew up in a Christian home and attended a Christian school. I knew Jesus as my Savior, then fell away and got involved in alcohol and drugs. Finally, I came to my senses, got help, and asked for forgiveness, but I just can’t believe God will forgive me.” ... More

August 17, 2023 There is Light at the End of the Tunnel! written by Kay L. Meyer There is light at the end of the tunnel. I thought about this statement recently as I realized our nine-month project to restore the lower level of our home might soon come to a close. What’s the story? Last December my husband and I returned home from a 9-day vacation at our daughters to find that a water pipe had frozen and broken in our bathroom ceiling downstairs. Since we had been gone for days, water had poured down for at least six ... More

July 26, 2023 The Sixth Trait that Builds Strong, Healthy Families Manage Stress and Survive Crisiswritten by Kay L. Meyer Ruth called the Family Shield office to ask for prayer and shared, “My 41-year-old son was in a serious boating accident. Two friends died. His spleen was damaged and he is hospitalized. Would you pray for Jonathan and our family?” Less than five days later she called again. “My son is out of the hospital and doing better. But my husband has had a stroke. He’s hospitalized. Would you pray again for our family and especially for Dan?” As I ... More

July 12, 2023 Let’s Take a Prayer Walk! Gethsemane Lutheran Church Takes a Churchwide Prayer Walk Gethsemane Lutheran Church members in Lemay, Missouri took a church wide prayer walk last month to pray for their Clarity Phase of the new vision for the church. I joined them on this walk. We began in the sanctuary with a prayer. We stopped to pray in the Narthex, basement, gym, classrooms, outside, and the office and parish house. Along the way people reminisced about how the church had been used in the past, prayed for the pastor, elders, members, volunteers, Sunday school teachers ... More

June 28, 2023 Greetings from Family Shield Ministries Greetings from Paula Isakson,  Hope all is going well with you and that you are having a great start to the summer! I wanted to reach out to you to let you know of a recent development with Faith Family Reunion.  As you may recall, I had concluded the ministry outreach in November of 2021 due to some family health issues. Since we brought Faith Family Reunion to a close I continued to receive emails and inquiries with questions and requests. I was not sure how people were finding FFR since I had turned ... More

June 14, 2023 Greetings from Family Shield Ministries Today’s devotion is written by Debbie Wittke. The devotion was originally written for Faith Family Reunion. FFR is now part of Family Shield Ministries. *** We pray that you are encouraged by this devotion today. The Power of the Gospel One of the passages of Scripture that beautifully summarizes the Gospel is one that we likely learned and memorized at a young age: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John3:16).  The message of the Gospel ... More

May 12, 2023 Dear Friend: Greetings in our Savior’s name! Family Shield Ministries (FSM) Board of Directors unanimously approved taking over the ministry that was previously accomplished through Faith Family Reunion (FFR) at its March 2023 FSM Board meeting. Faith Family Reunion (FFR) was founded by Paula Isakson. It has ministered to parents and grandparents whose adult children have left the faith. Paula was away from the faith for 25 years and is now reunited with the Lord and His church. During those years her parents prayed fervently for her, maintained a positive relationship with her, made sure she knew ... More

Family Shield Ministries (FSM) Board of Directors unanimously approved taking over the ministry that was previously accomplished through Faith Family Reunion (FFR) at its March 2023 FSM Board meeting. Faith Family Reunion (FFR) was founded by Paula Isakson. It has ministered to parents and grandparents whose adult children have left the faith. Paula was away from the faith for 25 years and is now reunited with the Lord and His church. During those years her parents prayed fervently for her, maintained a positive relationship with her, made sure she knew they loved her, and gently reminded her of God’s love ... More

April 25, 2023 Rev. Mark Femmel of Zion Lutheran Church and Kay Meyer in the Family Shield studio Family Shield Resources Weekly radio program and podcast Map of radio stations, day and time the program airs in the United States and Canada Twice a month FSM newsletter with devotions, articles, stories of those we serve, schedule of radio & podcast, and more Educational Programs The FSM Speaker’s Bureau Response Center & Follow Up Services for the radio program & podcast. Call 1-877-250-8416 or the FSM office at 314-772-6070. Family Shield Ministries include: Discipleship, Parenting, Prayer Ministry, Family Ministry, Spiritual Growth, Family ... More

April 8, 2023 Watch an Easter video message from Kay Meyer and Rev. Mark Frith from Family Shield Ministries Let’s Proclaim the Resurrection! Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanne, and the other women (Luke 24:10) quietly walked through the darkness just before sunrise, toward the grave site where Jesus’ body had been laid on Friday. They carried the spices (Mark 16:1) which they were to use in preparation for His burial. These women had witnessed His suffering and death. They had heard the centurion’s words at His death, “Truly this was the Son of God!” They had ... More

March 29, 2023 Jesus’ Heart for the Lost The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the words the Lord had spoken to him, how He had told him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny Me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:61-62). There are few moments in the passion story more poignant than when Jesus turned and looks at Simon Peter in the courtyard. Peter had just denied for the third time knowing Jesus. The Lord had warned him this would happen, but Peter said he would never deny him (Mark ... More

March 13, 2023 Mrs. Kay, I Didn’t Do Anything Wrong! Rebecca was a five-year-old that I had in my preschool class many years ago. Our class was full. But one of our moms came to me and told me about a woman she met at the YMCA that had a 5-year-old child who had never been to preschool. She asked me if we could accept her.  It was early in January. I said “yes” to allowing this child into our classroom. After accepting the child, I learned Rebecca’s mom was a Jehovah’s Witness. At the time I was active in ... More

February 28, 2023 The Five Love Languages of Children And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them (Mark 10:13-16). Jesus loves children. One way he showed his love for them was to tell his disciples to “let the children come to me.” He then took the young ... More

February 13, 2023 Dear Family Shield Friend, I want to introduce you to the Family Shield Ministries Board of Directors. The following information is from our website: Kay L. Meyer, President and Host Kay Meyer is the founder and president of Family Shield Ministries and host of the Family Shield radio program and podcast. She is a popular author and speaker on prayer, family life, spiritual growth, and evangelism, and has authored articles, books, and other Christian publications including: Witnessing–A Lifestyle (FSM 2008), Balance-Christ Filled Living (LWML, 2017), Mission Field on Our Doorstep: Jehovah’s Witnesses (FSM 2019), Portals of Prayer, Teacher’s ... More

January 26, 2023 Dear Friend and Spiritual Warrior, Thank you for your prayers and support! This is the letter we send to those who tell us they are interested in learning more about our work. Would you read it and then share it with a friend for us? Family Shield Ministries was founded in 1994 and is a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The name is based on Eph. 6:16 that says, “Take up the shield of faith.” Our vision: We are Christians who care about families and the gospel, transforming lives now and for eternity. Our mission: ... More

January 11, 2023 Happy New Year! As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming, but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ (Eph. 4:13-15). Dear Family Shield Friend, Happy New Year! We want to encourage Family Shield readers to consider some New Year resolutions that can help us grow spiritually. God’s Word encourages us to grow and learn more about ... More

December 8, 2022 Merry Christmas!  The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they shall call Him Immanuel which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Dear Family Shield Friend, Soon we’ll again celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Savior and Lord. In the Bible verse above we are told that Mary was with child and was a virgin. And we learn that Immanuel means, “God with us.” Two important messages about our Savior that we can share with family and friends during the Christmas season. Christmas is a great time to tell others about ... More

November 23,2022 Treasured Memories and Traditions  But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you (1 Thessalonians 3:6-7). Why are You Thankful? Why not take the letters THANKSGIVING or CHRISTMAS as your family gathers during the holidays and brainstorm words that share why you are thankful? Write the letters down the side of the page. Here are two examples: T=Our family is thankful ... More

November 10,2022 These are pictures of some of the books and authors we have featured on the Family Shield radio program and podcast.  The Five Love Languages of Children And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them (Mark 10:13-16). Jesus loves children. One way he showed his ... More

October 25, 2022 Fun Family Devotions for the Home From Kay Meyer’s column in the St. Louis Metro Voice newspaper from 1994 to 2013. It’s tough, isn’t it? Even in Christian families tempers sometimes flare. Christians sometimes find themselves irritated by insignificant events. Then, too, we don’t talk with one another about our faith or about our Savior as often as we might like. Family devotions scare many Christians. We all know we should worship and pray together as a family, but sometimes we don’t because we just don’t know how! The following fun family devotions can be done at ... More

October 7, 2022 Family Shield Ministries Thank you for your prayers and support! You are special to us! We have a complimentary copy of our newest booklet: Let’s Walk & Pray! Ideas for Your Family and Friends Prayer Walk available as our gift to you and your family. We launched our first Family Prayer Walk (FPW) Initiative in 2021. We learned that many Christian parents didn’t feel comfortable praying out loud with their children. We pray this booklet will help equip parents, grandparents and teachers to enjoy prayer walks with their family and friends! It is also available digitally on our website. Please let us know ... More

September 23, 2022 Family Shield Ministries Did you know that the gospel-focused, Christ-centered Family Shield radio program airs on 54 radio stations and is heard by more than 850,000 people each week? Sometimes people are surprised to learn that the radio program has aired for over 28 years and that we have designed and produced more than 1300 programs. The radio program & podcast is one of several evangelism and educational ministries we coordinate. Many who listen and contact us through our Response Center do not know Christ. Others need to be encouraged in their faith journey. Your support makes ... More

September 9, 2022 M&Ms Remind Me of God by Kay L. Meyer “Mom, wake up! It’s time for us to get ready to go to church.” “Dad, can I invite Larry to go to church and Sunday school with me this Sunday?” “Wally, would you like to come to Sunday school with me this Sunday?” “Steven, let’s play church. I’ll be the pastor.” “Coreen, M&Ms remind me of God. Let’s talk about how they remind me of God.” The following is a children’s message you can share with your children or grandchildren during family devotions or with your Sunday school ... More

August 24, 2022 God is in Control The following story was written by Pat Burke, a friend of the ministry. My husband, Rog, & I decided drive to a shopping mall about 40 minutes from our home. We had a great time and a wonderful lunch. Driving back we took the same route. After getting off the main highway you have to go on Fred Moore Hwy (this is not really a Highway but is a two-lane road through mostly farmland). I guess they call it a Highway so you can drive 60 miles per hour…and the scenery is beautiful. ... More

July 28, 2022 Rev. David Jander and a child he baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Carver, MN. “I Don’t Want to Be Baptized!” Some years ago I was the Spiritual Life Director and LCMS Liaison for a Christian maternity home. It was a blessing to hold individual weekly Bible studies with each woman who had chosen life for her baby as they came to live at the home. I designed the first Bible study series to help them learn about God and His Word. I wanted them to come to know their Savior and Lord. Most of the woman had ... More

July 8, 2022 Families – Spend Time Together! I like to use the above picture in our newsletter and on Facebook. Playing games with children of all ages is an excellent way to spend time together.  Spending time together is one of the six traits that build strong, healthy families. Our daughter and her family love to play games together. Dana Herbst told us that playing games helped her family grow into a loving blended family during a radio program we did with her last year. Did you know there are six traits that research has documented can build strong, healthy families? We have a ... More

June 17, 2022 The Rock of Our Salvation And who is the Rock except our God? Psalms 18:31 Rocks have many uses. Their strength lies in their durability. The Bible calls Jesus our Rock. He is the Rock of our salvation. He holds and sustains us when we are tempted to sin. He shields us from the shifting sands of life. He is the foundation stone of our faith and the Rock on whom we build our Christian life. Some build their house of life on the sand. This is dangerous. When troubles come, the sand will fail to hold them. It ... More

May 27, 2022 Talking to People About Jesus Talking to people about Jesus can be a joy, a privilege, and a challenge. Many people, within and outside of the church, think Jesus was only a man and that we should strive to be like him. Sometimes Christians wlll say, “Jesus is God.” But Christians seldom talk about the fact that Jesus has a dual nature. He is both true God and true man. Certainly people we share Christ with need to know he is our Savior and Lord. They need to learn that he was perfect and without sin. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that ... More

May 6, 2022 An Opportunity to Witness I was surprised to get a letter from a Jehovah’s Witness couple last year during the pandemic. It was addressed to me at Family Shield Ministries. They invited me to meet with them by phone and discuss God’s Kingdom. I shared that I would love to do this through the email address they had given me. Then I guess they checked out the Family Shield website or my name and learned that I know a lot about what Jehovah’s Witness teach and believe. They also learned about my book Mission Field on Our Doorstep: ... More

April 21, 2022 Proclaim the Resurrection! Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanne, and the other women (Luke 24:10) quietly walked through the darkness just before sunrise, toward the grave site where Jesus’ body had been laid on Friday. They carried the spices (Mark 16:1) which they were to use in preparation for His burial. These women had witnessed His suffering and death. They had heard the centurion’s words at His death, “Truly this was the Son of God!” They had been there (Matt. 27:55-61) when a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, went to Pilate and asked ... More

April 7, 2022 Help Us Move Mountains for Christ! Dear Family Shield Friend, Thank you for sharing your time, talents, and treasures with us!  You are special and we appreciate your prayers and support! Family Shield Ministries educational and evangelism services include: the radio program and podcast, the follow up services, the Counter Cult Ministry, the mentoring-missionary work, educational programs and resources that reach, equip, and transform people who hear the gospel of Christ. During our strategic planning process, we changed our vision and mission statement. One conclusion from the planning process was that to impact individuals and transform them ... More

March 25, 2022 Kay Meyer and her family. Where is Your Treasure? Matthew 13:44-52 Hello, boys and girls. Our Bible verse from today’s lesson is Mt. 13:44, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Years ago people used to bury their treasures so no one could find them. We don’t bury our treasures today, but I made a treasure chest and put some items inside that are precious to me. Let’s look ... More

March 5, 2022 The Lord Created Pets! My husband and I adopted a two-year-old rescue dog recently. Our 17-year-old beloved dog died 4 months ago. He was our son, Jeff’s dog, before Jeff died of cancer in 2010. Jeff asked us to take care of his dog, and we did! What a wonderful pet and loving companion. He helped us grieve the loss of our son and became a constant companion for us. I’m glad the Lord created pets, aren’t you? Some people have asked us why we got a rescue dog instead of a puppy. I suggested to my husband that we look for a ... More

February 15, 2022 What is a Cult? Over the years as I present educational programs on “Responding and Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses” and “Responding and Witnessing to Mormons” I have had to explain to those who attend what a cult is. It is a very misunderstood word. Did you know that the New Testament has much to say about false prophets, false Gospels, and false Christ? Every New Testament book, except Philemon, says something about false prophets and false teachers. I have found Dr. Ron Rhodes book The Challenge of the Cults very helpful in explaining this word. Listen to a program we recorded with ... More

January 21, 2022 Christians: Know and Love God’s Word Twenty years ago I asked my husband for a new Bible. He got me one that we thought had a leather cover, but as the years went by, we realized it was not leather.  Although I have many Bibles, this one has been my favorite over these years. I like the larger print and could find my way around it easily. It is a New American Standard version, one of my favorites. I also have lots of notes in the margins. But the cover of my Bible continued to get worse. ... More

January 7, 2022 You’re Invited! You’re invited to attend “Witnessing-A Lifestyle,” a four-week Bible study on Fridays from January 28 through February 18 at Concordia Lutheran Church, 505 S. Kirkwood Rd., Kirkwood, Missouri 63122. It begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m. Kay Meyer, founder of Family Shield Ministries, and host of the Family Shield radio program & podcast, will lead the Bible study. It is based on her book by the same name and is designed to equip Christians to witness as they interact with family, friends, and those in their community who do not know Christ ... More

December 10, 2021 Merry Christmas And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in ... More

November 24, 2021 In His Name I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them (Matthew 18:18-20). Family Shield Ministries Update I thought I’d share some of gatherings, conversations, and visits we have had with a few of those we’ve ... More

November 10, 2021 Treasured Memories and Traditions But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 1 Thessalonians 3:6-7 WHY ARE YOU THANKFUL? Why not take the letters THANKSGIVING or CHRISTMAS as your family gathers during the holidays and brainstorm words that share why you are thankful? Write the letters down the side of the page. Here are two examples: T=Our family is ... More

October 27, 2021 Can God Ever Forgive Me? “God will never be able to forgive me for what I did. What should I do?” A distraught man shared with with his Christian friend. He continued, “I grew up in a Christian home and attended a Christian school. I knew Jesus as my Savior, then fell away and got involved in alcohol and drugs. Finally I came to my senses, got help, and asked for forgiveness, but I just can’t believe God will forgive me.” His friend replied, “Jonathan, Jesus already paid the penalty for your sins on the cross and ... More

October 12, 2021 Equip the Saints to Grow into Maturity Through the Word Jim was chairman of the Board of Education. I was chairman of the Board of Evangelism. At our monthly church council meeting some of the leaders would become frustrated with Jim. His heart was in the right place, but he was a babe in Christ, not a mature Christian. Once he suggested that the council distribute a magazine to all of our members. Jim thought because the magazine talked about God, and it was free, that it would make a great resource for our members. The pastor ... More

September 24, 2021 Family Shield Ministries cares about families growing in Christ; and equips them to witness to each other and to the world. Relying on God Being unemployed is extremely stressful. But it has led many to rely on the Lord. Sometimes we don’t know how we will pay our bills. But God supplies us with what we need. At times the Lord supplies our needs miraculously, but He often supplies them through Christians that hear of our needs, and care and respond in love to us. Learning to rely on God is especially hard when we face difficulties. ... More

September 10, 2021 Rev. Gregory Seltz and Kay Meyer at a Family Shield Ministries event God’s Word-Inspired by God! Would you have the courage to do what Miriam did? She was afraid. But she had prayed and asked the Lord to give her the words to speak. Hadn’t He promised to provide the words in the hour that we need them? And God kept His promises. The Bible tells us that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” As Christians, we need to be in the Word. The options are endless. Read ... More

August 25, 2021 Stories of Those We Reach, Equip, and Serve The Family Shield Response Center staffed by volunteers, and employees follow-up with thousands of people each year. Many are unchurched or have questions about God and His Word. Some people call, some write, but more and more opportunities to share God’s love open up because of Facebook and other social media sites. We are thankful for all of these opportunities and for those of you that support us and make our ministry possible! Recently I received a message from a friend who we had worked with whose daughter was ... More

August 5, 2021 The Haas family on Dauphin Island, Alabama. Used with permission. Family Prayer Walk Resources A Resource for Family Prayer Life and Prayer Walks: Document that teaches us about prayer and prayer walking. Family Prayer Walk Leadership Training: Radio program that helps train parents and family leaders as they plan a prayer walk. Radio Programs, Podcast Topics and Guests with host, Kay L. Meyer, founder & president of Family Shield Ministries Why Are Fathers Important  to Children? July 13-19 Guests: Dave Powell and Jackson Powell Six year old, Jackson, stole this show! I encourage you to listen to ... More

July 23, 2021 The Herbst Family Prayer Walk Family Shield Ministries has promoted its family prayer walk to individuals, families, and congregations. Today we are featuring one family that recently took a family prayer walk to Creve Coeur Lake. Dana Herbst and her blended family walked one and one-half miles together. Her family includes her husband, Nick, and five children that still live in the home. Besides walking, enjoying conversations together, and praying, they also looked for rocks that they would be able to paint later at home. Below are pictures from the walk and their evening at home grilling healthy foods…chicken, fish, asparagus, ... More

July 8, 2021 Be Persistent in Prayer Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 How would you rate your prayer life? What have you been praying about recently? Perhaps you are unemployed, unhappy or ill. Are you worried about what the future will bring or lonely and feeling helpless? Ask, the Bible says, seek and knock on God’s door. God can send a friend into a lonely life, someone to help and befriend. Indeed, God’s Son is a friend, an ever present help. ... More

June 17, 2021 Opportunities Abound to Share the Gospel My husband, Chad, came home last week and shared, “Kay, I had a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel today with a man who is an immigrant. He works at the local grocery store. I’ve been getting acquainted with him for several months. His wife has cancer. I asked how she was doing and he shared their challenges.” After he shared this, I asked, “Are you a believer?” He answered, “No. I’m not. I tried to read the Bible a couple times but just didn’t understand it.” Chad encouraged him to ... More

May 28, 2021 Traveling with Our Children Recently, in preparation for a program, we were planning on “Traveling with Our Children” I asked friends on my Facebook page, “What do you do with your children to keep them engaged as you travel?” I had over 90 responses on the two pages with such great ideas. We did record our recent program on this topic, but I wanted to share some of the wonderful ideas and suggestions that people shared on Facebook that we didn’t have time to discuss. One mom said, “I did a puppet show from the front seat for ... More

The Five Love Languages of Children And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them (Mark 10:13-16). Jesus loves children. One way he showed his love for them was to tell his disciples to “let the children come to me.” He then took the young children in ... More

May 12, 2021 Eternal Life is Ours Today! After recovering from heart bypass surgery, Harold said to his wife, "Mary, isn’t it wonderful to be alive? Life is one of God’s great miracles." Sometimes we have to come face-to-face with death to appreciate and give thanks for life. Life can be wonderful. But it can also be very difficult. How is life treating you today? Are you experiencing and enjoying the abundant life God has promised those who are His children? Christians are promised an abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven. Our sins are all forgiven. Our ... More

April 29, 2021 Stories from the Ministry Betty Calls and Asks for Help God continues to open doors for us to share His love and to strengthen individuals and families through the weekly radio program. The radio program had just ended when the engineer said, “Kay, you have a call.” “Hello, Mrs. Meyer, are we off the air?” “Yes.” “Good. You talked today about prayer. I really need your prayers. Would you pray for me and my husband?” During the next few minutes, this woman shared her story with me. Some months before she learned that her husband had been ... More

April 8, 2021 A Family Shield Resurrection Quiz for You and Your Family Christians spend a lot of time before Easter learning about Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross for our sins. But, do we know as much about what happened after the resurrection? I prepared the Resurrection Quiz for You and Your Family.  Why not see if you can answer the questions below. Consider doing one question per day or per week as a family or a personal devotion. If you are not sure about the answers, Bible references are included following the question for you to look ... More

March 26, 2021 Dear Family Shield Friend, Family Shield Ministries invites you and your family to take a Family Prayer Walk together! The Family Prayer Walk (FPW) allows us to expand our prayer ministry as we strengthen and reach families for Christ. Download the digital flyer on our website to learn more. We are producing print, digital and media resources to help you teach your children and family about prayer and the Lord. We recently completed a radio program about the FPW and will answer questions in our email newsletter and our Facebook page. Recently I interviewed Martin, a young ... More

March 11, 2021 My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.  Acts 20:24 Memorial Gifts Memorial gifts can be given to Family Shield Ministries in memory of a family member or friend; in honor of a special person; or in recognition of an event or special occasion. The following gifts were received: Harold & Virginia Brosowske Rev. Mark and Kay Matthews Rev. Edwin Dubberke Joan Dubberke Helen Gertrude Russell McCutchen Rev. Eldon Winker  Tjaden & Kay Meyer Harold Melser ... More

February 25, 2021 Family Shield’s Family Prayer Walk We received this question from several people. Thanks for asking it. It is a great question! Many people don’t like to pray out loud. They feel uncomfortable. This is not surprising since so many people are afraid of public speaking. Praying out loud is kind of like public speaking, isn’t it? Yes, you can go on the Family Prayer Walk even if you don’t feel comfortable praying out loud. You can pray silently or write down a prayer and read it with your family on your walk. We have posted several sample ... More

February 10, 2021 Family Shield’s Family Prayer Walk Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst (Matthew 18:20).  Why Pray?  The Lord wants us to talk to Him in prayer. When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He taught them “The Lord’s Prayer.” God’s Word encourages us to equip our children and grandchildren in their faith and to pray. As you walk, thank God for the blessings in your life and ask for His continued guidance. Talk about your needs or a problem or concern you are struggling with. Pray for others you ... More

January 19, 2021 Parents-Go First Into the Home How do we begin the process of spiritual nurture in the home for our children? How can we help them learn to love the Lord and grow in faith? What are some fun family activities and devotions that we can do with them to help them know and love Jesus? And why should we go ‘first’ into the home (Matthew 28:18-19)? Family Faith Time (FFT) should be interactive, relevant to the child’s age and ability, and proclaim the law and gospel in an age appropriate way. When I teach parenting classes I ... More

January 8, 2021 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 God has given us the privilege of prayer.  Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, our sins are forgiven and our relationship with the Father is restored. We can talk with Him about our problems, praise Him for His mercy and abundant blessings. During the past year we have prayed often for the pandemic to end. Now we also need to continue to pray for our nation.  The leaders and supporters of Family Shield ... More

December 7, 2020 For a child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sin. (Matthew 1:21) Dear Family Shield friend, It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it? Not the one most of us expected or wanted. Rev. Mark Frith, the Board chairman, and I pray you ... More

December 21, 2020 Merry Christmas! Dear Family Shield Friend, My husband, Tjaden (Chad), and I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Join us and others in praying for an end to the pandemic. Plans for 2021 include advertising and producing resources for a Family Prayer Walk and expanding the radio program to include: AM 850 KFUO, the radio station owned and operated by the LCMS. The station will be added to our network of over 50 stations throughout the United States. Please keep this in your prayers! Stories of those we equip and witness to: Helping ... More

November 27, 2020 Prepare for the Inevitable As they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit!” (Acts 7:59) “Students, your friend and classmate, who struggled with heart problems for years, died today,” came the announcement over the school’s public address system. The students, shocked and stunned into silence, could not comprehend how someone their age could die. Words of comfort were shared: “In heaven there is no more pain for our young friend, no more sorrow or tears. God Himself will wipe away his tears. Though he had much pain on earth, now, today he is in ... More

November 12, 2020 Be Thankful! Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.(1 Thess. 5:16-18) For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.(Ephesians 1:15-16) We are thankful for you, those that read this email newsletter and our radio & podcast listeners!  And we are thankful for our Board of Directors, employees, volunteers, those we serve through the Response Center,  and supporters!  Today ... More

October 21, 2020 Rev. Dr. Stephen Becker and his family are ex-Mormons. Today he is a pastor in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod What is a Cult? Over the years as I present educational programs on “Responding and Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses” and “Responding and Witnessing to Mormons” I have had to explain to those who attend what a cult is. It is a very misunderstood word. Did you know that the New Testament has much to say about false prophets, false Gospels, and false Christ? Every New Testament book, but Philemon says something about false prophets and false teachers. I ... More

October 9, 2020 Speak with Gentleness and Respect! Why should we speak up and promote God’s word, the Gospel, and a life affirming message to family, friends and those within the community? Why should we always be respectful and God pleasing as we speak? God’s Word in Proverbs 31 tells us to, “open our mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.” But God’s Word also says, …”Sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in ... More

September 24, 2020 Meet Yvette Seltz I want to encourage you to read the new weekly blog written by Dr. Marie Yvette Hernández-Seltz, PhD, MS, the Director of Candescent Counseling, Consulting & Coaching, LLC.  She holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and an MS in Industrial / Organizational Psychology and has spent the past 15 years studying self-esteem, self-confidence, responsibility, and the effects of environment and culture on the individual. It will be posted each week on the Family Shield website. As a Christian Counselor Yvette has been our guest on the Family Shield radio program numerous times over the years. Her blog will ... More