Radio WorldWide KFUO (We Are Where You Are)

KFUO (850 AM) is the longest continually operating AM radio station in the United States. Owned and operated by The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), KFUO-AM boasts an array of audio resources from worship services to inspirational music to in-depth study of God's Word through programs including "The Bible Study," "Ask the Pastor," "Studio A," and "Law & Gospel." KFUO also offers syndicated short-form programs like Dr.Paul Devantier's "By The Way," Dr. Mary Manz-Simon's "Front Porch Parenting," and Concordia Seminary President Dr. Dale Meyer's "The Meyer Minute." KFUO also carries 30-minute programs each weekday from Focus on the Family.

Among those designated as founders of KFUO-AM were the Rev. Prof. J. H. C. Fritz, the Rev. Richard Kretzschmar and the Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier. Other Lutheran Institutions connected to the start-up of the station included Concordia Seminary, the Walther League, the Lutheran Laymen's League, and the St. Louis Lutheran Publicity Association. On October 26, 1924, KFUO went on the air for the first time, broadcasting to St. Louisans the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Clayton campus of Concordia Seminary, which would house the station's permanent studio. When KFUO-AM officially went on the air Dec. 14 of that year, the first broadcast originated from the attic of one of the seminary buildings. Three years later, on May 29, 1927, the studio was dedicated. A sister FM station, eventually to be known as "Classic 99," was added in 1948. KFUO-AM became a Synodical enterprise in 1927.

During the 1930's, when KFUO-AM and KSD (now KTRS (AM)) shared the 550 frequency, the stations became entangled with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in an effort to have a frequency to themselves. At that time, KFUO-AM was also making deals with the FCC to increase its transmitter power and hours of operation. As a result, the FCC moved KFUO-AM to the 830 kHz frequency in 1940, and then to its present 850 khz frequency a year later. The following September, the FCC increased the station's power to 5,000 watts from its previous 1,000 watts of power. During this time, KFUO-AM also began broadcasting The Lutheran Hour which is still heard on over 700 stations worldwide.