By: Pastor David Blair

So, Pastor David, how did you know that God was calling you to serve here at Holy Cross as our Intentional Interim Pastor?

"I am so glad that you asked!"

The answer begins way back when I was in the 8th grade in public school. The teacher asked the class to write about “what we wanted to do” when we grew up and were adults. My answer, as I recall, was about a vision of helping people, much as the Peace Corps would go and make the physical lives of needy people better.

Over the years that vision became transformed from helping people through the profession of Social Work to the eternal vision of helping people become rich in faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As I look back on my life, God was calling and preparing me for pastoral ministry even when I had other plans; not just of Social Work. I could have followed my father and become an attorney and maybe even a Judge. I could have become a professional football player (or at least college, so I would like to think!). I played the safest position in football: the center from 6^th grade through high school and in the Shrine Football game for the state of Oregon. I could have become a professional baseball player. Now that is really a stretch! I did, however, pitch on the same mound as Randy Johnson, 10 years before he did! My highest strikeout total was only 12 however ☹. None of these plans were God’s plans. How do I know? No, God did not come down verbally and say, “David, thou shalt become a preacher!” Nor did he give me a vision of PC (preach Christ, not plant corn … I would not have made a good farmer!)

"God’s call and the answer to that call came through people, people just like you here at Holy Cross."

I was baptized as an infant, grew up in the church, at least a 5^th generation LC-MS member through my mother’s side. Two of my great uncles became pastors in the Northwest District. In youth group (then called Walther League), in college and seminary, I and others saw the Holy Spirit work a fire and a passion in us to serve God to the best of our ability. I have seen the Lord work throughout 40 years of ministry with Calls answered “yes” and Calls answered “no.”

Unbeknownst to me, my mother had been praying, if it was the Lord’s will, that I become a pastor! Well, I guess that it was God’s will! How do I know? By faith. How did I know that I was supposed to answer “yes” to God’s Call from Holy Cross? Again, by faith and through people. God uses both.

God continues to call me and to call you till the day we take our last breath. My prayer for our brief time together is that we would all intentionally and intently listen to the voice of God so that we clearly hear what he has to say.

"How will we know? By faith! By faith we hear him speak to us through his Word AND through the voices of his people gathered here at Holy Cross!"

By: Megan Mantey

Missions have been a priority of Holy Cross since I can remember. As a daughter of the congregation (1995-2004) and now a missionary sent out and supported by Holy Cross, the work of the Holy Spirit through missions is quite evident. It especially follows the words of Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The Holy Spirit enables Holy Cross to do missions locally (Jerusalem), regionally and nationally (Judea and Samaria) and even in Honduras and Uganda (end of the earth).

Since Mark and I serve as the witnesses of the work in Uganda, we wanted to share a story of how the Holy Spirit works through his people there and how Holy Cross is a part of that work. Mark and I serve at the Lutheran Theological College Uganda which is the seminary for the Lutheran Church of Uganda. Men from all over the country are called by the Holy Spirit and sent by their congregations to attend seminary, so they can receive further training. One of the main emphases at the seminary is evangelism and church planting.

"As Americans, the notion of evangelism work is terrifying!"

Talk to my neighbor… about Jesus? Many of us have more “what if’s” or doubts about the notion… I know it has stopped me in my tracks from broaching the subject.

Yet, the pastors, leaders, and evangelists in the Lutheran Church of Uganda have it figured out. One seminary student, Henry, in particular could not ignore who he is as a child of God and steadfastly follows the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Every weekend he would take a backpack, filled with Bibles in several languages (depending on who he would meet), his Small Catechism (as it is a valued teaching tool in Uganda) and several mangoes (to share with those along the road). One day I was able to go with him on his rounds of visiting people house to house and I was amazed at how the Holy Spirit led our conversations.

I admittedly was intimidated. I was fearful at not having the right words. However, as we visited, walked and talked, it was definitely the Holy Spirit leading our words and actions. We met a young woman who was struggling with her husband. We were able to sit, listen, encourage and pray with her. We met an older man who was mourning his wife. Again, it was the presence of being in community and being there with him, as some would say “the ministry of presence” that had the strongest impact.

"Another family had many questions about Christianity and we sat and answered all their questions and read Scripture, as we shared some mangoes."

Each place we visited, the Holy Spirit guided our words, Scripture verses to read, our prayers and even times to remain silent. In those moments, we knew the Lord was sculpting our time together for His will.

The next day, I went to worship at the congregation in the village with Henry. As I was being introduced to everyone, I saw some familiar faces from our walk the previous day. Some were curious children who had seen us walking on the road together.

"But there was one family in the back that I recognized from sharing mangoes the day before."

They had come to learn more (and ask more questions!) about Christianity and the church. I knew it was the Holy Spirit calling and leading them there! Henry knew just what to do. He introduced them to a “grandmother” of the congregation who he knew would sit with them, hold the babies, help them in worship, and also answer their questions. He also knew she would call on them later in the week.

I was amazed at how the Holy Spirit utilizes us, even with our doubts. There weren’t profound words used or fancy programs planned. Instead God, the Holy Spirit, met us where we were, so we could share the love of Christ through Word and deed. Through those interactions, Holy Cross Lutheran Church was with us. As your missionaries, you send us out to be on guard and ready for those opportunities.

"Yet, the Holy Spirit also guides, calls and enlightens all of us in Colorado Springs too."

How is he calling you to serve and share the love of Christ with those around you? How can you help connect those to the body of Christ just by being willing and able? Even through a shared walk and a mango, the Holy Spirit works through us. I wonder what that could look like here.

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Bio: Megan and Mark Mantey are LCMS missionaries serving in Uganda. They are also one of the mission families that Holy Cross supports. Megan is a Director of Christian Education (DCE) and mental health counselor and Mark is an accountant. Both serve at the Lutheran Theological College Uganda, which is a Lutheran seminary, located 15 miles from Jinja, Uganda. To learn more about their ministry visit www.lcms.org/mantey.