Blog
By: Christie Hampton
What book have you read that has powerfully impacted your life? Did you share this book with friends and relatives? Were you moved to sacrifice something? Did this book comfort you? Would you say this book is the BEST STORY ever written?
You may be a big reader like my husband Dan who reads everything he can or you may be more like me and would rather pick up a paintbrush during free time. In the Holy Cross Kids Hallway upstairs, you might have seen a mural underway that I’ve been working on and wondered… What inspired this project?
“The mural is my way of putting a paintbrush to the BEST STORY ever written, the Bible.”
The Bible tells a story that causes people to focus outward beyond themselves and to share with friends and relatives. My prayer is that the mural will cultivate faith-based conversations with kids and between families and teachers.
Many kids have been through the Holy Cross hallways and classrooms learning about God’s story over the years, and they have now grown up and moved on but still call Holy Cross home. As these kids have grown into adulthood, many have chosen to go into ministry in other states and the world, sharing about the BEST STORY with others.
“As a youth at Holy Cross, I was hungry to learn God’s Word. I was so blessed to be surrounded by many adults who painted a picture of God’s love through their teaching, encouragement, and presence. Now I get to ‘pay it forward’ and share the gospel with others! I could talk on and on about my great experience at Holy Cross!” – Jennifer Bierdeman Probst, Director & Preschool teacher at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and Preschool
“Holy Cross Lutheran Church continues to have a huge impact on my life! When my family joined Holy Cross in the early ’70s, the ministry staff of Pastor Hiller, Pastor Theis, Parish Worker Carla Sproul, DCE Margaret Hinchey and numerous members and Sunday School teachers, all watered and cultivated the seed of faith planted in me by the Holy Spirit. Today, after nearly 40 years in Lutheran School ministry, I too, have had the privilege of watering and cultivating many of God’s called children and families. Never underestimate the power of God’s plan as he uses YOU to help grow His disciples!” – Tony Shull, Evansville Lutheran School Principal
“I was born and raised at Holy Cross and have greatly appreciated the deep roots of faith that was connected to the congregation. I found that through my time of attending both Sunday and Wednesday children’s ministry and youth ministry, I interacted with volunteers and adults who made a profound impact on my life. Little things can make a profound impact through Christ. One memory to share is in 6th grade, for a school project, I shadowed Pastor Doug and he walked me through his sermon preparation and this was the first time I saw a Greek Bible. I was amazed by how he just translated the verses right then and there. Now I am continuing my Ministry development by attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. I have been blessed by Holy Cross and the ministry it provided to me and my family.” – Jeremiah Bauer, SMP at Concordia Seminary, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
These comments are just a few of many showing Holy Cross members’ huge impact in a couple of kids’ life stories, which in turn would have an impact on so many others, including my own life!
“Jennifer, the first commenter above, is a youth leader I had through middle school years in Lilburn, Georgia.”
I was impacted by her love and care and, in turn, have worked with youth for over 12 years at two different churches. It is amazing to learn that my youth leader experienced the BEST STORY at Holy Cross so many years ago, and now I am here at Holy Cross praying that I am sharing God’s story and impacting the life stories of future generations.
“Each week another piece of the mural of God’s story is added based on what the kids are learning from the Bible.”
So this week, God’s temple will be added as they are learning about Solomon. When the kids walk up to their classrooms, it’s great to watch conversations with them and their parents and teachers, as they share about the BEST STORY ever written by God.
“And to know YOU are a part of that ongoing STORY as well.”
