In March 2020, Pastor Michael from Crossroads Community Church in Merritt asked me if I would create four artworks to represent each of their four core values. The values are: We live for Jesus, We Live Generously, We Grow Together, and We are Welcoming. He gave me complete artistic freedom to make whatever I wanted which I appreciate so much.
Please view the video [See below] where I explain some of the symbolism within each work, along with my thoughts and scripture.
This project was a new challenge for me as it is the first commissioned painting series I’ve been asked to do with the purpose of edifying believers and glorifying Christ. I can’t express how much I enjoyed the entire process. All glory goes to God for he is the ultimate inspiration. He also helped me by providing me with the time and ability to create. The 2020 Covid shut down conveniently gave me a few extra months to put additional time into refining the paintings.
In case you are wondering, the art medium is digital painting. If you are interested in learning more about digital painting, I’ve written two blog posts on my art website about it, one is called “Is digital painting ‘real’ art?” And the other is “Reasons to love digital painting.”
This Crossroads’ project has made me realize that it feels so fulfilling and invigorating to use my creative giftings and mind for Kingdom work.
For anyone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about:
Every single living human being is invited by God to accept his gift of Jesus Christ, which involves the complete forgiveness of everything evil and wrong we’ve ever done during our lives, whether on purpose or unintentionally.
All of mankind has a problem and that is the wicked human heart which we were born with and causes us to sin. Jesus lived a perfect life because he could not sin, being in his very nature God. Yet, when he died, he took on the punishment of sin, involving death and God’s wrath, so that all who put their trust in him alone and turn away from their old life of sin towards God, may be saved from the punishment of hell that awaits sinful humans after death.
God rose Jesus from the grave and seated him on the highest throne. There are two kingdoms in the spiritual realm. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. There is no in between or fence to balance on. If you don’t choose the one in this life, you are choosing the other. You will reap the heavenly rewards or severe punishment of the kingdom of your choice after you die. These are not my own insights but merely truths found in God’s word. Don’t take my word for it, but check it for yourself, as Luke 11:9 says “…ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
In conclusion, my hope and prayer is that God will use these artworks to reveal truth and edify his beloved children.
