In the north central Missouri city of Columbia art is being used as a path to introducing art and the Gospel to people of many backgrounds. http://wilkesblvdumc.org/#/at-wilkes-7th/gospel-art
At the 100 year old Wilkes Avenue United Methodist Church, now known as "The Church at Wilkes and Seventh," the artistic is being used as way to help people - homed, homeless, confused, searching, timid, and brave - to respond to the creative urge. Along the way, they hear the Gospel, they learn and experience the love God through loving and accepting people.
The "Gospel Art" program has a goal of guiding people in creating visual arts to honor God. Painting, drawing, sewing, crafting, and other mediums are available. It is a remarkable, inspiring and spiritually exciting ministry that brings healing and wholeness to the walking creations all around them.
Since humans were created in the image of a creative God, what is more natural than to have an urge to create? The current renaissance of the artistic and the spiritual is a positive and very hopeful development. Michelangelo, the great master artist of the Italian Renaissance, said: "The true work of art is but the shadow of the Divine Perfection." In another way, one might say that since the God who formed us was creative when we create ourselves, or enjoy something an artist has created, we are merely seeking to reunite with the Creator God who formed us, blessed us, and still loves us.
When we hear a lovely melody, when we see the lovely colors of nature, when we read the poems of life's journey on the faces of people and when we strive to bring some small bit of the good, the positive, and love filled into the world we are experiencing that creative urge in our DNA awakening. It is like the child lifting its eager face at the sound of the loving call of a Parent.
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