Art Missionary? What's That?

Loved the Least, Loved Jesus

"Sin doesn't only ruin the individual life; it ruins human society and the culture." - Tim Keller

I tell people I make story ropes with women and children to help them share their stories. Sometimes, I help others collage their stories with papers or label tags. I've done a mural with students in Nicaragua. I've worked on a graffiti canvas in Hungary with a team of artists. I am hoping I am helping in transforming lives and even cultures by sharing the hope found in Jesus.


However, sometimes, I fall off to sleep or wake in the early morning hours wondering what exactly God has called me to. Even I doubt what God is capable of through the visual arts. (My brother thinks I work for the CIA with all this world travel.) 


Then, I get confirmation from someone, that still small voice of God in a way, that I am part of an army of artists who love Jesus and want to bring hope and love into this world. Today, an art friend, Pat, sent me one of these still small voices of sorts. A magazine article. Here is an excerpt from a larger article on art and missions. My mentor, Marge, is mentioned in the article. It really is amazing what art can do in people's hearts. I pray He does wonderful things in Cambodia through art.


"Paula Dubill enters prisons to share Christ's love with violent offenders and rapists through her artwork. "My heart is for those in prison, refugees and the displaced," explains the 48-year-old YWAM missionary-artist. Based out of Hawaii and Virginia, Dubill travels the world, often ministering in war zones and hostile areas.

"My heroes were Brother Andrew and Corrie ten Boom," she says. "At first, no one seemed to want an art missionary."

YWAM opened the door.

In a prison in South Africa, Dubill staged art classes for violent criminals. Patrick came to class with the words "Son of Satan" tattooed on his forehead. As Dubill sketched his portrait, Patrick told her he had AIDS, syphilis and tuberculosis. When it was the inmates' turn to create, Patrick made a clay tombstone inscribed with "R.I.P."

"All I could think when I saw it was that there was a spirit of death over him," Dubill recalls.

Another missionary-once a member of a satanic church-counseled Patrick that only the Holy Spirit could transform his image of death into a glorious image of new life. A few days later, Patrick bowed to his Creator and became a son of God.

Patrick's story is a mosaic of brokenness and marvelous restoration. A portrait of God's amazing grace. A tapestry of the Holy Spirit's gentle wooing. It is proof that our Creator is a God of art. --Julian Lukins"

Full article:http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/news-old/19416