A group of artists came together to participate in a very unusual art project. Phase one, the artists were tasked with creating their best “Crown of Thorns” piece. Phase two, which was kept secret, became a very unusual, powerful experience for all those involved. The paintings themselves were done on a 2′x2′ piece of plywood in the medium and style of the artists choice.

Every good and perfect gift is from our father, but lets not make idols of them. Remember the golden calf? The gold was plunder from Egypt which the Lord gave them, yet they crafted idols from God’s gifts & blessings.

We are reconcilers, reformers, co-laborers, ambassadors for Christ that means we are re-presenting Christ and His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

Our time, talent and affections are to be his, and is agenda is knowing Him and making Him known; seeking and saving that which is lost.

Above: Artist Susan Gromala Crary

Above: Artist Jim McMahel

Above: Artist Jerryl Kain

Above: Artist Jeanne Smith

Above: Artist Antonio Santos

Above: Artist Keelan

Above: Artist Scott Howe

Above: Artist Cody Duncan

Above: Artist Neysa Millan Santiago

PHASE TWO

After presenting their finished paintings to the group, the artists are challenged to their surprise, to offer on the altar as a sacrifice, the very paintings they just created, as a representation of giving Jesus Christ full lordship of their creative abilities.

God promises Abraham a son, (Gen 17:15-21) and  that nations and Kings will come through him. After Isaac is born, God tests Abraham (Gen 22:1-18, asking him to surrender Isaac back to Him, by sacrificing him on the altar. God asks Abraham to release back to him the very thing he has blessed him with; that which he holds most dear, that for which he has hopes & dreams and even a word from the Lord! We believe God is asking us to place ultimate trust into His hands; to release what we hold most dear and personal, our creative ability, for His purposes alone – to make His name known in the earth not our own.

Pastor Larry Ramirez was the one-man wrecking crew who volunteered to smash the paintings. As he starts the dirty work he begins sharing about the sacrifice of Jesus and the atoning work that took place on the cross of Calvary. Almost immediately we feel the breath & presence of God. We began to get just a slight understanding of God’s love and the cost of Christ’s blood to buy us back.

Almost all of us are moved to tears as we experience God’s love for us, the sacrifice of His son and the ongoing furious pursuit for the souls of all men and women.

We gathered together on the altar and offered ourselves as LIVING SACRIFICES to our Lord and King. Our creativity, our hopes and dreams, our very lives offered to Him for His purposes!

Something significant happened in our lives that day. Something shifted in our perspective that will drive us in a greater way to do all things for the glory of God and no longer to the glory of ourselves.

Over 1500 pieces of devotional art testified of a group of people who walk with the living God!

On August 18th through September 8th Evoke Ministries installed a display of artwork in downtown Orlando for a city-wide outreach that testified of the reality and power of Jesus Christ! The Event was hosted by one of the biggest galleries in downtown Orlando, The City Arts Factory. Our prayer was that the reality of Jesus Christ in the lives of men and women would be overwhelming!

Hundreds gathered in downtown Orlando to hear, see and experience the living JESUS! We were excited to share our testimonies with many who are not regular church goers but came out to the art show! We are praising God for all those whose lives were impacted throughout this journey!

Many thanks to all those who loved, prayed, and supported us throughout this project! It continues to have life-changing effects!

An Atheist’s Encounter

In the days previous to the opening, during setup and installation, the Holy Spirit was already touching lives. Two women visiting Orlando from Italy wandered into the gallery and began surveying the artwork. Antonio (one of Evoke artists) began sharing with them the meaning behind the artwork, to which one of them declared, “I am an atheist”.  Antonio being a former atheist began to show her one of his art blocks that was about his encounter with Jesus. By the time their conversation was over she had prayed with Antonio for Jesus to be real in her life! She was moved to tears and they left different than how they had arrived. It was a wonderful foretaste of the event to come.

EVOKE365

The 365 project began on July 1st, 2010 and recently came to a close on June 30th, 2011. The purpose of the endeavor was multifaceted; to produce works of art and multiple interactive art shows that engage the community in discussions of faith and the living God; To show the visual journey a year has on creativity, commitment, the Spiritual walk, to strengthen artists within the community of believers to be bold in their creativity and confession of faith.The project was 10 artists of various skill levels, committing to create 1 painting, every day for 1 year. As the year progressed we found many ways to engage with our surrounding communities.

BELOW: UCF OUTREACH

Susan Crary of Evoke365 engaging with students at the University of Central Florida hosted by Chi Alpha. Setting the paintings up at college campuses has become a great way for us to start dialogues with the students. Many times we get to share the love message of the gospel and our own personal testimony of the work of Jesus Christ in our lives. Many encounters end in prayer. Glory to God!

BELOW: INNER CITY

The 365 team participated in an event put on by Resound Mission Base to share the love of Christ in west Orlando to endangered youth. The wooden blocks were a wonderful way to engage with the kids. Everyone was able to participate in the group picture as well. It’s amazing the doors that will open to those who keep a burning heart, a prayerful attitude and have a few simple tools to engage.

BELOW: Fall Fiesta in the Park!

The 365 team had a booth space at this city-wide event. Our purpose was to bring the life of Jesus and a demonstration of the Gospel to a mostly non-spiritual environment. See more at http://www.evokeministries.org/365/evoke-365-at-fall-fiesta/

BELOW: EVANGELISTIC ART BLOCKS

One of our favorite things to do with the blocks is to head out to malls, parks and public places and give them away! We simple bless someone with the painting and then explain it’s meaning to them. It is a fresh and simple way for any artist to be a witness!

Our goal in all our creative endeavors is always to proclaim the wonderful greatness of the heavenly father’s love and the amazing saving power of Jesus Christ!

Evoke Ministries and Resound Mission Base (www.Resound247.com) are partnering together again. Scott Howe, Director of Evoke, will be teaching the first semester of 2011 at the missions base. The class is entitled Creativity, The Christian & The Commission. If you are a creative person that has a flare to design, dance, sing, draw, write poetry, photography, make films or just want to creatively engage this generation, these messages are for you. Your creativity is God-given, and desperately needed in the body of Christ. Scott teaches how God used creatives throughout the bible and what role these creative talents play today in the purposes of God for engaging this culture and reaching a generation with the love-message of the gospel.

The classes are every Thursday, starting January 20th thru March 10th from 11am-12pm and are absolutely FREE! We encourage you to come early and join the Resound Team for worship and prayer from 9am-11am.

December 2010, the Evoke365 project had the privilege to play a role in a community outreach for inner city youth with Resound Mission Base. This community-wide Christmas celebration blessed the families with food, presents, performances, prayer and a host of fun and games.

Evoke365 hosted many young artists, giving them the opportunity to create a Christmas painting on one of our 6×6 wood blocks. Some of these wood blocks will be featured in our year-end show, August 18th at City Arts Factory.

Susan Crary of the Evoke team, leads a group project entitled, “The Narrow Road” While the groups paints they are reminded of the decisions to be made to stay on the narrow road of following Jesus Christ.

The kids of Ivey Lane show off their latest dance steps, which is part of the weekly lessons they learn with Resound. Teaching the kids to honor God and serve Jesus through dance, is one of the ways Resound Mission Base is having an impact on this community.

above: Poet Shawn Welcome inspires the crowd. below: Madame J Sky

It’s time for creatives to get serious about Godly character as they are about their art form. Many creatives put much more thought into the technical aspects of their craft than into their personal commitment to God. Many have a vision as to how they want their music to sound, art to look, creative endeavor to go, but have no real vision how to press in deeper to the things of God. This shouldn’t be. Hours and hours are spent finding new music, going to shows, art openings, movies, to study the industry greats, but somehow a lack of motivation sets in for prayer, bible study, and gathering to discuss Jesus Christ. Being a creative myself, I understand the draw of industry performances and whatnot, but we cannot be wooed away from our first love by it.

Our God is longing for us to sit before him (luke 10:38-42), meditating, confessing, casting cares, interacting with the living God and coming to know him (John 17:3). We must be willing to recognize when our creative interests are becoming idols that consume much of our time.

In his book, “How Saved are We?”, Dr. Michael Brown says this,
“We spend hours watching TV and movies but minutes watching in prayer”
” We are hungry for sports, but have little taste for the scriptures”

What good is it for us to excel in our creative talents but have a calloused heart toward God. What will it profit us to be exalted for our talents but have nothing to say. We need the burning words of Jesus on our lips! We need a flaming heart of compassion for our generation! Spending quiet, intimate time with our God, beholding his face is essential to a life with Him. I urge you to become a genuine, diligent seeker of Christ before the diligent study of your craft. (Mat 6:33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Scott Howe
evoke ministries