9 Ways to Involve Visual Artists In Your Church Tomorrow

As you may have seen in my previous article, the entire course of my life was changed when a pastor found a use for my artistic talents in the local church. It was a relatively small project, but it opened doors, which revealed other abilities, which led to a very fulfilling artistic life of ministry. I am convinced I am not an anomaly. I believe there are frustrated artists all over the body of Christ, who would love to serve with their gifts but don’t think those gifts are wanted or don’t believe their gifts fit the mission of the church. Here are ten ways to incorporate visual artists into your church tomorrow 

As a church leader, I know that is not that case. I believe there are a multitude of church leaders who would love to have people serving God with all their gifts. I know we all have projects we deeply desire to do, if only we had people with the gifts to do them, and maybe it’s time we ask, “Are we sure we don’t have these gifted people in our midst?” I think in many cases, it’s a matter of not knowing who we have and what’s possible. Let’s explore some of those possibilities.

1. Presentation Graphics

The old adage is true. A picture really is worth a thousand words. Pictures help us to communicate and more than that they help us remember and retain information. According to the Social Science Research Network, “Since 65% of people are visual learners, one of the best ways to drive the message home is through visual content.” fastcompany.com  Most churches use some sort of visual media in their worship services, and church leaders who are also visual artists are likely few and far between. That being said, there is likely someone who could create compelling, memorable images that will help people to retain and apply the important messages presented to our congregations. We just need to find and empower them. 

2. Illustration

How many times have you had someone come up to you frustrated because they missed out on something in the church? In your heart, you know it was in the announcements, the newsletter and the bulletin, but somehow they missed them all. Maybe you need to give them a picture. Sure you can download clip art, but does clip art give someone in your care the opportunity to stretch their wings and use their God-given gifts? I think not. Maybe you have a booklet that needs a cover, or a community outreach that needs a poster. Maybe you need some coloring pages for the children that will allow them to be involved in the service in a way that they can understand. All of these things could be greatly enhanced by an illustrator, and chances are there is someone in your midst who would love to do these things, if they were just asked.  

3. Publication/Web Design

Most churches have newsletters, websites and other ways of disseminating information. Some churches are blessed to have media people on staff, but when one considers, according to the Washington Post, the average church as of 2023 is now 60 people, a lot of that work is falling on the pastor or the church secretary. And in such small congregations, more than likely, those peoples’ time and skills are stretched to the limit. The good news is somewhere in your congregation is likely a person or persons with the skills to help make these publications informative and attractive. Seek out your artistic people. Offering them the opportunity to serve just might bless the whole congregation. 

4. Sanctuary Decor

Some people just have a knack for making a sanctuary feel warm and inviting. Changing things up on a fairly regular basis can keep things fresh and exciting. Imagine you’re starting a sermon series, and you have someone who can make an environment that draws people into the message. One church I know of had a team that would paint the most amazing backdrops for their platform area. Every time there was a new series, there was a new environment created for the sake of helping people to absorb and engage. Do you have someone who has this kind of flair? Give them the chance to bless your congregation.

5. Teaching Art to Others

In our communities there are likely a lot of people who would love to make art, if only they knew how. The proliferation of “Paint and Sip” businesses shows this to be the case. At my church, we do this as a community outreach. We leave the “sipping” out, replaced with more “church friendly” refreshments, and we have a wonderful time. It gives people from the community the opportunity to connect with us in a fun, low pressure environment. My church has also experimented with creative arts clubs in the afternoon and I’ve heard of churches that offer art classes to homeschool and other community groups. 

6. Painting in the Worship Service

There are as many different ways to do this as there are artists. Some churches will just provide an open space in the front of the church for people to create works inspired by the service.  While others do works that are pre-determined by leadership based on the message. In my ministry, I paint during the worship music, attempting to create an image that makes people wonder, “Why did he paint that?” In so doing, they listen intently, and they are quite literally “drawn” into the message. Live painting in the service, can be another way to engage the senses. In a former church, I would paint every Sunday in connection with the message, and then we would hang the art around our rented sanctuary. What blessed my heart was hearing people share with visitors the messages associated with those paintings, weeks, months and even years after I preached those messages. Isn’t that what we desire? 

7. Children’s Lessons

If someone is wanting to introduce art into the ministry of their church, I usually suggest they start with the children’s ministry. People are used to illustrated teaching tools for children, not to mention using crafts to help students retain the lessons. Create arts and crafts projects that line up with the curriculum you’re teaching. Pablo Picasso once said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Art is a great tool for teaching children, and using that tool is a great way to involve artists in your ministry. Then as the congregation becomes more comfortable with using art in your ministry, allow your artists to branch out to other ministries. 

 8. Murals

This is another ministry for artists that often starts in the children’s area. I once spoke with one of the more famous artists in the church and he lamented this idea, speaking to the almost obligatory Noah’s ark mural in the nursery. I had a very different experience. Painting a backdrop for Vacation Bible School (a kind of portable mural) led to a call to ministry that has taken me all over the United States. In my conversation, I was tempted to paraphrase actor Konstatin Stanislavsky who once said, “There are no small parts, only small actors.” Everything we do as artists in service to God does not need to hang in the Louvre. Some projects are just small things done with great love. I have found in the church, faithfulness often leads to opportunity, or as the master said in Jesus’ Parable of the Talents, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” (ESV) Any creative opportunity can be used to empower and encourage artists in the church. You simply have to find the right person for the right project.  

9. Gifts and Awards

Speaking of “well done,” recognizing someone for a job well done is something all churches should do, and what better recognition is there than a wonderful, hand crafted work of art. Commission one of your artists to create a gift and/or award, and two people will be blessed.  

Needless to say there are more than nine ways to incorporate visual artists into your church tomorrow. There are as many ways to incorporate artists into your ministry as their artists, and with a little creativity, you can help them to thrive and succeed. It is really only limited by your imagination. Now to be clear, artists are not a monolithic group. We’re diverse and none of us can do it all. We all do some things better than others. There are things we prefer to do and things we prefer not to do, but I do believe, with a little creativity, we can find places for our creative people to serve in the body of Christ, and given the opportunity, many will serve passionately and take real ownership. They just need you to give them the opportunity. 

For more ideas on ways to incorporate artists into your ministry., I wrote a little e-book called Ministering to the Creative Soul. Click here to get download your free copy.