Holly’s story

“Completing Anna’s Circle Training, and going on the Spain Vision Trip, really got me thinking about the people all around me – the people I’m in contact with regularly who don’t know Jesus. I’ve become more intentional about building relationships with these people, and praying for opportunities to have conversations, invite them to Discovery Bible Studies, and/or to church.

As an artist, I love meeting other artists through shows, galleries and various events. In our conversations, I’ve realized that many consider themselves to be “spiritual,” but don’t really know Jesus. So, I began thinking about how I can use my Anna’s Circle Training to effectively reach my artist community – to open doors for spiritual discussions using their language.

Then, God then gave me the idea to write a book that speaks to artists. The book includes my personal story, as well as my faith and creative journeys. I share how my spiritual and creative practices are now intertwined and cannot be separated. The book also includes interviews from five other artists and their testimonies. Their stories share the Gospel in powerful ways as they talk about God’s goodness in their lives.

Each chapter also includes an art project that connects with the topic; so, it is interactive. As readers complete the projects, my hope is that they experience God in new ways. It’s an opportunity for them to think about their relationship with God and how it might connect to their own creative practices.

The Discovery Bible Study format, taught by Anna’s Circle, is nice in that it doesn’t require a long-term commitment. The studies are typically four sessions, covered in a month or two. As I thought about the format, I realized it could easily be adapted for a book club, and we could discuss the book I’m writing. Even though the book differs from the traditional Discovery Bible Study, it includes lots of Scripture throughout. I know God’s Word speaks for itself, so I loaded the book with Bible verses in addition to my story, testimonies from others, and art projects. As I believe the Lord put this book on my heart to write, I know it will be effective in sharing the Gospel. I’m excited to invite people to my book club and use this as a tool to share the Good News about Jesus through the lens of an artist.

To me, God is the ultimate artist. We can see that throughout creation. The evidence is all around us. We are God’s art and He’s both the artist and conservator of His art.”