Painting Christ on the Hearts of People

2026 Theme:
"Something New"

Isaiah 43:19 CEV

“I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it?

I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.”

Welcome to Great Commission Artists!

My name is Marianne McDonough. I have the privilege of leading Great Commission Artists.

God has always called artists to come along side of Him and enjoy the thrill of creating. And, as we have seen in our art exhibitions and worship, He earnestly invites, continuously beckons us with Spirit-soft whispers that are fully capable of piercing even the noisiest day on planet earth.

Be it music, visual art, writing, film, dance, or drama. God calls artisans forth to help him garden, plant, and nurture the rich soil of the human heart where beauty takes seed and brings glory to the Master musician, the Master composer, the Master Artist, the Master Wordsmith, the Master Director, and, as Scripture also indicates, the One Who dances over His beloved humanity with exultant, exuberant joy.

Art is His. It belongs to Him. Artists are His. We belong to Him. And most importantly and emphatically, the glory is always His and belongs only to Him!

Jesus is the One BY Whom and FOR Whom all things were created and consist, and all things certainly includes us and all we do.  He alone can teach us the secrets of divinely breathed and holy imagination.

Our Prayer:

Lord God, You are El Elyon Most High God, our Shaddai, faithful provider, and Elohim. You never fail. We can always count on You, Your integrity, and provision. You sent Jesus to be our Savior, High Priest and Lord Who abides in us by His Spirit and in Whom we abide as branches on a Vine.

You have called us artisans, and we are grateful. Surely, we know, God, that the key to artistic creativity is abiding in Your presence, under the direction and tutelage of Your Spirit Who whispers to us in a love language unlike any other. Not just when we sit down to canvas and brush. Not just when we tap a keyboard or strum a chord. Not just when we set our feet to a rhythm or take a photo.  Abiding gives birth to God-inspired art, the kind that exudes excellence from a heart purified and strengthened by grace.  Abiding gives depth and vigor to art.

Lord God, please teach us how to abide in You in such depth that our art, whatever the medium, continuously whispers to an often tired and boisterous world. Teach us to depend on you for power, knowledge, truth, and sovereign wisdom. And may the arts in America spread Your message across our great nation and globe with the aroma of Christ, the inimitable fragrance of the garden You are planting in our souls day by day.

© May 17, 2026, Delivered to Great Commission Artists at the Worship & Awards Ceremony for The God Who Whispers exhibition.

New in 2026!

Go the the Potter’s House: Documentary

An Artful Journey Through Psalm 92: Coffee Table Book and Traveling Exhibition

The God Who Whispers: Traveling Exhibition Currently on Tour

God in the City: Traveling Exhibition Ready for Tour in January, 2027

GO TO THE POTTER’S HOUSE

A Documentary Dedicated to the Master Potter

Currently Showing Nationally and Internationally at Film Festivals!

What does it mean to go to the Potter’s house? When Israel was desperate and lost, God told Jeremiah to get up, get going, and find the potter’s house. What would the prophet learn? And why was it so important that he understand how the Potter worked “at his wheel”?

 

In this intensely personal documentary, five pottery artists delve into the beauty of a timeless metaphor that still speaks wisdom. From the perspective of both the Potter (God) and us (the clay), they describe the intimate, mysterious, creative, and sometimes rugged relationship we have with our Maker.

 

This is not a scripted video. It is straight from the heart, informative, and filled with insights that potters alone can articulate. GCA Director, Marianne McDonough, conceived the basis of this video while reading Eugene H. Peterson’s extraordinary book, Run With the Horses, especially the sixth chapter, “Go to the Potter’s House.” 

Throughout the film, some bits and pieces of Peterson’s insights provide foundational depth. Additional quotes from Mark Buchanan’s Holy Wild also contribute, especially pertaining to God’s character and glory.

 

Great Commission Artists gratefully hopes and prays that all viewers will grow in their love for and submission to the Master Potter of the universe.

To learn more and view the video, click here.

 

AN ARTFUL JOURNEY THROUGH PSALM 92

          Announcing our first coffee table book – an art book that reads like a devotional!   

Our first coffee table book had an interesting journey of its own:

  • October, 2024: One of our board members suggested we publish a coffee table book, and we prayed for wisdom.
  • Early 2025: One of our blogging artists, Cheryl Barr, volunteered to design a book featuring the blogs, and we began to discuss it.
  • May, 2025: A visitor at our Behold God exhibition asked, “Have you ever thought about making a coffee table book?” That’s when we committed to it.

Three requests. Not one of them knowing about the other. Yes, God’s hand was upon it!

  • Summer of 2025, Cheryl and Marianne McDonough (GCA director) collaborated for the content, design, and editing of An Artful Journey Through Psalm 92. Much to their delight, the theme evolved clearly and beautifully, matching all the blogs into various segments of Psalm 92. 

By September, we had a book, and the editing/publishing process began.

  • December 15, 2025: Our lovely coffee table debuted on Amazon.
  • January 11, 2026: We formally honored our artists with a reception graciously sponsored by Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Hopkins where our exhibit of the same name resided until  March.
Revised 3
To find An Artful Journey Through Psalm 92 on Amazon, click here.

Our Traveling Exhibitions



Our new 2026-2027
traveling exhibition,
The God Who Whispers,
currently on tour.

Please check our events calendar
for venues and details.

 

 

Theme Scriptures:

1 Samuel 3:9 NIV

“Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

1 Kings 19:12 (NIV) 

“After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. 

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

Psalm 40:6 (Voice)

“Sacrifices and offerings are not what You want, 

but You’ve opened my ears, and now I understand . . .”

For More Information, Click Here

Our Repertoire of Exhibitions Also Includes:  

For More Information, Click Here
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Communications Advisor

Debbie Gustafson

Debbie Gustafson has been an active member and participating artist since the first Psalms Exhibit in 2012. Consistently, she has supported our events and exhibits with wisdom and excellence. Her wisdom and faithfulness to our vision prompted us to seek her support as a board member, and she graciously accepted although she also serves her church and community in a number of other roles, including arts and education. In addition, she is an original member of our blogging ministry that now comprises our “Fresh Oil” artists group.

Programs Advisor

Roberta Sawyer

Roberta (“Bobbie”) Sawyer describes herself as “a lifetime dabbler with a love of experimentation with learners young and old.” Currently an elder at Prairie Community Church in Eden Prairie, Bobbie has participated in numerous types of ministry. She has taught art seminars for children including her “Art in the Park” outdoor summer series, served as a scenarist for church skits, plays and musicals, led Bible study fellowships for 12 years, and created backdrops and props for Vacation Bible Schools. She has also served as a literacy tutor and office support staff for South Hennepin Adult Programs in Education. Also an original Great Commission Arts core group member, Bobbie co-coordinates the monthly Art Klatch painters fellowship group. As a board advisor, she contributes much prayer, a tenacious faith, and a love for people and artists of all definitions.
Outreach Advisor

Geraldine Antoinette Mehta

Geri Mehta has served in numerous ministry positions, which include teaching Sunday school at Way of the Cross church in Blaine, directing girls programs at Hospitality House in north Minneapolis, serving on the mission field in Guatemala and India, and co-leading a home church. She has also been active in community organizations such as Jaycees and Toastmasters.
Geri brings a clear sense of vision and discernment to the board, especially in the area of outreach. She has a passion for promoting the gospel with compassion, love, and respect. As a painter and original Great Commission Artists core group member, Geri has served GCA faithfully in numerous capacities. Her wisdom, like her art, inspires us to seek God’s heart in all things.
Pastoral Board Advisor

Reverend Roger Kuhn

Roger Kuhn has extensive ministry experience, including numerous pastoral positions in New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, and Minnesota. Most of his career he has served as lead pastor and has particularly enjoyed discipling new believers. Currently, Roger serves as the National Pastor of Member Care and the Director of Church Relations at International Ministerial Fellowship, the licensing organization for W.I.N.D. of the Spirit Ministries. Additionally, his pastoral responsibilities include all IMF Alliance Churches and 200 Lead Pastors. With deep faith and a thorough understanding of ministry, Roger provides pastoral supervision, support, and prayer for W.I.N.D. Ministries, including Great Commission Artists.
Founder & Director

Marianne McDonough

Licensed for ministry in the creative arts through International Ministerial Fellowship, Marianne McDonough founded Great Commission Artists and serves as its director in addition to directing   W.I.N.D. of the Spirit Ministries, the 501 (c) (3) umbrella ministry. Believing the arts have a unique capacity to exalt God and inspire His people, Marianne loves to encourage and mentor Christian artists toward the full expression of their gifts, especially in the context of worship. Marianne’s experience includes writing in secular and Christian venues, leadership in worship and dance ministries, teaching worship arts seminars for children, and sponsoring visual arts workshops and exhibits.

In 2010, she initiated “Art in the Beauty of Holiness” seminars, specifically designed for visual artists and subsequently produced in DVD format. After the formation of GCA and its core group in 2011, she produced four more DVDs featuring artists’ interviews and three other seminars: Worship in the Potter’s Hands, Waterfalls with Rev. Paul Oman, and Banners with Elsa Hammond. She also created a cable television presentation on art and worship. 

Starting in September of 2012, Marianne inaugurated the first Great Commission Artists Exhibition, “Psalms Exhibit and Creative Arts Celebration,” at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. This event included a juried exhibit, continuous original worship music provided by local composers, and dance presentations. Since then, as of spring of 2023, GCA has presented eleven exhibitions with multi-generational artist participation, including numerous high school students from local high schools. The last six exhibitions have traveled for month-long display at Twin Cities’ churches.

Additionally, Marianne believes the Great Commission applies to all of the body of Christ, including artists of all definitions. Thus, she has guided Great Commission Artists to create a variety of teaching conferences and art-based community service projects including Kids Love, a popular Valentines day outreach to homeless children. Great Commission Artists is fulfilling its namesake mission to minister Christ to their world and glorify God.

With a Master’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Minnesota, Marianne is an author and speaker. She has served as a board director for the Minnesota Christian Writers Guild and also leads a Christian writers’ critique group. Her 2016 book, 8 Steps to Getting Real with Cancer, won the Midwest Book Awards in the health category. In 2018 she released Beating Cancer One Truth At A Time, another guide for newly diagnosed patients designed for individual or support group reflection.

Marianne enjoys writing in various genres and desires for writers to explore new ways to release their talents to exalt Christ. Her passion is to see God’s beauty revealed in all of the creative arts.