Coming in 2026 - 2027: The God Who Whispers

Theme:

We invite you to join us for a new adventure! This is the first time we’re using a best-selling book as a launching pad for the Call for Art.

We have good reasons. 

The concepts in Whisper open our hearts to God’s creative promptings. Whisper takes us deep into the kind of spirituality 

we all long for, the journey where we hear God’s magnificent heart in the here and now of Spirit-directed lives. 

It’s a journey of mutually-communicated love, says Batterson.

Are you ready for that kind of love?

 

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 . . .”

Project Description:

Participants will explore, reflect upon, and visually express the mystery of God’s love for humanity as expressed to us in our personal relationships with Him and life events. 

Schedule:

February 2, 2026   Registration Due Date

April 1, 2026 Digital Submission Due Date

April 10, 2026 Delivery of Art to GCA

May 16 – 17, 2026 Opening Exhibition, Hughes Pavilion, Centennial Park, Edina, MN

Additional Scriptures for The God Who Whispers

ISAIAH 50:7 (NIV) So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

JOHN 10:27 (NIV) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

JOHN 20:16 (NIV) Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”

ISAIAH 30:21 (NIV) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

JOHN 2:5 (NIV) His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

MATTHEW 10:27 (HCSB) What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops.

Artists Eligibility 

* We accept Christian artists from all denominations.

* We ask that all students  (9th to 12th grade) have a Christian art teacher, a church minister or Christian mentor sponsoring them who will actively guide them through our process and cosign the registration form.

Artwork Expectations Artwork is expected to:

* Mirror your relationship with Christ and speak Biblical truths.

* Be original, creative, and reflect your best artistic efforts for God’s glory. 

* Bless, inspire, and communicate our Christian faith to the community at large. Your art will be displayed in local galleries, print media such as flyers/posters, as well as online via our website, social media, and outreach events.

Artwork Criteria

* 2-D artwork: drawing, painting, collage, prints, photography, and pottery or sculpture. As we did last year, we will welcome pottery or sculpture for a table at our launch in May but cannot include those items in the traveling exhibit. If the latter interests you, we will send criteria to you separately at registration.

  • 2-D artwork maximum size: 18” x 24”; minimum size: 12” x 12”
  • Artwork shall be framed with black metal or wood frame and glass or plexiglass.
  • No political statements, opinions, or messages, please. We want our art to draw attention only to God.

The Creative Process:

The creative process will have five steps:

* Select a Scripture or Scriptures that support the theme and upon which to base your design.

* Develop a message that reflects how you have experienced, interpreted, and applied the exhibit theme.  

* Select the best applicable medium.

* Produce the art according to the exhibit criteria.

* Write an artist’s statement sharing the Scripture or Scriptures that inspired your work, creative process, and the meaning behind the design of the artwork. This statement will be displayed in the galleries next to the work of art. We consider these statements to be a vital component of the exhibition.

 

Additional Quotes from Whisper by Mark Batterson

As I survey my life, I realize that the genesis of every blessing, every breakthrough is the breath of God. It started out as nothing more than a still small voice. (Page 13)

Discerning His will is about knowing His heart, and that happens only when you get close enough to hear Him whisper. (Page 100)

When God’s voice is the loudest in our lives, we can dare to be different. (Page 93)

You know why God puts people in our lives? It’s not just to overcome solitary conceit; it’s also to overcome solitary confinement . . . No one shoots the moon alone. (Pages 130-131)

Don’t underestimate the potential impact of obeying God’s prompts. Those are the whispers that will echo for all eternity! (Page 153)

REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY 02/02/2026

Registration is simple but vital to the process. We have to prepare and plan space for you, not only physically but digitally on the website and various advertising sent throughout the Twin Cities.

Registration introduces  you to us and tells us about your preliminary thoughts for the Scriptural basis and theme application. We understand that either one of those components could be fine tuned or even changed, but we want to see your general direction.

 Your actual art and photo of art are not due until April.

Registration tells us you are committed to participating and we can count on you. 

We, in turn, commit to you that we will pray for you  and support you in any way we can.

Interested?

Wonderful! 

Please contact us at greatcommissionartists@gmail.com for the full Call for Art and registration form.

Call for Art:

Contains the above basics but also much more in terms of prompts,

 inspirational questions to consider for artwork ideas,

and detailed concepts about God’s love languages and how He whispers to us

as described by Mark Batterson in Whisper. 

Registration Form:

Required for participation and due by February 2, 2026.

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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.