Heaven and Nature Sing
Title: “Heaven and Nature Sing.” Artist: John Bennett. Medium: Acrylic and Markers. Scripture: Psalm 96:11-13 NIV “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
Title: “Heaven and Nature Sing.” Artist: John Bennett. Medium: Acrylic and Markers. Scripture: Psalm 96:11-13 NIV “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
Title; The Word Became Flesh. Artist: John Bennett. Medium: Acrylic on canvas. Scripture: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
Title: The Invitation. Artist: Debbie Gustafson. Medium: Watercolor. Inspired by: The Uncluttered Heart by Beth A. Richardson. Scripture: Restore us, O Lord God of hosts, let your
Title: Joyful Bell Ringer. Artist: Barbara Bonnell. Media: Watercolor/Acrylic. Scripture: ”For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which
Artist: Cheryl Barr. Title: Uncluttered. Media: Watercolor on cotton paper. Scripture: Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and
Title: Christmas Feasts. Scripture: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have
Artist: Diane Tobolt. Medium: Digital Art. Scripture: Praise the Lord, O my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; You are clothed with splendor
Artist: Cheryl Barr. Medium: Watercolor. Scripture: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and
Artist: Debbie Gustafson. Medium: Watercolor, Colored Pencil, Marker Pen. Scripture: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they
Artist: Barbara Bonnell. Media: Watercolor. Scripture: “We love him, because he first loved us.” I John 4:19 KJV Source of Inspiration: Amazing Grace by Kenneth
Communications Advisor
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.
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.