Grace Abounding
Artist: John Bennett. Medium: Oil on 16 X 20” Canvas. Scripture: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always
Artist: John Bennett. Medium: Oil on 16 X 20” Canvas. Scripture: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always
Artist: Diane Tobolt. Medium: Digital. Scripture: “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the
Artist: Debbie Gustafson. Medium: Watercolor and Watercolor Pencil. Scripture: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the
Artist: Barbara Bonnell. Medium: Watercolor. Scripture: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto
Artist: Cheryl Barr. Medium: Watercolor. Scripture: “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:5 NLT. “Then
Artist: Charlotte Laxen Helfritz. Medium: Watercolor pencil and permanent marker. Scripture: When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I
Artist: Diane Tobolt. Medium: Digital Art. Source of Inspiration: When We Pray Like Jesus by Elisa Morgan Scripture: For I know the thoughts that I
Artist: Cheryl Barr. Medium: Watercolor on 100% cotton paper. Scripture: Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet
Artist: Barbara Bonnell. Media: Mixed. Scripture: But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Galatians 5:22. Source of
Artist: Debbie Gustafson. Medium: Watercolor; Micron Pen. Scripture: Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.
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.