
Restored
In Zechariah, God replaces Joshura’s filthy clothes with fine garments. So it is with us when we accept Christ into our own lives. Image by

In Zechariah, God replaces Joshura’s filthy clothes with fine garments. So it is with us when we accept Christ into our own lives. Image by

Despite the godless actions and distractions of our shattered and unstable world, the Word of God is our firm foundation. By Amara M., Concordia Academy,

Just as God sees us in full, dimmed, or seeming darkness, Christ is always present with us filling our lives and our world with miracles.

A lot of people don’t see God unless they don’t have anything else to see, but true faith is believing without seeing, and when we

When we take time to view and enjoy nature, all the distractions of this world fade and we can focus on God. By Luke S.,

Standing in awe and silence before the rising sun, we connect with God. By Ethan S., Concordia Academy, Roseville, MN, Grade 10. Medium: Photography. Scripture:

Time seems to flow through our hands like sand, grain by grain. But gratitude can make those moments timeless in our hearts. By Debbie Gustafson,

God’s vast and beautiful design reflects His infinite imagination. By Rose Day Medium: Photography. Scripture: Psalm 150:1-5 (NIV) “Praise the Lord. Praise God in his

When life seems dry and weary, we find peace knowing that the God Who sees us is directing our path. By Wayne Moran, travel photographer,

No matter how lonely we feel, God sees us and has numbered the hairs on our head. Megan V.B., Southwest. Christian High School, Grade 12,
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.