Welcome to Metaphors & Miracles!

A Visual Pilgrimage Through the Bible

The Journey Begins September, 2026
Culminates in Exhibition 2027 - 2028

PILGRIMAGE:

A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey.

A pilgrimage is a personal experience.

A pilgrimage can also be a corporate experience.

A pilgrimage is a place (geographical or symbolic) to explore.

A pilgrimage teaches, reaches, 

and preaches to our innermost being.

Throughout the Bible, we see an abundance of visual images, such as Jesus shepherding the sheep, the potter working at the wheel, or the disciples as fishers of men. We also see numerous miraculous events demonstrating the inimitable power of our God. For this exhibition series, we intend to explore both in the context of pilgrimage, which is in itself a metaphor. In fact, among our theme Scriptures, we include the pilgrimage psalms (Songs of Ascent), Psalms 120-134. While traveling uphill to Jerusalem for the annual festivals, the Israelites sang these wonderful songs. What a great metaphor for our new series! 

Our task is to seek God for His heart on how to apply the imagery, stories, and Scriptures in the here and now of our own spiritual journey

Psalm 84:5-7 (CEB)

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.”



Paths for Pilgrimage: 

Optional Mini-Pilgrimage Events:

In the coming months, Great Commission Artists is sponsoring small-group pilgrimage events in specific locations. Artists are invited to participate in person if it appeals to them. They will experience metaphors in person, enjoy Christian fellowship with other artists, and participate in  group reflections and discussions. Their subsequent art from the event will be included in the traveling exhibition to be released in September, 2027.

Traditional Submission Process::

Artists are more than welcome to create their own journey and participate in the exhibition within the traditional submission process. We do not have a preference in how they wish to create and participate. The choice is entirely theirs to make.

To receive the call for art and registration form, contact us at greatcommissionartists@gmail.com

 

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 – A Fishing Pilgrimage 

A two-hour fishing trip on a pontoon with Fishing for Life (a Christian ministry) who will be providing a driver, fishing guide, and an evening on Lake Minnetonka. We will spend a few minutes before launch sharing Scriptures and goals and the guide will lead a devotional at the end. 

Note: All participants must be adult artists or high school student artists under the direction of an art educator or mentor. Please contact greatcommissionartists@gmail.com for the call for art for details. To participate in the mini-pilgrimage events, you agree to submit art for the exhibition subsequent to the event.

 

 

September 12, 2026 – A Horseback Trail Ride Pilgrimage

A one-hour horseback trail ride at Bunker Park Stable (Bunker Hills Regional Park) with Kat Hitzeman, our exhibition judge in recent years. Kat grew up on a farm in Minnesota and has considerable experience with horses as well as with equine therapy. The stable provides the guide, but Kat will lead us in Scriptures that relate to horses in the Bible, the symbolism and concepts, as well as the metaphor of journey. She will spend a few minutes in preparation before the ride and then about a half hour thereafter to share thoughts, reflections, and ideas for art. We currently have four openings left for this event. 

THEME SCRIPTURES 

Psalm 84:5-7 (NIV)

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.”

Psalm 121:7-8

“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.”

Psalm 122:1-2 (NIV)

“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”
Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.”

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

 

 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  

so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

  

Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, 

hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

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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.