Welcome Young Adults
Your Art Matters!

Dear Artists,

Your generation is powerful, and we see how God is moving among you and through you. You have so much to give, so much to share, and so much to communicate. This world needs your vibrancy, authenticity, and strong voice, especially regarding Who Jesus Christ is and what He means to you. 

Your art matters, because God’s heart matters. He’s reaching out, calling, and inviting the nations to behold and embrace the Lamb of God as Savior and Lord.

How can they know if we don’t share? How can they see Him if we don’t display His glory? How can they relate to a God they’ve never experienced?

Art is powerful. Art beckons and reaches into people’s souls in ways nothing else can duplicate. This is the reason we are called the Great Commission Artists. Our vision of the great commission centers us in the greatest call of all, bringing the good news of Jesus to all people through the visual arts.

What makes us different here at Great Commission Artists? It’s our process. We believe in beginning the art process with prayer and a Spirit-directed Scripture. We believe the first step is ALWAYS to ask Father God, “What’s on Your heart today?” That is how our art matters, because it is grounded in what matters to Him. We believe in syncing our imaginations with the leading of the Holy Spirit. We believe in submitting every brush stroke, every camera click, every sculpting impression into the Potter’s hands, the Master Artist from Whom all artistry flows.

If you are between 18 to 30 years old, we have a special ministry just for you. We understand how busy you are, the challenges, and the excitement of launching your future under the mighty hand of the Almighty God Who created you for such a time as this.

You are special. If you would like to join us on this great adventure, please contact us at greatcommissionartists@gmail.com.

ANNOUNCING: 

OUR NEW YOUNG ADULTS MINISTRY WILL PARTICIPATE IN OUR ANNUAL MULTIGENERATIONAL EXHIBITION AND TRAVELING GALLERY!

SCHEDULE:

FEBRUARY 1, 2024:  REGISTRATIONS DUE

APRIL 1, 2024: FAITH STATEMENTS & IMAGE PHOTOS SUBMISSION

APRIL 8-12: ART WORK DELIVERY TO GREAT COMMISSION ARTISTS

MAY 19, 2024: OPENING, ARTISTS’ RECEPTION & AWARDS

                           HUGHES PAVILION, CENTENNIAL PARK, EDINA

MAY 20, 2024: CONTINUED PUBLIC VIEWING AT CENTENNIAL PARK

REST OF 2024-MAY, 2025: TRAVELING GALLERY TOURS THE TWIN CITIES


CLICK ON THE FLYER TO VISIT OUR “SHOW US YOUR GLORY” WEBPAGE FOR DETAILS, REGISTRATION FORM, AND THE CALL FOR ART.

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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 serves as the director of W.I.N.D. of the Spirit Ministries and Great Commission Artists. 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 ten exhibitions with multi-generational artist participation, including numerous high school students from local high schools. The last five 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 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.