GCA Art Blog Ministry

Welcome to our GCA Art Blog. Our artists inspire us! We have four categories:

  1. Fresh Oil Artists: a fellowship team that meets quarterly. Their blogs, though based on mutual themes, are unique and beautiful. They also contribute their art to our annual traveling exhibitions.
  2. The Great Commission: a blog written by our director, Marianne McDonough. Using various art pieces from our membership, she explores why and how we focus on the Great Commission.
  3. Exhibition Artists: blogs featuring art and faith statements from some of our traveling exhibitions.
  4. Art and Poetry: blogs combining art and poetry from contributing writers. In some cases, the art and poetry may be authored by the artist.

We hope our offerings here will brighten your day!

Fresh Oil Artists

Sabbath Rest

February 26, 2024

The word “rest” resonates with us in all the seasons of our lives. Especially as we grow and mature, we understand how vital rest is to our spiritual well-being as well as our physical health. But what does rest mean to God? By Diane Tobolt, Fresh Oil Artist. Medium: Digital. Bible Story Focus: Creation. Reflection:

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Isaiah

December 7, 2023

During a heavenly vision of the glory of God, Isaiah heard God’s call for a messenger and cried out, “Here am I, send me.” How does the glory of God affect us in our own lives? By Barbara Bonnell, Fresh Oil Artist. Scripture: Based on Isaiah 6:8 (NIV) Then I heard the voice of the

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Gray Hairs

December 7, 2023

Change is hard. But in the hands of God, every step in every season reveals God’s gentle care for every detail. By Cheryl Barr, Fresh Oil Artist Scripture: Based on Isaiah 46:4 (NIV). “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you

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In the Sandals of Boaz

December 7, 2023

What do we learn about following Jesus from one of His most important ancestors, Boaz, the grandfather of King David? By Debbie Gustafson, Fresh Oil Artist Scripture: Based on the Book of Ruth. Medium: Colored Pencil and Watercolor Pencil on Toned Paper. Reflection: I wanted to step into the sandals of Boaz, the Kinsman Redeemer

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Joshua

August 10, 2023

Just as Joshua trusted God to lead him through unknown terrain in the promised land, God keeps His promised towards us and leads us through every path of our lives. By Cheryl Barr, Fresh Oil Artist. Medium: Watercolor on cotton paper. Scripture: Based on the book of Joshua, specifically Joshua 1:9 (AMP) “Have I not

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Abundant Harvest

August 9, 2023

God’s glory resonates throughout His orderly creation and reflects His infinite intellect , logic, meticulous precision. By Barbara Bonnell, Fresh Oil Artist Scripture: Genesis 1:11-12 (NKJV) Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. And the

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Woman with Bouquet in the Setting Sun

June 19, 2023

When the sun is setting and shifting lights display breath-taking beauty upon earth and sky. God’s creation puts smiles on our faces and lift our spirits. By Barbara Bonnell. Media: Watercolor/Acrylic. Scripture: Genesis 1:3-5 (ASV) “And God said, ‘Let there be light’: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good:

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You Are God’s Light

June 19, 2023

Just as the sun energizes the earth, so does the Holy Spirit empower us to shine the Light of Jesus into our own world. By Charlotte Laxen Helfritz. Medium: Watercolor. Source of Inspiration: Heaven and Nature Sing by Sharon Brodin. Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) “You are the light of the world. A town built on

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Tenacity on the North Shore

June 19, 2023

Trees teach us how to be tenacious wherever we are planted, growing our roots deep and thriving even in the toughest of terrains. By Cheryl Barr, Fresh Oil Artist Medium: Watercolor on Cotton. Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV) “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of

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Art & Poetry

Exhibit Artists: "The God Who Sees" 2022-2023

The Great Commission

Why are we called the Great Commission Artists?

Exhibit Artists: "God Our Refuge" 2021-2022

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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.