GCA Art Blog Ministry

Welcome to our GCA Art Blog. Our artists inspire us! We have three 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

Through the Cross

June 20, 2022

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 new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself

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Peace in the Heart

June 20, 2022

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 you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.”  John 14:27  KJV. Source of Inspiration: Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simons. Reflect: This painting depicts friends buying flowers. It

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Rest & Reset

June 20, 2022

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 you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NLT Source of

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Abandoned But Not Deserted

April 3, 2022

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 praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:3-4 NIV. Source of Inspiration: When We Pray Like Jesus by Elisa Morgan. Reflect:

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Into the Unknown

April 3, 2022

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 think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and

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The Father’s Will

March 8, 2022

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 I want your will to be done. not mine. Luke 22:42 NLT. Source of Inspiration: When We Pray Like Jesus by Elisa Morgan. Reflect: Luke 22:42 shows us that we

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Struggle of the Will

March 5, 2022

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 Inspiration: When We Pray Like Jesus by Elisa Morgan. Reflect: Elisa Morgan’s book, When we Pray Like Jesus, focuses on His time in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prays “Father, if

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Two-sided Prayer

March 5, 2022

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. Luke 22:42. Source of Inspiration: When We Pray Like Jesus by Elisa Morgan. Reflect: What do you do when God’s will and your will are as far apart as the

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The Calm in the Storm

January 22, 2022

Artist: Charlotte Laxen Helfritz. Medium: Watercolor on Canvas Scripture: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Source of Inspiration: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Reflect: Having recently read the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp, where we share

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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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© Great Commission Artists 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.