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

The Calm in the Storm

January 22, 2022

When I was discipled as a young Christian, my mentor taught me to say “Thank you, Father” in everything, so it was always the first thing out of my mouth when anything happened–good or bad. By Charlotte Laxen Helfritz, Fresh Oil Artist. Medium: Watercolor on Canvas. Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (BRG) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in

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Simple Pleasures

January 14, 2022

In her book, One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp intimately and captivatingly describes her journey from despair to hope. As she began to look for and write down simple blessings and gratitudes, she found delight in her everyday life as a homeschool mom and farmer’s wife. By Cheryl Barr, Fresh Oil Artist. Medium: Watercolor on Arches 100%

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Eucharisteo, Hand Stories

January 13, 2022

Time seems to flow through my hands like sand, grain by grain, moment by moment. Time is a gift, and I can choose how to receive and utilize it. When I redeem and invest in my time, I am filling it with thanksgiving and gratitude for what he has done and what he is doing

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Heart’s Melody

January 13, 2022

One joyous gift the Lord has given us, whether we have the talent ourselves or appreciate it, is music. When we sing vocally or silently, we can praise Him from our heart, just as Psalm 104:33 says, as long as we live. By Barbara Bonnell, Fresh Oil Artist. Medium: Mixed Media. Scripture: Psalm 104:33 (KJ21)

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Blessings

January 12, 2022

Why is it so easy to remember the bad things, the problems, the worries? Slowly, I have begun to see the wisdom of looking for the good, the things that bring peace, the rays of light to focus on, the things that lead me back to God. By Diane Tobolt, Fresh Oil Artist. Medium: Digital

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Doubtstorm

October 1, 2021

By Charlotte Laxen Helfritz, Fresh Oil Artist. Medium: Watercolor. Scripture: Luke 24:13-32 “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked

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Living Waters

September 23, 2021

Artist: Diane Tolbot. Medium: Digital. Scripture: He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, “From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.” John 7:38 (AMP) Inspiration Source: In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado. Reflection: This wasn’t what I expected –

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Rules of the Lighthouse

September 17, 2021

Title: Rules of the Lighthouse. Artist: Cheryl Barr. Medium: Watercolor on Arches 140lb 100% cotton paper. Scripture: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that

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Positioning. An Artist/Gardener’s View of Job 42:5

September 17, 2021

Title: Positioning. An Artist / Gardener’s View of Job 42:5. Artist:  Debbie Gustafson. Medium: Acrylic paint and medium, pen on card stock with computer generated wording. Scripture: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” Job 42:5 NKJV. Source of Inspiration: In the Eye of the Storm by

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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.