A BRIDGE TO the gospel

MINISTRY’S ARTWORK CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

BY KARI GUSSIS

You may find it funny, that I would start an article about art by saying my husband and I never imagined we’d produce art, much less launch a ministry using art as the primary tool. However, this isn’t a story about us and what we are capable of — it’s a story about God and what HE is capable of through us.

A familiar phrase comes to mind — “Here I am.” Perhaps this is familiar to some in a playful peek-a-boo game with a child or a fun way to announce your brilliant hiding spot that you’d have spent eternity in had you not revealed it to the seekers (If that’s the case, bravo!). For us, we see it repeated throughout God’s incredible story, and it has challenged us in our walk with Christ.

These three words come as a response to God calling some of the most well-known people of faith recorded in the Bible. The people themselves aren’t to awe at, though — it’s the heart posture that leads to a simple “Here I am” — it’s a willingness to lay down their own will and trust God’s. The real awe comes when we see what God does through a surrendered heart.

This is what challenges us. Do we have a heart that can say “Here I am” to the things God is calling us to or away from? Are we willing to walk into things that might be hard or confusing while trusting God’s promise to work all things for our good and His glory? Do we believe that, regardless of what we gain or lose in this life, Jesus is the treasure our hearts were made for?

This phrase rang in our ears as the Lord pressed on our hearts to take a step of obedience. Recently He challenged us in stepping out – surrendered and dependent – to produce a new way to share the beautiful truth that Jesus changes everything. So was born Bridges to Grace. A ministry aimed at turning our homes/workspaces into mission fields through the art we display. Our goal is that our art creates opportunities to share the gospel with those God places in our everyday lives.

Our paintings are a series of journeys in the Bible God used to accomplish His purposes. They are abstract in nature to invite questions. For those we have in our home to ask, “what does that mean?” The outcome — A bridge to the gospel.

Each journey is paired with a card that gives the map of that journey, scriptural references, and the significance of that journey. We also layered each painting with meaning through color choices that each represents a characteristic of Jesus that further tells the story of His love for us.

Our flagship paintings are called the Foundation Series.

The Truth is the path of Jesus’s ministry as He revealed the glory of the Father. Jesus is God incarnate. He came from His throne in eternity and humbled Himself by taking on human flesh. Jesus teaches us the fundamental truth of our existence and design, showing us through His life what it looks like to love God and love others.

The Way is Jesus’s path through Jerusalem during His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Due to our sinful nature, there is nothing we can do to work our way into God’s holy presence. God loves us too much to allow this permanent separation. Driven by this love, He acted and put on flesh, living a sinless life, and dying a death that we deserve. Jesus’s death paid the penalty for sin, and His righteousness is credited to those who have faith, giving those who believe eternal life.

The Victory is Jesus’s appearances after His resurrection, affirming the finished work of the cross. Jesus’s defeat over sin and death was proven by His resurrection. His victory over the grave is the same victory He promises us when He returns. Hope in this victory is what anchors us during this life filled with inevitable trial and suffering. While His victory doesn’t promise an easy earthly life, through Jesus’s death and resurrection, we are assured that it is finished, and we have eternal life waiting for us.

The Life shows the initial spread of the Gospel through Paul’s ministry. Paul’s life shows the power of Jesus’s love. His transformation from persecuting Christians to surrendering his life to Jesus and being used to share the good news – establishing the early churches – is evidence that it doesn’t matter where you are today or what you have done — Jesus changes lives and offers salvation to all who turn and believe.

Our hope is that God uses this art to bring hearts to know and trust in Him. We pray over every print as they go out, that the Lord would give us a heart to share His love with others, that He would move in the hearts of those in our lives that do not believe and use this art to bring Him glory.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!... So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:15, 17)

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