&
Social Justice / Social Issues
ENLISTING GOD'S ARTISTS IN RELIEVING THE PLIGHT OF THE OPPRESSED
'Fair Trade Coffee' Note Cards
'God's World' Note Cards
Issues: Fetish Slavery of Women / Forgotten Children of Africa - slaves, street children, sick children, etc. / Boys sold as slaves in Sudan
Runaway Grooms - India
Slavery is Not Dead: Human Trafficking is Alive and Well - Please Pray!
===
ENLISTING GOD'S ARTISTS
in RELIEVING the
PLIGHT OF THE OPPRESSED
+ + +
(Editor's Note) - "…God's heart is, and has been throughout history, for the oppressed - for the poor, the alien/refugee, the widow, the orphan, the fatherless, those treated unjustly, etc.
As we are quickly approaching the last of the last days, it appears to be increasingly apparent that many of God's artists and musicians have a growing desire to use their talents and gifts in ways which can enable them to stand up for justice, for righteousness, for social issues, to stand up for the poor and to aid the poor and the oppressed. Growing numbers of God's artists have a deepening desire to see God express His love through them and through their art.
However, it also appears to me that often many of them may not be aware of some of the steps which can be taken to begin to move in these directions…"
Hopefully this article will give several examples of ways God's artists can get involved through the use of their artistic gifts and other gifts that God has given them, including a heart of mercy and compassion which it seems He has graced many of His artists with. Possibly these thoughts can help to spark additional ideas as well.
If you have related songs available, or have created
other art works along these lines which you think other readers would be interested
in knowing about, please send us more info on that and include a specific
web page for that if you have one, in addition to your contact info, so that
we can link to it. Many thanks - GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org
Please put 'OPPRESSED' in the subject line. Thank you!
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Contents:
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+ Intro
+ God Is Stirring the Hearts of His Artists
+ My Own Journey in this Direction
+ What Are Some of the Groups That Need Support?
+ Some Ideas to Consider - And Noting Some Who Are Doing
Similar Things
· Art Lessons / · Art
Camps / · Art Therapy
Passing on the Vision
· Musical And/Or Artistic Drama/Art Gallery
Tours/Presentations
· Related Movies / · Intro
Videos
· Justice & Social Issues Galleries
· Photography / · Multimedia
/ · Magazines
· Books/Publishers / · Internet
Sites
· Powerpoint Presentations / · Cartoons
& Caricatures
· Banners & Flags
· Fund Raising Events/Festivals or Art Shows
CDs / · Calendars
· Resource Toolkits / Note
Cards, Postcards
+ Enlisting Your Potential Partnership
======
God's heart is, and has been throughout history, for the oppressed - for the poor, the alien/refugee, the widow, the orphan, the fatherless, those treated unjustly, etc.
There tend to be quite a few stereotypes 'out there' of why many are poor…some of them may be true, but more often than not, these stereotypes are not accurate and generally tend to keep us separated from the people involved and then tend to help us to justify ourselves from getting involved with the various groups of people or individuals in question.
Although it is true that some who are poor are there due to their wrong choices, perhaps as a result of laziness, because they have not taken responsibility for themselves or other reasons, for the most part people are poor because of some type of oppression in their lives…whether that be physical or spiritual, from others who are oppressing them or from within themselves spiritually/emotionally, etc.
Often I think we do not even recognize within ourselves the stereotypes which we have absorbed by 'osmosis' growing up in families/communities/societies where certain stereotypes exist or are already deeply rooted. Do we readily recognize how much we in actual fact marginalize people in our thinking and behaviour even if not doing so consciously in our actions? We are often blind to our own prejudices…especially if we generally have a compassionate heart towards people, and even more so if we have a heart towards people of other cultures…I have found, in my own life, as well, that we can tend to believe that we do not have the prejudices that 'others' have, while in fact the truth may be that the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to our hearts some groups of people that we are in fact holding at a distance and perhaps even have very negative feelings towards. These may not be only various ethnic groups but other groups of people as well.
He has revealed these kinds of painful things to me with various groups of people over the years, to my initial shock (and of course He had to knock down my pride a few more notches in the process otherwise why would I have even been shocked?!),…but thank God He is patient with us and able to lead us to repentance and cleanse our hearts of these attitudes and change them to increasingly reflect His heart and perspective of these people as we seek Him!
The God of the Bible is full of compassion towards those who are oppressed, whether that be through sin, illness, through the control or corruption/greed or power of others, the effects of other's sin, the effects of those who have sinned in generations before them, etc. He longs to give us His kind of compassion and love for the many oppressed and poor that He wants to bring into our lives in His timing and ways.
God Is Stirring the Hearts of His
Artists
--------------------------------------------------------
As we are quickly approaching the last of the last days, it appears to be
increasingly apparent that many of God's artists and musicians have a growing
desire to use their talents and gifts in ways which can enable them to stand
up for justice, for righteousness, for social issues, to stand up for the
poor and to aid the poor and the oppressed. Growing numbers of God's artists
have a deepening desire to see God express His love through them and through
their art.
However, it also appears to me that often many of them may not be aware of some of the steps which can be taken to begin to move in these directions.
I think that often an initial hindrance is, or has been, that we as artists have tended to see ourselves as lone rangers. As artists working on our own, it may be much more difficult to really do much to move in these directions or to help to promote justice or righteousness, for example, in any particular specific stream or to help to aid the oppressed. 'Walking alone' lacks much of the dynamic, vitality, powerful synergy and potential of teamwork/partnerships; but if we are in relationship with others that share similar vision, I believe the doors of opportunity in these types of directions can become virtually as endless as God's creativity!
Many of the potential 'steps' will become clearer as you prayerfully brainstorm with others. And as you pray, you will likely experience God increasingly connecting you with others that share similar vision to potentially work together with, enabling all of you to produce something much greater as a whole and enabling you to have more far-reaching influence. At the same time, you will likely be receiving more joy and blessing in return, as well, due to the dynamics of working together towards seeing a vision coming to pass.
My Own Journey in this Direction
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Personally, for many years I have sensed that the Lord has been building in
my heart a growing longing to stand up for righteousness and against injustice,
as well as to stand up and serve those who are poor and oppressed through
the arts and in other ways that the Lord opens the doors. In the past few
years, especially, I have sensed the Holy Spirit increasingly stirring up
this desire the more He has been revealing to me His heart about this and
about His heart to heal the broken-hearted and to set the captives free.
What Are Some Groups That Need Support?
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+ child sex-trade workers
+ at risk children/youth
+ those dying of starvation
+ those affected by natural disasters
+ AIDS orphans
+ children used in war - War Child - War Child is a network of independent
organizations working across the world to help children affected by war -
(secular organization that utilizes artists and the arts)
http://www.warchild.org
+ refugees - in our cities, and in refugee camps around the globe
+ disabled or house-bound people - deaf, blind, hearing or visually impaired,
other
+ widows
+ seniors
+ the poor
+ street people
+ illiterate peoples
+ families of prisoners
+ those racially discriminated against
+ victims of AIDS - Great Commission Art - an example of how one artist is
utilizing her art to assist financially with AIDS and orphanage ministries
in the Continent of Africa with a percentage of all profits - http://www.greatcommissionart.com/about_vision.htm
+ aliens (refugees, new immigrants, etc.)
+ fatherless
+ those adversely affected by negative influences on the environment
Etc. etc.
Some Ideas to Consider - And Noting
Some Who Are Doing Similar Things
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As I have been praying for His ideas about how He has wanted me personally
to begin to get involved in this, some ideas have come to mind which I would
like to share with you below which I'm in the process of developing here in
Vancouver, Canada.
These, however, follow and build upon other aspects which
I believe lay foundations for this in our lives, such as:
+ finding out what the Word of God says about these issues so what we do is
build on the Truth and not on preconceived ideas
+ praying about the specific group/s He wants us to focus on
+ praying about specific ways to get involved as an artist and/or in other
ways and taking it one step at a time by faith
+ praying for God to reveal His heart to us about the issues He wants us to
be involved in addressing; the character He needs to develop in us to prepare
us for that; the forms of communication most suitable; how to go about every
aspect of the development of what He leads us to do, etc.
+ asking Him to prepare and equip/train us for specific ways that He wants
us to get involved in these directions in His ways and timing, etc.
+ asking Him to bring the people He wants us to connect with in the process
+ praying for those that will be on the receiving end of our artwork or other
involvements in the situation
+ finding out what has been done, what is being done, some things others are
working on, and then see how God may want us to potentially partner with them
(ie. other ministries) rather than potentially unnecessarily 'reinventing
the wheel' in some aspects of the development
+ trusting Him and taking one step at a time in these directions…
+ waiting for His timing
+ retaining the attitude of a humble and teachable spirit
Etc.
Perhaps you have some additional ideas to send me which I can also let other readers know about in a future article, and maybe there are some ways that we can work together to move forward with some of these ideas as the Holy Spirit leads?
Following are some specific ideas you may wish to consider - either in your church planting situation overseas, or in your city or multi-cultural community at home. I know most or all of these are not new ideas, but I thought I'd list some for easy access.
+ ART LESSONS - whether it's for refugees, orphans of AIDS or orphans of any kind, artists can give lessons (one on one or in small groups) in music, art, dance, drama, mime, clowning, etc. This can be a wonderful way to provide some encouragement and some light into the dark days of an orphan. At the same time, art lessons can potentially provide meaningful interaction which enables the development of loving and godly relationships, plus gives opportunity to help stir up or affirm/help develop the God-given gifts of the orphans if they are healthy enough emotionally to be able to express some level of creativity. It can also potentially provide open doors of relationship into their families and be a way in which they experience the love of God. Eventually this could also possibly be a way to open doors for them to be able to provide for themselves financially as well if you/they are linked up with ministries that can help to connect them to the right resources/promoters, etc.
If this is of potential interest to you, I know of a couple possible situations already which are interested in this type of possible partnership…short term or longer term. Contact me at: GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org
Art Lesson Links - http://disciplethenations.org/rield/index64.html
+ ARTS CAMPS - again, whether it's for refugees or orphans or others, you might wish to prayerfully consider inviting a team of artists who are excited about the vision on your heart to come and lead an arts camp in your church planting situation, in a refugee camp or orphanage, etc. There are ministries that would likely be interested in having a team come, or in inviting teams to come for a week or two on occasion, or perhaps eventually as a regular event such as through summer teams.
IF YOU ARE INTERSTED IN POTENTIALLY BECOMING INVOLVED IN SUCH A TEAM, please let us know and send us more info on that..ie. your vision, your related experience/training, your previous ministry/artistic involvement, when available, whether you're currently with a school/ministry/mission, previous missions experience - if applicable, etc., other items you think would be helpful….
IF YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ARTS CAMPS IN THE PAST and would like to help encourage others in these directions by potentially sending them a rough potential outline of what you have done and some of the administrative aspects you have developed in that regard which you don't mind passing on so others can also benefit by not having to re-invent the wheel from scratch in their situation, please let us know so that we can pass that info on in future editions of the newsletter. If you have some seminars or aspects that you would be interested in/potentially willing to teach at arts camps in various cities/nations on occasion, please also let us know that. Are there some helpful books to read or videos to watch in this regard to help assist others in these directions? What are some of the potential difficulties/dangers to avoid in doing something like this? Any words of advice? Lessons learned? Do you have any resources to recommend to them?
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY HAVING SUCH A TEAM WORK WITH YOU IN YOUR REGION, contact us and we can help get the word out and connect you with potentially interested parties so you can discuss the next steps further with them.
If this is of potential interest to you, I know of a couple possible situations already which are interested in this type of possible partnership…short term or longer term. Contact me at: GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org
Arts Camp Links - http://disciplethenations.org/MACamps.html
+ ART THERAPY - yet again, in situations such as with refugees, orphans, survivors of natural disasters, etc., art can also be utilized to help people work through their pain, fear, grief and loss. Although traditional art therapy includes philosophies which are anti-Scriptural, some of that can be very helpful on various levels if art therapy with biblical foundations and God-honoring goals can be developed with discernment. This is something which could potentially be utilized on some summer team situations, perhaps - over a 6-week period, for example. However, perhaps of more lasting value would be for church planters to consider praying for an art therapist as one of their full-time team members…They would not necessarily be doing art therapy all of the time, but that could be a vital part of their involvement.
Perhaps they could utilize art therapy in conjunction with a team of church planters in a specific region. For example, spending a year or two in a region where several church plants could benefit from this person and where this person could be involved with various teams.
I think that even better would be for biblically-based art therapists to do this in conjunction with a team of other ministries where a holistic approach is being used to meet spiritual, emotional and physical needs. If someone was / or some people on the team were perhaps prayer counsellors, as well, it could be helpful for them to work together as a team as appropriate.
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Passing On the Vision: Regarding most of the following, I would like to say that although I have focused, in what I have written, on the needs of the oppressed, I think that it would also be important to include in our artistic presentations a VISION of HOPE for what things COULD look like for these specific focus groups of oppressed peoples as we do our part in cooperation with the Holy Spirit and others. And, right along with that, to provide a VISION for those experiencing our artworks, of how THEY, too, can become involved in some specific and practical, meaningful ways which can help to contribute to the other vision as we work together with others that share like heart and mind. Because of the internet, much of this can be done through email with possible occasional meetings as needed - depending on what the project is, of course.
+ MUSICAL AND/OR ARTISTIC DRAMA/ART
GALLERY TOURS/PRESENTATIONS
You may know of others, besides those mentioned below, that are using the
arts or have used the arts in related ways in the past. For example, many
are familiar with the secular LIVE-AID concerts that were done years ago to
help raise money for victims of the famine in Ethiopia.
Live Aid - http://live-aid.chez.tiscali.fr/
BuildaBridge International is one Christian ministry from
the US which seeks to minister to various poor/oppressed segments of society
and to stand for justice - especially through working in conjunction with
others in community through the arts.
http://www.buildabridge.org
WorldView International - http://www.worldviewinternational.com/arts.shtml
The WorldView Arts Group (a Christian ministry) has done/does various art
musicals, galleries, displays, tours, etc. internationally to help stand for
the oppressed and hurting, etc.
WorldView Action - Giving hope and compassionate relief to people in need:
http://www.worldviewinternational.com/action.shtml
I personally believe that if various artists, churches, missions and ministries and Christian-run businesses, etc. would collaborate together to put together informative and high-quality artistic performance/art displays/presentations or galleries, for example, and took them on tour, that they could potentially deeply impact people on the receiving end of these artistic expressions, which would hopefully then effect the plight of the oppressed - in positive ways, such as through making more people aware of the needs and possibilities; of enlisting more prayer, and enlisting more hearts of those whose hearts God is stirring to become involved according to the ways He's gifted them - whatever that may be...giving, administration, through their artwork, through taking care of necessary logistics, by compassionate ministry, etc.
An example of what could be done with largely Christian audiences to help raise the awareness of refugees and their needs or persecuted believers and their needs, would be to share some stories through storytelling, songs, sculpture, poetry, film, multimedia, dance, drama, music, photography, stained glass, paintings or what have you of specific people sharing in/or who have shared in this specific plight - stories which touch the heart. As the event progresses, some statistics, perhaps, could be presented, and people could be encouraged, through these expressions, to pray and to consider further specific opportunities which could also be presented, etc.
An informative resource packet could also be made available to interested parties to help raise funds for specific refugees or refugee ministries, for example, while also providing additional opportunities to 'get the word out', possibly including a related music CD or multimedia CD which could again include some statistics, stories, photography, photos of sculptures, paintings, sculpture, music, research links, movie clips, helpful resources, and list some specific opportunities available and ways that people can get involved to relieve people that are under this specific oppression by listing specific ministries/missions/churches or whatever…
I believe that similar joint efforts could be done in conjunction with other individuals and organizations in our cities/nation/s that share a heart to show compassion to refugees or other oppressed peoples - whether they're believers or not. Christian musicians and artists can certainly help stand up for and help to support these types of oppressed peoples by working in conjunction with others who may already be doing it, too, and who may already have the connections and much experience. This is another way to also impact many around us that perhaps share a lot of similar vision and whom the Holy Spirit may want to connect us with for His own purposes.
A main challenge to see this type of presentation or possible 'tour' carried out would be to see the Lord bring in a person or team of people to facilitate the administrative and logistical aspects of this type of ministry. They would not necessarily need to be an artist - but it might be helpful for them to be people who understands artists. Some of the main things are whether they share the vision, are a team player and know how to facilitate and administrate a major endeavour such as this. But if the Lord is wanting to do this type of thing, surely He knows just where the right people for this are, as well, and will bring them as we ask - in His timing and way!
In addition to raising up awareness of the various oppressed groups, helping to educate people about them, as well as raising up prayer and participation of those that share the vision ofreaching out to these specific groups, this type of tour/presentation could also be a very key part of FUND RAISING EVENTS for specific ministries or focus groups such as refugees, orphans, at-risk youth, children of war, etc.
+ RELATED MOVIES
Along with the previous idea, perhaps there are artists who share a heart
to do something about the plight of poor widows who need income in India or
Afghanistan (as an example), and who could be encouraged to use their artistic
gifts to create art which could then be sold to provide employment for them….and
which perhaps we in other nations could potentially market in our regions.
Perhaps we could sell arts and crafts made by various oppressed groups at
fair-market value and assist them through providing employment and a market
for them? Or perhaps a short movie could be made about this type of large-scale
need?
Or perhaps other artists feel deeply called to partner together to see something done about the many oppressed peoples of many nations who are providing various products for those of us in the west for ludicrously low financial recompense! Perhaps they could collaborate together to produce short or perhaps even longer movies to not only stir up the Church in these ways, but to bring these needs to the attention of our cities/nations, as well. Of course they would need to be high quality movies so that they would be taken seriously.
These types of movies could be included in one-day or several day events such as mentioned above with the presentations/tours, etc. as an example, or aired on television through sympathetic producers or station managers. They could also be available through the internet or shown at missions conferences, for example.
+ INTRO VIDEOS
Similarly, various ministries or organizations/churches/businesses, etc. that
share similar vision and focus on a particular social issue, could collaborate
together on putting together an introductory video which allows them to put
together an intro to what they're doing as a whole, their overall vision as
a whole, sharing stats, some key resources or stories and other things that
they all agree on, and then perhaps ending the movie with clips quickly highlighting
each partnering ministry and including their contact info and ways in which
to get involved with them, etc.
Working together on these types of projects can not only help to cut costs, labour and efforts in other ways, helping to keep from unnecessarily 're-inventing the wheel', but can also encourage the viewers that this is a joint, team effort that is much larger than they are as individuals or as individual ministries, and many these days are interested in getting involved in partnerships that are working together as opposed to being lone rangers. Also, the team-work in developing such a video could also help to build some relationships between partnering agencies/ministries/churches/missions which could provide open doors for further opportunity for many more related ministry projects in the future.
+ JUSTICE & SOCIAL ISSUES GALLERIES
Perhaps there are already galleries like this in existence, but I wonder at
the potential extent of impact Christian musicians/artists could have in their
city/nation if, again, they partnered with others that share similar vision
and focus to aid the oppressed, stand for justice or raise the awareness of/confront
various social issues (whether believers or not), through art galleries that
are specifically focused on these types of issues?
I imagine there are pros and cons to being focused on these issues as a gallery… On one hand it might be totally overwhelming for patrons to experience so much of the same type of focus throughout a gallery and therefore lose some of the intended impact. As well, that scenario could perhaps keep these important issues and artworks from being sprinkled throughout other galleries where they can potentially have more impact because there isn't potential 'overkill'? Yet for those whose hearts are already stirring in these directions, it could potentially help to move them even further into deeper participation in standing up for the oppressed.
Perhaps some of you readers have some insight into this, or experience or thoughts which might be helpful for other readers in a future follow-up article? If so, please email: GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org.
+ PHOTOGRAPHY
Among the visual arts, I think the very powerful gift of some photographers
is not used nearly enough and can be so effectively used to help stand up
for issues such as the oppressed experience.
Photography could be more fully utilized in related brochures, magazines, cinematography, magazine articles/photojournalism, in galleries, on web sites, Powerpoint presentations, various multimedia presentations, on related music CD covers, banners, T-shirts, coffee table books which feature some of these issues, etc.
Another idea is one such as Debbie Fortnum, local worship leader here in Vancouver, is using to help raise up funds to help the Makhai people of Uganda through the sales of her photographic greeting cards - http://www.cfh.ca/cards.
+ MULTIMEDIA
As already mentioned, multimedia can potentially play a vital role in helping
to change thinking/heart attitudes towards the oppressed.
+ MAGAZINES
Photographers, journalists and photojournalists can of course also play vital
roles, through magazines, in promoting the vision of touching the various
oppressed groups of people that are on your/our hearts.
Again, for any one ministry or mission to undertake this type of endeavour could be very daunting in terms of resources of all kinds, unless they are a very large organization.
HOWEVER, again, if various ministries, churches, missions or individuals and perhaps businesses partner together on such a project and share the costs for a magazine development team, all of them could benefit, as with the introductory video idea as presented above.
+ BOOKS
Along with magazines, of course, is the need for writers whom the Holy Spirit
can use to stir people's imaginations and hearts to call people into prayer
or involvement in some other way.
And of course to have books and magazines, publishers are also needed!
+ INTERNET SITES
Internet sites are of course another incredible way for various visual artists,
musicians, computer techies and web site gurus/artists to work together in
similar ways as mentioned above, with the possibility of great potential impact!
+ POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
Along with that could also come Powerpoint presentations, which could also
be utilized on web sites or which could be developed and sent out via email
to those requesting that. Perhaps they could also be sold as a fund raiser,
or be sent to people who send in a donation of a certain amount.
+ CARTOONS & CARICATURES
It seems that in the Church, we have often not made use of the potential humor
or power that cartoons and caricatures can have. They can often totally shock
and confront a person in a very quick, precise and long-lasting way!
Although the world uses them for many reason, one being to use them politically, I think we as the Church can also grow more adept in using them to help stand for righteousness in much the same ways…. Can we not create powerful caricatures or cartoons which confront any of the issues relating to the oppressed groups mentioned, and provide creative and biblical ideas on how we can become involved, or do our part to respond specifically to these types of situations?
I think many people would like to do something to help stand up for justice and the oppressed, but may not know what kinds of steps to take. Perhaps artists can be some of the ones to show them, or let them hear, some specific options which are down-to-earth and which others can see themselves being a part of.
+ BANNERS & FLAGS
Although there are many churches and ministries that have been using banners
for worship over the past couple decades, what about those that are gifted
accordingly creating banners which can be used to help encourage others to
stand up for and reach out to the oppressed, as well?
And again, as mentioned earlier, perhaps in the case of banners and flags especially, using these artistic expressions to perhaps help to stir up the VISION of HOPE could be another effective way to impact people…not only banners on church walls or in related events, but how about potentially working in conjunction with City Hall and other groups in the city that share similar vision for at-risk youth, or crimes towards the elderly or disabled, or towards ethnic groups, etc.
Many cities regularly put up banners or flags along the lampposts or city bridges, or around parks, which depict some aspect of the city which it is celebrating, for instance. Perhaps flags or banners could be created which would help to encourage people to stand up for various oppressed groups, as well, and be a constant reminder to passers-by for months on end on our main streets?
If that was done in conjunction with TV spots on the news, in the newspapers and spots on the radio, in conjunction with web sites, movies and other local galleries or tours, for example, with everyone working together, I think there would be much potential to gradually bring some change to local thinking/attitudes.
+ FUND-RAISING EVENTS/FESTIVALS OR ART
SHOWS
Fund raising events could also be situations in which artists could have significant
impact in standing up for specific oppressed groups. Fund raising concerts
or presentations as noted above could certainly be possibilities. What about
the possibility of working together with local groups in your region who share
similar vision - whether believers or not, and putting together local FESTIVALS
OR ART SHOWS in local parks or auditoriums.
CDs such as mentioned below could also be sold at these types of events to help raise funds. Or perhaps the art works themselves could be sold to raise money for such a vision. Artists may not have much money to contribute to ministries they would like to support, but they could definitely help to support their favourite ministries by assisting in one or more of the ways mentioned in this article.
+ CDs
Another way for singers, musicians and song-writers, recording engineers and
perhaps multimedia artists/technologists participate is to put together CD/DVD
compilations which focus on a particular oppressed group - such as:
Even in Sorrow - Slater Armstrong - http://disciplethenations.org/index28.html#Sorrow
A Recorded Project for the Persecuted Church in Sudan
Heart Sounds International - www.heart-sounds.org which has projects focused on encouraging believers in various creative access nations.
HOMESICK - a Worship album which features 15 new songs of worship by writers, musicians and worship leaders from the Lower Mainland, in support of the Loxicha people of southern Mexico. www.homesick.ca
Another example is: COMING HOME - Among Us (v.13), etc. - CDs for First Nations youth - produced in the Lower Mainland, BC, Canada. Action-packed audio CDs in radio-show format especially designed for First Nations youth - includes networking opportunities, announces upcoming events, relevant music, interviews with First Nations youth about relevant issues, testimonies, advice from First Nations Christian chiefs, resource info, etc. To order, contact: redsoulrising@hotmail.com - Also ask about their Resource Packets - The Resource Packets come out twice year and for a years subscription it would cost (at this point) $69.00. They include a CD, 6 Bible Study guide, and a MagLetter (full of pictures and text). Each Bible Study has a specific topic based on a yearly theme. This years theme is JESUS AS OUR PEACE (Jn. 14:27). The Bible Studies will include things like a 'Warm-Up' (some game ideas), 'Transition' into the meat of the bible message. One page will be for the Leaders for them to work off of and the other side will be a work sheet to photocopy for the students to write on. The Bible Study guide will also have CD to go with it. The CD itself will have 6 Sound Bytes to go along specifically with each Bible Study. The Sound Bytes will include 3 songs (native traditional mixed with hiphop, dance, new rock alternative styles) and 3 stories (from native people). The reason for the CD is for the youth leader to use it as a "soup starter" for his/her lesson from the Bible Study.
There could also be compilations focusing on refugees or orphans, etc. Or perhaps single song CDs which could be specifically used as fundraisers. Songwriters/musicians and artists/photographers could all work together on CDs of this type.
Similar to the INTRO VIDEO idea above, some of the same things could be included: ie. intro to the plight of this group, some facts, resources to connect with or check out, specific ministries that can be connected in order to get involved, etc. These could be sold at fund raising events or through the various participating ministries or through like-minded individuals who share the vision and want to help promote the CDs, which could then be a permanent reminder to the one purchasing the CD for a donation or however the cost has been negotiated. It could also be an easy and inexpensive way to help pass on the vision.
Again, much of the work would be the administrative/logistical aspects of getting such a resource out to its intended audience/s.
+ CALENDARS
Another idea for photographers, painters and other artists might be to collaborate
on putting together calendars in association with various ministries, churches,
missions etc. which share vision. They could use the calendars to help increase
awareness of the specific issue/s they want to focus on and perhaps it can
also be used as a fund raiser.
For example, in the past year or two some Turkish Christian artists and photographers put together a calendar of wholesome Turkish art done by Turkish Christian artists, I believe, to help raise money for the Turkish church.
+ RESOURCE TOOLKITS
Various consultations, networks or other groups/ministries, schools or businesses
which are focusing on raising up awareness, prayer, financial or other involvement,
etc. of specific issues or groups of oppressed peoples, etc. might want to
put together a RESOURCE TOOLKIT such as a Canadian Refugee Network is doing,
which could be sent out to others that are interested, to help them move in
these directions. Various artistic resources, such as those mentioned above,
or others, could be included.
Another idea is to sell professional cards, postcards, prints, etc. of your artwork to help raise money for specific ministries. www.greatcommissionart.com is one such site.
Enlisting Your Potential Partnership
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As has already been mentioned above, there are many opportunities in which
musicians and artists can be involved in helping to relieve the plight of
the oppressed. Some are general and for others there are already various ministries
looking for artistic involvement.
Again, if you are interested in any of the above or have related art/music, etc. which you might wish to allow various groups to use in their galleries or related presentations/displays, for example, please let me know so that I can let others know and they can contact you about specific possibilities. You could then negotiate with them how that would be worked out in your situation/s.
The Great Commission Worship & Arts Center is looking for art/music related to refugees, persecuted believers, orphans and specifically orphans of AIDS to potentially be included in a collaboration which we would like to see perhaps becoming a display/presentation/gallery which could perhaps go on tour as the Lord leads. For further communication in this regard, contact: GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org
If you have related art/music and would like to have a link to your web site according to categories of your willingness to potentially assist in ministering to some poor or oppressed groups through your art and perhaps in other ways as well, or if you wish to use your art to stand up for particular areas of social injustice or varied social issues, please let me know so that I can add your link to the appropriate category. Thank you!
For any and all of the related art works above, I would be happy to promote what is being done in these ways through the EW&AF newsletter and through the web site and other appropriate networks as able.
Contact: GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org
Note: Further related RESOURCE LINKS will be made available to you in a coming edition.
- by Grace Wiebe, April 2004
GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org
56 SUDANESE BOYS FREED FROM SLAVERY
Christian Solidarity International worked with the Arab-Dinka Peace Committee
in Sudan to free 56 boys from slavery at the end of April. The boys--abducted
during government-sponsored jihad slave raids against blacks and non-Muslim
communities--were working in the cattle camps of Arab nomads in the borderlands
between northern and southern Sudan. Interviews with the freed boys revealed
a pattern of physical and psychological abuse with cases of beatings,
stabbings, rape, racial insults, death threats and forcible conversion to
Islam. Two
years ago a U.S. government-sponsored group charged Sudan's Islamist regime
of
using slavery as a weapon of war against southern Sudan. However, the issue
of
slavery has not yet been placed on the agenda of the peace talks between the
Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army. [CHRISTIAN
SOLIDARITY INTERNATIONAL/HCJB 4 May 2004]