April 20, 2006

Ministry thru Theatre as a Profession

Part of my reply to a dramatist friend in North Orange County considering her future using drama as ministry:

I've never made much $ from doing drama as ministry. I wrote an article for a magazine (for free) about this issue and have had a number of people write me that this was helpful in the way they viewed their ministry at the church. Here's a link to it from the blog.

http://spicetolife.blogspot.com/2005/02/should-christian-artists-work-in.html



There are some churches who have an "artist in residence" or a drama ministry director, but not the church where my husband was on the pastoral staff. For a few years, the Lord made a way for me to work 2-3 days a week, and have the rest of the time to "work" on the drama ministry stuff. I kept track of my hours and made up a job description, just to have a record of it in case the church were to ever need it. Happily, there NOW is a person who is part time staff over drama at the church. She's one of the people who was doing drama there before I ever got on the scene in 1985, and was faithful in serving as a volunteer all those years (doing professional acting work on the side from time to time).

My husband and I joined CRM in 1997, as missionaries, so we raise support from individuals and a couple of churches. CRM is a great organization and the people who serve with CRM are helping all kinds of people live lives focused on what God has called them to be and do, so they practice what they preach in being my cheerleader as an artist who wants to advance the Kingdom in unconventional ways. (my purpose statement is also blogged! http://kimberlycreasman.blogspot.com).
Perhaps you could use some of the questions there on that site to think through your life and crystalize with the Lord what he's calling you to do that is uniquely YOU. I'd really love it if you posted it as comments there - so that others will be encouraged by another artist finding her way!

Hard to know how many of our supporters would give to us if we were both doing ARTS ministry. Hmmm. My husband works in developing pastors and missionaries - to help them be all they can be as God made them. Sometimes I wonder whether people support us because of his more 'acceptable' ministry, and I get to ride on his shirt-tails. Oh wouldn't HE be surprised if it turned out that many give 'cause of their heart's desire to see arts used more in ministry to Jesus!! Maybe it's good that we'll never know! Never-the-less, God has been very good to us in giving us generous faithful supporters, and we have
never had to resort to used tea bags or living on the streets! Hardly. It is an exciting life of faith to see the $ come when it's needed.

But aren't we ALL walking by faith when it comes to finances and work? From what I remember of what you've told me about yourself, you've been living a life of faith in regards to His provision without being a missionary!

I'm now in discussions with a Theological School here in Singapore that wants to start a new Creative Arts Ministry program, starting this fall with a year certificate program with hopes to grow it eventually to a full degree. The students come from mostly surrounding Asian countries, so it's exciting to think that all this time in Asia, and learning Chinese, and being exposed to and exploring some more Asian styles of theatre will "pay off" in being able to have a broader influence than the small circles here that I've been able to touch....YET, even with this, I've had to write them and say, "we need to talk $" before I work too much more on helping think through what the arts curriculum should include and integrating arts into the
biblical and spiritual life courses in the program.

There are some other drama ministry people you can check out through the CITA website. One group has been around the longest is Artists in Christian Testimony (byron spradlin). And Julisa Rowe. Google them. CITA is full of members who are on a similar journey as yourself!

Also, I saw that Lin Sexton (from Modesto First Baptist and long time CITA member) has a regular article on the worshipleader.com website. I'm also looking into what kind of courses Fuller offers - They have a grad program for Christian Artists. Don't know much about it, but we're going to be in USA for a year in 2007, and I may need more structured academic input if I'm going to be working for this theological school. I'm sure they'd prefer I had more than a BA behind my name. At this point, God only knows.

We'll be in Fullerton and Yorba Linda with our parents off and on this summer. Here's a few possible dates for you and I to get together the first week. Let me know if there's a chance to meet up with YLFC drama folks too! I'd love it. I hear you're having the grand opening of the new church soon - largest facility or seating capacity in OC? I was on the construction site last year - it was pretty impressive - awe inspiring. I also hear that it's getting used for some wonderful events besides worship that are sharing the good news of Jesus to your neighbors. Hope to see you this summer.

April 07, 2006

The Need of More Mentors for Artists

In my "non-programmatic style of mentoring"
here are some comments I gave in a recent interview for createlevoyage.com

I think the networking of spiritual mentors for artists in Singaore has already started at a very grassroots level. Dawn's idea of LightUp! (networking artist mentors) was good but was not a felt need among those potential mentors. It seems to me that many potential mentors have never had the opportunity to be mentored - or coached - so they don't see how valuable a gift
this is to the younger generation. Most people, almost all people, feel like they're still trying to figure it out, and don't feel like they've got much to offer. But simply knowing how to ask good questions and help people discover answers on their own is a powerful influence on lasting life change and growth. In the past 2 years I've been concentrating a lot on learning about coaching and mentoring with the CRM model, Bobby Clinton and others.

Last year I participated in a Pastor's Mentoring Network (Focused Leaders) that my husband Jim does with pastors and C leaders in the marketplace. I'm hoping that I'll soon get a chance to adapt these wonderful life on life tools for right brained artists like myself and be able to share it with our community. Praying about that. In any case, whether it's through CRM Singapore, or other avenues, I sense that some of these older artists will get a chance to be mentored in the near future, so that they can get passionate about being an understanding and wise coach to the next generation of leaders.