Preparing for the Mission Field

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Wowsers! I am already finished with my Senior Show and it's hanging in the Cato Center at the College of Charleston. I'm sad it's over, but boy am I relieved! It was a battle, but it sure was a great learning experience.

My series was about body image and how through Christ we can overcome them!

Through Christ I have overcome lack of confidence and I have embraced my natural beauty! During the photo sessions I talked with my models about how they have conquered their own insecurities, and we discussed the scripture that helped us. We talked about how God intentionally designed us to be unique and how we should cherish that. These conversations were personal and very important to me so I felt that they belonged in my artist statement. I was so proud of my writing! I was excited to use my Senior show as a platform to praise God and His marvelous works, but unfortunately not everyone felt the same kind of enthusiasm. I was aware that my statement would not be admired by many in the art department but I felt like God wanted me to use this time to share His love.

However, I did not realize that I would have to fight for my artist statement to be my own. I was sadly not the only one that was fighting this battle. Another artist and I referenced Scripture in our statements. I mentioned that we are God's work of art and I added the scriptures that my models referenced. My professors asked me to remove those references because "it wasn't relevant". I was shocked and angry when I saw that they had also completely rewritten MY artist statement. I know that God wants us to stand tall when everyone else is bowing down so we did. I was polite and I responded with an explanation of why it was relevant to my series. They tried three more times to take out the Christian references until I finally gave up on them, and had to call in reinforcements, My Momma.

I am so thankful that I have such an amazing Christian women to call my Momma. She reminded me that even though I am upset, I still need to be kind and respectful. It wouldn't be a very good example of "WWJD" if I showed off my sassy side now would it? With my Mom's help I edited my statement so that wasn't too "preachy" but still showed that my beliefs took a very large part in the series. Although this experience may have been tough on my heart, I am happy I had it! This is just one small battle that Christians must face. I believe that this battle is one of the first steps God has put me on in order to prepare me for my mission field.

In January I went to the Passion Conference where Christine Cane and Levi Lusko spoke. Both of them (as well as the other speakers) were amazing influences! Christine Cane said "If you're not faithful here, you won't be fruitful there." I must be faithful to God now, in my day-to-day, in order to be fruitful! I have been listening to her sermon and piggybacking Levi's with it. He spoke from Jeremiah 12:5 which says;

"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"

Levi said that we must be like lions, always on ours toes. We need to train for the trial we are not yet in. This was my first trial since Passion. Thank God I was training for it! Even though this trial seems small, it felt very big to me. I wanted my images to not just be appealing to the eye, but to the soul. As people were reading my artist statement I could see their smiles forming and that filled my heart with joy!

I am so glad that God won this battle against Satan. Satan was trying to pull me and the other artist down and muffle God's word, but God won and His word was amplified! I felt compelled to write this blog to help lift up others who may feel like they are being silenced. God wants us to praise his name and sing our joyous songs loudly! This trial has brought me one step closer to being ready for the mission field.

I'm ready for the next step!