Hello friends, I thot you might enjoy our latest College of Arts & Sports newsletter,
which includes an article I recently wrote. Blessings, Belinda
| College of Arts & Sports October Update |
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 Greetings to you all!
When I looked into the faces of all those who had gathered in Kona recently
for our bi-annual University of the Nations workshop, I was impressed with
the diversity of cultures and giftings but also the strong dedication to giving
God glory through arts and sports. I heard stories of obstacles, challenges
and the fires of testing but I continue rejoicing in how it is resulting in refined
and renewed passion for our mission.
Our College of Arts and Sports faculty is gearing up for an olympic year in 2012! Much of our meeting
time in Kona was focused on the extensive preparations necessary for our Go4Glory (www.go4glory.org) International Arts and Sports Festival in July 2012, just prior to the opening of the 30th Olympiad in
London. Our aim is to fuse the relationship between arts and sports like never before in YWAM.
I challenge you to come and join us there for 4 power-packed days of celebration, promotion, training
and networking. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity to link arms across the globe in our efforts
to spread the Gospel. Join us there and stay on for an exceptional opportunity to impact the world
through your skills and talents as tens of thousands gather for the olympic games in the UK. After
the G4G event we are connecting individuals and teams to the outreach efforts of "More Than Gold" (www.morethangold.org.uk) and "Forever2012" (www.forever2012.com) using performances, public
displays and sporting events. Come, know the absolute joy of being His light to the world!
In line with this theme I've asked Belinda van de Loo, one of our key International College Committee
members, to share her heart. Her article: "Pleasing God as artists and athletes" will inspire you as
it has me. Belinda has a unique background in both arts and sports, having played collegiate
volleyball for a major US university and as an accomplished musician and songwriter. You will
enjoy her perspective.
Let's continue to press on for God's glory and the extension of His kingdom!
Yours in Christ, Julie
Pleasing God as Artists and Athletes
By Belinda van de Loo
Recently one of my morning quiet times erupted into a biblical treasure hunt to discover what really pleases God? I had the time and my heart was already awakened by the Word, so I started leafing through the epistles in search of scriptures (1) mentioning how God is pleased or given glory/praise through our actions or attitudes. An hour later and several post-it notes crammed with references, I closed the Book and, with a fresh cup of coffee, meditated on the truths I'd just uncovered.
Later that week, undoubtedly orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, I came upon an article that continued the instruction of that short study. The author surfed across the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, picking out references to God's love of artistry, movement, color and more.
"From creating the tree that was pleasing to the eye in the garden of Eden, highlighting the artistic and spiritual leadership of Bezalel and Oholiab in the building of the tabernacle, to the weirdly dramatic exploits of some prophets, God has been interested in artistry for a long time. Jesus' cryptic parables, Paul's teaching hymns, John's psychedelic imagery, and the central roles of singing, dancing, storytelling, aroma and food symbolism, icons, preaching, poetry, and proverbs in the life of Israel and the Christian church - all point to the same truth: God communicates artistically." (2)
Reading that description my mind immediately recalled the exploits of an extremely powerful man, Samson; the finely honed skill of a stone-slinger named David; the prowess of the old testament athletic warriors in contests of strength and cunning in battle; and a multitude of references to boxing, running, leaping and jumping throughout the Bible. Each example seemed divinely designed to challenge man in his walk with God: to take it to the extreme and please God with his entire being.
"From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth… God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, "We are His offspring.'" Acts 17:26-28 NIV
Arts and athletics in the hands of missionaries and ministers have a unique role in arousing people to recognize their source of skill – a Creator who was pleased to invest the power of creativity into man as a means to draw him back to Himself. These expressions rarely require translation because they belong to the heart and soul of the people and their culture. Whether that's Mongolian wrestling, Guatemalan marimba music or the scripture-infused creative dances of the Hawaiians, it's clear that each culture has its own unique treasures to bring before the throne of God. When arts and sports missionaries combine cultural expressions with the truth of who God is, it can empower communities to embrace God and worship Him as their own, not as a foreign God.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of mean; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Eccle.3:11 NIV
As Kingdom-messengers come alongside cultures with a heart to serve indigenous people in rediscovering their God-given creativity and expression, this brings great glory to God. The Gospel is clear in its depiction of our future:
"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb'." Rev. 7:9,10 NIV
This oft-quoted picture of "every tribe and tongue and nation" worshiping around God's throne isn't limited to celebrating languages but a complete cultural explosion of wonder, joy and worship towards the object of humankind's affection and devotion – the Lamb of God! I fully expect a wild diversity of dancing, drawing, leaping, ball-throwing, fancy footwork, color, sound, aromas, textures and light-shows by God's chief creation – men, women and children boldly demonstrating their love for their Creator in their mother tongues and cultural traditions – all to the pleasure of God.
(1) - Romans 15:7; Eph.5:21; Col.1:10; Phil.2:9-11, etc.
(2) - Brian Schrag, God Hearts Arts, www.Urbana.org 2011 |
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CAS is a College/Faculty of the University of the Nations and a ministry of Youth With A Mission.
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