Have you ever wished you could quit your job, pack up everything and move to a new place if God asked you to, or combine your talents and skills into a full-time job and ministry? These are the questions Lisa Marten asked herself two years ago in Seattle. We join her on a personal faith journey, a path of discovering how to integrate her passion for art with a desire to serve in ministry. The picture would be incomplete without mentioning Lisa's love affair with Scotland, the home of her ancestors. She inherited their artistic abilities and has the distinction of being the first family member to make a successful living from art.
Lisa went to art school at Seattle Pacific University, but sensing a change in spiritual direction, she transferred to a Bible College to obtain a degree in Youth Ministry. This led to a second degree in psychology, equipping her with an interesting mix of skills. She put her talents to work utilizing art therapy with children in a "Juvenile Fire Settler Intervention Program" with the King County Fire Departments. This involved counseling child arsonists through art and dialogue. She later moved onto social work.
Although she had a steady job, Lisa realized that her true passion was art and so prayed for God's leading. Her first break came with a commissioned painting. While it was being framed, the store proprietor invited her to be the "Artist of the Month." This led to two successful art exhibitions in Seattle. Visiting friends suggested that Boise would be an inspirational place for her artistic aspirations to thrive. The thought of giving up her home, job and comforts to become a full-time artist seemed shockingly risky and yet strangely appealing. After seeking God's will, she moved in faith to Boise in April 1999 - a defining moment. Her faith was truly the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In two short years, Lisa has displayed paintings at five art shows, in coffee shops and the State fair. She started a business - "Revelatorart." God was paving her way with opportunities as she stepped out in faith.
The second part of God's plan was about to unfold. Lisa began attending the Vineyard last year and decided to get connected. Lisa had always desired to visit Scotland. When a Vineyard friend left for a mission trip to Glasgow, Lisa was invited to join the Scotland Prayer Group - she agreed. It was through prayer that Lisa began to feel a stronger bond with Scotland. By e-mailing Jake and Cherry Chadney, (leaders of the Glasgow Vineyard mission), Lisa learned about the
Harvest Ministry College to equip leaders and was intrigued by their coffeehouse and artists' ministry that encourages Christian artists to interweave their art with mission work. Lisa prayed about this vision for art and missions, and as an apparent confirmation that she should fly to Glasgow for a short mission trip, she received an unsolicited
"Everything Scottish" catalog in the mail on the final day for obtaining a ticket. Her excitement grew during the trip when she became convinced about applying for the leadership training course. Amazed at how the Lord was fulfilling her long-held dreams, through prayer she received assurance that her paintings would be sold to fund a second six-month trip.
Glasgow, known as the heroin capital of Europe, is an industrial city with high unemployment and typical inner city problems - drug addiction, alcoholism, theft and vandalism. These challenges face the Chadneys in their outreach to young people. Ironically, the city was founded by a monk. The
Vineyard coffeehouse was also the site for a revival in a bygone era. As the Chadneys open the café and classrooms later this year, we can hope God will pour out rivers of blessing to this society suffering a spiritual drought.
Lisa enjoys blessing people through her paintings, most of which are commissions. Using charcoal, ink and oil pastels, she prefers mainly landscapes and portraits. Like a method actor, she saturates herself in the subject. As many of her paintings are of Scottish landscapes, she listens to Celtic music and soaks up stories of the Isles. Observing her landscapes, often featuring oceans or rivers, she evidently has a flair for capturing the life and motion of water. Using Biblically inspired titles for her paintings, she feels she is a messenger, revealing God's creativity to anyone receptive.
Lisa says: "I believe that everyone is an artist; whether it's in the form of a doodle or a gallery masterpiece, we all have a story to tell. Allow God to speak into your life, let your unique voice come out. Open your eyes to what God wants to do through you."
Lisa plans to leave for Glasgow in September 2001. We are invited to participate in her spiritual adventure as she displays her artwork for sale in the Arbor Café on June 9th and 10th - her biggest show yet.
