and we're back!

Sorry for the long hiatus, but we are BACK! We've been working on a rebranding and relaunch for OM Arts International and we are officialy LIVE! www.arts.com.org Thanks for your patience.
Feel free to drop by and sign-up on our newsletter list as well as participate in a focus on prayer and fasting for the International School of Mission that begins Friday in Italy! www.arts.om.org/school/prayer
Stay tuned for updates on what we're working for 2012.

Blessings and peace_

OM Arts International Excelling in arts in missions imagine - illuminate - impact!

Connecting to a Community Through Art, One Life at a Time.

An OM Arts International team touched people's hearts with their art forms this past summer on a short-term missions trip to Belgium. On one particular day, the team used various art forms to reach people in a park with the Gospel. A homeless man listened to the worship music and heard some of God's word. His eyes filled up with tears. Katie who sat singing with the group moved out of her comfort zone and sat beside him. 

This simple act was enough for this Portugal born immigrant to start pouring out his heart. Katie could do nothing more than listen as best she could to the cathartic release in Portuguese. He stayed for the next few hours enjoying fellowship and music. As some of his homeless friends came by we saw a change in this softened man’s demeanor. He became flirtatious and began to drink again. Just as it seemed that he was returning to the only world he knew he pulled out a very small and obvious precious picture of a young girl: his daughter. He gave the picture to one of our team members and ask if she could draw it bigger for him. Homeless, an alcoholic but still a father who kept this treasure close to his heart. We now understood why the letter from his ‘Almighty Father’ had touch him so deeply and brought tears to his eyes. We all have experiences that God draws on to illustrate his love to us. He is the Great Artist!

Bill Drake Band Rocks Hungary.

As Bill Drake performs on stage, a peace and joy radiates on his face as he tells the large auditorium of Hungarians the hope they can have in knowing Jesus.

“I love to see people come to know Jesus,” said Drake smiling, sitting casually with a cup of tea. “Transformation is an intentional process and we are contributing to an intentional process,” he added. “I hope our tour flows where God is intersecting … providing the piece of the puzzle where God wants when we arrive at a city to perform.”

The tour Drake is referring to is a two-week long venture, first beginning at two children’s camps teaching arts and then on to the rest of Hungary where the Bill Drake Band and dancers will perform, sharing the message of the Gospel. 

The band, comprised of five men from the USA, performs various worship songs, many written by Drake himself. Performing is not a new thing for Drake. He has been touring with the Bill Drake Band for over 20 years to many parts of the world and has visited Hungary five times with his first visit in 1993.

Drake said nations like Hungary who have faced oppression in the past, are usually those who have the most impact upon hearing the message of Christ. “We come in with the message ‘you are precious, meaningful and a valuable contribution,’” said Drake. “It’s empowering stuff.”

The band’s first performance in Érd, Hungary on July, 19 drew a large audience, many who braved the heat of the auditorium to hear the testimonies of band members as well as witness dances put on by the dance team. 

The energy of the band members was evident as they performed. Despite the warm temperatures, the band enthusiastically clapped along to the music and encouraged the audience to do the same. “Jesus Christ is the reason we sing and we want to dedicate this concert to Him and sing to Him!” said Drake.

What stood out to Drake was after the concert, two members of the local media approached him for an interview, while also giving him encouraging feedback about the performance. “The local paper said it was one of the best classic rock concerts he’s been to,” said Drake. While the “TV reporter was very impressed with the authenticity of the testimonies and could tell they were straight from the heart,” said Drake smiling.

Ultimately, Drake said the band is here to help mobilize the local churches and assist in missions work. “We are here to help … not here to be famous, but rather be a part,” he said. The Bill Drake Band continued on touring to other Hungarian cities and towns sharing the important message of Jesus.

The Bill Drake Band is a ministry of OM Arts International.

Brokenness is the Beauty.

The Hungarian word “Csodalatos” means “brokenness is the beauty”. English words fail to convey the exact meaning! Perfect love, total wrath, graceful beauty, complete brokenness, malicious cruelty and compassionate kindness all occupying the same space in one climatic moment. Such was the truth that God gave the Artslink, Dancelink and Bill Drake Band team for Baja, Hungary from 10-17 July 2011. The results were eternal.

An arts and English camp, a city square concert, regular team devotions, nightly praise and worship - all great opportunities for God to work on participants and short-term workers alike. The tipping point came on the Wednesday evening when the leader of the Dancelink team, Cheryl Vigereaux, spontaneously began to dance to the song "How Great Is Our God" in the little cellar that had been converted into a chapel for the language school where the team was based.

Sharing in devotions the following morning, one of the team broke down as she tried to convey a vision she had seen during that dance - the bricks in the cellar exploded outward in an array of blinding light, and all of a sudden Cheryl, who hadn't missed a step, was dancing before the King of Kings, who was on His throne. God was pleased with this worship, and was pleased to see the missions team from Operation Mobilization team glorifying Him with their talents and gifts.

Later that day, Hungarian translator Bence, exhorted participants to share what they were experiencing. One after another, they related how loved they felt here, and in that love, they were experiencing God. Bence related the love of Christ, which compels us to share Him, His truth and His love. A number of Hungarians were in tears, and a number gave their hearts to Christ. “It was an awesome evening,” reports Bill Drake, “but nothing prepared us for the explosive response we were to experience the following evening outdoors in Baja City Center.

“Hundreds of Hungarians were drawn to the vibrant sound of our bands, the colorful power of our dancers, and the awesome spectacle of our visual artist's graffiti wall, painted on a huge canvas during the last song of the Bill Drake Band concert that night. Moving away from the keyboard, I pointing to the graffiti wall at the front of the stage and asked the crowd if they would like Jesus to do in their hearts and lives what was so colorfully and skilfully displayed on the canvas: Csodalatos. Wetting their hands with paint, many came forward to make their mark for Christ.”

Praise God for His presence in Baja and the miracle of new life in Christ for many young artistic Hungarians who encountered the Ultimate Artist.

Expressing God's Love in Europe Through Art.

OM Arts International, a ministry of Operation Mobilization (OM), organized an evangelistic outreach this summer in Belgium using art to connect with the local community. Over the course of a week, many conversations took place as the team of short-term missionaries spent time immersed in the communities, giving their hearts in worship and acts of love in the form of personalized drawings, love letters from God and flowers.

A highlight of the outreach was working alongside “The Well”, a community of believers who meet in what they call “expressions”, all over Brussels. Ripple is a new "expression" gathering that began in February. They meet in a local café and are experimenting with the use of art in their meetings. “We held an ‘open mic night’ in their usual café venue sharing poetry, songs, pieces of art and testimonies,” reported Karen, leader of the outreach team. “It was great to be immersed in the community to do this event with local people inside and outside the café.

Praise God for the many encouraging conversations that took place during the week, and for the on-going relationship Ripple has begun in the community.

 

Why not consider going to Belgium on an arts missions trip in this December!  Click here for more information! Tell your friends!

 

 

Arts Team Connects to Community in Belgium.

Four young missionaries serving with Operation Mobilization (OM) in Belgium met as a 'visual arts team' in May, 2011 along with a team of creative students from Colombia International University in the USA. Their goal was to participate in the team's first street art evangelistic outreach.

These musicians, visual artists and actors spent their first week working in Brussels with a church group who holds their gatherings throughout the city in local cafes.  Their days involved praying and creating art that expresses the area, as well as community pieces of art involving local participation.

Evenings brought interactive worship events in local cafes and prayer for the area. One of these events planned was in the Marolles neighborhood that OM has been working in with the hope of starting a church.

The team then moved on to Leuven to do similar things but with the goal of generating interest in their new art club that aims to help Christians and non-Christians meet together on a regular basis. From this club they plan to start Alpha courses based around the artistic themes.

Even though this creative arts team finished their outreach, there will be another arts missions trip to Belgium in December. Consider being a part of this exciting Christmas arts missions trip for performing, technical and visual artists!

OM Arts International 

Excelling in arts in missions.  imagine - illuminate - impact!

The Beautiful Gift of Art.

- An artist's experience of touching a life through the beautiful gift of art.

"The more I make art, the more time I spend in the studio and the more I develop as an artist, I've discovered something about it. Art is a therapy.

For me personally I could also say that it's a spiritual experience.  Usually God speaks to me while I'm creating.  He speaks truth into my life as I push the contrast in my drawings or struggle to mix the colors I want.  I've noticed that I become the most productive with my art during times of struggle.  I need to paint to get my emotions out.  My emotions seem to bottle up...but then when I paint, they just pour out onto the canvas and I feel a release as I paint.

I am a planned, detailed person, but I purposely do not plan out every detail of my art projects from beginning to end because I know that not planning is better for me.  It stretches me, challenges me, helps me become more spontaneous in my art making...and also in life.

And I recently had the opportunity to try some art therapy with someone else.

You see, there's this woman I know.  She's British and her story is an extremely sad one.  She married a Muslim and she became a Muslim.  She was shunned by her family.  Her husband left her when she became pregnant. She is living in a room at a hostel with her son and struggling to make ends meet.  She is without a job.  Without a lot.  And she has a bitterness in her.  A bitterness that just seeps from her pores.  I don't blame her from her bitterness.  She has been through a lot.  If you could just sit down with this lady and hear all that has happened to her, you would be shocked.

One day recently, she came over for tea and we had the chance to pray for her as a group.  We prayed for a good bit and as I opened my eyes, I could see that she had tears streaming down her face.

"No one's every prayed for me like that....you all are the first nice people that I've met here."

I invited her over to the art center the next day to sit and create with me.  She enthusiastically accepted the invitation.

On a Monday she entered the studio, wired up as usual by what had happened that day.  Tense and bitter--that's how I would describe her at that moment.  We sat down to draw and paint and I believe we spent the next hour or two just creating and chatting.  And you know what?  As we created together I noticed how she relaxed and laughed more.  She smiled.  And on top of it all, my friends and I had the chance to share quite a bit about our faith in Jesus to her that day.

I was just so amazed how art literally enabled the entire experience.  I've never seen it work so literally and directly.  Something happened between the time she entered the art studio and when she left.  Art may not have solved all her problems, but I believe it definitely helped her release some of her built up emotions that day!

Thank you Lord for the beautiful gift of art."

Use your gifts as a performing, technical or visual artist!
Go on arts missions trips!

International Short-Term Missions Trips for Artists!

Operation Mobilization offers international short-term missions trips designed especially for visual, technical and performing artists. Using artistic skills, one is able to work with a team to bring the Gospel message to those who don't know Jesus. Consider going on one of these trips or referring them to an artist you know as well as any journalists who may be interested in accompanying the team on a missions trip!

Transform North Africa:  July 4th-26th 2011
Come for the Transform conference in Rome, Italy, then fly to North Africa to form relationships with the local arts community, experience life in an Arab nation, and encourage long-term workers to reach out to others with the Gospel through art. Will include studio and gallery work, culminating in an exhibition.

Baja, Hungary:  July 9th-26th, 2011
Prepare to let Hungary inspire you! Lead art workshops at the English art camp and reach out to the local community by creating relevant artwork and seeking God's heart for the area.

Germany:  July 25th- Aug. 7th 2011
Serve teenagers and encourage them by facilitating the Artzone at TeenStreet, OM's international youth congress. Artzone is a place where teens can express themselves through art, learn new skills, and worship God.

Christmas Outreach in Belgium:   December 2011
If you have a couple of weeks free in December, why not pray about joining us to experience the Belgium culture and create some inspired artwork to exhibit at a Christmas market.

Further details about all of these outreaches and application information should be posted soon at: OM ArtsLink.  Please note that your portfolio and artist statement will be required as part of the application process. Any questions, email: portfolios@omartslink.org

Find more information about arts in missions at: www.arts.om.org

Motivational Speaker and Extreme Sports Performer Inspires Audiences!

This is a great opportunity for your organization to utilize a world champion performing artist and create an event that is sure to entertain, challenge and inspire! Dustin Kelm of UniShow has a dazzling show and a powerful message for people of all ages! Schools, churches, youth events, camps, and other venues have tapped into Dustin's amazing talents.

Click here to watch a short video clip!

Check him out at his web site: www.unishow.org

 For more information about bookings please contact

OM Arts International

arts@om.org    770-631-0432 

OM Arts International is a ministry of Operation Mobilization 

P.O. Box 444, Tyrone, GA 30290  ph: 770-631-0432   www.omusa.org

OM Arts International

imagine - illuminate - impact!

Creative Arts Team Impacts Kyrgystan Through Music, Dance and Drama.

Recently a creative arts team made up of musicians, dancers, and dramatists toured in the country of Kyrgyzstan. As a local friend told the team, "The people here have seen a lot of trouble recently. They're tired of the fighting and problems. They're weary and they're open. We want to bring them His peace."

Despite the still somewhat unstable political situation in Kyrgystan, the arts team were able to perform in many memorable places. One such place was a facility for disabled men that - while improving - has seen years of total neglect and decay. Just last winter 70 of 300 men died of exposure to the cold. Now God's Word is spreading, there are about 30 believers, and the physical conditions and atmosphere of the facility are changing. It was a great joy to share about God's goodness and have the resident men dance for joy with the team's music. Elsewhere, in prisons the team shared an original drama illustrating God's forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation; and at one university, the arts team's concert helped a local ministry gain 496 new contacts with whom they can follow up and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

Read how to pray for the country of Kyrgystan.

OM Arts International

Excelling in arts in missions

imagine - illuminate - impact!

Bill Drake Band Celebrates the Christmas Season in Lebanon.

“I enjoyed tonight. It was exciting to play on board Logos Hope. The audience's reaction was fantastic,” said musician Bill Drake after a Christmas concert in the Hope Theater. Keyboardist and singer Bill and his band played a set of Christmas carols and other numbers to a mixed audience of ship’s company and local Lebanese. In between songs, Bill shared about his own life. He told the audience how after a troubled upbringing nearly caused him to commit suicide, he had found peace by getting to know God. He introduced one song by talking about what the first Christmas would have been like. “I love Christmas as it’s such a natural message. To encourage Lebanese people with their Christmas celebration is a dream come true,” Bill added.

Portraying Christ Artistically in Christian Missions.

Ashley, a dancer and painter, returned recently from serving two years as a Christian missionary in Western Asia with a traveling performing arts team. She journeyed across the region, taking part in performances that shared stories of God's transforming power and love. She also held her own art exhibition, showing paintings that portray redemption through Christ.

She wrote about her experience, saying, “Visual communication seems to simplify things while explaining difficult concepts. Having an extended period of time to learn about the people and the culture allowed for my paintings to portray specific aspects of their lives, while showing Christ as the solution. I often approached a piece not knowing how I wanted it to look, but knowing what concept I wanted to portray. I needed to release my grip on my work and learn to trust God to work through what I created. Results weren't always tangible, but God's peace came through the work and the surrounding atmosphere and was seen and felt by the viewers."

Ashley also spent time learning the local language, choreographing dances and drinking tea. The OM Arts team is grateful to God for Ashley and her heart for world missions. Please pray for more like Ashley to serve God in missions through the creative arts.

More information can be found at: OM Arts International or Operation Mobilization.

Thousands Find Christ at Sports Festival in Egypt!

An estimated 22,500 visitors made the journey to the KDEC Sports Ministry festival held outside Cairo Egypt this past week. Over 20 performiers dazzled the audience with their unique talents and then shared the Gospel during this three day event. World champions and talented Christian performing artists and sportsmen in events such as skate boarding, jujitsu experts, extreme power strength artistry, a unicycle stunt artist, freestyle motocross, a billiard trick shot artist, an illusionist, musicians, and many more worked along side Arabic translators presenting the Gospel during the day leading up to a large stadium worship service each night. Evangelists and pastors presented Gospel truths touching the hearts of the many thousands that were in attendance.  Over 6,000 people accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior! The event was broadcast via satellite TV throughout the Middle East and North Africa!

Dustin Kelm of UniShow, a ministry of OM Arts International, performed twice daily and along with the other sports artists, considered it a great privilege to bring the Gospel to the people of the Middle East. Praise God for the way He prepared hearts and harvested many souls into His kingdom during the event!

the crowd worshiping in Arabic!

Unishow before

and after, and ready for the show!

Watch the Performing and Technical Arts at Work on OM's Ship, Logos Hope!

For more information on how you can be involved in the arts in missions, visit OM Arts International. For information about doing ministry on board Logos Hope, go to OM Ships International. You can also watch a video of life on board Logos Hope. You can join the ship for 2 weeks or longer! No prior ship experience necessary! Go to Logos Hope opportunities.

Share the Gospel in Beirut this Christmas

Did you know that you can be a part of bringing the Gospel to thousands of young people in the Middle East this Christmas?

Through music, the Word of God, storytelling, and other art forms, the Gospel will be brought to Lebanon this December. The Bill Drake Band, a ministry of OM Arts International will have the opportunity to minister to thousands of young people in Beirut.

Working with local churches, the Gospel will be presented in schools and concert venues around the city. This is an unprecedented opportunity!

$12,000 needs to be raised to cover airfare, food, lodging and transportation for the team of 8.

Will you pray and partner with us to help illuminate the truth of Christmas for people who so desperately need to hear this message?

For residents of the USA, give securely online by clicking here.

Or give a support gift through your local OM office with the notation: OMUSA-9071BDBL10   Click here for your local OM office.

 Using the Arts to Spread the Gospel

Artistic Missions Team Reaches Out to Earthquake Victims in Italy

One year after an earthquake hit the town of L'Aquila in central Italy, citizens remain angry, depressed and frustrated. Except one.

A student asleep in her dorm when the earthquake hit, Antonella flew out of bed and cowered under a table, crying out to God to save her. In those horrifying moments, she gave her life to Christ—a true 'foxhole prayer', bearing fruit a year later. Miraculously, Antonella escaped; the stairwell in her dorm collapsed, but she found herself outside the building, running up the street away from the crashing structure.

Behind her, a human pyramid formed to rescue those trapped on the dorm's upper floors. Several students died, but most made it out to safety. If you ask most Aquilinos about the earthquake, they will share their grief, their anger and frustration. If you ask Antonella, she will answer that it was the day her life truly began.

An OM ArtsLink short term missions team visited L'Aquila with the desire to bring a message of healing, salvation and hope. A local pastor introduced the team to Antonella.  Her joy, energy and laughter were infectious. Antonella became the team's inspiration as they began to sketch, photograph, and paint her story.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Ps. 127:1)

While the goal was to bring a message of hope and restoration, God seemed to continually point to the corruption. That had to be dealt with first; if the city was to be rebuilt, its citizens would have to rebuild their hearts. Not an easy message to deliver! But in Antonella, a person whose heart had been radically changed, we had a compelling story. Rather than succumbing to the fear and blame, Antonella found her hope, strength and joy in Christ. The OM Arts team focused on that, producing 40 pieces of artwork that captured her story, and called the Aquilinos to examine their hearts. An exhibit was created in the town square and the final section portrayed the refreshment and healing that can come when God renews the heart.

The international OM Arts team literally created an outdoor gallery out of the rubble, fencing and scaffolding that surrounded them. They created a circular gallery, surrounding Antonella's “foxhole” table. On the table: her story, with a stone sculpture of the cross, created from the rubble by our artist from Hong Kong. Hundreds of people filed through, reading her story, or hearing it personally from Antonella, studying the artwork, reading the artists' statements, talking with OM Arts team members,  responding with written prayers on paper bricks, and posting them on our simulated “brick wall”—symbolizing a rebuilding of the walls of the city. Many lingered for over an hour.

Countless conversations and scores of books and Bibles went out to the hundreds of visitors that were welcomed. Antonella's story also went out in the form of 500 printed brochures. Seeds of hope and truth were sown and will hopefully be watered by our loving Heavenly Father, who desires good things for the people of L'Aquila.

On the cover of the brochure of Antonella's story was the following scripture.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”—Isaiah 54:10

Shortly after the OM Arts team visited the city, two more earthquakes hit. You can find dramatic photos of the earthquake here: L'Aquila earthquake.

Below, you can watch a short video of the short term arts missions trip to Italy.

UniShow and Creative Arts Ministry in Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Bulgaria & Kosovo

UniShow, a ministry of OM Arts International, recently ministered in Turkey. Dustin, a world champion unicyclist, performed shows in a plaza outside the largest shopping mall in Bursa (population 2.5 million). Two shows were performed and very well attended and the trial run of the different performance elements (music, dance, drama, unicycling and fire poi) flowed surprisingly well. Members of the show had lots of good conversations with people about the Gospel after each show and got contact info for follow-up from many more.

Next stop was Izmir where UniShow performed in a park, on top of a fountain. The fountain had just been turned off so it took the staff a while to dry it with fans, brooms and squeegees. It turned out to be a nice venue even though it was surrounded by water and had a water pipe in the middle of the stage.

The touristy city of Kusadasi was the next stop with a night show on the seaside at the Peace and Friendship Square. Dustin shared that because of God's love for us we can have a friendship with Him that will bring peace to our lives.

UniShow was challenged on this tour to make the most of every opportunity to share Christ. Thus, at a gas station enrout to Antalya, Dustin pulled out a unicycle and did a demonstration for the employees and we gave them Dustin's cards with his testimony written in Turkish.

UniShow performed for two nights during Antalya's Ramadan Festival at a seaside park. There was a very enthusiastic and loyal crowd that even silenced a protester who shouted that we had no right to come during Ramadan and tell them how to know God better. The rest of the crowd said he was acting shamefully and cheered for Dustin to continue his program. After the events there were many meaningful talks with people wanting to know more of our message of Love, Hope and Life.

Do you think this is a good way to share the message of truth about Jesus? Post a comment!

You can follow Dustin and UniShow on his blog: UniShowWorld

He is on tour August 10-Oct 21 to Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Bulgaria and Kosovo

Fencer's Skills Turned into Performing Art for Jesus.

Charlie Wolcott is a fencer. He has a vision to use his knowledge and expertise in the sport for God's glory. Charlie's vision is to use fencing as a ministry tool - an art form that visually communicates Biblical truths. Through the techniques, tactics, and even equipment used in fencing, Charlie is able to visually bring alive spiritual lessons from the Bible. With sword fighting and drama, Charlie has a

Bill Drake Band Concert in Europe Touches Hearts

"Are you stealing from Jesus?  Did Jesus get what he paid for?  Is what you’re living for, worth dying for?"

Artists in Christian Missions using Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

OM Arts International  is a family of ministries that exists to empower artists to engage their creative gifts in exalting God and extending His kingdom among the nations.

Read on for a list of these exciting ministries!