The Artist The Artist as Teacheras Teacher

Unique aspects of Unique aspects of leading a Sunday leading a Sunday school class for school class for creative Christianscreative Christians

How I came to teachHow I came to teach

• Desiring to be an art professorDesiring to be an art professor• Applying to graduate schoolsApplying to graduate schools• Being challenged by a friend to teachBeing challenged by a friend to teach• Wondering what I could teach aboutWondering what I could teach about• Teaching a class on creativity at churchTeaching a class on creativity at church• Discovering that I was now doing what I Discovering that I was now doing what I

wanted to dowanted to do

Eric NykampEric NykampGrow Where Grow Where You Are PlantedYou Are Planted20022002

Who attends my classWho attends my class

• About half of the members are visual About half of the members are visual artists (though not all would call artists (though not all would call themselves “Artists”).themselves “Artists”).

• The other half of the class is comprised of The other half of the class is comprised of dancers, writers, and musicians.dancers, writers, and musicians.

• Most of the members have not used their Most of the members have not used their gifts formally in ministry.gifts formally in ministry.

• Members are age 16-80.Members are age 16-80.

How is the class time structured?How is the class time structured?

• We meet for 45-60 minutes on Sunday We meet for 45-60 minutes on Sunday mornings around a dining room table.mornings around a dining room table.

• Open in a brief prayerOpen in a brief prayer• Read lessons on creativity and Christianity Read lessons on creativity and Christianity

for 20-30 minutes, using the balance of the for 20-30 minutes, using the balance of the time for discussion.time for discussion.

• We close in prayer, sometimes taking We close in prayer, sometimes taking extra time to pray for any member that has extra time to pray for any member that has a special need that day.a special need that day.

Materials usedMaterials used

• I have written most of the materials myself, I have written most of the materials myself, the body of which I am hoping to have the body of which I am hoping to have published as a book soon.published as a book soon.

• This could also easily be done with This could also easily be done with existing books, such as “Walking on existing books, such as “Walking on Water” by Madeline L’Engle, or “Seeing Water” by Madeline L’Engle, or “Seeing God in the Ordinary” by Michael Frost.God in the Ordinary” by Michael Frost.

What makes the class work?What makes the class work?

• Small class size allows for a family Small class size allows for a family environmentenvironment

• Sharing our most personal creations takes Sharing our most personal creations takes courage, but bonds members togethercourage, but bonds members together

• Keeping the focus of the class on why God Keeping the focus of the class on why God entrusted certain gifts to each member, entrusted certain gifts to each member, and encouraging all members to use their and encouraging all members to use their gifts for God in many ways. gifts for God in many ways.

Underlying principles:Underlying principles:• God speaks to creative people through the God speaks to creative people through the

use of their giftsuse of their gifts• By encouraging people in the use of their By encouraging people in the use of their

gifts, they will come to grow closer to God gifts, they will come to grow closer to God as they grow in their artistic abilitiesas they grow in their artistic abilities

• All creative people experience dry times, All creative people experience dry times, just as many Christians experience the just as many Christians experience the dark night of the soul. We need travel dark night of the soul. We need travel companions during these times the most.companions during these times the most.

The members of the class share an The members of the class share an artistic journey together. artistic journey together.

We are each other’s artistic travel We are each other’s artistic travel

companions. companions.

We belong to each other.We belong to each other.

Class DynamicsClass Dynamics

(What to expect when leading a (What to expect when leading a group of creative Christians)group of creative Christians)

1. “Many are called, but only some 1. “Many are called, but only some attend.”attend.”• Some creative Christians deeply mistrust Some creative Christians deeply mistrust

the church in general, and may be wary the church in general, and may be wary even of the churches they attend.even of the churches they attend.

• Some creative Christians would find it “too Some creative Christians would find it “too conformist” to join a group that talks about conformist” to join a group that talks about Christianity and creativity.Christianity and creativity.

• Many artists are solitary people and may Many artists are solitary people and may just prefer to be more private.just prefer to be more private.

2. “If silence is golden, then this 2. “If silence is golden, then this class is very rich.”class is very rich.”• Many creative people are introverted, Many creative people are introverted,

taking time to process information and taking time to process information and answer questions.answer questions.

• The “customary moment of silence”, The “customary moment of silence”, “traditional post-question lull”, “pregnant “traditional post-question lull”, “pregnant pause” and time for “mental marinating.”pause” and time for “mental marinating.”

• Often those with verbal gifts talk first – Often those with verbal gifts talk first – hmmmmm?hmmmmm?

3. “Do not conform to the pattern of 3. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed…”this world, but be transformed…”• Many creative people think outside the Many creative people think outside the

box, or have no box to think in.box, or have no box to think in.• Encourage differences of opinion Encourage differences of opinion

anchored in Christian thought.anchored in Christian thought.• Emphasize the complexity of life, the Emphasize the complexity of life, the

diversity of approaches to issues, and the diversity of approaches to issues, and the necessity of divergent thinking as the necessity of divergent thinking as the pressure to conform will kill creative living.pressure to conform will kill creative living.

The four laws of leadingThe four laws of leading(What I learned as a group leader)(What I learned as a group leader)

1. Develop Tolerance1. Develop Tolerance

• People may express views critical of the People may express views critical of the church. – church. – In my haste to render judgment, In my haste to render judgment, let me not sin. let me not sin.

• People may have been hurt by the church People may have been hurt by the church - - All people are broken and in a process of All people are broken and in a process of healinghealing

• Healing often comes from speaking to Healing often comes from speaking to someone who will only listen.someone who will only listen.

2. Celebrate Together2. Celebrate Together

• The importance of CHECK-IN.The importance of CHECK-IN.• Food Food • Remembering that the creative journey is Remembering that the creative journey is

one of highs and lows, dry times and one of highs and lows, dry times and harvest. Bring those who are creatively harvest. Bring those who are creatively dry into the celebration, normalizing their dry into the celebration, normalizing their experiences too.experiences too.

3. Pray together3. Pray together

• Pray for each other’s creative gifts, and Pray for each other’s creative gifts, and the barriers to creativity.the barriers to creativity.

• Pray for each other’s lives.Pray for each other’s lives.• Cry togetherCry together• Touch each other when needed.Touch each other when needed.• Send encouraging notes, phone calls, Send encouraging notes, phone calls,

visits.visits.

4. Love Creative People4. Love Creative People

• This is the most important element of This is the most important element of leadingleading..

• You do not have to be a creative force to You do not have to be a creative force to love creative people.love creative people.

• Smile, support, speak kind wordsSmile, support, speak kind words• Tell each member that you think that they Tell each member that you think that they

are special. You may be the first person are special. You may be the first person to ever do this. You will mirror God to to ever do this. You will mirror God to them.them.

Review:Review:• The artistic journey is often lonely. A class can The artistic journey is often lonely. A class can

provide needed creative companionship.provide needed creative companionship.• Some people will not attend, others will attend Some people will not attend, others will attend

but need encouragement to talk, but many will but need encouragement to talk, but many will see things in a new way.see things in a new way.

• Leaders need to develop tolerance for divergent Leaders need to develop tolerance for divergent thinking, remember to celebrate each other’s thinking, remember to celebrate each other’s achievements, encourage prayer for all achievements, encourage prayer for all members and most importantly demonstrate members and most importantly demonstrate love for creative people.love for creative people.

All of life is artAll of life is art

All of art is prayerAll of art is prayer

All of life is prayerAll of life is prayer