Creativity Encouraged

We Love because He first loved us! 

20 Art Projects supporting Campus Ministry @ Cal State Fullerton! 

Josh & Deb are working on their 20th year of marriage and after 10 years out of campus ministry we find ourselves right back in the mix partnering with North County Project!  

We have a heart for Unity because Jesus had a heart for unity when he prayed "those" that were given to Him would be one and also for "those" that would come to believe in John 17.   We are working to unite 5 campus ministries around a love for God & put on display the life that is already at work inside this community.  

Deuteronomy 10:12

What does God require?

Check the scriptures, but I love the picture of the disciples learning from a small boy who had some fish and loaves... Jesus' answer?  What is in your hands!?

We need to help disciples recognize that if they have the Holy Spirit already living inside them and they are walking humbly, following the Lord's instructions, then He will make what is in their hands more than enough.  

Campus ministry like many forms of evangelism can feel like deceptive marketing tactics or overbearing truth blasting, but it doesn't have to be that way.  

"Enter-In" Project

The "Enter-In" Project is about creating consistency, opportunity, delight and the ability to share naturally.   These art projects are about giving a ministry TEAM different ways to connect with others.  The same way we can use conversation threading to find points of intersection that we can develop into a conversation and then relationship, these projects will showcase what the ministries are already doing and how to jump in and serve along side them.  Below is the intended goals for the arts ministry project.  See this example below of what we have done and imagine 20 of these projects consistently on campus.

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Goals

1.  Create an ongoing opportunity to “Enter In” to relationship, community and into New Life found in Jesus. 
2. Create consistency / unity between the 5 campus ministries with the larger student body to invite while informing, equipping and engaging. 
3. Create an expectation of weekly creative engagement that is anticipated with delight by the larger student body. 
4. By framing the conversation about “Entering In”, these five groups can use the art installation to dialog over different aspects of the gospel weekly.
5. Each week the theme can lend towards a different partnership to better equip the student body or provide an opportunity to serve & participate. 
6. Create projects that utilize the groups different talents and that are flexible enough to expand with additional team members. 
7. Disciple those participating in evangelism around 1 John 4:19-21 with a focus on giving away what we have found, that Jesus loved us first and giving our new life away is our response. Matthew 10:8, John 12:25 

Let us know how we can share about this project with your community & church.  

An invitation to partner with Joshua & Deborah

We will be working on this project from 20 to 40 weeks of this coming school year and will be supporting a group of students who most likely will find there way into our pantry.  That is what happens when you go around offering the bread life to folks, home communion.  We do need your support to financially to sustain the ministry, community & creative work that will be accomplished this year.     

This  is nothing new for us, we have been building up others in and around the church for years, utilizing creativity and compassion.  Creativity Encouraged was the name of a Bible study begun by John McNeal at Vineyard Columbus, and has been a guiding theme of ministry and community in our lives.  

We are cultivating community around the love of Jesus, utilizing creativity in all the projects we are involved with.   By activating the gifts of others we are creating a much greater impact.  

Discipling, Encouraging  Tutoring

Jesus “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant.” Philippians 2:5

We raise our own support, because our ministry is not funded through the church or nonprofits we partner with.  We cannot stop ministering to those God entrusted to us.  Our lives are poured out for the spiritual sons and daughters God has given to us, no matter what age.  As we build collaborations in our community to support the different needs facing our youth, marginalized and homeless, the need for connection, love and understanding will always remain a part of our ministry.  We are spiritual mothers and fathers asking to join us in tending & feeding His sheep.  

Your partnership will encourage creative acts of love and service in our community.   Thank you, please let us know what part of this ministry you would like to connect with!

Josh & Deb

www.CreativityEncouraged.org