Using Art to Reach Street Kids
September 20, 2006
Tonight was the first night for MSA, Montrose Studio for the Arts. MSA is a vision that I had several years ago to combine our church’s desire to minister to the homeless and my own affinity for the visual arts. As an art teacher, this really seemed like a perfect fit. So this past Wednesday night, I gave it a try. I purchased several hundred dollars worth of supplies and set up two tables at Street Reach, a weekly outreach to street kids conducted by another Montrose based ministry. I had a chance to share with the group what I was doing, and then after the service, I invited those present to come and draw. Seven street kids participated.
When I first thought of the idea, I spent a many hours working up a Mission Statement, and Vision statement. But then I got distracted by life and by the other things we were doing in our church. About a month ago I was having a conversation with Justyn (my older son) and I thought, “Why don’t I just set up tables and provide art supplies and see what happens?” That conversation along with reading the book The Secret Message of Jesus in church and listening to pod cast about people encouraging the church to get out of the pew, led us to this new ministry launch.
On this first night I met Chris, a guy who has dealt with many deaths in his family and really struggles with drinking. We hit it off great. He told me he went to HSPVA in the 70’s but has since lost the desire to really pursue anything. He said he would try to make it every week now that we are here. He did a portrait of Dottie Collins (a friend of our ministry) that impressed everyone there. I talked to him about Alpha House (which is Harbor’s house for men who are in recovery). Pray that Chris stays connected and that we can develop a long-term relationship.
Ultimately, the end result of MSA is not to make art, but to help build relationships and consequently help young (and old) get off the streets. At Harbor church, we value quality relationships. It is in relationships that people are encouraged and challenged. The wonderful thing that comes out on the other side of that is intimacy. Art is the vehicle that I am using to help build those relationships, develop the intimacy and watch God begin to change people.
Someone told me that Christianity is the only religion that does not believe in staying static or that man is spiraling downward, but that at it’s core, it believes in redemption or a rising up to new and greater things. This is what we hope for at MSA.