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Hey there Reader!

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Here are my 10 favorite books which unleashed me as an artist in the missions world.

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Worship and Mission for the Global Church (edit by James Krabill, Frank Fortunato, Robin Harris, and Brian Schrag)

How it helped: ​
There are SO MANY hidden happenings in the arts and mission world. This highlights many.

Key quote: ​
“Artists hold the keys to unreached people groups.” (Oswald)

Culture Making by Andy Crouch

How it helped: ​
Renew my vision for what art-making (and life) is for.

Key quote: ​
“The only way to change culture is to create more of it.”

To Change the World by James Davison Hunter

How it helped: ​
Cut through the church/culture debates. Bible clarity on making change.

Key quote: ​
“In contrast to the kingdoms of this world, his kingdom manifests the power to bless, unburden, serve, heal, mend, restore, and liberate.”

Art & Fear by David Bayles & Ted Orland

How it helped: ​
I went to art school. This book gave words to so many feelings from life past that.

Key quote: ​
“Artists quit when they lose the destination for their work—for the place their work belongs.”

Jesus; Matthew 24-25 by Jesus

How it helped: ​
For me, this passage convinced me of an eternal motivation on using my particular skills and giftings for the mission.

Key quote: ​
“Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.”

Intercultural Discipleship by W. Jay Moon

How it helped: ​
This was a near perfect blend of the learning from the best discipleship methods from the West and non-Western world.

Key quote: ​
“Jesus never presented salvation the same way twice!”

Anthropological Insights for Missionaries by Paul Hiebert

How it helped: ​
Not an art book. We’re all, however, communicators. Even the word “art” is loaded with certain, cultural, meanings.

Key quote: ​
“To participate fully in another society we must be given a status within it."

Rainbows for the Fallen World by Calvin Seerveld

How it helped: ​
Enlivened my art-making AND my life. He roots art, beauty, play, laughter, etc. in the Lordship of Christ.

Key quote: ​
“The decisive feature that turns photographic duplication of a face into art is allusiveness.”

Creating Local Arts Together by Brian Schrag

How it helped: ​
Provided a framework to understand a community’s heart and arts to reach their own kingdom goals.

Key quote: ​
“We help communities create from artistic resources that they already possess.”

Culture Care by Makoto Fujimura

How it helped: ​
Granted me permission to dream again!

Key quote: ​
“Artists in the last century have been functioning in society to reveal brokenness; in this century, can they lead the way toward reconnection, reconciliation, and reintegration?”

Honorable mentions:

• Art and the Bible (Schaeffer)
• Imagining the Kingdom (James K.A. Smith)
• Permission Marketing (Seth Godin)
• Global Arts and Christian Witness (Roberta King)
• All the World Is Singing (Frank Fortunato, Paul Neeley, Carol Brinneman)

Did I miss any? What would you include on this list?

- Matt

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