Gathering of Artisans

We are having such a fabulous time at the Gathering of Artisans at Black Mountain, NC. I am blown away by the level of creativity among all the artists here. So many art forms and so many precious artists.

Sean Feucht

Tonight Sean Feucht (founder of The Burn 24/7 HERE) led worship and Ray Hughes (HERE) spoke a powerful word. Here are some one-liners from Ray Hughes - sometimes it was hard to catch that Kentucky accent of his!!


• We will never change culture by becoming like it - we will never change church by becoming like it.

• The purpose for the creative process is to reveal another layer of the nature of God

• We think creativity is a product - it's not, it is a process

• God will speak through the process of creativity much more than the finished product

• Prophetic ministry is the declaration of the mind of God and the power of the Holy Spirit

• The whole earth resounds with the sound of God

• If you have an encounter with God, your art should carry the sight and sound of that encounter

• In churches, we tend to sink everyone to the lowest common denominator and then mediocrity settles in

• In these days we need to have informed hearts more than informed minds. We can Google information, but there is no Google process for the heart

• If we change the way the Church experiences worship, we will change the way the world experiences God

• Artists shape culture not law-makers

• Music is the most majestic form of sound

• What one generation sows in faith another generation reaps in favor

Ray Hughes

Gathering of Artisans

The Gathering of Artisans

In about 10 days I will be going to an exciting conference in the Black Mountains of North Carolina. If you are a Christian artist of any sort, I highly recommend this conference to you. Make plans today to attend and bring all your friends.

Matt Tommey and his team run this gathering - I have already posted some articles on Matt. (See here) I can't tell you enough how proud I am of my brother and the ministry he has with prophetic worship artists. You also need to check out the list of workshop teachers - I can't wait to hear some of these speakers:

From their website:

Gathering of Artisans 2013 is a national Christian artist retreat September 26-29, 2013 with hands-on workshops by master artists in Fine Art, Fine Craft, Prophetic Art, Performing Arts, Media and Artist Development. More than just a weekend school of worship, Gathering of Artisans is jam-packed with hands-on workshops, opportunities to collaborate with artists from around the country, dynamic worship experiences and anointed teaching from master artists like Ray Hughes, Sean Feucht, Matt Tommey, Pattie Ann Hale, Vivien Hibbert, Anthony Skinner and many others!

Our heart for Gathering of Artisans has always been to make it as ‘non-conferency’ as possible. What does that mean?  It means:

• Actually being creative, not just sitting around listening to people talk about it

• Hands-on workshops that let you learn from the best of the best

• Free-time and optional activities that let you choose how you want to spend your day

• One-on-one and small group interaction with master artists and Christian leaders

• Shared meals that foster opportunities to get to know other artists

• Dynamic worship experiences where your creative expression is encouraged

• Sharing real tools you can take home and use to keep the creativity going

Whether your creative passion finds it’s outlet inside or outside the walls of the church, there’s a place for you. This year, you’ll be able to participate in 4 different hands-on workshops led by master artists.  

Visit our workshops page for a detailed schedule and description of the over 50 workshops offered this year. 

Make sure you have looked over the entire website to insure you are registering for all the workshops that fit you best. and then share with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or whatever other social networking outlets you use. It’s very common for artists to come together as a group from your church or local area and we encourage that in order to help you foster creative community when you get home!

Matt Tommey

Karitos Worship Arts Conference

Blogging tonight from the Karitos Worship Arts conference in Chicago IL. I just love to see artists using their gifts in worship - tonight a calligraphy artist did a beautiful piece on the subject of....wait for it...GRACE! (See my blog from yesterday HERE - God is talking to His people about grace right now!)

This was all while dancers danced and artists painted - singers sang and musicians played - I love it!

Right now, Matt Tommey (Matt's Website) is speaking about the Creator who's has put all creativity inside of us - so that His Kingdom could continually be released with His creative nature flowing through us. God gives us His creativity on purpose so that we would love His things inside our lives. God doesn't want us to be creative for Him - He wants us to be creative with Him. It is tied to intimacy and relationship.

There is a way to live creatively in Him that will take us beyond the natural world. God has called us to thrive. 

Some great thoughts from Matt:

- God's Word is the lens through which we look at the world and how we fit in it

- Nothing in the kingdom is birthed outside of intimacy

- Nothing happens in the kingdom without faith - faith is the currency of the kingdom

- Only sons and daughters can escape the curse and access the kingdom 2 Pet. 1:3-4

...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (II Peter 1:3, 4 NKJV)

- To access the kingdom you have to actively search - God directs our steps not just our waiting. Seek Him with all your being. Co-labor with Him

- When the kingdom comes expect abundance, joy, transformation - your provision is tied to your assignment. We harvest on assignment by revelation. 

- Put the kingdom over your creativity and submit your talents to The Lord. Mix your skill with the revelation of God - that is when the incarnation happens - God comes - then transformation happens. We need artistic vehicles that bring transformation in this world.

Thank you Matt - thank you Jesus!

Karitos - Matt Tommey

Matt Tommey

A wonderful worship arts ministry speaking at Karitos this year:


Matt Tommey - basket weaver


I've never met a Professional basket weaver before - fabulous guy!


Go and click on the link and check some of the awesome baskets in the gallery.

More than anything, Matt is a wonderful speaker and totally represents the heart of the Father in the world. Tonight he is singing prophetic songs over people - awesome.


A check out this young man painting during the worship with his father, Richard Hight:

It doesn't better than this!