So my friends, here’s the deal.
I
spent a year travelling the world, serving God, learning about
different cultures and trying to find out a little bit about what God
may have created me for.
There
are so many things I wish I could say, so many things I wish I could do
to try and express my gratitude for the people who have kept up with me
this whole year, let alone those of you who have known me longer.
Since
I’ve been back, so many people have asked me, “What’s my next step?” or
“What are you going to do next?” A few people have even asked me if I
was going to be going to do the World Race again, and I can go ahead and
answer that question, as that’s not really what I feel God has called
me to do now. However, II really appreciate AIM and its community, and I
look forward to working with them in the future.
So I guess, the REAL question is, “Kirsten, what ARE you planning next?”
Well, here is the answer you all have been expecting.
While
on the race, toward the end of my eleven month journey, I was in Latin
America, and though I’ve always known that I have an affinity for that
region of the world, what peaked my interest more is the ministry I
continued to find myself in.
In
Nicaragua and El Salvador, I found myself painting murals, and in
Guatemala, I experienced the greatest joy when I went to the park with
my teammates and painted pictures of Christ and His love and gave them
to the onlookers.
It was there in Guatemala I realized, that I never feel closer to God then when I am doing art.
The
most ironic part about it all, is that this was something God had been
trying to tell me this my whole life. He created me to be creative. He
gave me specific talents, and I’ve always known that to ignore those
talents would be a sin.
What
does that mean? It has always been a dream of mine to do an “art tour”
of sorts, performing in churches and on the street, bringing the love of
God to the hurting in a way that others can’t. I’ve always wanted to
travel, and I have, but on an even bigger scale. I’ve been all over the
world, but if I have learned ANYTHING this year, I’ve realized, just how
important it is to invest in your culture and your home. Right now, I
feel like God has not only called me to witness to the people of the US,
but also to encourage the church and our fellow brothers and sisters in
Christ to learn to worship God with all they are worth.
God
has shown me a few things this year, but if I could narrow it down to
three things, they would be the importance of Freedom, Redemption, and
Creativity.
The
freedom I speak of is MORE than just the freedom from our sin. Its
freedom from our past and freedom to be who we TRULY are meant to be in
Christ, which can only be done when we finally embrace who we are NOW,
and allow God to continue to change us from Glory to Glory.
Redemption
entails complete and total reconciliation, from God to us first, then
with us to others. I have learned there is nothing that isn’t worth
fighting for, especially if it is the complete redemption of our lives
and our relationships.
and creativity, well, I have come to better understand what the Bible
means when it says: “In the Image of God He created them,” for if God is
a creator, then we also are creators. We are different then all the
rest of creation in this aspect, as God has made us specifically with
the capability of coming alongside Him in the creative process. This is
our ultimate act of worship. Whether it means to create a painting, a
building, a song, a recipe, or even a new life, we are special in the
way we worship God. All of us were designed with creativity in our
blood, and I want to teach people to be free in their expression of
creative worship. I know I feel closest to God while I’m painting, so I
want to encourage others to use their talents in the same way, hoping to
teach them to grow closer to their Creator in that manner.
So
what does this look like? Starting in September, I will be traveling
from state to state, with a friend of mine (ironically named Kristen,)
to perform and speak in churches, in bars, in coffee shops, or even on
the street. Declaring God’s love in a new way, through art and sound,
and hoping to reach a people who are unreached. Those who may never have
thought to seek God out in a church, might instead consider buying a
painting to hang in their house, and will then be confronted with the
love of the Gospel day after day.
This
is where, my friends, I ask for your help. I am looking for places to
perform, along with places to stay. Maybe you know a church that would
like someone to paint on stage? Maybe you know someone who’d like a
mural in their house? Or maybe you’d like to contribute financially in
the process, whether its money for gas, food, or supplies to keep going.
While on the road, Kristen and I will be completely dependant upon
others for places to stay and places to perform. If you think that you’d
like to have us come and visit, please send us an email at
[email protected].
please consider subscribing to the Unsafe Behavior tumblr, Facebook
Page, or our Twitter account, for we will be on the move quite
frequently, and be updating our status as we travel across the country.
You can also find out more about Kristen Spencer on her Tumblr, at http://bonestobreath.tumblr.com/
As
more details come to light, and plans come to action, I’ll be updating
you as to where you may be able to find us. Who knows, we may be
performing on a street corner near you!
We covet and need your prayers. Please don’t hesitate to email me if you have any questions or concerns. Please, Please, comment or use the email form to contact me if you are interested in helping me out.
I look forward to meeting you, or if we’ve already met, I hope to see you soon.
Much love, and many prayers.
Kirsten George
k.l.george.com & unsafebehavior.tumblr.com
