Engaging Your Community
As performing artists, we’re called to worship and serve God with our gifts and in our communities. But have you ever wondered what that looks like? How can we creatively bring the light of Jesus into our schools and communities?
Through the Spirit, every day occurrences can be turned into opportunities to spread the Gospel. With Him, “religiously neutral” places such as a coffee shop or concert hall can become the launching point for so much more!
Today, I’d like to share a few creative ideas that I’ve used or that my friends have implemented at their schools.
- Host a fellowship night at your apartment or in your dorm. This can be a potluck meal or a game night! Use this time to build relationships with unbelievers. You might also want to incorporate a short prayer or Bible study time.
- Get together with some friends and have a baking party! Make goodie bags and give them out for free after a rehearsal. Let’s face it – everyone loves free food! Before final exams, consider putting together an “exam survival kit” to pass out. You can always include a small piece of paper with a Bible verse (or other short note – be creative!).
- If you’re a musician, you know that practice rooms can sometimes get trashed. Take an hour or two and clean up those practice rooms, any other classroom, or a performance hall after a rehearsal or performance. Pray for the people who use the room as you clean.
- Do you have a car? Many of your peers may not have a way to get around. This is especially true among our international friends. We can meet this need in Jesus’ name as well as get to know our peers on a deeper level. Post signs around your arts building offering free rides. And if you have a group planning on going to a symphony orchestra, ballet or theater performance, offer free rides to that as well.
There are just a few of the many ideas out there. As artists, God has gifted us with creativity – so use this gift to bless those around you! Let us be salt and light in a culture that is in desperate need of the gospel!
What other ideas come to mind? How are you going to go out this week and engage those around you with the truth of the gospel?
