“we’re putting your logo in lights”

As Dawn Nicole put it, “it was like watching my kids faces on Christmas.” I was thrilled and excited to see that come together. I was even more excited that my creativity led to someone else pouring out their creativity.

And it didn’t stop there…it was also drawn out in chalk in the cafe, and even given it’s own drink!

That’s how creativity works. It awakes areas of our brain as if to give it permission to explore and venture out. It opens up doors we never saw before. I see it all the time when a pastor allows us to speak creativity into a message; it’s not just about what we do creatively but it sparks new ideas for the pastor as well. I love the look on a pastor’s face as it hits them. They too have that Christmas morning look, ready to run and explore creative ways to bring the gospel.

It’s also a great example of how creativity builds momentum. It started when I poured out my creativity into the logo and continued as others poured out their creativity into bringing it to life in various forms.

And it comes in all shapes in sizes…it even finds its place in the men’s room.

What’s your story of creativity breeding creativity?

Proverbs 31:8 (New International Version)

8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.

Which is ironically what I was doing with my open letter to Rick Warren. I don’t need to rehash that conversation, it was covered in length there. I do want to make something very clear.

It’s not about a contest.

It is about creatives & designers feeling undervalued, unimportant, and unappreciated. That’s the bigger issue. Spec work is just one of the things that highlights it and brings it to the surface.

Destitute has a couple of definitions:
1. lacking something needed or desirable
2. lacking possessions and resources

I’m taking of the first, not the second. Designers, specifically in the church, are often not treated fairly. They are treated as second rate.

Is this the same as taking care of the homeless and poor…of course not, but there is a segment of people out there that feel unappreciated and undervalued, and there’s something we could do to help that. And no, they can’t talk because they don’t have a voice, they aren’t listened to…but they should be.

When I tell someone that and they respond with

“suck it up”
“do better work”
“ignore it” and even
“it’s not about you anyway, it’s about Jesus”

that tells me you are so focused on your world that you can’t see the people, and that’s a harmful place to be. Because it is all about people. That’s why Jesus came. He didn’t come for himself, he came for people. When we see hurting people and ignore it because it’s easier to have life our way, that ignores the purpose of Christ.

Designers feel unappreciated.

We either accept the fact that designers, especially in the church, often feel unappreciated or we don’t. We then decide that we care, or we don’t. It really is that simple.

I hope you choose to be a part of turning that around. If you are a creative, know that I appreciate the work that you are doing in communicating the gospel. If you have a creative on your team, do something to let them know that you appreciate them. Start of by telling them “I appreciate you and the important part you play in this ministry.”

Something to think about the next time you:

• play art director when you should be finishing your sermon
• ask for the logo to be bigger
• make every project hot…and then sit on them for a week
• give valuable feedback like “we want it to pop more”
• tell the designer you’ll “know it when you see it”
• explain that you have $0 budget for the new logo of the 3 million dollar building campaign
• ask if they can just “push a button in photoshop to make it happen”

Your turn: what did I miss?

I am an armor-bearer. The work that we do, I view as tools, weapons if you will, for the pastor, for the church to carry and use in battle. Postcards, websites, powerpoint slides…they are all weapons in carrying out your calling as a pastor and as a shepherd. An armor-bearer links arms with the warrior, they are with them in heart and soul.

With that comes the weight of the armor which the armor-bear is carrying at all times. As a pastor you feel the weight of the vision, remember that your armor-bearer as feels that weight. The position of an armor-bearer can, at times, be a thankless one. It is the hero that gets the pat on the back and the parade through town. Next time you are in a ‘parade’ notice the armor-bearer, he will be there in the hero’s shadow.

As someone in the creative field it is difficult sometimes to let go of the work, to allow someone else to want adjustments, new directions, etc. but as an armor-bearer we must be with the vision of the pastor in heart and soul. The armor-bearer must not simply carry the weapons, but they must also keep them sharp and fix them according to the warriors need.

I am an armor-bearer. I will proudly carry your shield.

Keep the architecture fluid. Come to collaboration meetings prepared, but not rigid. Allow the dynamics of the team to breed originality.

Don’t settle on the first idea. Push your ideas further, let them simmer and boil.

Be excellent. If you’re not going to take the time and energy to be excellent, don’t do it…it will just be ignored.

Be a team. One of the greatest things about being a part of this team is how they pull me in completely, not treating me like a vendor and rather a part of the ministry. This breeds true collaboration…it’s not a job, it’s a calling.