Jesus and art. Both came into my life the same year. I was 19 and a freshman in college. At the end of that year I was a Christ follower and an art major. My heavenly Father has woven the arts into my journey with Christ from the beginning. He graciously opened a variety of doors, but mainly I’ve been an art educator and an Art Guide at Minnesota Institute of Arts (Mia).

I was excited to help with New Hope Church’s stage design last fall for the Jonah message series. I loved meeting and working alongside other art lovers. I know the power of art to communicate the truth of the gospel directly to the heart both in evangelism and worship. It’s God’s language! Through the arts he has given me relationships with so many women, bringing the opportunity to share God’s love. I am so thankful.

Yet the one “title” that seemed to diminish over the years was the one that I longed for—artist. As I approached a significant decade birthday, I was anxious. Had I done what I was called to do? I had helped encourage so many others in their art but not my own. Why would God have given me so many ideas and a longing to create? Was I being a good steward of all He put in my heart?

Then I asked, “If not now, when?” I brought all this before my heavenly Father. Answers came. Self-discipline was key, so I threw in the towel of doing it alone and joined a watercolor group where I not only got the structure I needed but the encouragement and community I lacked. However, the internal prison I had built over the years was the most restrictive of all. The lies that I am not good enough. That it has to be perfect. And the fear of failure tied me in knots and sucked the joy out of creating.

God kept whispering tender truths in my ear:

• You are my beloved daughter.
• You are loved for who you are, not for what you do.
• You have freedom to express your love for me through my brush.
• You are on a journey of learning to create while being transformed into my likeness.

My colors started to dance and flow, released from the lies of perfectionism and performance. My desire is that my art would radiate God's love and draw others to Him.

Marietta Turner and her husband, Jot, have attended New Hope Church since 2012. She grew up in North Dakota, but discovered art while attending Colorado College. After teaching elementary school art and then raising her children, she later was appointed to serve on the North Dakota Council on the Arts. Today she works at Mia as an Art Adventure Guide and sees art as way to worship God, reflecting his creativity as she meditates on scripture.

Learn more about Creative Arts.