by Karen Campbell Many people are familiar with Psalm 23, but what images do shepherds conjure for artists across the state of Arkansas? How would they depict the "valley of the shadow of death"? What media would best express this oft-read psalm to today's audiences? Fellowship Bible Church and the arts community surrounding Little Rock, Arkansas, answered those questions earlier this year when the church sponsored its first juried exhibition of fine arts related to the well-known OId Testament passage for artists in the area.

“He Leads Me to Quiet Places” Janis Gill Ward

Mustard Tree Art Productions, a ministry of Fellowship Bible, issued a call to artists via statewide newspaper advertisements, targeted direct mail, and contact with the directors of art departments in every college and university in the state. From January through March 2005, artists responded until the total participants reached 155. Total number of entries climbed to 290 with works in various media including paintings, drawings and sculpture.

“Mind Games” Holly Moore

The winners were announced and all entries were unveiled to the public the first weekend in June, with more than 1500 people from the community touring the exhibit of the various expressions of "Exploring the 23rd Psalm," the theme selected for interpretation. Eighty-five percent of the entries were from non-church members; some entries came from non-Christians. "The purpose of the event was to encourage people to explore the scripture for their inspiration, to get into the word of God," explained event coordinator Lynette Behrendt, who began the project with a staff and volunteer team in September 2004. "We wanted to reach out to the art community and they responded very well." Behrendt, a graphic designer for 27 years

before joining the church's worship department two years ago, took notice of the artists' positive responses to both the opportunity to gather with one another, as well as show their work at no cost. The exhibit required no entry fee and was free to the public.

Find these and other past Advance articles at our archives:

	A Vision to Transform a Nation
	The Way of Jesus: A Journey of Freedom for Pilgrims and Wanderers
	Inside the Multi-Site Revolution

Multi-Site Conference Sold Out; Second Event Planned

The 400 slots for the Multi-Site Conference scheduled for October 24-25 in Naperville, IL, have been filled, and a Spring Multi-Site Conference has been scheduled for May 8-9, 2006 in Charleston, South Carolina.

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CCN Events Hit "Narnia" and "The Connecting Church" Upcoming Christian Communication Network

broadcasts will help church leaders take advantage of the outreach opportunity provided by the soon-to-be-released major motion picture, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and move to a deeper level of authentic Christian community in "The Connecting Church."

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Leadership Network has encouraged me to think in different ways. It has helped me define and look into how we can become one church in two locations.

We are not separate churches, but a community that worships in two places. Leadership Network's resources, models of ministry and ministry philosophies have challenged my thinking and helped me think creatively about our church.

John Alice, Lead Pastor
Livingwater campus, Stillwater United Methodist Church
Dayton, Ohio
www.stillwaterumc.org

To read about Stillwater UMC's expansion through a partnership with a local YMCA, go to: Connections.