By Vanessa Brobbel
The primary calling of The Voice of the Martyrs Canada is to serve as a 'voice for the voiceless.' However, effectively fulfilling this mandate requires the use of a two-pronged approach: the first is international; the second, domestic.
International -- The Voice of the Martyrs Canada seeks to glorify God by serving His persecuted church in many countries around the world. Carrying on this legacy not only involves praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters, but also helping them to develop their capacity to reach out in love to those who are bound by deceptive philosophies. The believers we assist do this at great risk, for a church that seeks to evangelize is quite often targeted and potentially attacked. Generally speaking, however, these persecuted Christians don't view their challenging situations as tragedies, but rather see them as opportunities to proclaim the Gospel to a deceived world.
Domestic -- VOMC informs the church here in Canada of those who are suffering for the sake of Christ, so Canadian Christians can remember their suffering brothers and sisters as if they were suffering with them; just as our theme verse of Hebrews 13:3 admonishes:
"Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."
With the creation of the Visual Arts Contest, our missional hope has been to engage our culture and country in a way that inspires us domestically to partner with Christian brothers and sisters in other countries as if we were right there with them in the midst of their suffering; to bear one another's burdens. Elizabeth Elliot, the wife of martyred missionary Jim Elliot, states that "faith has to be exercised in the midst of ordinary, down-to-earth living."
As Christian artists, we tend to wrestle over how we can greatly impact the Kingdom of God with the artistic abilities that He has entrusted to us. Let us not be like that servant in Matthew 25 who buried his talent in the ground! Yet the question remains, "How do we go about using our gifts for God's glory and the benefit of His Kingdom?"
This Visual Arts Contest provides just such an opportunity. For those beginning their creative journey by developing their God-given gifts, as well as those who have honed their skills for many years, the potential to make a visual impact is great.
We live in a visual culture. Reaching people today with, what is for some a new and difficult concept, the idea of suffering for one's faith requires digging deeply into our creativity. The visual portrayal of truth is not an original model. God has used graphics to communicate deep truths throughout the Scriptures. From creation, the tabernacle and the cross -- all the way to Revelation -- the One who knows us best has chosen to use pictorial methods to teach us.
This contest endeavours to prime the creative pump while serving as a 'voice for the voiceless.' The deeper story of the persecuted church should shine throughout these visual application ideas -- not only for the purpose of raising heightened awareness and understanding but to also convey God's heart of compassion towards His suffering people.
