I miss art.
I miss creating.
I know God has a purpose in giving me an art-education, but I'm waiting to use it fully here in my new land of South Africa.
I borrowed an idea by a blogger, Lauren Johnston, whose blog is entitled, Inspired by the Creator. I don't know this woman personally, someone sent me a link to her blog because they thought I'd enjoy her creativity! She's an amazing artist and paints visuals of scripture and what God puts on her heart. This blog post: http://inspiredbythecreator.blogspot.com/2011/08/god-of-this-city.html inspired me to recreate this lesson with my South African teens.
This lesson incorporated music, physical art, and creative thinking.
The lesson went like this:
1. I first let them listen to the song lyrics of God of This City. They closed their eyes, laid their heads on the table, and most importantly were silent!
2. As the song played a second time, I asked them to write down words that came to mind - I gave examples: city, Capricorn, love, Lord, purpose ...
3. They were then given lots of art medium (all from our Living Hope supply closet given by volunteers who come short-term): oil pastels, color pencils, chalk, markers, crayons and a large sheet of construction paper.
4. I told them to draw a picture of whatever this song meant to them. I urged them to think in terms of their own community of Capricorn and what God wants Capricorn to be.
5. With the song playing softly, they drew!
Ironically, all of my 'artsy' girls did not show up for Club that day. The attendees were mainly boys and most are the boys who RARELY speak to me, and if they speak, it's in grunts. These boys are usually hard to work with because of their behavior problems and lack of respect for adults (clearly because of their home-lives). This day, the boys were quiet, participated in ALL activities and instructions, were respectful, and at the end of the day, one boy said, "that was really relaxing." Another told me they enjoyed Club being "different" that day!
What progress!
I had a wonderful time with our rebellious teens that day! Art bonded us!
___________________
Lyrics of Chris Tomlin's song, God of This City
You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are
[Verse 2]
You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are
There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God
[Chorus]
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Recap in Photos:
Me explaining the lesson
Everyone working ... silently!
A teen boy presenting his artwork and meaning to the class
My rendition of Capricorn through God of This City: homes touched by the church, Light in each home, vegetation and beauty surrounding the community, fruit from LIFE!
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