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 4. U n i t e d S t a t e s :EASEL REPLACES PULPIT FOR ARTIST'S "ILLUSTRATED SERMONS"ARTIST MAURICIO PALACIO brings a whole new meaning to the term "illustrated sermon" - by painting a message from God, instead of preaching it.
Swapping the pulpit for an easel, Palacio works on a giant picture in front of the congregation, capturing in acrylics the images he receives while praying, as the churchgoers pray and worship.
The works - murals including holy flames, crowns of thorns, and God's hands - have touched people at churches in four States during his recent visits.
"Art is a wonderful tool for communication, because it speaks to the soul, and reaches across culture and age," says the former architect who has used his design and illustration skills as a missionary for the past five years.
Palacio, from Mexico, completes the pieces - on 64-square foot frames - within 60 minutes, as a Youth With A Mission co-worker Don Stephens leads the congregation in pray, worship and meditation. "It's a bit of pressure to finish in time, but God has helped me to do it every time."
When he lays down his brushes, Palacio explains a little about the piece "but mostly I leave it to people to reflect on themselves". His "sermons" often refer to biblical passages or themes, "encouraging or challenging the church, often about trusting God in using their talents".
Palacio's painting of a man standing in God's hands currently hangs at the front of the sanctuary at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Florence, South Carolina where associate pastor Dave Brogren said the recent visit had been "a fabulous experience".
"People were just enthralled," he added. "They thought that it was a marvelous experience. We regularly try to incorporate the arts into praise and worship in some way, but this was new for our people. The anointing of God was what made it so meaningful."
A picture of Christ breaking through a stone wall is due to be hung permanently in the sanctuary at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Concord, North Carolina where "everyone continues to be excited over the painting and the type of music that invigorated us to new methods of praise" according to Nancy Toney, coordinator of the renewal weekend at which Palacio and Stephens were featured.
An instructor in the College of Communications at YWAM's University of the Nations campus in Kona, Hawaii, 33-year-old Palacio also illustrates magazine articles and books.
He hopes that his "paint preaching" will encourage churches to embrace the arts more. "Coming from a traditional church background myself, I can see visual images have been abused in the past, but I think we have often gone to the other extreme, rejecting all forms of art.
"But I think God wants us to find a new freedom, and speak to us visually as well as verbally." - Photo available on request.
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