2025 Art, Music, and Worship Network
- Image
G.K. Chesterton wrote, “The function of imagination is not to make strange things settled, so much as to make settled things strange; not so much to make wonders facts as to make facts wonders.”
Artists of all types are tasked with inviting their viewers and hearers to see and listen. To make facts into wonders. Art is uniquely suited to enrich our prayer lives, catalyze renewed engagement with the Bible, foster empathy, enhance our spiritual perception, challenge our beliefs in healthy ways, and bring us into more intimate contact both with our Lord and the world. It invites us to slow down and gaze deeply. Art communicates, questions, and holds accountable. It stirs and reveals. The arts, in all their forms, are good gifts from God, intended to be cultivated and employed, communicating God’s message of hope and redemption for humanity. As artists, we need to mindfully consider how to practice the habit of seeing and listening on our own in order to create.
At the 2025 gathering of the Art, Music, and Worship Network, we will approach this way of contemplative seeing through the lenses of music, painting and visual arts, film, literature, sculpture, and more.
NOTE: We will gather as one large group for the early morning sessions before breaking into two tracks for the late morning sessions. You may participate in either the Visual Art Track or the Music and Worship Track. See details below.
What Network Participants Are Saying
- "I feel that I was quite lost and busy with everyday life before I came here. It was difficult for me to motivate myself to do something for the artists in Estonia. I had a lack of energy and ideas. Now, after having met my brothers and sisters from other countries, I feel fulfilled again. I am closer to God, closer to my ministry, and full of new ideas on how to carry on my work in Estonia. That is what ELF and it's artists network gave me." - Kulli Hansen, ARTEST+ Network Leader, Estonia
- "The Art Network is as much educational as it is practical, because what we learn here - we can adapt in our lives. The way we look and understand art, the way we create. The connections between artists who know Christ are so meaningful!"
- Eglė Tamulytė, President, Lithuania - "Being part of the Art Network, I feel way less alone and deeply understood in my creative calling, and I’ve learned that honestly singing about my struggles is not egocentrism, but a way to glorify the God who brings beauty from ashes."
- Balazs Koncsard, Worship Leader, Hungary
Applicants should be artists who are engaging with society or the church. The Network provides a haven where Christian artists gather in community for relationship, spiritual nourishment, deep thinking, professional growth, and strategic possibilities.
Network Leadership
Network Speakers
Derek Brandt is a dedicated worship pastor with a passion for raising up the next generation of church leaders. With years of experience in multisite church environments, Derek currently oversees the Worship, Communications, Production, Campus Environments, and Film teams at Scottsdale Bible… Read more
Lindsay Brown is a native of Wales. He studied European history at Oxford (MA) and theology at the Free Faculty of Theology at Vaux-sur-Seine, near Paris, under Henri Blocher. Lindsay has worked with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) for the past 45 years in a variety… Read more
Brian S. Chan is a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary in Media Arts & Worship, teaching creative writing, visual artmaking, and theologies of beauty, creativity, story, and film. Dr. Chan pastored in Hollywood/Los Angeles and taught courses at Biola University on a theology of beauty,… Read more
Andrew Fellows was appointed pastor of a church in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1988 where he served for seven years. In 1995 his family moved to the English branch of L’Abri Fellowship, where they lived and worked for 21 years. From 2011 to 2016 Andrew was the chairman of L’Abri International.… Read more
Heather Holdsworth is a Bible teacher, author and artist. Her focus is on the Spiritual Formation of people of all ages. As a teacher she developed a keen interest in how people grow. Following a 2-year diploma in Practical Theology, she completed an MA in Spiritual Formation & Discipleship… Read more
Angela MacKenzie is a dedicated broadcaster, accomplished pianist, and soulful vocalist, celebrated for her heartfelt piano-led worship. Her award-winning music resonates globally through conferences, concerts, and engaging online events. A fifth-generation Floridian now residing in Scotland,… Read more
Joshua J. Masters is a pastor, author, and international speaker with a heart for leading through culture and relationship building. He also serves as the Executive Director and missionary for Bridge Builders International, a U.S. based organization serving the Baltics and greater Europe. His… Read more
Natalie Meeks is the President/CEO of Bridge Builders International, which ministers to artists in multiple countries in Europe and the US. She currently studies at Western Theological Seminary and, as a freelance writer, has penned articles about ministries all over the world Her Christian… Read more
Liviu Mocan is a Romanian artist living in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania. The rich Christian legacy that he inherited from his parents, from church, and from mature artists and theologians has guided his philosophy of life and formed the essence of his creation. His many and varied works – which can… Read more
Rodica Mocan is Professor at the Department of Cinematography and Media, specializing in digital media and the new media arts. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology (2005), with a focus on e-learning and a Ph.D. in Theater and Performing Arts (2016), with research on interactive digital art… Read more
Colin Peckham is the artistic and ministry director for Origin Ministries, an event-based arts ministry in the central belt in Scotland, and in Cape Town, South Africa. He served as a worship leader, arranger and worship advisor for the 3rd Lausanne Congress and has worked for many years as a… Read more
Network Programme
Sunday, 18 May
1 Peter 4:9-10 tells us that hospitality is a spiritual gift to be shared with loved ones and strangers alike. In fact, the Greek word translated as 'hospitality' is actually a combination of two words—philos, meaning 'affection' and zenos, meaning 'stranger.' Philoxenia – hospitality – is a sacred duty, signifying affection toward strangers. How then can the artist practice this hospitality through their art? Whether through story, painting, song, film, poetry, sculpture, or other creative expressions of the heart of God, the Christian artist’s task is to communicate truth and the goodness of God in such a way that it translates to the hearts and souls of the hungry. In this talk, we consider what it means to approach art as an act of hospitality – to touch lives in an intimate, personal way and to create art that becomes a sanctuary for those whom God sends your way.
The poet R.S. Thomas asserted that the Reformers, Luther and Calvin, were “the castrators of the Arts”. But is that true? In this seminar, we will examine both Reformers' views of the visual Arts, and trace their legacy, especially in Dutch and German painting, as well as Luther’s revolutionary approach to music, which one historian has called “the secret weapon of the Reformation."
Experience the transformative power of music in worship! Its captivating melodies not only deepen faith but also create profound connections with God, igniting our spirits in joyful praise. In this session, we will discuss the biblical foundation of our music, evaluate the ranges of emotional expression, examine the unity of collective worship, and look at the rich heritage of Christian music.
Monday, 19 May
The first three chapters of Genesis leave us with some significant aesthetic markers to help us develop a theology of the arts. In this session, we consider why these are important for every Christian engaged in the arts.
In this session, we will explore the effect on human sensitivity created by flight images. We will analyse the biblical perspective by entering the laboratory of God's symbols in specific passages. We will also look at cultural perspective by highlighting humanity's takeover of God's symbolic thinking and evaluating positive and negative examples. This talk will seek to stimulate sensory experiences for artists to incorporate in their personal lives and work.
We meet every Sunday for worship, sometimes midweek, it’s an easy thing to do. Meet, sing, maybe raise our hands, close our eyes. But what if worship demands much more of us than this? We’ll explore Isaiah’s experience of an encounter with the Holy One of Israel, and see what lessons we can learn.
Tuesday, 20 May
Creatives are particular and often peculiar. In this session, we will learn about a Christian philosophy of the soul, examine where you are at, and discover important ways of caring for your soul for the journey ahead.
In a world where artificial intelligence is ever-growing, how do we (and should we) integrate A.I. into our art? What is the role of A.I. in creative expression from a Christian perspective? This talk will answer these questions and more, exploring the ethical considerations of A.I. generated art and understanding the nature of creativity. We will also evaluate the impact of A.I. art on traditional Christian art forms and practices.
How can we navigate challenges like volunteer management and differing preferences in music style while seeking to build and sustain thriving music ministries that support the church’s worship and mission? This session will address these challenges and others, focusing on key areas such as team development, spiritual leadership, and musical excellence. Attendees will leave with actionable tools and insights to enhance both the spiritual and technical aspects of their music ministry.
Wednesday, 21 May
Using the collaborative art of filmmaking as an illustration, this session will lead us in exploring how to embrace our purpose as artists, collaborating in God’s greater masterpiece. As the Director of a story being performed over all eternity, God guides us in our art, calling us to work in community to fulfill His will. And as we follow the direction of the Light, avoid the cameras of the world, and take actions to fulfill the Director's vision, we participate in the creation of His great chronicle of grace and hope.
Our souls find new ways of seeing as we compose and write, sculpt and paint. In these acts, we participate in something older, something deeper than ourselves. In this session, we look at how our creativity aligns with the mission of Christ and in the light of this, the contentment we can enjoy from this union.
Everything we do in our corporate worship services has a purpose behind it. We should be able to back up any decision from a theological or spiritual perspective. In this session, we'll take a look at the content and structure of our services and ask ourselves if what we're doing serves our intentions and beliefs.