ABC 1st Coffee House/Fundraiser for Freeset: ABC 1st Coffee House 2014/Fundraiser for Freeset

April 28, 2014 was a day that God divinely appointed His Spirit in many ways a first for Ambassador Bible Church (ABC) 1st Coffee House event. God had been making me uneasy at my church for being less than an Ambassador in service of God's house.

Hailing from Northern Virginia, I recently returned to the area after my art graduate studies in New York City. In many ways I was happy to be back again at the church "I called home" at ABC, with brothers and sisters who I grew up in faith and who I called friends. But in many ways I was torn with how the greater Church including ABC does not become more fluent in the use of the arts to communicate God's truth. As an artist, God had used the arts to help me decipher the truth of His beauty in how he had used art as therapy for my soul. As my soul was being transformed the message of my art had evolved to reflect this new life I live as God's adopted son.

I love my church but in many ways the arts is set aside on the "back burner" in this government working region of Washington metropolitan. My prayers since my return to Northern Virginia region was to help me find an art community to plant my feet and grow here. He answered my prayer in a sightly profound revelation.

What if poets are used to expose the beauty of Christ?
What if those who are good with their hands in carpentry use it to create a "sacred space" for the congregation to experience?
What if artists create a gallery space for enjoyment and meditation?
What if performers sings God's truth through "prophetic" messages?

God's nudge to help me to dream for an art ministry at my church brought me to invite a co-partner in this exciting new ministry God laid on my heart at ABC. To get wise console I seek my associate pastor and dialogue with him about how an art ministry can further our church vision to call "ABC a church to call HOME". While visiting New York City for an art event host by Spark and Echo, a Christian art organization that I am involved in, God affirmed me I need to replicate this amazing display of artistic venue with artwork and performances that repeatedly expose different aspect of God's character back at my ABC.

The idea of hosting a Coffee house came about as an eureka moment to share with my church that God would like to see me start an art ministry here at ABC.

(Left: Brian Dang. Middle: Steph Collier. Right: Aimee Pangan)

Three months prior, three core leaders (Aimee Pangan, Steph Collier and myself Brian Dang) gathered to pray and ask for God to help us plan for such an event that is quite an endeavor since this is the first of its kind at my church. As I prayed God put on my heart the story of David in 1 Chronicles about the palace what was meant to be built not for man, but for the Lord God. It showed how many contributed toward the building the more magnificent it would be, and therefore the better would it answer its intention. He tells them what great preparations had been made for this work. He did not intend to throw all the burden upon them, more that it should be built wholly by contributions, but that they should shove their good will, by adding to what was done 1 Chronicles 29:2:

"I have prepared with all my might," that is, "I have made it my business." The work of setting up this Coffee House for God must be done with all our might, or we shall bring nothing to pass in it. God sets the Hebrews a good example . Those who set their affection upon the service of God will think no pains nor cost too much to bestow upon it. As the leaders plan and sacrifice their time it would mean nothing if our offerings is not from love. We set our affection on things above knowing that our affection on the house of God, is where our heaven lies. This stir me up to do likewise in stretching my faith in helping do diligence to this event and encouraging others to contribute in the advancing of the gospel can go forth in the messages about God through the arts.

God's help me dream bigger how how we could use this event not only to celebrate the artistic talents of ABC's members but how can the arts be use to help fundraise for one of our mercy ministry with Justice Venture Intentional http://www.justiceventures.org/ and Freeset http://www.freesetglobal.com/.

(Freeset's Bags for sale)

Freeset is the ministry we wanted to highlight at this event because I see Freeset as such a unique and creative entrepreneur enterprise in so many levels at its core. Freeset mission is about the freedom of Indian women would had been sexual/labor trafficked by setting them an opportunity to live and work for them. Freeset is a corporation that teaches and train these women with useful sewing skills for the production of beautiful bags to be purchase. In the end, we were able to raise close to $200 in bags sale. In addition, we had an art auction of some of the artwork donated for the ABC Coffee House's art exhibition which raise a little over $400. A total of about $600 for Freedom cause! The buyers of bags and bidders of artwork knew that 100% of the proceed will go to the needs of Freeset and freedom of those suffering in India. I am so happy to see my church family step-up to shine God's love in this way!

Not only did God showed up helping us gather artists amongst ABC's congregation with 13 visual artists (carpenter painters, photographers, book maker), and 9 performers (singers, poets, dancers). He also blessed us with an overwhelming packed 2nd floor audience of 70 + people to witness the performances in ABC's church office. Those who attended experienced God's healing power through His truth reveal at this event!