Here at Ocean’s Edge, a lot of our ministry consists of painting. How is this ministry? Well, let me tell you.
Painting is ministry because while working in the park locals are asking us what we’re dong and we get to share the love of Jesus with them.
Painting is ministry because we are engaging the community. Kids and adults alike have come to paint with us.
Painting is ministry because the mural that is getting put onto the wall will bring color and beauty into the city in a way that most definitely glorifies God.
Painting is ministry because there is no way our ministry host would be able to finish this project on her own.
Painting is ministry because Life is Ministry and Ministry is Life
Historically, Jacó has been labeled many negative things. The city has been called the modern day “Sodom and Gomorrah” and has also been compared to Las Vegas (and not in a good way). Tourists come for surfing, drinking and prostitutes.
God has been radically redeeming this city in BIG ways! In the past, when you would walk down the street you would see the ugliness of sin and darkness. Now, walking down the street you see bright colors and joy. The Ocean’s Edge ministry has been slowly painting all the light posts around the city. Now they have been given the opportunity to paint a pretty large wall at the city’s main park.
And my squad gets to be part of it!!! We have been going to the park each day to work on getting the mural painted. A couple of my super talented squad mates drew up a sketch and gave it to the mayor. He loved it and gave us the go ahead to make the mural life-sized in the park that our host refers to as the “heart of Jacó”
Just the fact that the city is allowing a christian organization come into the park and put up their art is evidence of hearts turning toward God. We get to cover up graffiti and replace it with paintings that match the light posts around the city. The park and the city are consistently being beautified not just in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense as well.
Another thing we’ve been doing in the park is lifting up our voices in worship. We have quite a few talented musicians and they have helped us set up an atmosphere of worship as others paint. One of the days I was there worshipping with a teammate we kept going back to the same song, Here as in Heaven. One of the lines in the song sums up perfectly what is happening in the park and in Jacó as a whole. It says
“The atmosphere is changing now, for the spirit of the Lord is here. The evidence is all around, that the Spirit of the Lord is here”
That is exactly what our prayer is as we go paint in the park; that Holy Spirit would fill the place and His love would be so evident and clear to all who come.
Blessings,
Kaci
Love it! I know you love painting art work too so I’m happy for you. Have you been able to play your guitar?
This is so cool! I was on the first WR team to start on the lamp post project and its so cool to see the updates coming from Ocean’s Edge! Keep sharing your stories!
Yes!! I had my guitar and was playing it the day my teammate and I kept singing “Here as in Heaven.” I felt like I stumbled through the few songs that I only kinda know how to play, but everyone was really encouraging and it was so fun!
Wow! How awesome that you’re able to see updates from the work that you started!! The lamp posts all look incredible and they’re so fun to see as we walk along the streets.
You’re learning:)
AHHHHH TEARS!! this is so precious
GIRL! What a beautiful depiction of Heaven coming closer to Earth with every mural painted, local shared with, and worship song sang. I love this story and am so proud of you all!