We should be ready for on line registration March 5th

You can download the printable PDF flyer here: Download Flyer

We Expect online registration to be available around March 10th.

You may have seen on CNN a piece on a project inspired by Nashville photographer Jeremy Cowart:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/12/13/candiotti.picture.perfect.cnn

The Mystery of The Cross B ringing Ancient Images to Life by Judith Couchman
Judith Couchman has done her homework and brings to us a series of captivating vignettes of the cross. After reading this book you will discover centuries of interpreting the cross through time and culture going back to 200AD for the first discovered depiction of the cross. Thanks for the hard work and academic discipline to compile all this is one place. The author make s each chapter a two piece story: What is the history of this symbol and two what does it mean to the author? Future readers may want to think of the many cultures this book reaches beyond evangelical America.
The Book
The Author

The Via Affirmativa team announces our next Gathering scheduled for August 20 – 24, 2010, at scenic Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs, CO.

The theme of “Unfolding Stories” will shape our weekend together. We all have a story. Like the petals of a tulip or the pages of a book, our various expressions of art reveal glimpses of God to the people around us. Have you considered the power of your story?

An unfolding story suggests a process still underway. Moreover, as followers of Christ our stories are part of God’s story, His love story. Within the weekend, we’ll follow these two minor themes – “Our Unfinished Stories” and “Our Love Stories” – both of which point to our Unfolding Stories.

Check here in the weeks ahead for more detail on the 2010 Gathering, but for now – look forward to a weekend of encouragement, creativity & fun, combined with thoughtful teaching and practical breakout sessions. Expect the synergy and refreshment that flows from a gathering of artists who find great fulfillment in the unfolding story of the practice of art.

See the new VAF video here!

The Via Affirmativa Gathering of 2009 is now history in the making. By this I mean that what we began will now take root and grow into a flower of transforming beauty. The event was such a good time as we enjoyed several outstanding messages from Donald McGilchrist on “being free to flourish and another on risking in hope. ”

Over 90 art friends from around the world attended and no one wanted to go home at the end. It seems to me that the Via Affirmativa Gatherings have moved from being events to having a life of their own and we can now see the signs of a movement of the gospel.

On Saturday morning I described what I see happening with the movement of Via Affirmativa. There were three points:

We are: Rehumanizing our world through the making of art by releasing our friends to the creative gifts given to them by God and refreshing their hearts and minds with the full expression of God at work in our world. We further believe that in living such a life the world itself will be rehumanized.

By using the word rehumanize, I am saying that the brokenness of people, systems and environments can be restored. Anyone can see that the world is broken. Just observe people, systems, and the environment. It is through the beauty of God that we can see this brokenness restored. Psalm 149:4 NASV captures this beautifully.

I hope that these ideas will give you a way of expressing to others what it means to be connected to the via movement. They were well received and I was thankful to be able to share these ideas. From my experience over the past 30 plus years in launching new missions I have seen that it takes about 7 years for the ideas to take root. So pray that we are on the way.

The weekend before the Gathering we hosted a two paint event at Glenn Eyrie Castle. There were around 30 painters in attendance and it was a smashing success. We had a bear wandering around scaring everyone, that was cool. One artist on leaving said, “Today was the best day of my life.” Wow. As I look back on the time I see that the big thing that happened was that people experienced being served. Imagine that!

We have already planned a reunion of these artists for Sept 26th. I hope that this will begin to build a community of friends with whom we can develop closer communications.

Warmly and In Christ,

Gary & Julia

Gary Bradley
Via Affirmativa , Director
gary@viaaffirmativa.com