THE POWER OF "FIVE" DRIVE
What comes to mind when you think of the word "FIVE" or "FIVE dollars?"
‣ Recorded in all four Gospels...we hear the story of how a young boy's five barley loaves and two fish were used by Jesus to feed a crowd of five thousand (+women and children), with twelve baskets leftover. In these texts, "five" symbolizes resourcefulness, faith, and the multiplication of small offerings.
‣ Five dollars will (hopefully) purchase a cup of fancy coffee and possibly, a donut!
‣ Five dollars will likely buy a lottery ticket--which surprisingly many people (even some Christians) partake of to some degree in hopes of winning the FIVE MILLION DOLLAR Powerball.
‣ A friend told me about a couple she knew through church connections that adopted a child through a "five dollar only" campaign. People made a $5 contribution--no more no less--and then asked five friends if they might do the same until the goal was met.
‣ A quick Google search of "what famous things come in fives" most immediately identify the five Olympic rings, five top Pop Culture & Fictional Groups, and several recent and vintage music groups including The Jackson Five. We also have...the five senses, the five Great Lakes, the five food groups, and the five oceans!
Why Am I Asking You This?
In early 2025, God gave me a vision for a big endeavor. In part, the impetus was my own need as an aging, now-single visual artist to attempt shifting the focus of my work. To some degree, I am “re-branding” in the sense of re-directing and re-forming what I want my remaining future life and legacy to be about.
The other impetus is my ongoing desire since 1989 to use my God-given gifts to promote a love of scriptures and the Bible. I have learned in recent years just how important this is to the Church, and to individuals and families. I want my artistic talents to count for something in advancing God's kingdom, as well as my need to pay bills at this stage in my life.
In the past five years especially, I have noticed an escalation in trends regarding art, and how one sells art. Technology is now outpacing me--and you--and when we consider the capacities of "AI" as it relates to the traditional, historic "touch the paper" art, it can be frightening to people like me whose livelihoods depend on real people buying real art through real and traditional mechanisms (direct contact, word-of-mouth, reading about the art, seeing the art, and especially, seeing it in-person spread out in front of your own very real eyes!).
I recently had an insightful conversation with a young woman on the topic of minimalism. She succinctly stated: "It is the death of color."
Since I began my business doing calligraphy in 1989, my work has always been elaborate, detailed, colorful and generally large in scope.
In early 2025, I sensed that God wanted the last fifth (?) or so of my life to shift back to my first love: calligraphy (and specifically scripture), illustration, and design work.
A friend also reminded me that the first person specifically named in scripture as being filled with God's Spirit was Bezalel in Exodus 31:1-5.
"He was a master craftsman and artist from the tribe of Judah. He was not a priest, king, or prophet. He was chosen to design and build the Tabernacle and its holy furnishings. God filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and artistic skills in craftwork involving gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood." (Google summary)
In early 2025, I began the planning, initial completion of the "Mini Design Concept Example Genesis" and the first panel (Ezra - Proverbs), and more, after raising some initial funds to cover my many hours of time, and the materials costs, as well as additional promotional activities to move this project forward to including videography and a dedicated website to more fully show and explain the project.
Initially, I envisioned separate, smaller campaigns for each of the fifteen panels which will be slowly created (or more quickly, with quicker funding) during the next several years. One of the ways I accomplish big things is to naturally break them down into a number of bite-sized, incremental parts. It seemed logical that a smaller campaign for each panel might be attainable, incremental goals.
However, I recently decided, after a friend suggested one large campaign, that this is actually best. The smaller campaigns seem to confuse people about the overall project, its goals, and more!
So with the help of Spotfund's technical team, they have migrated all previous donations made via three smaller campaigns into this one, single campaign. In doing so, "bar" does not start at zero! Shout out to their awesome user-support! I initially considered other CROWDSOURCING PLATFORMS including a specifically faith-based platform, but found those were not responsive to my initial explorations in early 2025, and their servicing fees a bit higher. From the beginning of my inquiries, SPOTFUND has been tremendously responsive to any need for technical support, and they are a secure, recognized platform for processing contributions.
Why Am I Using Spotfund?
Contemporary crowdfunding serves the same function as the patrons of previous centuries. However, its distinctive in that it is more grassroots-based and the many can help a big project succeed even through small, one-time contributions of $5, or a recurring support of $5 per month toward the project, until it comes to completion.
What Else Has Changed?
I have also slightly modified the name of my project here, changing the word "educational" to "interactive." The Bible-Comes-Alive Interactive Mural Project is intended to educate others on the scriptures in an artistic manner, as well as to be “interactive.”
It is the interactive potential I want to now emphasize and better communicate! There is a broader, encompassing scope in this mural's potential for community-outreach by congregations and ministries, as well as much-needed forms of relaxed, relationship-building activities within various Christian contexts.
My project's interactive, standalone, derivative uses (such as paintable canvas versions in black-and-white only for youth groups and other contexts including church workshops on a biblical book with hands-on art activities that would engage folks both inside and outside the church community) needs to be better understood by supporters!
In other words, this project is beyond the goal of displaying the original artwork panels. This project has further repeatable, utilitarian purposes! Paintable reproductions serve as a springboard to group-based activity that lends itself to personal, conversational interactions and dialogue around the scriptures. It provides teens and others a hands-on art experience connected to creative inspiration from the Bible they may not be getting elsewhere. And then, there is the evangelistic potential, too.
Does This Work?
I recently learned that "The Chosen" series was initially "crowdfunded."
Very few people are unfamiliar with “The Chosen.” Biblical conversations are happening in many circles because of “The Chosen.” I believe my project is anointed and has that power, too, but I need you and The Power of Five.
What’s Next?
If you have read to this point, I'm sure you have given this more than five minutes of your valuable time, and I appreciate that!
I am going to end this with FIVE POINTS:
POINT 1:
‣ If you want more detailed information on the project itself and its various stages, I invite you to visit the project website and feel free to message me with questions! You can also email subscribe on this site to receive periodic updates and visuals of the works-in-progress.
POINT 2:
‣ Even if you don't fully understand this project but wish to say "I bless you in this!" and I want this to "be a blessing to many!", I am asking for you to respond with just a one-time $5 donation.And if you are able to take it one step further, please consider the "$5" a month recurring donation until the project is completed (you can stop the pledge at any time if needed).
And possibly, could you even share this with five other like-minded Christian friends?
I would be grateful.
POINT 3:
‣ I encourage you to browse below two recent videos.The first is to engage others in why their church group should consider purchasing a paintable canvas for their context: youth groups, ladies groups, 60+ groups, church outreaches, Bible camp activities, Christian school activities, community outreach programs and more! The first video is only around five minutes!
The second documentary-style tutorial video is much longer, and intended to a church/small group to envision their own adapted uses by seeing an example in action. While you may not want to watch it in its entirety, browsing through gives a sense of the organic synergy—conversationally, spiritually and artistically—that will naturally occur within a group as they focus together in the activity.POINT 4:
‣ I am actively seeking a church, Christian retreat center/school, etc who wants to discuss the possibility of being the recipient of the entire original works to display/keep in their fellowship hall, Sunday school halls or otherwise. Please contact me if you have a lead. I will want to schedule an in-person appointment to show them the work-in-progress, and determine together (if they become interested) whether it is a suitable "forever home" to receive this work, based on criteria that must be further discussed.
I am hoping for a location within two hours hours of the York, PA area so that I might also partner in the future in assisting with any art-based programs, etc. This Christian-based recipient would not pay to receive this "CROWDFUNDED PROJECT" but would simply "receive!" the one-and-only ORIGINALS. (Apart from the original panels, I will later be selling reproductions of many sorts).POINT 5:
‣ Lastly, I said I would share how I have been personally challenged by the idea of the “$5 only” model. I have decided that whenever possible, to always be open to online (or other special requests) in many contexts, always being willing to give "$5" only to a worthy cause or need, despite low bank accounts. To trust God in the timing, even if needing to find "$5" in loose change for some request.
The Works-In-Progess...
Panel 3 (Ezra through Proverbs) fully completed!
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