A prophetic painting of people coming to Jesus in Yorkshire  

Doxology is a prophetic painting that portrays people from across Yorkshire being drawn towards Jesus, created by the Revd Graeme Dodds as an expression of prayer, thanksgiving and hope for the church in Yorkshire, particularly the Baptist church, and its return to the centrality of Jesus in all things.

Graeme created the painting following a time of prayer with the Yorkshire Baptist Association (YBA) team for Graeme and Harehills Lane Baptist Church, the church in Leeds where he is the minister. He explains more 

What does the painting represent?

At the centre of the painting is Jesus, dressed in white, with His arms outstretched. His posture represents both invitation and welcome as He reaches out to draw people to Himself from across the Yorkshire landscape.

People of many different nationalities can be seen ascending the Yorkshire hills towards Jesus. Some represent those coming from the churches, while others represent people who have not yet come to know Him. Together, they form a picture of people from many different backgrounds being drawn towards Christ.

The painting is, above all, a sincere prayer and an expression of thanksgiving for the Baptist Church in Yorkshire. It reflects a desire to see the Church return continually to Jesus as its centre, its focus and its reason for being.

The title Doxology reflects this response of worship. The movement of the painting is ultimately towards Jesus, and the movement towards Jesus leads to praise and glory being given to God.


How did the painting come about?

The painting came into being following several days of prayer and reflection. During that time, an image began to form in my heart, and I wanted to try to capture what I was seeing through paint.

I began by sketching the composition in pencil across five panels, allowing the image to develop and change as I worked. The painting was not created from reference photographs, nor did I go out into the Yorkshire countryside to study or reproduce a particular hillside.

Instead, the image was birthed through prayer and imagination. I allowed the picture to emerge from the thoughts and impressions that had developed during those days of prayer.

The whole process took approximately two weeks.


What materials were used?

The painting was created using acrylic paint on 300 gsm cardstock.


Looking to the future

I am currently exploring and developing prophetic painting as a ministry within pastoral care and preaching in the Church.

For me, painting has become another way of processing prayer, Scripture and the things I sense God placing on my heart. Increasingly, I use my own paintings as preaching notes, allowing the visual image to help communicate and develop the message I am seeking to preach.

I see prophetic painting not as an alternative to preaching or Scripture, but as another creative means of reflecting, praying and communicating what God may be drawing attention to.

With Doxology, the central message is simple:

Jesus is at the centre.
People are being drawn to Him.
And the response is worship.

 

Graeme Dodds is the minister of Harehills Lane Baptist Church in Leeds. This article first appeared on the Yorkshire Baptist Association website, and is republished with permission