I painted this live for Hope + Elim’s 1 yr anniversary November 14, 2021. Two churches, one being primarily African American and one being primarily Caucasian merged together during the challenging times of 2020.  This very same weekend 62 years earlier Dr. Martin Luther King Jr preached on the very same stage in this amazing historic 1886 church about a beloved community. It was the only time he visited Iowa. Leading up to this celebration service I had been in an 8 week book/series study The Chosen with the creative arts ministry at our church. INCREDIBLE!!!! It’s so incredible that my husband and I watched both seasons in a few days.  This is my second time around watching for the book study and now my husband wants to do the book study so we plan to watch it again.  Watching The Chosen has helped me understand on a more real and deeper level who Jesus and his disciples are.  It makes the fire in my heart grow and I just get excited for the next thing that I’m called to do.  Unbelievable job to everyone involved ☝🏼🙏🏻thank you to everyone for following your passion!!  Thanks Be To God!!! 

When I finished painting and the service was over one of the speakers asked me if I had watched The Chosen…so exciting to connect!! God Is On The Move!!

Find out more about the artwork and watch the real-time service also a time-lapsed video of the live painting at renae-zanella.com