Christians in Nigeria and all over the world have been encouraged to de-emphasize the differences in denominations and promote love, unity and peace among themselves and others as contained in God’s word, the bible. A young Nigerian, Ayobola Adedayo, made the call at a colourful event tagged “Painting for Christ,” organised to bring together young Christians from various denominations with the purpose of praising God through painting on canvas.
The event, held in Victoria Island, Lagos, served as a platform for participants to use painting as a means to express worship through art to the Almighty God. Through their painting, the participants were expected to express any fruits of Christianity that appeals to them or a Bible verse that strengthens their faith. Adedayo, who is also the organiser of the event, explained that she got the inspiration for the programme through a dream she had.
She said, “In the dream, Christians were competing against one another. And the contest was about which party was able to worship better, as one party tried to praise louder while the other party also tried to outdo them. Yet, it was all to glorify the same God.
“Then suddenly, after several dances during the competition, all the Christians came together as one group to worship in unity. Unbelievers looked and were impressed by the unity in Christianity and even applauded. That was when I woke up.”
She noted that her yearning to realise this dream and create togetherness among Christains prompted her to use her passion for painting and her duty as a curator for Cocktails ‘n’ Craft to organise the event.
“‘Painting for Christ’ party allows Christians from different denominations to come together and use painting as a medium of worship,” she noted. “This is simply worship with paint and canvas to express love for God artistically and the infusion of the fruits and qualities of Christianity such as faith, peace, abundance, love among others. If there is anything participants believe God for, or a Bible verse that speaks to them, they could express it in painting.”
While noting that Christians can worship God with their talents, Adedayo observed that it is a new medium to give glory to God.
She noted that each painting has a message. She said one of the paintings expresses love with a bible verse that backs it up, while another shows God having the whole world in his hand.
Adedayo remarked that the artworks are not for sale but that participants could take them home as souvenirs. Through the ‘Painting for Christ’ initiative, she believes that other Christians could emulate, replicate and come up with other ideas or ways to emphasise unity and at the same time praise God. She said it didn’t have to be painting but it could be pottery, sewing and other concepts, adding, “There is no limit to how we can worship God to give him glory.
“The major theme of the event is togetherness. My message to everyone and all Christians is that we need to do more events that are interdenominational. We need to serve one purpose to one God.”
Adedayo explained that the participants were selected randomly, “We announced the event on social media and encouraged interested persons to get a T-shirt that qualifies them to take part in the event.”She said the programme is non-profit and participants are from different denominations and they are not professional artists.
